iPhone 15 Pro Models Face Decline in Customer Satisfaction, According to PerfectRec Analysis

Highlights

• iPhone 15 Pro and Pro Max see a drop in 5/5 star ratings.
• Standard iPhone 15 models enjoy rising customer approval.
• Overheating issue impacts early iPhone 15 series reviews.
• iPhone 15 Pro records lowest popularity among Pro models in customer satisfaction.

If reports are to be believed the iPhone 15 Pro and Pro Max have seen a notable dip in customer approval ratings.

This information comes courtesy of the latest data from PerfectRec, a product recommendation site that scrapes through reviews on Amazon, Google, and more.

This development, if true, looks to be at odds with traditionally high ratings associated with Apple’s Pro models, underscoring a changing landscape in consumer sentiment towards high-end smartphones.

The analysis, drawn from an extensive pool of nearly 700,000 user-generated Google reviews shows that the iPhone 15 Pro and Pro Max models have witnessed a decline in 5/5 star ratings.

However, their more affordable counterparts, the iPhone 15 and 15 Plus, have seen an uptick in customer satisfaction.

Key Findings

• A Downward Trend for Pro Models: The iPhone 15 Pro’s customer satisfaction plummeted from 73.5% to 66.1%, while the Pro Max version slid from 77% to 72.5% in terms of receiving 5/5 stars.
  This indicates a significant shift in consumer approval away from Apple’s flagship offerings.
• Rising Approval for Standard Models: In contrast, the iPhone 15 witnessed an increase in 5/5 star ratings, soaring from 68.2% to 78.1%.
  Similarly, the iPhone 15 Plus jumped from 70% to 73.5%, signaling a growing consumer preference for these models.
• The Overheating Issue: An early snag in the form of an overheating issue, later rectified by the iOS 17.0.3 update, tarnished the initial reception of the iPhone 15 series, contributing to 15% of all negative reviews in October. This incident likely played a role in shaping early consumer feedback.
• A Historical Low for the Pro Model: The iPhone 15 Pro has earned the dubious distinction of being the least popular Pro model ever in terms of customer satisfaction, with a decrease in 5-star ratings from an initial 72% to 68%.

What are the Implications of this?

As mentioned, this trend suggests a pivotal shift in consumer priorities, with affordability and value increasingly trumping the premium features and specifications that typically define Pro models.

Furthermore, Apple is likely to face a broader challenge owing to the statistical significance of the satisfaction decrease across all iPhone 15 models in January.

As it is, smartphone shipments across the globe are seeing a decline, and Apple is trying its level best to navigate evolving consumer demands and expectations.

The distinction between early adopters and later buyers, as noted in the report, offers additional insights into the dynamic nature of consumer feedback, reflecting varied expectations and experiences with the product.

FAQs

Why have the iPhone 15 Pro models seen a decline in customer satisfaction?

The decline in customer satisfaction for the iPhone 15 Pro and Pro Max models is attributed to factors such as early technical issues, including an overheating problem, and possibly a changing consumer preference towards value and affordability.

How does the satisfaction of iPhone 15 and 15 Plus compare to the Pro models?

The iPhone 15 and 15 Plus models have witnessed an increase in customer satisfaction, with higher 5/5 star ratings, suggesting that consumers may be favoring these more affordable options over the Pro models.

What was the impact of the overheating issue on the iPhone 15 series?

The overheating issue, identified early in the iPhone 15 series’ lifecycle, was linked to 15% of all negative reviews in October, significantly affecting initial consumer perceptions until resolved by the iOS 17.0.3 update.

Has the iPhone 15 Pro become the least popular Pro model ever?

Yes, the iPhone 15 Pro has been noted as the least popular Pro model in terms of customer satisfaction, marking a historical low for Apple’s flagship offerings.

What do the changing trends in iPhone 15 model satisfaction imply for Apple?

The shifting consumer satisfaction trends suggest that Apple may need to reevaluate its strategy, focusing more on delivering value and addressing quality concerns to meet evolving consumer preferences and maintain its market position.

Did iPhone 15 Pro customer satisfaction drops over battery life disappointment ? iPhone 15 taken the lead ?

Data from PerfectRec show ratings from owners of the 15 Pro ranked below iPhone 13 Pro and 14 Pro.

Now the latest report shows iPhone 15 Pro and Pro Max customer satisfaction has continued to decline while iPhone 15 and 15 Plus satisfaction has surpassed the high-end models.

The last report from PerfectRec was made up of almost 700,000 user-generated Google reviews and the new data likely exceeds that.

