I woke up one December morning with this itch—I wanted better photos and videos than what my little iPhone 12 Mini could give me. Don’t get me wrong, the Mini was cute and handy, but it just wasn’t cutting it anymore. My main phone had been the Galaxy S23, which is honestly an amazing device, but the video processing drove me crazy. No option to turn it off, no way around it.

So I head to the mall, thinking I’ll grab a used iPhone 14 Pro. Simple plan. But then I spot a 15 Pro sitting there, priced lower than the 14 because of a scratched screen and a battery sitting at 70%. I hesitate for a second, then I take the bait.

Fast forward to today, and I’ve got some thoughts swirling around.

The camera—both photo and video—is a huge step up. Compared to the Mini, it’s night and day. Even against the S23, the iPhone feels smoother, more natural. The extra modes are fun, and while the S23’s 8K sounds impressive, it’s not something I’d actually use. What I love is how easy it feels to record and snap pictures that look sharp most of the time without me fussing over settings.

Battery life surprised me. Even at 70%, it still lasts me through the day. The screen is gorgeous, though the size isn’t perfect for one‑hand use. I’ve adjusted, but wow—the weight is something else. Heavier than my Galaxy or any phone I’ve carried before.

For social media and editing, this thing flies. Quick, smooth, no lag. Perfect for content creators like me who want to shoot, edit, and upload without dragging files around. Of course, it’s not a DSLR or a GoPro replacement, but paired with my Insta360 X3, it’s more than enough for fast edits and posts.

All in all, I feel like I scored. For the price, the iPhone 15 Pro is worth it—especially with my Apple Watch Series 7 tagging along. If you don’t care about video or editing for social media, I’d still say go with a Galaxy or another solid Android. iOS can feel limiting and sometimes even annoying compared to the freedom of my Galaxy.

But here’s the thing: until Samsung fixes its video post‑processing and makes social uploads smoother, I’m sticking with the iPhone. The 15 Pro feels like a dream phone, and honestly, it’s a great way to step into the Apple world without paying top dollar. And no, you’re not missing much from the shiny new 17 Pro—Apple Intelligence still feels half‑baked.

So for now, I’m living with the weight of the 15 Pro in my pocket and the ease of knowing my videos and photos finally look the way I want them to. It’s not perfect, but it feels like the right fit for this chapter.