The iPhone is the best-selling smartphone on the planet and, within the US particularly, it’s clearly a dominant pressure. I’m an Android individual by alternative, however occasionally, I spend time with the newest iPhone to take a peek within Apple’s backyard, attempting to not get trapped inside its partitions. Over the previous a number of months, I’ve been utilizing the iPhone 15 Professional on and off and, effectively, I’ve bought ideas.
The final time I used an iPhone for an prolonged time period was with 2017’s iPhone X, the gadget that basically set the stage for Apple’s massive evolution of the iPhone. However that was fairly short-lived, because the gadget was shortly relegated to some random use circumstances and checking in on new apps and options sometimes. I’ve continued to fortunately use dozens of various Android telephones over time since, often a Pixel or a foldable.
However the iPhone 15 Professional lastly piqued my curiosity sufficient to fork over $1,000 and provides Apple one other shot at convincing me.
What the iPhone will get proper
Digital camera, {hardware}, battery life, and at last, USB-C
Earlier than we get to the complaints, let’s speak in regards to the good issues in regards to the iPhone, and that begins with the {hardware}. Apple is aware of find out how to design a telephone, and fairly effectively too. The iPhone 15 Professional’s titanium construct is massively overhyped by Apple in promoting, however it’s fairly good. The telephone feels unexpectedly gentle, however nonetheless very sturdy and premium. I’ve spent most of my time utilizing the gadget with a Nomad leather-based case, however any time it’s not in that case remains to be a delight.
The {hardware} additionally has two massive highlights to me. For one, I really like the colour. The blue shade Apple is utilizing right here appears nice, although I do very a lot choose the “Bay” blue colour of the Pixel 8 Professional, however Apple’s darker colour has its enchantment.
The opposite massive spotlight is the scale. Android telephones of smaller sizes are sometimes sacrificing loads for his or her dimension. The Pixel 8 is a fairly robust providing, however it’s additionally not fairly as small because the iPhone. And, whereas I’m all for giant telephones, I’ve actually come to understand utilizing a smaller gadget. Now, that often comes with the asterisk of that major show unfolding to disclose a pill – the Pixel Fold is particularly good on this facet – however it’s been a delight having fun with a totally powered small smartphone with out additionally throwing away battery life.
And, on that observe.
The battery life is perhaps one of many strongest elements of the iPhone 15 Professional. For its dimension, it’s spectacular. I’ve principally used this gadget as a secondary carry, however on the various days I’ve run it as my solely smartphone, it has finished fairly effectively, simply lasting a full day with none battery anxiousness, one thing that my Pixel 8 Professional, regardless of its larger dimension and battery, struggles with. Now, that is perhaps partially as a result of I don’t have a loopy variety of apps put in but, however I’ve nonetheless been very happy.
Plus, that is the iPhone that lastly has USB-C!
I stated a number of years in the past that USB-C is what would get me to present the iPhone one other attempt, and I believe this got here on the good time. Apple might have been compelled into it, however the firm’s implementation is simply what I hoped for – utterly impartial. There’s no trickery occurring. USB-C, for lack of a greater time period, simply works. My chargers, my equipment, every part works as I count on to. Apple ought to have finished this ages in the past, however I’m glad it’s lastly right here.
After which there’s the digital camera. Issues have come a great distance for the reason that iPhone X I final used.
The iPhone 15 Professional’s triple digital camera array is constant and predictable, which is precisely what I need from a smartphone digital camera. I believe, for stills, Apple and Google actually hit up towards the identical wall relating to digital camera high quality. For essentially the most half, the “higher” picture actually simply comes down to non-public desire. I believe I nonetheless choose the Pixel’s contrast-y look general, however the iPhone’s tackle images remains to be nice. It additionally works extra constantly throughout apps, someplace Android actually struggles.
Listed here are a number of photographs taken on the iPhone 15 Professional over the previous few months.
Video is the place Apple’s digital camera expertise undoubtedly pulls forward. Whereas Video Enhance on the Pixel 8 Professional provides Apple’s outcomes a run for his or her cash, Apple’s digital camera data at roughly that high quality with out hours of cloud processing, and Apple’s assist for LOG recording simply opens up a world of prospects. The common buyer received’t profit from that, however the digital camera right here is simply nice.
That stated, let’s get to the enjoyable stuff. The numerous complaints and complications.
Let’s speak about iOS
I all the time knew that my expertise with iOS could be stuffed with complications, however seemingly round each nook was one more reason I simply dislike the platform. There’s loads to speak about, however let’s begin with the homescreen.
