5 Travel-Focused Features I Love About Apple’s iPhone 15 Pro

I’m always excited to get my hands on the latest piece of technology, and I’m typically one of the first in line (virtually, at least) when Apple releases a new iPhone. This year was no exception with the announcement of the iPhone 15 lineup.

Apple started preorders on September 15, 2023, with deliveries starting on launch day, September 22, 2023.

Since I was planning a trip to Martha’s Vineyard for that weekend, I had my phone shipped directly to the island so that I could start using it as soon as possible. I’m glad I did because models quickly sold out online, and deliveries started getting pushed into October — or even later.

Plus, I got to use the mini-getaway as a bit of a test drive for my new phone.

I opted for the iPhone 15 Pro 128GB in Blue Titanium, which retails for $999 in the U.S. This is not an inexpensive phone, so my expectations were high — but they were all pretty much met.

Let’s take a look at some of my favorite features that make traveling with an Apple iPhone 15 Pro a great experience.

1. The 48-Megapixel Camera

As with every new iPhone, there are improvements across the board; One of my favorites is the 48-megapixel (MP) main camera.

I upgraded from an iPhone 14 Pro, which already had an excellent camera — and this one is even better.

I used to travel with a bulky DSLR camera to capture “good” photos of my kids and for hotel and airline reviews. But Apple has made that unnecessary for me since the launch of the iPhone 11 Pro, which had 3 camera lenses.

According to Apple, the iPhone 15 Pro’s camera unit is like having 7 professional-level lenses in your pocket to choose from.

Now, users can choose from:

• 48MP Main with 24mm, 28mm, and 35mm lens options
• 12MP Ultra Wide 13mm lens
• 12MP 2x Telephoto 48mm lens
• 12MP 3x Telephoto 77mm lens
• 12MP TrueDepth front camera

All of those can be customized to be the default camera, which is a nice touch if you generally prefer a zoom or wide-angle instead of the main lens.

For a rainy and overcast weekend, it was nice to have the cameras on the iPhone 15 Pro to play around with.

In great weather, most photos look good regardless of the camera used. I tested all of the lenses throughout the weekend, and they all performed quite well for a traveler looking to capture some memories.

Personally, I continued to default to the 48MP Main camera, but the Ultra Wide and 3x Telephoto are excellent options.

You can see the difference between the lenses as I took pictures of this house while standing in the same position, just toggling between the camera lenses.

I did not do any post-production editing of these photos.

2. A Battery That Lasts All Day

Checking flights, posting on social media, ordering rideshares … all of these common tasks can drain a phone’s battery quickly.

While I always travel with a power bank, having a long-lasting battery is just as important.

Apple is advertising the iPhone 15 Pro battery as an “All Day Battery,” which is a big claim.

The official claims are for 23 hours of video playback (and 75 hours for audio playback) on a single charge. A 20-watt adapter, sold separately, can offer a 50% quick charge in 30 minutes.

Personally, I find the video playback claims to be far-fetched, but for normal daily use (opening and closing apps, using GPS, scrolling on social media, etc.), the iPhone 15 Pro generally ended the day with more battery life than my 14 Pro did after 3 days of testing.

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3. USB-C Charging Port

One of the biggest (physical) changes to the iPhone 15 lineup is the inclusion of a USB-C port instead of the Lightning port that was introduced several years ago.

This will allow users to reduce the number of cables needed to charge their gear, as USB-C has become widely adopted across all sorts of devices.

Plus, users can now use their iPhone 15s to charge other devices, including other iPhones. This is a great feature if you’re in a pinch and don’t have any other options.

I will say although I am in favor of the USB-C switch, I still have a lot of Apple devices in my household that require Lightning cables. So, that just means more cables in my life until everything gets upgraded.

4. Precision Finding

Besides the iPhone, one of my favorite Apple products lately has been Apple AirTags.

These little trackers are extremely useful when you want to keep track of luggage, pets, and, in my case, kids, via the Find My app.

But if you aren’t close enough, it can be hard to pinpoint exactly where the AirTag is. That has changed with the iPhone 15.

Now, thanks to a new Ultra Wideband chip, the Precision Finding feature can be quickly toggled on, making finding your loved ones easier to find in busy airports and my personal favorite — Disney theme parks.

5. Safety Features

Apple is rolling out some nice safety features, especially for travelers. Every iPhone 15 now receives complimentary Roadside Assistance and Emergency SOS via satellite.

This is important when there is no cell phone service or Wi-Fi, as users can connect with AAA directly and transmit information, including messages and their exact location, via satellite.

Plus, a Crash Detection feature is being rolled out and is now available in 14 countries across 3 continents.

While we all hope never to need to use these features, it’s nice to know it’s there — especially for those who like to travel off the grid.

Final Thoughts

There is a whole list of things that could easily convince someone to upgrade to the latest iPhone.

It’s lighter, faster, and has better cameras than its predecessor. These are all good developments for travelers and everyday users.

Plus, there are new features, such as the Action button and improved Dynamic Island. Combined with the new colors and materials, there is a lot for Apple fans to like.

Oh, and it’s nice that the price didn’t increase from last year.

Overall, I’m happy with my upgrade, but I’m not sure that the casual user will even notice a difference from the iPhone 14, especially if it’s being used with a protective case.

Plus, there have been some reports of the phone getting very hot during heavy use, but I haven’t had that issue yet.

All of that said, if you’re a traveler who needs extra battery life and a great camera, the iPhone 15 Pro is a great choice!

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