The real surprise of the evening came not when Apple presented the new iPhone 15 and 15 Pro – but afterwards, when the German prices were announced.
Because after the Apple inflation of the previous year, when the iPhone 14/14 Pro became up to 200 euros more expensive, Apple is turning the screw back again. The new models, which come with the universal USB-C port for the first time due to pressure from the EU, are between 50 and 150 euros cheaper than their predecessors. Prices now start at 949 euros instead of the previous 999 euros. And at 1,949 euros for the iPhone 15 Pro Max in the maximum configuration with 1 TB of storage it ends – instead of 2,099 euros like last year. Apple is no longer breaking the 2,000 euro mark for the time being.
Why have prices fallen?
Apple has not joined the Salvation Army, but is simply reacting to the somewhat resurgent euro. It has increased by 8.6 percent since the launch of the iPhone 14 last September. This would have given Apple even more room to lower the new prices. In purely mathematical terms, the successor to the 999 euro iPhone 14 could now cost 913 euros. And the 2,099 euros of the maximum iPhone 14 Pro Max could become 1,918 euros. So Apple has given itself some breathing room here if the dollar gains again. However, there are cheaper prices for all new products. The robust Smartwatch Watch Ultra 2 now costs 899 euros, instead of the 999 euros of its predecessor.
What does the iPhone 15 offer technically?
The presentation under the motto “Look forward to it” was certainly not the most exciting Apple show in history. The US company has done a lot of fine-tuning on iPhones and smartwatches – but there have been no truly spectacular innovations. The standard iPhone 15, like the Pro models, now offers the “Dynamic Island” on the screen, which cleverly hides the front camera and the sensors on the front with various displays. The processors are getting faster as usual, but this will only have a long-term impact.
What can the top model 15 Pro do?
For the first time, the 15 Pro and Pro Max come with a casing made of titanium instead of aluminum – and are therefore around 10 percent or 20 grams lighter. This is likely to be pleasantly noticeable in everyday life. Instead of the sound off/sound on switch, there is a new action button on the side that can be assigned functions from the camera to recording voice memos. The most exciting new feature is the prism camera with five-fold optical zoom – which unfortunately only comes with the 6.7-inch top model Pro Max due to space constraints. As Apple increasingly pushes buyers towards its Pro models, iPhone prices are indirectly rising.
Who is it worth buying for?
For example, anyone who still uses an iPhone X, XS, 11 or 12 will actually notice a big jump in speed, screen and cameras with the 15 and 15 Pro. Buying here can be worthwhile. Owners of an iPhone 13 or 14 can easily wait for the iPhone 16 or 17. Because progress here will be manageable in 2023. And if you buy the slightly worse predecessors, the 14 and 14 Pro, you can save another 100 to 150 euros compared to the new iPhones. Price example: The certainly very popular iPhone 15 with 256 GB of storage officially costs 1,079 euros at Apple. Apple is now selling the iPhone 14 with the same memory for 979 euros, and it’s a little cheaper in independent stores.
