I switched from an iPhone 14 Pro to an iPhone 15 and haven't looked back

Once a Pro, always a Pro? You would think so, but downgrading hasn't been a better experience than I thought.

- PETER MÜLLER

I don't need to have a new iPhone every year. Just the procedure of changing over with various authentications is sometimes a bit annoying. What's more, the iPhone has matured to such an extent that there are only evolutionary changes from year to year, and there's rarely an innovation that really knocks my socks off.

A new device every three to four years, possibly a replacement battery in between-that's quite enough for me. After three to four years, a new iPhone really does feel quite revolutionary compared to the old one.

But now I'm in the situation of having to change every year for professional reasons. Even if the innovations from generation to generation are rather sparse, I need to be familiar with each annual upgrade to make sure I give our valued readers the best possible information. But which model is best for me?

DECIDING ON A DOWNGRADE

In recent years, I have had a red iPhone 11 (fave.co/2ZNIXKa), a green iPhone 12 (fave.co/30tksMG), a lilac-colored iPhone 13 (fave.co/3d140fD) and a gold iPhone 14 Pro (fave.co/3SQDJmK) in constant use. I didn't buy any of them myself-most of them were test models from Apple that we returned after a year, well looked after and undamaged.

But what does a spoiled iPhone user buy when they've been using the iPhone 14 Pro for a whole year? Your mileage may vary, but I opted for an iPhone 15, without the "Pro."

Why is that? Sure, the price plays a role. Would the features of the iPhone 15 Pro justify the extra cost? Six months after making the switch, I have an answer.

THE CAMERA: JUST AS GOOD, MINUS THE ZOOM

Most people now make their purchase decision based on the smartphone's camera, so most smartphone tests are actually camera tests. I had always used the normal model with its wide-angle and ultra-wide-angle lens until I got a telephoto lens with the iPhone 14 Pro.