Two of the new iPhone 15 models announced yesterday were described by Greg Joswiak, Apple’s senior vice president of Worldwide Marketing, as the “the most pro line-up we have ever created.” I can comfortably say that is a true statement. I’ve used iPhones to capture content which has ended up on broadcast TV and no one even knew.
Used correctly, the iPhone can legitimately be used as part of a professional video production kit. It starts with understanding what Apple engineers have built into the phone. Once you know its capabilities, you will be rewarded. Let’s take a closer look at what the iPhone 15 Pro and iPhone 15 Pro Max have to offer professionals and semi-professionals.
USB-C
The long-awaited removal of the Lightning Port for the all-unifying USB-C interface is about more than just compatibility when it comes to the ‘Pro’ in iPhone Pro. The last few iPhone Pro models have been able to record incredibly high quality video in ProRes formats internally but getting that content off the phone was an issue. Now, large video files with high bitrate can be transferred at high speed thanks the USB-C/USB 3 connector. This configuration is up to 20x faster than USB 2 and requires a USB 3 cable with 10Gb/s capability. This vastly improved I/O makes professional workflow possible, where it really wasn’t before. It’s important to note that the base model iPhone 15 is only USB-C/USB 2.
Obviously, the ideal production solution is to record direct to an external USB drive and the great news is the iPhone 15 Pro can do just that. Previously, if you wanted to record a lot of ProRes on the latest iPhone Pro models you had to spend a lot more more money for onboard memory. I was constantly deleting files even with 1TB of storage. On Apple’s spec page for the iPhone 15 Pro it says “ProRes video recording up to 4K at 60 fps with external recording.” So the USB-C change is much more than cable simplification, it’s making the ‘Pro’ actually meaningful in the iPhone 15 Pro.
Photography also benefits from the increased output speeds via USB-C/USB 3. The iPhone 15 Pro can be tethered to a Mac running CAPTURE ONE to share 48MP Apple ProRAW images. Just like a proper studio shoot.
RECORDING FORMATS
The inclusion of Log profile recording natively is another nod to pros. While other apps like Filmic Pro have a Log option – this is the real deal from Apple. With Log encoding, the iPhone 15 Pro will be the first smartphone to support ACES (Academy Color Encoding System). This is a global standard for film production and another reason to endorse the iPhone 15 Pro as a true Pro camera. Add this to HDR video recording with Dolby Vision up to 4K at 60-fps and you have a handheld device with impressive filmmaking credentials.
- 4K video recording at 24 fps, 25 fps, 30 fps or 60 fps
- 1080p HD video recording at 25 fps, 30 fps or 60 fps
- 720p HD video recording at 30 fps
- Cinematic mode up to 4K HDR at 30 fps
- Action mode up to 2.8K at 60 fps
- HDR video recording with Dolby Vision up to 4K at 60 fps
- ProRes video recording up to 4K at 60 fps with external recording
- Log video recording
- Academy Color Encoding System
- Macro video recording, including slow motion and time‑lapse
- Slow‑motion video support for 1080p at 120 fps or 240 fps
- Time‑lapse video with stabilisation
- Night mode Time‑lapse
- QuickTake video
- Second‑generation sensor‑shift optical image stabilisation for video (Main)
- 3D sensor-shift optical image stabilisation and autofocus for video (Telephoto)
- Digital zoom up to 9x (iPhone 15 Pro) and 15x (iPhone 15 Pro Max)
- Audio zoom
- True Tone flash
- Cinematic video stabilisation (4K, 1080p and 720p)
- Continuous autofocus video
- Take 8MP still photos while recording 4K video
- Playback zoom
- Video formats recorded: HEVC, H.264 and ProRes
- Stereo recording
INSANE LENS TECHNOLOGY
This is one of the few areas where it’s beneficial to opt for the 6.7″ iPhone Pro Max over the 6.1″ iPhone 15 Pro. Due to its larger size the Max can house an optical zoom range of 10x. From macro to 120mm, the Pro Max offers amazing flexibility when considering focal lengths for each scene. The 120mm lens is made possible by’ tetraprism’ design that reflects light fours times before hitting the sensor. This overcomes the need for a long periscope design that many other phone manufacturers use.