Because the final time I hung out with an iPhone, the homescreen has developed fairly a bit. There are widgets, and the “App Library” too, issues I all the time missed in my previous bouts with the platform. Widgets are fairly effectively finished, although to be sincere, it’s a characteristic I’ve moved away from over time. I barely apply it to Android, and I didn’t actually discover myself utilizing it a lot on iOS. However on the very least it’s a well-implemented characteristic and has tons of developer assist.
The App Library, although, is only a mess.
The iOS homescreen has all the time felt messy and unorganized to me simply because each single app in your gadget is compelled to be in view. The App Library technically fixes that by supplying you with the choice to take away these apps from the homescreen and dump them some other place. However in some way, it simply feels worse. iOS mechanically organizes your apps within the Library primarily based on classes, however you actually don’t have any management, which makes it tougher to make use of. There’s a search perform, which is basically the one method this has felt helpful to me. And it actually looks like the one cause this characteristic is like it’s because Apple couldn’t admit it was unsuitable. The app drawer on Android is a brilliant merely, alphabetical checklist of your apps out there at a fast swipe. It’s intuitive. It’s straightforward. The App Library is neither of these issues. It’s dangerous.
Since we’re speaking about dangerous issues, let’s get round to what was clearly coming.
iOS notifications.
Over the previous few months, I’ve come right down to the opinon that Apple is purposefully designing iOS to make you overlook about notifications, as a result of in any other case, I can’t see how issues have come to the purpose they’re at the moment. While you pull right down to entry Notification Heart, iOS solely exhibits you one or two notifications. It’s important to swipe by means of to entry extra, and it usually looks like they’re no rhyme or cause to how they present up. The plain purpose is to indicate issues chronologically, however that falls aside if you happen to get plenty of notifications over the course of a day.
The best way through which iOS teams notifications is my largest subject general. In case you sustain with notifications as they arrive, it’s comparatively constant and straightforward, however usually occasions I’ll discover that if I’ve had my telephone in my pocket for some time, I’ll have a number of teams of emails, a number of teams of messages for varied apps, and a number of teams of social notifications which are simply all combined between one another. For instance, if I get Telegram notifications from a number of group chats, a number of Twitter/X notifications, and some emails over the course of an hour, they is perhaps cut up into 7 or 8 teams. The chronological strategy to notifications is smart if you happen to’re glued to your telephone, however I’m firmly of the opinion that’s not the way it ought to work. Personally, I’ve discovered myself consistently lacking notifications on account of simply not having the ability to see them shortly. And, till I actually dig in, I don’t know what number of notifications I’ve. Whether or not I’ve a few messages and an e mail, or a dozen apps sending me notices, all of it appears the identical. And a few notifications simply by no means go away till you clear them, even when they’ve been addressed ages in the past. Once more, that is an space I actually really feel Android does it higher. You possibly can see a handful of notification icons on the high of the display to shortly get an concept of what’s occurring, and the grouping methodology is way, much better.
I believe iOS notifications have little to no redeeming qualities, however not each facet of iOS was so polarizing to me, just like the keyboard expertise.
I believed smartphone keyboards have been one thing we discovered a very long time in the past, however each time I transfer away from Google’s Gboard (on Android), I’m reminded simply how loopy issues can get.
The inventory keyboard on iOS is wonderful, however I believe it will get somewhat an excessive amount of reward. The keyboard is nice for two-handed typing particularly. I believe the spacing is basically good, and it’s straightforward to select up the muscle reminiscence too. Swipe typing, an Android authentic, can be very effectively carried out.
However Apple’s autocorrect is method past aggressive, and genuinely a ache to cope with.
Autocorrect is one thing everybody wants, however there’s a line you need to stroll. With autocorrect in Apple’s default keyboard, the entire system simply feels prefer it received’t admit when it’s unsuitable (very similar to Apple itself). You can also make the identical correction three or 4 occasions, and it’s not going to get the purpose and simply preserve making the identical correction. Past that, and my largest gripe, is that autocorrect will kick in even after you’ve hit ship. In case you’re taking a look at a completed message and hit the ship button, if the keyboard feels there’s a correction to be made on that final phrase, it is going to do it as you hit ship. This results in irritating edits after the very fact (if that’s an possibility) far too usually.
Voice-to-text is equally annoying. Generally it might work splendidly, and nearly match the Pixel, which is the present gold normal for voice-to-text at the moment. However, different occasions, it simply goes off the rails, although not practically as a lot as Samsung’s really terrible voice-to-text.
