Apple Says 128GB iPhone 15 Pro Limited to 1080p ProRes Video Recording Unless External Storage Connected

ProRes video recording remains limited to 1080p quality at 30 frames per second on the 128GB model of the iPhone 15 Pro, unless the device is recording directly to a connected external storage drive, according to Apple. This limitation does not apply to the 256GB, 512GB, and 1TB models, which can record 4K ProRes video.

iPhone 15 Pro lineup
Apple does not mention this information on the iPhone 15 Pro's tech specs page on its website, but the limitation is listed when comparing the iPhone 15 Pro to another iPhone model in the Apple Store app, as seen in the screenshot below.

iPhone 15 Pro 128GB ProRes
The same limitation applied to iPhone 13 Pro and iPhone 14 Pro models with 128GB of storage, but those devices cannot record ProRes video to external storage, so at least iPhone 15 Pro users have that option this time around. The limitation does not apply to the iPhone 15 Pro Max, as that model starts with 256GB of storage.

ProRes video files are very large. Apple says a one-minute 10-bit ProRes video is approximately 1.7GB in 1080p and 6GB in 4K. Apple likely feels that offering 4K ProRes video recording to internal storage on the 128GB model would be a subpar user experience. With recording to an external storage now an option, it is less of an issue.

Introduced on the iPhone 13 Pro models, ProRes refers to a family of codecs from Apple that can compress videos into smaller file sizes with "impressive image quality preservation." Apple says ProRes is designed as a final delivery format for high-quality videos like commercials, feature films, and broadcasts.

ProRes video recording is still not supported at all on the standard iPhone 15 and iPhone 15 Plus.

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Top Rated Comments

TheYayAreaLiving ?️ Avatar
26 months ago
iPhone 15 Pro 128GB should not exist in this world. It’s embarrassing.

I wish the base storage started from 256GB instead.
Score: 70 Votes (Like | Disagree)
w4th0 Avatar
26 months ago
Says to me that 128GB version of a "Pro" iPhone should not be a thing. Just like MBAs with 8GB of RAM and single chip 256GB storage. I get that Apple makes a nice $ on the storage and memory options, but the base specs should not be crippling to the device features.
Score: 33 Votes (Like | Disagree)
abatabia Avatar
26 months ago
I know to some this is an annoying, tacky move, but for me I have filmed in pro raw exactly one time. Take that anyway you like.
Score: 24 Votes (Like | Disagree)
abatabia Avatar
26 months ago

iPhone 15 Pro 128GB should not exist in this world. I wish the base storage started from 256GB instead.
Could not agree more. Just make it 256 already!
Score: 22 Votes (Like | Disagree)
GuruZac Avatar
26 months ago
Which is why the 128GB shouldn’t be an option on the Pro model. 256GB should be base on both, and why I think it was smart for Apple to make the Max 256GB base, especially with the new camera improvements.
Score: 19 Votes (Like | Disagree)
kerr Avatar
26 months ago
A 128GB iPhone 15 Pro should not be a thing.
Score: 18 Votes (Like | Disagree)