As expected, the recent Apple event saw the unveiling of the iPhone 15, as well as its Plus model. This time around, it looks like the cameras are where the company is shining the spotlight on, at least for these non-Pro models.
In what feels like forever, the fruit company is finally giving the iPhone 15 a 48MP primary camera. While not exactly groundbreaking in the smartphone market, it’s quite the bump compared to what the fruit-branded phones packed before. Though it low light conditions, the phone still employs 2×2 pixel binning. This would normally result in a 12MP image instead while maintaining detail retention, but the company claims that the Photonic Engine then does its magic, resulting in a 24MP image instead.
The camera is also capable of what is essentially a 2x digital zoom, which Apple claims is of “optical quality”. The word “telephoto” is also tacked on, which sounds disingenuous.
Apple is also adding the ability for the iPhone 15 to automatically capture depth information when shooting a person, or a pet (the company specifically mentions dogs and cats). This allows you to turn shots into a Portrait Mode image, as well as change the subject in focus, after the fact. Also on the software side of things is what the company calls Smart HDR.
The chipset of the iPhone 15 is, for better or worse, not new. This is the A16 Bionic that we saw last year with the 14 Pro line. For what it’s worth, this also results in better voice isolation for calls. Speaking of which, they are also inheriting the Dynamic Island from last year’s Pro modes.
Apple still claims full-day battery life, as it does, as it packs a battery of unspecified capacity. But most importantly, and after months of rumours as well as an EU ruling, it is charged via USB-C. This also allows it to reverse charge to, say, the upcoming AirPods that have also been updated to charge using USB-C.
The iPhone 15 comes in three storage options, which are 128GB, 256GB and 512GB. These are priced at RM4,399, RM4,899 and RM5,899, respectively. For the Plus models, these are RM4,899, RM5,399 and RM6,399 respectively instead. Pre-orders for the local market starts on 22 September, with actual availability starting a week later, on 29 September.