There are additionally simply options and choices lacking. It blows my thoughts that Apple’s default keyboard doesn’t assist GIF insertion, there’s no method to present a quantity row, and I hate that there’s no method to reduce the keyboard with out tapping within the app above it.
iOS does, fortunately, assist switching out the keyboard, however I’ve not discovered any that I truly like. Gboard, my go-to on Android, looks like a shell of its true self on iOS, with a format that’s not nearly as good and GIF insertion that’s nowhere close to as seamless (which, in fact, is iOS’ fault). If there’s one factor the keyboard actually will get proper, it’s autofill. The place Android’s autofill possibility is messy and inconsistent (a rant I intend to have one other day), iOS autofill is quick and dependable, even with third-party apps like 1Password.
Simply essentially the most annoying a part of utilizing iOS after years on Android is the shortage of a again button. This logical a part of the working system feels so essential, until you’re Apple apparently.
iOS has been designed round not having a system-wide again button for years, so apps are well-stocked with built-in again buttons. Typically, there’s additionally a again gesture while you swipe (solely) from the left aspect of the display. Typically talking, the shortage of a again button isn’t a downside, however it’s an inconvenience.
So many occasions I’ve been in apps that don’t have a again button in sure UIs, leaving me caught in that display until I transfer ahead. Generally, loopy sufficient, folks change their minds. However Apple leaves the duty on builders to construct this backtracking into their apps, and it’s simply not all the time there. One instance of that is the app UDisc, for monitoring disc golf rounds. Once I’m in a scorecard, there’s no method for me to return to the remainder of the app with out closing the app or “ending” my card. On Android, all I’ve to do is hit the again button, however since that’s not an possibility on iOS, I’m simply caught till the spherical is over. Now, I’m positive the response to this shall be “the developer ought to have added a again button,” and technically, you’re proper. However why is the duty on them?
Why can’t iOS have a again button? I’ve by no means actually understood arguments towards it. To me, it simply looks as if a logical, helpful perform, and it’s loopy that in 2024 it’s nonetheless not a factor.
Android and iOS are each extremely mature working methods that know what they do, and don’t wish to be. As such, when new options arrive in both, they’re fairly often impressed by the opposite.
By way of my use of the iPhone 15 Professional, I’ve come throughout issues I need Android to have, however there’s a ton I need from Android to be out there over on iOS. And, finally, it simply looks like Apple doesn’t wish to admit Android did one thing higher. When that does occur, Apple simply comes up with essentially the most convoluted method to do the factor simply to keep away from admitting Android was proper. One of the best instance of that is the App Library which, as talked about, is only a mess, however this simply looks like an overarching theme of plenty of Apple’s latest, overdue characteristic additions.
After all, there’s loads to be stated about Android copying iOS options too. Samsung and others have been fairly shameless about this over time, however in a method, that’s a very good factor. These Android manufacturers aren’t actually afraid to take a look at a characteristic Apple has launched and say “hey, that’s a good suggestion.”
And, sure, there are numerous these good concepts within the software program too.
One factor I’ve fairly favored has been the power to rotate by means of lockscreens shortly. The presets are helpful and very well-implemented. I additionally love having lockscreen widgets, one thing that Android by no means ought to have thrown away.
Apps are, in fact, additionally a giant spotlight of iOS. The general bar for high quality appears at the very least a pair notches increased on iOS than it does on Android, however provided that you determine to dive into apps which are iOS-only. In case you reside a cross-platform life, like I do, apps on iOS feels equal to their Android counterparts for the massive majority. Sarcastically, it’s Google apps that really feel essentially the most behind on iOS. One thing that I did very a lot get pleasure from was the App Retailer, if just for the impossibly quick app installs that really feel on the spot in comparison with Android’s usually sluggish course of.
StandBy is one other standout for me. Mixed with MagSafe docks, it supercharges the always-on show with massive clocks, climate notifications, and extra. It’s been tremendous helpful at my desk. My Pixel does one thing comparable with the Pixel Stand, however Apple’s implementation is best in my view, as I don’t all the time wish to use this. With the ability to have it available by merely rotating the gadget is good!
Then, in fact, we’ve additionally bought to speak in regards to the “ecosystem.”
It is a pitch that’s by no means actually appealed to me, as a result of I attempt to reside my tech life as “platform-agnostic” as attainable. Apps that don’t work throughout units simply don’t earn their place in my workflow. That’s why Apple’s strategy to apps and companies simply doesn’t enchantment to me, and why Google’s do.
However even I’ve bought to confess there are some pleasant little touches all through the ecosystem.
For example, I simply picked up a MacBook Air after years of being fed up with terrible battery life on Home windows laptops (fingers are crossed onerous for Snapdragon X Elite), and the velocity at which the MacBook can set off a hotspot on my iPhone is great. It’s actually helpful for on-the-go work, and made the swap from my LTE-connected HP Dragonfly Chromebook method much less painful. This isn’t some outlandish concept, and you are able to do the identical between Android telephones and ChromeOS, and even some Home windows laptops, however it works actually effectively right here.
