4 key features the iPhone 15 Pro is still missing

All of the fashions of the iPhone 15 have formally been introduced, their options revealed, and I received an opportunity to go hands-on with all of them on the Steve Jobs theater on Tuesday. The iPhone 15 commonplace fashions had been extra spectacular than anticipated — apart from the pastel colours — and I actually appreciated the lighter, slimmer, extra tactile really feel of the titanium Professional fashions. 

The 2 Professional telephones additionally delivered thrilling updates with the Motion button, the brand new USB 3 superpowers, and the “tetraprism” telephoto digicam lens within the Professional Max. However, this yr’s iPhone 15 Professional and 15 Professional Max did not ship on all the things. For a Professional-level gadget that prices this a lot, there are nonetheless a number of issues the place Apple might make key enhancements.

Additionally: iPhone 15 Professional hands-on: I discovered a number of causes to improve and one to attend till subsequent yr

1.) Longer battery life

As I’ve already talked about in my first impressions of the iPhone 15 Professional, the most important disappointment for this yr’s Professional telephones is that Apple did not use any of the extra capabilities of the brand new A17 Professional chip to extend battery life. As an alternative, it spent all the additional oomph from the A17 Professional to energy up further gaming options, make file transfers 20x quicker with USB-C, and additional improve the superior machine studying for images and video. 

I am certain a number of customers will make the most of these options, however much more would profit from longer battery life. The iPhone 14 Professional and Professional Max typically make it by a day of sunshine to medium use with no need to recharge. Nevertheless, many customers have skilled the iPhone 14 Professional suffering from intermittent battery life issues. And even the iPhone 14 Professional Max can barely make it by a full day in the event you spend an enormous chunk of time capturing pictures, texting them to family and friends, and importing a number of to social media — as many individuals do of their leisure time.

An improve to battery life isn’t a really flashy characteristic in a keynote presentation, but it surely’s the primary quality-of-life characteristic that Apple might do to make its Professional telephones higher to make use of day-after-day — and extra aggressive with one of the best Android gadgets.

Additionally: iPhone 15 Professional vs. iPhone 14 Professional: Which mannequin is greatest to purchase?

2.) Contact ID on the ability button

One other top-of-the-line quality-of-life options that Apple might add to its Professional telephones is to combine a Contact ID fingerprint scanner into the ability button — similar to the one it already has on the iPad Air (fifth Era). I am not getting fancy right here and asking for an ultrasonic fingerprint sensor below the show like the wonderful one on the Samsung Galaxy S23. 

I am additionally not asking for Apple to exchange Face ID and return to Contact ID. Simply give us each, as a result of there are occasions when Face ID nonetheless would not work properly — when you could have glasses, sun shades, a hat, a face masking, otherwise you’re simply holding your cellphone at an angle that is not straightforward for Face ID to scan. Having Contact ID at these instances and others would make the iPhone tremendously extra usable.

It might additionally enhance safety, as a result of Apple might supply an choice in Settings to require each Face ID and Contact ID, which might give the iPhone — and doubtlessly third-party app builders — the choice to make logins safer on this gadget than another gadget in the marketplace.

Additionally: Apple iPhone 15 hands-on: New options left me with no Professional mannequin envy in any respect

3.) 10x telephoto zoom lens

Sure, the iPhone 15 Professional Max has added a tetraprism telephoto digicam this yr with a 5x zoom lens and the equal of a 120mm focal size. That is Apple’s reply to Samsung’s periscope “area zoom” lens launched in 2020 on the Galaxy S20 Extremely and refined incrementally every year since then within the S21 Extremely, S22 Extremely, and S23 Extremely.

The massive distinction between Apple’s tetraprism and Samsung’s periscope is that Samsung nonetheless goes twice the gap at 10x. I can not wait to check out the brand new Apple 5x telephoto lens over the approaching months in numerous totally different conditions — particularly paired with Apple’s glorious photograph processing software program and machine studying algorithms — and I’ve confidence that it is going to be able to high-quality photographs by no means earlier than doable on an iPhone. Nonetheless, it seemingly has a fairly large hole to get all the nice photographs between 5x and 10x you could get on Samsung’s flagship cellphone. 

Additionally: From pocket to professional: How the iPhone 15 Professional Max challenges mirrorless cameras

4.) A greater case from Apple

On the Apple Occasion I attempted the brand new FineWoven circumstances that Apple is launching this yr to exchange its in style — however much less environmentally pleasant — leather-based circumstances and I’ve to confess that I did not love the appear and feel of FineWoven. They felt like an affordable imitation of suede. After all, they are not low cost at $59 and I am assured that it took a number of artistic work from the supplies group at Apple to provide you with a case constructed from 68 % post-consumer recycled supplies. And I undoubtedly admire Apple’s carbon impartial and sustainability targets.

Nonetheless, the brand new circumstances simply did not really feel nice in my arms. I notice that is a subjective opinion, and my ZDNET teammate Kerry Wan tried the brand new circumstances and had the alternative response whereas we had been testing them within the Steve Jobs Theater. 

My downside with the circumstances is not simply with the supplies although. Normally, the Apple cellphone circumstances are too cumbersome they usually disguise the general design of the iPhone. I would a lot slightly see Apple take inspiration from the well-known — or notorious — iPhone 4 bumper cases that merely shield the perimeters of the cellphone and depart the again open so that you see the complete design. This makes it lighter and thinner to carry as properly simpler to slide in your pocket or bag. And, it nonetheless protects the entrance glass from breaking and the perimeters from getting dinged up if you drop it. The one problem a bumper might need with a contemporary iPhone is defending the digicam lenses, but it surely may be straightforward sufficient so as to add a bump within the nook across the lenses.

Within the new FineWoven circumstances, the again and the perimeters are made of various supplies and every have a special really feel. I appreciated the perimeters higher than the again. If Apple merely made a bumper out of the FineWoven edges then I feel that will be a significantly better case.