Other (Un)popular opinion: iPhone 14 Pros felt much more premium than 15 Pros

[farkingdom]

I personally wouldn’t have done it. 14P was a minimum upgrade over 13 or even 12 and just feels like an aging 3-4 year model. For $100 more you get lighter body, usb c and active button with faster cpu. Those 4 alone justify getting the new model.

The 14p has more upgrade than the 15p which is minimum upgrade. Basically the leap between 12/13 to 14 brought Promotion, always on display , dynamic island, improved 48MP back camera and front camera, improved display n higher brightness.

While the 15p noticeable improvement is basically an “titanium”, action button, and usb c. I wouldn’t call the display nor the camera huge leap improvement since the hardware between the 15P camera (except the max) and 14P camera are the same. While both the displays have the same exact spec.
In fact the 15p is also somewhat a downgrade in terms of drop durability, curved screen, and even worst thermals than the 14P.

 

[pugxiwawa]

Obviously the $100 wasn't the motivation. My decision was made purely on design. Technicals are obviously improved but not by much. And apparently battery life is slightly worse (basically even) than last year according to this review:

If the design doesn't bother you and you value the weight savings, good for you but that wasn't the case for me.

But what design change? They all look exactly the same from 6 ft away. 12P same as 13P as 14P as 15P. Only way to tell the difference is by looking at camera. And most people just put it in a case anyway so the feel of materials don’t even matter. I’m just not seeing how design between them would be considered a big deal.

 

[NotApplicable]

But what design change? They all look exactly the same from 6 ft away. 12P same as 13P as 14P as 15P. Only way to tell the difference is by looking at camera. And most people just put it in a case anyway so the feel of materials don’t even matter. I’m just not seeing how design between them would be considered a big deal.

I went from 14P to 15PM and never use a case

Love the upgrade

 

[Mity]

But what design change? They all look exactly the same from 6 ft away. 12P same as 13P as 14P as 15P. Only way to tell the difference is by looking at camera. And most people just put it in a case anyway so the feel of materials don’t even matter. I’m just not seeing how design between them would be considered a big deal.

The materials! I'm saying that SS feels much better than Titanium. And according to you logic, if most people just wear put it in a case, how about Apple make iPhones out of plastic? "It's just going in a case anyway."

 

[smirking]

Well, my 15 Pro just arrived at my door and it doesn't feel light or cheap at all to me. I actually would want it to weigh a little bit less to be honest.

The OP has their preference for what a phone should weigh and feel and it might have something to do with their exact use case. Totally respect that.

My use case is that I already haul around a lot of gear and I'd like things as light as possible. It's not that much heavier than the iPhone X it's replacing, but it definitely feels heavier to me and I wish it were lighter than the phone it's replacing.

Also if I accidentally drop it on my face when I'm half asleep, I don't want to go to the ER for stitches. 🤪

 

[btrach144]

iPhone 14 Pro Max was the heaviest iPhone to date. And it was horrible for it.

10% weight savings is worth it 1000%. Sounds like OP has buyers remorse for buying last years model days before.

 

[aue123]

don’t forget to mention x70 modem, 8gb ram. those are both quality of life improvements which should be included in the upgrade decision

 

[Mity]

Sounds like OP has buyers remorse for buying last years model days before.

I literally went to the Apple Store AFTER the 15 series announcement; deliberately. I'm still within the 15 day return window. No buyer's remorse at all. Just remorse that USB-C wasn't added last year since this year's model is too cheap feeling.

 

[Silverstring]

What bugs me is when people make the claim that because something is lighter etc. that is feel cheap, looks inferior, or whatever phrase to try and justify an illogical position.

If something feels a certain way to someone, are they really purporting that their position is centered on logic in the first place?

I agree with you on 15PM>14PM, but I could easily understand someone having the opposite view. That wouldn’t be “illogical”, just a different view of the characteristics that constitute a “premium feel”.

The argument wasn’t some objective, absolutist, “lighter universally means cheap and inferior.” It was, subjectively, “between these two, the heavier phone feels more premium to me”.

 

[Apple_Robert]

If something feels a certain way to someone, are they really purporting that their position is centered on logic in the first place?

I agree with you on 15PM>14PM, but I could easily understand someone having the opposite view. That wouldn’t be “illogical”, just a different view of the characteristics that constitute a “premium feel”.

The argument wasn’t some objective, absolutist, “lighter universally means cheap and inferior.” It was, subjectively, “between these two, the heavier phone feels more premium to me”.

I get the latter. The illogical part in question (at least for me) was thinking that something which is lighter and feels a little different in hand is cheaply made and inferior to something else that is heavier. I have sen far too many forum members espouse that same line of thinking and while such persons are entitled to feel how they want, that doesn't negate their purchase justification from falling apart when trying to sell the same argument to others here.

