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I Downgraded to the iPhone 15 Pro

9:11 video

Two weeks ago, I switched from the iPhone 15 Pro Max to the iPhone 15 Pro as my main device after a month with the Max. I found one really nice benefit, one surprise, and three downgrades.

The benefit: size

Side by side in photos, or even in my hand, the Max doesn’t look much bigger. On paper it’s only half an inch taller and a quarter inch wider. But when you’re used to one and switch to the other, it’s very noticeable. I used the 14 Pro Max most of the last year and the 15 Pro Max for a month, and going smaller is fun. It’s more comfortable to use, I can reach more one-handed, and the weight difference is substantial, almost a novelty after the Max.

I don’t have big hands, so most of what I do is two-handed on both: one hand holds, the other navigates, and both type. If I’m brushing my teeth or holding a drink, I can scroll Threads one-handed, but that’s maybe 10–15% of my use. The 6.1-inch Pro fits pockets more easily and is less noticeable than the 6.7-inch Max, which sometimes peeks out and can push into my hip when I sit.

My case here is Pitaka’s StarPeak MagEZ Case 4, the thinnest and lightest MagSafe-compatible aramid-fiber case, made with fibers used in aerospace. It has a built-in metal camera lip, a 3D texture grip, and a chamfered edge that feels great in the hand. Pitaka sponsored this video. I like the Milky Way Galaxy design, by fashion editor and Paris art director Jonathan James; there’s also an Over the Horizon design.

The surprise: battery

In past years, the Pro’s battery disappointed compared with the Max, and that was a big reason I stuck with the Max. This year, it’s still not quite as good, but the 15 Pro has had no problem getting me through a full day. (Battery anxiety is real, and makes no sense for someone who works from home and can charge anywhere. But I have it.)

  • 15 Pro Max: just over 5 hours of screen-on time per day, ending with about 25–40% left.
  • 15 Pro: just under 5 hours of screen-on time, with a lot more idle time, and still 25–40% left.

I used basically the same apps both times: video, podcasts and Safari. I did spend a bit more time away from my devices last week and used my Pro Max for a while on Sunday, which brought the 15 Pro’s usage down a bit, but both have been very good for how I use my devices.

Downgrade 1: the display

Both are Super Retina XDR at 460 ppi, with 1,600 nits for HDR, up to 2,000 nits outside, the Dynamic Island, ProMotion and always-on. The only difference is the size, and the Pro Max is better, for me.

  • With the larger 6.7-inch display, I’m more comfortable two-thumb typing, with more room and fewer mistakes. I can instantly see my mistakes rise on the smaller display, and even after two weeks I’m not as accurate.
  • When reading websites or scrolling social media, you get a couple of extra lines or slightly more of an image, not a lot. But with Display Zoom for eyesight, the bigger display keeps more on screen.
  • And who doesn’t like a bigger display for video?

Downgrade 2: speakers

I spend a couple of hours a day listening to podcasts, music and live TV on my iPhone, about half through its speakers: on my desk, on top of the shower, on the kitchen counter, even in my pocket in the backyard. I’d rather not use my Mac for audio, because I want to walk away with audio still playing. The Max’s speakers sound fuller, with better highs and lows. With an SPL meter they’re basically the same loudness, with the Max sometimes a bit higher, but the Max sounds better. It’s like me singing versus Adele.

Downgrade 3: the 5× Tetraprism lens

This one hurt. iPhone Pros have had a 3× lens for a few years, but the 5× on the Pro Max steps it up in a meaningful way. In my month with the Max, I got great video of my daughter’s volleyball games, not just usable: I could see her face and it wasn’t a noisy mess. I could share shots without describing which blob in a blue shirt was her. The first weekend I switched to the Pro, with only the 3× camera, I couldn’t get video I was happy with, and I can’t go back and get it. The camera is the reason I upgrade every year: I want the best camera in my pocket for moments I knew I’d want to remember.

Verdict

I’ll be switching back to the Pro Max, though I may have to use the 15 Plus for a bit first. The Pro got better this year, and the battery improvement and smaller pocket size are real, but the Max’s bigger display, better speakers and 5× camera won me over.

Some links in this post are affiliate links, which means that if you click on one of the product links, I may receive a small commission. See my ethics statement.

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