My experience after two weeks is not enjoyable, due to the complexity of using a touch screen for all functions of the device. Unfortunately, younger people who have total control over their hands and fingers, minus micro-tremors, may not fully appreciate the significant challenge of working this touch screen device. However, everyone will eventually discover this challenge one way or another. With time, I look forward to connecting a full-size keyboard when I need to really make the most use of this handheld computer (iPhone 15), a spectacularly powerful device. Realistically, I really don't need to be entirely consumed with the many features, news feeds, email, TikTok, etc. as my life is fulfilled with personal communication face-to-face and traveling across town to speak with whomever. Additionally, social pressures to respond through this device immediately are few. My flip-phone from text and voice is outstanding, the iPhone 15 as a tool is very useful for complying with TSA boarding pass, TSA Clear access, Concert tickets virtually, etc. The reality is that many society requirements need the electronic passing of data, however peeling back the piggyback functionalities of this device to mostly optional makes this device required for some life authentication, yet not required for most life responsibilities. I am thankful for having this powerhouse of a handheld computer for transitioning into the future as the technologists drive us toward greater dependency of them. Maintaining a balance of technology as time goes on with separation from technology for a greater quality of life is exciting. I hope many others will find the iPhone 15 to be the greatest device for keeping up with the many changes in our complex world. Thank you, Verizon. Thank You Apple.

I had been an Anti-iPhone Apple hater my whole life. Recently, I had switched everything I own from Android to Apple, own multiple Mac products and have made the decision that I will not be going back.

So why the switch? After the M1 Macs released, I became obsessed with how quick, efficient and well priced the products were. When they were on the Intel cores, I could not stand a single apple product and they just felt like overpriced PCs. A couple years later, I was working with multiple clients, across multiple states, and rapidly increasing my production output on a Mac M2 Pro.

During this time I realized that my Android phone was actually making it difficult to transfer data, files, and information back and forth efficiently. So, I finally caved and bought an iPhone after research, talking to apple users and multiple recommendations.

At first... I really didn't like it. There was a learning curve, I didn't know how airdrop worked, this specific model felt super small compared to my Pixel 6 Pro, the OS and software felt non-customizable, I didn't know how anything apple operated and wondered if I made the right decision.

Fast forward 6 months, a bunch of lessons from life long apple users and some tutorials later... and I absolutely love this phone. Everything from the LIDAR scanner, to the transferring of files, to the synching from my Mac to my iPhone has doubled my productivity and made life so much easier.

Not to mention the camera quality is incredible, and I use it pretty often in tandem with my Mirrorless camera while doing production shoots, photos, videos, etc. I can't even imagine going back to an android phone after the great experiences I've had with the whole apple ecosystem.

If you are someone who does video/music/anything production related, and already own a Mac or apple computer, then it is absolutely worth it to switch over to an iPhone. Even if it's not to use the camera, the ease of access, transferability of files and projects from iPhone to Mac and vice versa makes it worth it.

This is the latest iPhone and you can read lots about it elsewhere. I haven't checked out all the advertised features, but I have been using face recognition to access certain functions and that works well, though I have had to set up two faces so that I can use it with and without glasses.

This replaces my iPhone X and I'm very pleased that the overall size feels very similar despite the trend for these devices to get bigger and bigger.

I still have to get used to the lens cluster that sticks out at the back. One effect is that if you put the phone face up on a flat surface then it does not sit flat. I don't expect any real trouble, just feels odd.

As it happens I have encountered a glitch in Apple's Photos system. My guess is that the problem is in their servers, not in this particular phone. Basically the ability to use the iCloud to sync the photolibrary between the phone and other Apple devices seems fine, but the abiliity to share albums with other users is not available from this phone.

The good news is that Apple's assistance is now a lot less officious that it used to be and readily engaged in trying to help. Unfortunately the first line support has a scripted list of things to try - basically more and more severe versions of "turn it off and on". It's only when all of that failed that they could refer it to the technical team, who are not allowed to contact the user. The problem with all of this is that the front line support staff and technical team are subject ti the general reduction of competence that has struck the IT industry. The former are quite good to speak with on the phone, but have only limited understanding of the system. The latter supplied a gadget that was suppose to collect evidence from my phone. It did do that, but it was very clear that no-one involved had much idea of what it would actually do.

The technical team did appear at first to have done something useful, but they have since dropped that ball and the function is still not working several days later. Maybe I should go with the idea that it is a problem with the iPhone and demand John Lewis provide a replacement.

Each iteration gets a little more refined - premium experience for a premium price. Noticeably better cameras than the 12 Pro, and additional hardware improvements have lead to better battery life over the 13. People complaining about the battery life probably don’t realize the new OS update has added a lot of background indexing and optimization which normally takes a few days before you start realizing the battery life improvements. The other upgrades are somewhat somewhat incremental over, say a 14 Pro or 13 Pro - it just depends on how deep you go into the phones features and capabilities, otherwise superficially most of the higher level stuff doesn’t change much. The safety features added to the 14 Pro are in the 15 Pro for example, but they didn’t exist in the 13. One example is airbag detection, satellite 911 when there’s no cell service, etc. That is new hardware starting with the 14 series. The biggest hardware changes to the 15 Pro are camera upgrades, a new processor, and Thunderbolt vs lightening (Thunderbolt uses USB-C connections, whereas the non-Pro is just vanilla USB-C - probably not that important if you don’t use the phone’s features professionally when speed matters)

Look into the detailed feature sets if you’re really not sure whether to upgrade. If you need a new phone anyway, the 15 Pro (even slightly better cams with the Pro Max) is the pinnacle. Think about it this way - Apple has kept you relevant with iOS 17 all the way back to the second generation X. Certain features can’t be used if your older hardware doesn’t include the missing capabilities, like sensors, radios, etc. If you have a MagSafe charger in the 15 Pro, you have an always on display, and when the phone goes sideways on the charger you’ll get standby widgets on a split screen, which goes into night mode (dim red to protect your nigh vision, like on submarines). If you’re using an MagSafe charger on your desk, the phone will display different widgets in context to what you need while you’re working. Maybe an alarm clock and “find my kid” at night, and maybe calendar and to-do list at your desk. Always on display capabilities started with the 14 Pro, and it’s customizable and has negligible effect on battery… Face ID started with the X, but it’s better now. Bluetooth is better on the last few generations, etc. Going from a XR to a 15 Pro is a huuuge upgrade. From a 14 Pro, not a big difference, from a 12 or 13 Pro, maybe, and with the trade in value, it’s not like you’re starting from scratch.

Just figure out what’s important to you that you don’t already have. Maybe you’re not even aware of certain new features because you can’t have them with an old phone and don’t know what’s available. Maybe you don’t care and “good enough” is good enough (why are you looking at a Pro, then?), but whatever you do, Apple will keep the updates coming for years. Best trade in value, fast processors to handle future updates, excellent support. That’s called investment protection. If you use Mac, iPads, watches that integrate, when you start multiplying the benefits (texting or making phone calls from your Mac for example, or handing off a web page or movie from your iPad to your phone as you leave the house, or take a picture with your phone of a problem you’re trying to solve, and annotating & drawing on it with your iPad, and all the changes are on all of your devices, etc.