iPhone 15 Pro 3 Months Later: Do I Regret It?

Summary

Drew reviews his iPhone 15 Pro after a couple months of use. He initially chose the Pro for features like ProRes recording, spatial video, and faster transfer speeds, but found he wasn't using these much in reality. The action button and Promotion display have been worthwhile upgrades. However, he's frustrated by a bug causing the camera to randomly stop recording, which Apple hasn't resolved yet. Overall Drew likes the 15 Pro but thinks the regular 15 with its lower price may have been the better choice given his actual usage.

Takeaways

• 😕 Drew was disappointed that the higher transfer speeds of the 15 Pro didn't improve his workflow as expected
• 👎 The ProRes video recording took up too much storage and wasn't noticeable enough for his YouTube videos
• 😞 The spatial video recording was lower quality and not very immersive on the Vision Pro headset
• 👍 The action button for quick access to the camera has been very useful
• 🤓 The ProMotion display matches his MacBook Pro which he appreciates
• 😠 A frustrating bug causes the camera to randomly stop recording
• 😀 Overall the hardware of the 15 Pro has been great despite some software issues
• 🔋 Keeping the battery at 80% charge has provided enough daily usage
• 🚀 USB-C connectivity allows charging his MacBook and phone with one cable
• 😕 The regular iPhone 15 still seems tempting given the issues with the 15 Pro

Q & A

Why did Drew originally choose the iPhone 15 Pro over the regular iPhone 15?

Drew originally chose the 15 Pro for the higher transfer speeds of the USB-C port, the ability to record video in ProRes formats, and the support for spatial video recording.

Why hasn't Drew taken full advantage of the faster USB-C transfer speeds?

Due to compatibility issues between Mac OS and iOS, transferring footage directly has been unreliable. Drew has resorted to airdropping footage instead.

What issues has Drew faced with ProRes video recording?

Drew found that the extra dynamic range and ability to color correct ProRes footage wasn't very noticeable or appreciated after uploading to YouTube, which compresses the videos anyway. It also took up more storage space.

How has spatial video recording on the iPhone 15 Pro fallen short for Drew?

The spatial video is only 1080p 30fps, which Drew finds not very immersive, especially when viewing on his Apple Vision Pro. Also, spatial video works best when subjects are 3-6 feet from the camera, which doesn't match Drew's typical shooting style.

What feature has exceeded Drew's expectations on the 15 Pro?

The action button to quickly launch the camera has proven very useful to capture fleeting moments faster.

What sort of display differences has Drew noticed between the 15 Pro and regular 15?

Drew appreciates the smoother refresh rate, thinner bezels, lighter design, and more compact feel of the 15 Pro display.

What frustrating camera bug has Drew experienced on the 15 Pro?

The camera app randomly stops recording video for no clear reason, despite troubleshooting steps like closing background apps, turning off Bluetooth/WiFi, etc. An Apple store could not identify a hardware defect.

How has Drew limited the 15 Pro battery capacity?

Drew keeps the 15 Pro battery charge limited to 80% capacity most days, only charging to 100% when he needs maximum battery for recording videos away from chargers.

What does Drew see as the primary benefit of USB-C on the 15 Pro?

Being able to charge his phone and MacBook with the same cable, plus connecting accessories like external mics, are the main benefits Drew sees in the transition to USB-C.

Does Drew regret choosing the 15 Pro over the regular 15?

While some Pro features haven't panned out as expected, Drew doesn't fully regret the 15 Pro. But he thinks the regular 15 with USB-C could have sufficed at a lower price.