Apple has managed to make the lens ‘longer’ without taking up extra space in the phone. I’m not sure what the limitations are but I was hoping for a 10x telephoto lens which is found on Samsung’s S23 Ultra. Combine this with new stabilisation technology and you have enough lenses for any production. Like any large professional camera, if you give the iPhone good light, it will repay you with great images.
Phone 15 Pro Max
- Pro camera system
- 48MP Main: 24 mm, ƒ/1.78 aperture, second‑generation sensor‑shift optical image stabilisation, 100 per cent Focus Pixels, support for super‑high‑resolution photos (24MP and 48MP)
- 12MP Ultra Wide: 13 mm, ƒ/2.2 aperture and 120° field of view, 100 per cent Focus Pixels
- 12MP 2x Telephoto (enabled by quad‑pixel sensor): 48 mm, ƒ/1.78 aperture, second‑generation sensor‑shift optical image stabilisation, 100 per cent Focus Pixels
- 12MP 5x Telephoto: 120 mm, ƒ/2.8 aperture, 3D sensor‑shift optical image stabilisation and autofocus, tetraprism design
- 5x optical zoom in, 2x optical zoom out; 10x optical zoom range
- Digital zoom up to 25x
iPhone 15 Pro
- Pro camera system
- 48MP Main: 24 mm, ƒ/1.78 aperture, second‑generation sensor‑shift optical image stabilisation, 100 per cent Focus Pixels, support for super‑high‑resolution photos (24MP and 48MP)
- 12MP Ultra Wide: 13 mm, ƒ/2.2 aperture and 120° field of view, 100 per cent Focus Pixels
- 12MP 2x Telephoto (enabled by quad‑pixel sensor): 48 mm, ƒ/1.78 aperture, second‑generation sensor‑shift optical image stabilisation, 100 per cent Focus Pixels
- 12MP 3x Telephoto: 77 mm, ƒ/2.8 aperture, optical image stabilisation
- 3x optical zoom in, 2x optical zoom out; 6x optical zoom range
- Digital zoom up to 15x
DISPLAY
The iPhone easily has the most reliable display out of all smartphones. The iPhone 15 Pro models have Super Retina XDR OLED screens, with ProMotion technology and Always-On display.
SCREEN FEATURES
- Dynamic Island
- Always-On display
- ProMotion technology with adaptive refresh rates up to 120Hz
- HDR display
- True Tone
- Wide colour (P3)
- Haptic Touch
- 2,000,000:1 contrast ratio (typical)
- 1,000 nits max brightness (typical); 1,600 nits peak brightness (HDR); 2,000 nits peak brightness (outdoor)
- Fingerprint-resistant oleophobic coating
FUTURE PROOFING
If there’s even an outside chance you’ll end up buying Apple’s Vision Pro headset, you should be shooting immersive video as soon as you get an iPhone 15 Pro.
By using the Ultra Wide and Main cameras together you’ll be able capture spatial videos. When Apple Vision Pro ships, you’ll be able to experience videos in a 3D environment.
So by the time it becomes available you should have plenty of your own content to watch.
UNDER THE BONNET
On the surface, yearly phone updates may not appear to offer much in the way of change. But if you look at what’s under the bonnet, you’ll see dozens of reasons why the latest model is far better than its predecessor. The iPhone 15 Pro and iPhone 15 Pro Max are powered by the A17 Pro, the industry’s first 3-nanometre chip.
The new CPU is up to 10 per cent faster with microarchitectural and design improvements, and the Neural Engine is now up to 2x faster, powering features like autocorrect and Personal Voice in iOS 17. The pro-class GPU is up to 20 per cent faster and unlocks entirely new experiences, featuring a new 6-core design that increases peak performance and energy efficiency. Now with hardware-accelerated ray tracing — which is 4x faster than software-based ray tracing — iPhone 15 Pro offers smoother graphics, as well as more immersive AR applications and gaming experiences. iPhone 15 Pro brings true-to-life gaming to the palm of users’ hands with console titles never before seen on a smartphone, like Resident Evil Village, Resident Evil 4, Death Stranding, and Assassin’s Creed Mirage.