Equally, connecting the iPhone to a MacBook webcam could be borderline magical (if barely tedious with out equipment), and higher than what Android presently affords. And, on an identical MacBook observe, I actually like getting notifications on the iPhone after I depart the Mac behind by means of the Discover My app.
On that observe, I’ve additionally actually loved AirTags. That is one thing that I’ll lastly be getting on Android quickly now that the Discover My Machine community is reside, however I’ll be impressed if it matches the identical seamless stage of integration because the AirTag has to this point. One factor Android will certainly be lacking is UWB, as AirTag helps it, however not one of the Android trackers do. I additionally applaud Apple for placing the identical UWB {hardware} on this smaller iPhone 15 Professional because it does in bigger fashions, whereas most Android producers skip UWB on something however their top-tier flagships. That’s a short-sighted transfer.
There’s additionally Apple Pockets, which is superior to Google Pockets. Admittedly, I didn’t use this loads because the iPhone spent most of its time as my secondary gadget, however it integrates higher with playing cards – it’s tremendous handy to see my full AMEX transaction historical past versus simply what occurred with Apple Pay – and works with way more passes. Swapping playing cards by way of a double faucet of the ability button can be tremendous helpful (although I’d quite have a digital camera shortcut there).
Siri Shortcuts are one other factor that impressed me. I didn’t dive into this performance too far, however I believe it’s loopy simply how a lot you are able to do with Shortcuts, and loopy that Android doesn’t have something remotely comparable. My colleague Damien Wilde loves this options particularly.
Then, there’s iMessage.
iMessage is severely overrated.
It’s a very good messaging app, however it’s no higher than another fashionable messaging app, and all of these don’t require folks to purchase a particular smartphone simply to make use of it. I’ve stated my piece on iMessage earlier than, and 6 months on an iPhone hasn’t modified something.
Use different messaging apps folks, please.
Ultimately, I believe iOS is a very wonderful and really well-built working system. It has the entire options you want, plenty of useful tips, and an interface that’s pretty straightforward to grasp, even when I believe some issues (like notifications) are unintuitive.
I simply don’t prefer it.
I really like having the ability to have my homescreen simply the best way I need it. I really like being able to manually sideload app updates. However greater than something, I simply choose the best way Android, particularly on a Pixel, works. And that’s okay. Everyone seems to be allowed to have their opinions. In case you like iOS, that’s nice!
The Motion Button was wasted
One of many new issues to iOS on the iPhone 15 Professional is the “Motion Button.” It’s a fairly wild new concept for the world of iOS. A customizable button which you can select what it does. It replaces the mute swap, and as such defaults to changing that performance.
It most likely ought to have stayed that method.
The Motion Button is a good suggestion inherently, however it has some key flaws. Firstly is the requirement to press and maintain the button to do something. My first thought for this button was to assign it to open the digital camera, as iPhone lacks the double-tab gesture for accessing the digital camera shortly by way of the ability button. However the press-and-hold gesture takes too lengthy and simply finally ends up feeling extra cumbersome.
The place Apple actually might have made this characteristic shine was in giving customers three actions. One with a single faucet, one with a double-tap, and a 3rd with the present press-and-hold. Even when simply the latter two have been out there, it’d be considerably extra helpful than it’s at the moment.
Proper now, one of the best perform for the Motion Button is to make use of a Siri Shortcut menu. This allows you to decide and select from a number of capabilities. I believe it’s nonetheless somewhat cumbersome due to the time required for the button to be pressed, and due to the button’s excessive placement, however it’s nonetheless helpful performance.
The iPhone isn’t for me, however it’s nonetheless the smartphone to beat
Simply because the iPhone isn’t for me, although, doesn’t imply there aren’t good causes for hundreds of thousands upon hundreds of thousands of individuals to purchase it. Apple has an inherently improbable product right here, and it’s completely the gold normal of the smartphone business at the moment.
On the finish of the day, it’s onerous to beat the iPhone’s worth proposition. The $999 iPhone 15 Professional I’m utilizing has cutting-edge processing energy below the hood that can “future-proof” it for years to return. It has extra digital camera performance than most Android telephones. It has secure software program that shall be up to date for a number of years. And it has unique options that Android doesn’t.
Apple has constructed a very good product that folks ought to love. Each Android flagship will get measured as much as the iPhone, and for good cause.
The iPhone may be very, superb, so long as you truly like utilizing it. It’s simply not for me.
The place to purchase iPhone 15 Professional
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