 

[pugxiwawa]

I literally went to the Apple Store AFTER the 15 series announcement; deliberately. I'm still within the 15 day return window. No buyer's remorse at all. Just remorse that USB-C wasn't added last year since this year's model is too cheap feeling.

I don’t think you will find a single person looking at 15 PX and say ‘wow that’s a cheap looking phone’! But you sure will have people looked at your 14PX and ask same question over and over why would anyone buy an inferior phone now with 15PX is out, especially only for $100 difference.

There’s no need to justify reasoning to us, but at the same time also no need to put down 15 as cheap just because you like how 14 feels.

 

[vinegarshots]

The materials! I'm saying that SS feels much better than Titanium. And according to you logic, if most people just wear put it in a case, how about Apple make iPhones out of plastic? "It's just going in a case anyway."

The titanium feels better in every way to stainless steel, to me. Personally I always thought the shiny chrome finish on the stainless steel looked “cheap.” 😅

Also, why in the world would you want a heavier phone? That’s just odd. They’re already plenty heavy, even with titanium

 

[Sami13496]

May I ask why didn’t you first look at both models and only then make purchase? It’s not like 14 getting more expensice after 15 launch.

 

[blairh]

My last iOS device was the iPhone 11 Pro (I bought 1 in gray and another in green, super beautiful). I've been on Pixel since then (Pixel 6 and until now Pixel 7 Pro) because I've been waiting for USB-C. Last week, right after the iPhone 15 announcement, I went to the Apple store and bought a 14 Pro Max in Space Black just in case I didn't like the new design. It's gorgeous. It's heft gives it a premium feel. The only downside is the Lightning port.

I just got back from the Apple Store and I'm quite disappointed with what I saw. The fit and finish of the 15 Pro phones didn't feel as nice as the 14 Pros. The 14 Pro Max feels more substantial in the hand. The 15 Pro Max almost felt cheap. It is incredibly light but it doesn't feel premium. And the titanium is very difficult to discern from aluminum. I couldn't see a big difference between the regular 15s and the 15 Pros.

Edit: Given the responses below, I feel the need to point out that I'm not suggesting at the 15 Pro isn't an upgrade in technical specs over the 14 Pro. I'm just saying that I liked SS over Titanium. IMO Titanium just doesn't feel as premium as SS.

The last thing I want is a heavier iPhone. The lighter the better. Always.

 

[Twitchy15]

It’s funny, a lot of people complain about the 14 PM being too heavy and hurting their pinky. They’re probably ecstatic at the weight reduction.

I think a lot of people equate heft with expensive, simply because it’s true often enough. Remember Jurassic Park?
View attachment 2277271

But obviously it’s not always true. For example, lighter bicycles are more expensive and premium than heavy bicycles. And titanium is more expensive and has better qualities than stainless steel.

If the heft doesn’t affect you negatively, nothing wrong with preferring it. But personally, I want as little weight in my pockets as possible, so the lighter the better. (I don’t have a Pro Max, but just speaking in general)

Yeah I had a 14 pro and it was heavy caused a lot of hand / pinky fatigue.

I had no reason to upgrade but it being lighter and titanium was the main reason and not the greatest reason..

But after feeling it in the hand versus the 14 pro I am really happy. Loved the 14 pro but didn’t like the weight. Even though it’s hefty it does feel super premium and the stainless steel is gorgeous but the titanium is also very nice.

 

[mectojic]

My last iOS device was the iPhone 11 Pro (I bought 1 in gray and another in green, super beautiful). I've been on Pixel since then (Pixel 6 and until now Pixel 7 Pro) because I've been waiting for USB-C. Last week, right after the iPhone 15 announcement, I went to the Apple store and bought a 14 Pro Max in Space Black just in case I didn't like the new design. It's gorgeous. It's heft gives it a premium feel. The only downside is the Lightning port.

I just got back from the Apple Store and I'm quite disappointed with what I saw. The fit and finish of the 15 Pro phones didn't feel as nice as the 14 Pros. The 14 Pro Max feels more substantial in the hand. The 15 Pro Max almost felt cheap. It is incredibly light but it doesn't feel premium. And the titanium is very difficult to discern from aluminum. I couldn't see a big difference between the regular 15s and the 15 Pros.

Edit: Given the responses below, I feel the need to point out that I'm not suggesting at the 15 Pro isn't an upgrade in technical specs over the 14 Pro. I'm just saying that I liked SS over Titanium. IMO Titanium just doesn't feel as premium as SS.

Completely agree!!!
Just got back from the Apple store today. Was completely disappointed with the feel and look of the Titanium, especially after all the fingerprint marks. Stainless steel is much more "pro".
The iPhone 14 Pro looks much, much better. My wife has the purple 14 Pro; none of the 15 Pros have such a nice colour.

