2 weeks ago I switched from using the iPhone 15 Pro Max to the iPhone 15 Pro as my main device
after using the 15 pro max for a month, and what I found was there was one really nice benefit,
one surprise and 3 downgrades in moving to the regular iPhone 15 pro.
The biggest, and most obvious benefit of the iPhone 15 pro over the iPhone 15 Pro
Max is the size. And I never feel just looking at the devices side by side in photos or even in
my hands that the sizes are that different. The Max just doesn’t look that much bigger.
When I look at the specs next to each other I think man, only a half an inch
taller and a quarter inch wider just is not that much of a difference. But when you are
used to using one and then switch to the other, the difference is very noticeable.
I used the 14 Pro Max most of the last year and the 15 pro max for a month before switching to the
15 pro and going smaller is…fun. The smaller iPhone just feels more comfortable to use,
I can reach more things one-handed, and the weight difference is substantial
making it feel more like a novelty when coming from the larger pro max.
Now, I don’t have big hands so most of what I do is 2 handed on both of these devices.
I use one hand to hold, the other to navigate and both to type so that aspect is almost the
same for me with these 2 iPhones. If I am brushing my teeth or I have a drink in my
hand I can vertical scroll on twitter or threads with one hand but that is maybe 10-15% of my use.
As for pocket fit, There is no denying that the regular pro with the 6.1” display fits
easier in my pockets and feels less noticeable compared to the 6.7” display of the pro max. I
don’t have an issue with most of my pants or shorts but sometimes the Pro max does
peak out a bit and when sitting down, the pro max can push into my hip just a bit.
And as you can see I am using cases because I am a case person and I like it but if you’ve
been eyeing this case this is the Star Peak MagEZ case 4 from channel partner Pitaka……
This is the MagEZ case 4 from Pitaka and this is the thinest and lightest, MagSafe
compatible aramid fiber case for iPhone. Made with the same Aramid fibers used in Aerospace,
and woven together, This MagEZ case 4 is perfect for someone who wants a case as light and thin
as possible, but provides scratch and ding protection without getting in the way. Plus,
there is a built in, metal camera lip for protection.
The 3d texture grip makes the iPhone 15 feel more secure in my hand and with the chamfered edge,
it just feels great to wrap my hand around. I really like this StarPeak Milky Way Galaxy
version of the MagEZ case 4. It was designed by fashion editor and Paris art director,
Jonathan James, to resemble the milky way galaxy as seen from earth.
There is also the beautiful StarPeak Over the Horizon design that resembles light
brimming over the horizon of a mountain range. You can pick up one of these StarPeak MagEZ case
4’s today using the link in the description below, and my thanks to Pitaka for sponsoring this video.
When it comes to battery, I was actually pretty surprised with the 15 pro this
year. In previous years the battery was quite disappointing compared to the pro
Max and that was a big reason I stuck with the pro max. This year, although still not
quite as good as the pro max, the 15 Pro has had no problem getting me through a full day.
Battery anxiety is real and it makes no sense for someone who usually works from
home and can charge wherever he is. But I have it!
With the 15 pro Max I was averaging just over 5 hours of screen on time each day
and ending with about 25-40% battery leftover when I went to bed. …With the 15 pro I have
averaged just under 5 hours of active screen on time with a lot higher screen idle time,
and still ending the day with about 25-40% battery left over.
In both cases I basically used the same apps and used them as I normally would. Video,
podcasts, and safari being my main apps.
I did spend a little more time away from my devices last week and I did use my Pro
max for a while on Sunday bringing the actual usage down just a bit on the 15 Pro but this
shows that the battery on both of these devices has been very good for how I use my devices,
and I am actually pretty happy and surprised with the 15 pro battery.
What I am not surprised by is the first downgrade from the pro max and that is the display.
Yes, these displays have all the same features. They are both Super Retina XDR displays with
460 pixels per inch, they get super bright with 1600 nits for HDR and up to 2000 nits outside,
they both have a dynamic island, promotion adaptive refresh rates,
and always on. The only difference is the display size and the Pro Max is just better, for me.
Like I said, I basically use the device 2 handed any way and with the larger 6.7” display on the
Pro Max I am more comfortable with my 2 thumb typing. There is more room to move so I feel
less cramped in my hand and I find that I make fewer mistakes when typing on the larger display.
I can instantly see my number of mistakes rise when I move to a smaller display. Even after fully
adjusting over the last couple of weeks, I still am not as accurate as I am on the larger Pro Max.
When you are reading websites or scrolling through social media you do get more on the display,
but I wouldn’t say it is a LOT more. You get a couple extra lines of text or
slightly more of an image but it’s not really substantial. However, If you do need to make
elements on the screen larger for eyesight issues using the Zoomed in display mode,
the larger display will keep more information on the display which is now more noticeable.
Also, who doesn’t like a larger display when watching video,
whether thats on YouTube, watching Netflix in bed or any other video?
Along with the better display for content, the speakers feel louder on the iPhone 15 pro max
compared to the 15 pro. I spend probably a couple hours a day listening to podcasts,
music and live TV using my iPhone and about 50% of that is using the built- in speakers.
I like to use the speaker sitting on my desk,
top of my shower, kitchen counter and even in my pocket as I walk around the back yard.
I don’t usually use my Mac for audio because I want to be able to
get up and walk away with my audio still playing without have to stop one device,
start on another and hope the syncing worked fast enough.
The speakers in the 15 pro max sound like they are fuller with better highs and lows
but when I test them with a SPL meter they are basically the same with the pro max sometimes
hitting a little higher. So even if they are the same loudness, the pro max sounds better.
It’s like me trying to sing vs Adele….one of us just sounds better.
And the last downgrade when switching from the iPhone 15
pro max to the iPhone 15 Pro is that new 5x Tetraprism lens. This one hurt
a bit because when I really could have used it, I only had the 15 pro on me.
All the cameras on the iPhone 15 pro and pro max are good. They allow us to
get great shots of family and landscapes and whatever all from our pocket. iPhone
Pros have had a 3x zoom lens for a few years now and it was nice to get that
extra bit of reach. The 5x lens on the 15 pro max steps that up in a meaningful way for me.
It’s fun to step through all the camera lens options and see how close or how much detail
you can get with the range from ultra wide to whatever zoom, but during my time with the 15
pro max I have been able to get great video of my daughter’s volleyball games. Not just usable,
but great where I can actually see her face and it isn’t a noisy mess.
For the 4 weeks I was using the Pro Max I was able to get shots that I never had
and I can share them with people without having to describe which blob in a blue shirt was her.
The first weekend I switched to the pro and I only have the 3x camera, I was not able
to get video that I was happy with and the big problem with that is I can’t go back and get it.
The camera system is the reason that I upgrade my iPhone every year. I want to
have the best iPhone camera in my pocket that I can because I want to have the best
shots to remember the moments, that at one time, I knew I wanted to remember.
So, as you probably have guessed, I will be switching back to the iPhone 15 pro Max,
but I may actually have to switch to the 15 plus for a bit first. I feel like the 15 pro got better
this year and in the last 2 weeks the battery has been a big improvement over the previous year and
I really do like the smaller size in my pocket, however, the Pro Max with its bigger display,
better speakers and better 5x camera have won me over. But what do you think about my list of
upgrades and downgrades? Are you still trying to decide which one to go with? Let me know below.
If you want to see the reasons I actually like using a case, check out this video……