Should You Upgrade to the iPhone 15s: A Comprehensive Guide

The tech world is abuzz with the release of Apple’s latest iPhone lineup, the iPhone 15 series. If you’re a current iPhone user, you might be wondering whether it’s worth upgrading to the iPhone 15s, especially if you’re coming from older models like the 14s, 13s, 12s, or even the 10s. In this in-depth guide, we’ll break down every aspect of the iPhone 15s and help you make an informed decision.

Design and Comfort
Durability
Display
Camera
Performance
Battery Life
Additional Features
Conclusion: Is the iPhone 15s Worth It?

1. Design and Comfort

When it comes to the design and comfort of the iPhone 15s, Apple seems to have found a sweet spot. If you’ve been using the iPhone 10s, 10r, or 11s, you’ll remember the comfortable but slippery surrounded frame. On the other hand, the 12s, 13s, and 14s had flat frames that provided a better grip but were less comfortable to hold. The iPhone 15s takes the best of both worlds, offering a flat frame that curves slightly at the top and bottom, providing both comfort and grip.

If you found the previous models too wide for your liking, the iPhone 15s, especially the 15 Pro Max, is narrower, making it a more ergonomic choice. Additionally, these models are remarkably lightweight, with the standard iPhone 15 being even lighter than the iPhone 10s, and the iPhone 15 Pro being the lightest Pro iPhone ever. If weight has been a concern for you, the iPhone 15s is a significant upgrade.

2. Durability

While the design and comfort of the iPhone 15s are impressive, there are some concerns when it comes to durability. The Pro models of the iPhone 15 come with a titanium frame instead of the stainless steel frame found in previous Pro models since the iPhone 10. This change contributes to the lighter weight of the new models but also increases the risk of scratches. Scratching the titanium frame could reveal the raw titanium color, particularly on the space gray and blue titanium models. Moreover, because titanium is less rigid than stainless steel, dropping the phone might lead to higher chances of breaking the back glass.

In terms of water resistance, all iPhones from the iPhone 12 onward offer 6-meter water resistance for up to 30 minutes, while the iPhone 11 Pro has a lower 4-meter water resistance, and the iPhone 11 offers only 2 meters. The older iPhone 10s and 10r have just 1-meter water resistance. If underwater photography and activities like scuba diving are your thing, the newer models are the better choice. However, if overall durability is a priority, the iPhone 14s, 13s, and 12s offer a sturdier option with ceramic shield glass on the front.

3. Display

The display is often a crucial factor when deciding whether to upgrade your iPhone. The iPhone 15s brings several notable improvements in this department. The most significant upgrade is the introduction of the 120Hz ProMotion display, which provides a smoother and more responsive user experience. If you’re transitioning from an older iPhone model, this feature alone will make a noticeable difference in the fluidity of your device.

Another substantial improvement is the outdoor brightness. The iPhone 14 Pro, 15, and 15 Pro can achieve up to 2,000 nits outdoors, making them exceptionally easy to read in bright sunlight. In contrast, older models from the iPhone 14 down to the iPhone 11 Pro only offer 800 nits of brightness outdoors, and the iPhone 11 and 10r provide just 625 nits. The increased outdoor brightness on the newer models greatly enhances usability in various lighting conditions.

Additionally, the iPhone 14 Pro and 15s support HDR content at up to 1,600 nits, making watching movies more immersive. The dynamic Island feature on the iPhone 14 Pro and 15s, which replaces the notch, further enhances the viewing experience. These models also feature thinner bezels, with the 15 Pro models boasting the thinnest bezels on any iPhone.

For those who value an always-on display, the iPhone 14 Pro and 15s offer this functionality, which is particularly useful when paired with the new standby mode in iOS 17. This feature allows you to have a desk or bedside clock always visible. If you’re upgrading from an iPhone 10r or iPhone 11, you’ll also notice an improved OLED display, resulting in more vibrant colors and deeper blacks.

In summary, if display quality is a top priority for you, the iPhone 15s offers significant improvements, including ProMotion, outdoor brightness, HDR support, and the removal of the notch.

4. Camera

The camera is often a major factor in the decision to upgrade an iPhone. The iPhone 15s brings notable improvements in various aspects of photography and videography. Let’s break down the upgrades based on the iPhone model you’re coming from:

