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iPhone 15 Pro and Pro Max are faster and more powerful

New features, a new look, and more powerful than ever before.

The Apple iPhone 15 Pro and iPhone 15 Pro Max on a yellow and orange background with the Apple logo. Credit: Reviewed / Apple

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If you demand the very best Apple has to offer, the iPhone 15 Pro (6.1-inch display) and iPhone 15 Pro Max (6.7-inch display) are here to tempt you with premium features such as ultra-thin bezels, and a lightweight titanium chassis. This combination of thinner bezels and titanium makes for the smallest and lightest iPhone Pro, ever, without sacrificing the size of the devices' Super Retina XDR ProMotion displays. What's more, the new design is said to be far more repairable than previous generations of the company's handsets: Thanks to the way that the titanium frame mates with the iPhone Pro's back glass plate, it's far easier to remove and replace.

Those who rely on Apple’s flagship, professional-level smartphones to help them power through their day will be thrilled by the speed bump provided by the 15 Pro and 15 Pro Max’s new chipset, and a new programmable action button to access commonly used apps and commands, instantly. Haptic feedback will indicate that your iPhone has registered your input, making it a great choice for those who aren't able to look at their iPhone's display while they use it.

Like their less expensive siblings, the iPhone 15 and iPhone 15 Plus, the 15 Pro and 15 Pro Max say goodbye to Apple’s Lightning port in favor of the much faster USB-C for wired data transfers and charging. The new port maxes out at 35 watts, compared to 27 watts on last-generation iPhone Pro models. Additionally, 15 Pro and 15 Pro Max users will be able to transfer information at higher speeds--up to 10Gbps--than the iPhone 14 Pro was capable of.

For those who prefer to steer clear of wires, the 15 Pro and 15 Pro Max both charge wirelessly at a maximum of 15 watts, whether you’re using an Apple-certified MagSafe charger or another wireless charging standard. Up until now, without MagSafe, iPhone users were stuck in the slow lane with a maximum wireless charging speed of 7.5 watts.

The main attraction of Apple’s Pro-level iPhones has always been their camera systems and this year is no different. The iPhone 15 Pro Max features a 48MP camera with an even larger sensor than the one found in the iPhone 15. In addition to being able to shoot in ProRAW, users will be able to take photos using 48MP in the HEIC format, at 24mm, 35mm, and 48mm focal lengths, making for a truly pro camera experience. Thanks to the new lens system, Pro Max users will be able to take photos using up to 5X optical zoom at 120mm focal length—an impressive upgrade over the 3X optical zoom that iPhone users have had access to since the release of the iPhone 13. Happily, macro photography is also in the mix.

Pros will love the fact that USB-C connectivity will allow photographers to send their photos directly to external storage, as they shoot. It's worth noting that the iPhone Pro 15 is also capable of creating spatial, 3D videos, using two of the camera's lenses in tandem. These spatial videos will be viewable on Apple's Vision Pro headset.

In order to power all of this new tech, Apple engineered a brand-new chip: the A17 Pro, which includes a 'breakthrough' GPU. According to Apple, it is the fastest chip ever employed in a smartphone. No matter whether you're gaming or pushing through your workday, you'll enjoy incredible speed and butter-smooth performance in the apps you use. Even games previously only available to run on a console or computer, like Resident Evil: Village can run on the iPhone Pro (we'll be sure to test these claims).

Both the iPhone 15 Pro and the iPhone 15 Pro Max are available in Space Black, Silver, Blue, and Grey finishes. The iPhone 15 Pro starts at $999, while the 15 Pro Max starts at $1199 with 256GB of storage. Preorders begin on Friday, September 15 at 5 a.m. PDT.

Make sure to follow USA Today's live Apple Event coverage and to find out why the Apple Event matters.

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