A17 Pro includes a dedicated AV1 decoder, enabling more efficient, high-quality video experiences for streaming services. Additionally, a new USB controller enables USB 3 speeds on iPhone for the first time, now supporting much higher transfer speeds and video output up to 4K at 60-fps HDR.
BACKUP
Shooting a lot of video means having a backup solution. So beginning 19th September, iCloud+ will offer two new plans. 6TB for A$44.99 per month and 12TB for A$89.99 per month.
NEW BODY
If you’re shooting with an iPhone to any great level of skill, you’ll probably have it in a cage and seriously rigged-out. Underneath all that you’ll have an iPhone with a new lightweight titanium design — a first for iPhone. This not only makes the phone strong, it’s lighter. The Pro line-up combines the strength of titanium with tough back glass and Ceramic Shield on the front. Using an industry-first thermo-mechanical process, the titanium bands encase a new substructure made from 100 per cent recycled aluminium, bonding these two metals through solid-state diffusion. The aluminium frame helps with thermal dissipation and allows the back glass to be easily replaced.
MUTE SWITCH REPLACED
I’m surprised the ring/silent switch on the top left edge survived a long as it did – at least on these models. Although convenient, the switch took up a lot of space to do one simple job. The iPhone 15 Pro now has an all-new Action button where the mute switch used to be. The new button gives additional options so users can choose between quickly accessing the camera or flashlight; activating Voice Memos, Focus modes, Translate, and accessibility features like Magnifier; or using Shortcuts for more options. A press-and-hold gesture with fine-tuned haptic feedback and visual cues in the Dynamic Island ensure the new button launches the intended action.
WIRELESS POWERHOUSE
Both models feature the second-generation Ultra Wideband chip, enabling two iPhone devices with this chip to connect at three times the range as before. This opens up a new way to use Precision Finding for Find My friends, so iPhone 15 users can share their location and find each other, even in crowds. Precision Finding is built with the same privacy protections that users have come to trust in Find My.
iPhone 15 Pro and iPhone 15 Pro Max now support Wi-Fi 6E for greater wireless performance, including up to 2x faster speeds, and introduces the first Thread-enabled smartphones, opening up future opportunities for Home app integrations.
BIGGER IS BETTER
While both units support MagSafe and future Qi2 wireless charging the Pro Max will give you longer battery life. This has been the case since the Max existed.
iPhone Pro Max Power and Battery
Video playback
Up to 29 hours
Video playback (streamed)
Up to 25 hours
Audio playback
Up to 95 hours
iPhone Pro Power and Battery
Video playback
Up to 23 hours
Video playback (streamed)
Up to 20 hours
Audio playback
Up to 75 hours
They share:
- Built‑in rechargeable lithium‑ion battery
- MagSafe wireless charging up to 15W
- Qi wireless charging up to 7.5W
- Fast-charge–capable: Up to 50% charge in around 30 minutes with a 20W adapter or higher.
Unless you require the smaller form factor, the iPhone 15 Pro Max is absolutely the way to go for production.
THE OTHER STUFF
Improved audio quality on phone calls, including those made on FaceTime or third-party apps. Sound quality gets even better when users select Voice Isolation, so conversations come through loud and clear, even if they are somewhere noisy.
eSIM with support from more than 295 carriers. When travelling the world, users can stay connected through affordable international roaming plans from their existing carrier, or purchase prepaid eSIM plans in over 50 countries and regions, including Australia, Italy, Thailand, and more.
Safety
The iPhone 15 line-up offers critical safety capabilities to provide assistance when it matters most, including Crash Detection and Emergency SOS via satellite. Satellite is currently available in 14 countries, including Australia and New Zealand. Spain and Switzerland will be added later this month.
PRICING AND AVAILABILITY
iPhone 15 Pro and iPhone 15 Pro Max will be available to pre-order 10:00p.m AEST Friday, 15 September, with availability beginning Friday, 22 September.
iPhone 15 Pro starts at RRP A$1849, available in 128GB, 256GB, 512GB, and 1TB storage capacities.
iPhone 15 Pro Max starts at RRP A $2,199, available in 256GB, 512GB, and 1TB storage capacities.