Continuing with the same methodology, PerfectRec measured what percentage of iPhone 15/Pro user reviews received 5/5 stars.

Interestingly, the two Pro models saw a decline since September when early adopters picked up the high-end smartphones. And the more affordable iPhone 15 and 15 Plus saw an increase in customer satisfaction. Usually, the pro models have higher ratings than the base variants but not this time around.

After starting at 73.5% in September, 66.1% of iPhone 15 Pro reviews now give 5/5 stars. And for iPhone 15 Pro Max, that went from 77% to 72.5%.

In contrast, iPhone 15 went from 68.2% to 78.1% and the 15 Plus jumped from 70% to 73.5% for 5/5 star ratings.

What are the three complaints seen with iPhone 15 pro ?

The iPhone 15 devices saw an overheating issue for a few weeks after launch which was fixed with the iOS 17.0.3 update. That certainly caused some disappointment among early buyers and that showed up in “15% of all negative reviews” in October.

But PerfectRec says that in the last 30 days, the top three complaints about iPhone 15 Pro have been:

Poor battery life

Incremental upgrades from iPhone 14 Pro
Disappointment about the physical design and protruding camera lenses

Did iPhone 15 Pro ratings drop below iPhone 14 and 13 Pro, according to 700k reviews ?

Back in May last year,a study from PerfectRec showed the iPhone 14 lineup including the 14 Pro saw a notable drop in the percentage of 5-star reviews. Now the firm’s latest study shows another drop for the iPhone 15 Pro.

The latest study from PerfectRec is made up of 695,000 user-generated Google reviews for the iPhone 15 devices. While the data naturally includes some erroneous or extreme reviews, with a sample size this big, it likely gives a good idea of customer sentiment.

Apple again said during its fiscal Q3 earnings call that a study from 451 Research found iPhone 14 family satisfaction to be at 98%. We’ll likely hear next month what the initial satisfaction number Apple shares for the iPhone 15 lineup.

As was the case back in May (and for years), the user-generated reviews that this new study collected tell a different story. Though it is important to note they are comparing two different, yet closely related metrics.

After the iPhone 14 Pro saw an 8% drop in the number of 5-star reviews compared to the 13 Pro, the iPhone 15 Pro dropped to a new low of 72% being 5-star reviews just over a month since its launch.

In a flip from last year, the iPhone 15 and 15 Plus were rated at 5 stars in 76 and 74% of reviews, respectively.

When considering factors that could explain the YoY declining trend, PerfectRec’s Wally Nowinski believes one aspect could be early adopters have higher expectations.

We theorize that there is a bit of a gap between how early adopters view a product and how it is received by more typical consumers. The people who order an iPhone on launch day might have higher expectations and be more easily disappointed than those who purchase later in the year.

Nowinski highlights the ratings may change over time, so we’ll keep an eye out for future studies on the 5-star percentage of the iPhone 15 devices.

Earlier this month we saw a report that consumers in China were not as interested in the iPhone 15 devices as they were in iPhone 14.

Why is the iPhone 15 series overheating?

Apple has identified that the new devices run hotter during the initial setup process and pointed out specific third-party apps like Asphalt 9, Uber, and Instagram as contributors to the issue.

What is causing the faster-than-expected battery drain on iPhone 15 and 15 Pro?

High battery usage can occur when restoring the device from a backup, downloading large media libraries, and using apps with high background activity.

What is Apple doing to address these issues?

Apple is set to release an update, possibly iOS 17.0.3, to resolve the overheating problems. The company is also collaborating with third-party app developers to fix app-related issues.

How can users mitigate these issues before the software update?

Users can monitor app battery usage, activate low power mode, manage background app refresh settings, and fine-tune location services to mitigate problems.

What Drives Battery Consumption?

Restoring a device from a backup can initially cause high battery usage.
Downloading a large library of photos or videos can drain the battery significantly.
Your device may generate extra heat and therefore consume more battery during the restoration process.

Apps with continuous location tracking and high background activity can be significant battery hogs.

Your enthusiasm to explore the new features on your iPhone 15 may result in higher battery consumption initially.

How to Alleviate Overheating Issues?

Limit your use of Uber and Asphalt 9 until updates are made available that address the issue.

Ensure Instagram is updated to its latest version, which was released on September 26 and reportedly fixes the problem.

If you encounter overheating while using other apps, consider halting their use or updating them to the latest versions.

Apple has signaled that a forthcoming iOS release, possibly version 17.0.3 (release date unconfirmed), will offer a comprehensive solution to the overheating issue.

APPLE IPHONE 15 PRO MAX SPECIFICATIONS