 

[Supermallet]

Everyone makes their own calculus to choose the best phone for themselves. I personally never felt that stainless steel felt premium, just heavy. And in fact I would have paid a premium to get a lighter phone. Now my 15 Pro Max phone is lighter than my 14 Pro regular (subjectively anyway, it feels so much better balanced in my hands) and the titanium feels so much nicer in my hands. A win all around for me.

Then again I never felt the non-pro iPhones felt cheap or flimsy, not even the SE. It’s all about what perspective and expectations you have going in.

 

[Nordman 52]

The titanium material makes the iPhone look cheap. It immediately reminded me of the aluminum we see in cans of canned food. For such a premium device, this is a letdown. My wife got the 15 Pro in white, and we checked out all the colors in an Apple Store. To my surprise, the black looks more premium than all the other colors. The blue looks boring.

The 14 Pro had a more premium look, and I can't deny this as we have both devices at home (14 and 15) to compare in detail.

 

[Al Rukh]

I get that some people like a heavier feel product. Put a case on the 15 and that is no longer a quibble. What bugs me is when people make the claim that because something is lighter etc. that is feel cheap, looks inferior, or whatever phrase to try and justify an illogical position.

If the OP had said that for him, the 14 has a better weight distribution in hand for him for holding and possible one hand use, I would understand and not see a problem with that personal preference position,. However, making illogical points to justify a personal preference is not the way to go about it.

I am glad the OP is happy with the 14. I upgraded from the 14 Pro and it felt good in hand as well with an Apple leather case and wallet. He is welcome to feel how he wants but perpetuation the myth light equal cheap and the other arguments made is not how I think he should have framed his OP.

In OP’s defence, he chose his words carefully - such as using the word ‘feel’ instead of using factual words like ‘is cheap’.

The weight and finish of a particular metal plays a huge role in how premium a device feels and looks.

 

[Crow_Servo]

The 16 Pro and Pro Max/Ultra will supposedly be larger, so I’d expect them to be heavier than the 15 Pro and Pro Max. It’s good that they switched to Titanium then, so next year’s phones won’t be quite as heavy as the Stainless Steel versions of the past. Or perhaps just as heavy, but larger? We’ll see.

 

[Nozuka]

I have a dedicated phone for Germany as I travel there often. With my German Apple ID, I am able to pay my mobile phone bills. The app isn't available in the US App Store. So, one phone for the US and the other phone for Germany. This was obviously BEFORE USB-C on iPhones became a thing.

You don't need 2 phones for that. I live in Switzerland and have been using an US Apple ID since forever. For the few Swiss Apps i can't find on the US Store i just switch to the swiss account, download them and then switch back to the US ID.. they will continue updating.

 

[rkuo]

My last iOS device was the iPhone 11 Pro (I bought 1 in gray and another in green, super beautiful). I've been on Pixel since then (Pixel 6 and until now Pixel 7 Pro) because I've been waiting for USB-C. Last week, right after the iPhone 15 announcement, I went to the Apple store and bought a 14 Pro Max in Space Black just in case I didn't like the new design. It's gorgeous. It's heft gives it a premium feel. The only downside is the Lightning port.

I just got back from the Apple Store and I'm quite disappointed with what I saw. The fit and finish of the 15 Pro phones didn't feel as nice as the 14 Pros. The 14 Pro Max feels more substantial in the hand. The 15 Pro Max almost felt cheap. It is incredibly light but it doesn't feel premium. And the titanium is very difficult to discern from aluminum. I couldn't see a big difference between the regular 15s and the 15 Pros.

Edit: Given the responses below, I feel the need to point out that I'm not suggesting at the 15 Pro isn't an upgrade in technical specs over the 14 Pro. I'm just saying that I liked SS over Titanium. IMO Titanium just doesn't feel as premium as SS.

Precious metals such as gold and platinum are very dense. So associating that density with a luxury feel is understandable.

But given that you know what material is contributing to that feel (simple stainless steel), it's an odd thing to say it feels cheap. It feels cheap *to you*. Titanium is objectively a superior and more expensive material in all the important aspects.

This is not unlike the world of luxury watches in that I would never look at a titanium release of a new watch and say I'm "disappointed" in it and it "feels cheap". And I would not speak of it that way to others that are interested in it. No ... it's simply not the watch for me, end of story.

 

[Torty]

At least in Germany the 15pm IS cheaper than the 14pm was. But this isn’t a bad I think.

 

[uiterlix]

It really makes no sense to debate which of the two feels more premium, thats just highly subjective.

 

[Zayway86]

Totally agree. I wasn't impressed with the in-hand feeling. Held both the 15P and 15PM; both felt "cheap" compared to pro models of recent years. I also think stainless steel looks more premium.