Upgrading from iPhone 14 Pro: You’ll notice better highlight retention and sharper images, thanks to the new 24-megapixel default image output, compared to the 12-megapixel output in the previous model.
Upgrading from older iPhone models: If you’re using any older iPhone models like the regular 14, 13 Pro, 13, 12 Pro, 12, 11, 11 Pro, 10r, or 10, you’ll experience significant improvements in photo quality, especially in good lighting conditions.
Zoom Capabilities: The iPhone 15 Pro Max offers the best zoom with its new 5x module. Even if you’re upgrading from a 2x module on the 10s, 11 Pro, or 12 Pro, you’ll notice a boost in zoom capabilities with the standard iPhone 15s due to its 2x sensor crop.
Ultra-Wide and Macro: The iPhone 13 Pro, 14 Pro, and 15s models are equipped with superior ultra-wide hardware and also offer macro photography, which is not available in older models.
Front Camera: Upgrading from the iPhone 14s to the 15s will result in better highlight retention and brighter scenes. The difference becomes more pronounced when transitioning from older models, such as the 13s and 11 Pro. Additionally, the iPhone 14s introduced autofocus on the front camera, enhancing your selfie shots.
Video: If you value video quality, the iPhone 15s offers improvements, especially in low-light conditions. Even coming from the iPhone 14s, you’ll notice more detailed and clearer low-light videos. The difference becomes more significant as you transition from older models. The iPhone 15s also introduces features like ProRes, ProRAW, and log for advanced editing flexibility.

In summary, if photography and videography are essential to you, the iPhone 15s delivers significant upgrades, especially if you’re coming from older iPhone models.

5. Performance

Performance is a critical aspect of any smartphone, and Apple has consistently improved its chips with each new iPhone iteration. With the iPhone 15s, you can expect two key upgrades: additional RAM and a more powerful chip.

RAM: The iPhone 15 Pro models come with 8 gigabytes of RAM, while previous Pro models since the iPhone 12 had 6 gigs. If you’ve experienced app reloading issues on older models, the additional RAM in the iPhone 15s should alleviate this problem.
Chip: The iPhone 15s is equipped with the A17 Pro chip, which enables you to play high-performance games like Resident Evil Village and AC Mirage. If you’ve felt that recent iOS releases have been sluggish on your older iPhone (e.g., iPhone 11 or older), the iPhone 15s, especially with its 120Hz ProMotion display, can provide a significantly smoother experience.

Here’s a quick overview of the chip improvements over the years:

iPhone Model	Chip
iPhone 10s	A12
iPhone 11	A13
iPhone 12	A14
iPhone 13	A15
iPhone 14	A16
iPhone 15	A17

If you’re upgrading primarily for performance improvements, the iPhone 15s is a substantial leap, especially if you’re coming from an iPhone 11 or older.

6. Battery Life

Battery life is a critical consideration for smartphone users who rely on their devices throughout the day. The iPhone 15s brings several improvements in this department, depending on the model you’re upgrading from:

Upgrading from iPhone 12s: You’ll experience a significant improvement in battery life compared to the iPhone 12s, making the upgrade worthwhile.
Upgrading from iPhone 13s: While the improvement is less dramatic, the iPhone 15s still offers better battery life, particularly in the iPhone 15 Plus and 15 Pro Max models.
Upgrading from iPhone 14s: The battery life improvement is noticeable, but not a game-changer. However, the iPhone 15 Plus and 15 Pro Max offer exceptional battery life.

If you’re using an iPhone 11 or older, the battery life improvements on the iPhone 15s will be substantial. Even if you’re coming from the iPhone 13 or 14, you’ll still enjoy better battery longevity, especially with the larger models.

7. Additional Features

Beyond the core aspects of design, durability, display, camera, performance, and battery life, the iPhone 15s introduces several additional features that might influence your decision to upgrade. Here are some notable ones:

USB Type-C: The iPhone 15s models come with USB Type-C, offering faster data transfer speeds, especially with the Pro models supporting up to 10 gigabits per second.
Action Button: Replacing the mute switch, the action button on the iPhone 15s can be customized to perform various functions, from launching the camera to opening your garage door.
Wi-Fi 6C: The iPhone 15s boasts Wi-Fi 6C, providing double the speeds if you have a compatible router. This is an upgrade from Wi-Fi 5 on the iPhone 10s and 10r.
Bluetooth 5.3: The iPhone 15s and 14s support Bluetooth 5.3, offering faster connections and longer ranges, which can be especially beneficial with second-gen AirPods Pro.
Emergency SOS: Introduced with the iPhone 14s, this feature can be a lifesaver in remote or dangerous situations.
MagSafe: The iPhone 12s introduced MagSafe, which has since gained support from a wide range of accessories, making it a convenient feature for charging and attaching accessories.
Speaker Improvements: While minor, the iPhone 15s models offer slight speaker improvements over older models, resulting in better audio quality.

8. Conclusion: Is the iPhone 15s Worth It?

In conclusion, the decision to upgrade to the iPhone 15s depends on several factors, including your current iPhone model, priorities, and budget. If you’re using an iPhone 11 or older and value design, display quality, camera performance, and overall speed, the iPhone 15s is a compelling upgrade. The battery life improvements also make it a worthwhile choice.

However, if you’re already using an iPhone 14 or a recent model and don’t find the new features and enhancements compelling enough, it might be prudent to wait for the next iPhone iteration or consider replacing your battery to improve performance on your existing device.

Ultimately, the iPhone 15s represents a significant step forward in Apple’s smartphone lineup, offering a compelling combination of design, performance, and features. It’s a worthy upgrade for many, but the decision should align with your specific needs and priorities.