Comparison
iPhone 15 vs iPhone 16: Is the Upgrade Worth It?
The iPhone 16 is the better buy if you want Apple Intelligence, Camera Control, the Action button, macro photos and a bit more battery. The iPhone 15 is still a strong pick with the same screen, size and 48MP main camera.
Buy the iPhone 16 if you want Apple Intelligence, Camera Control, the Action button and macro photos. Buy the iPhone 15 if you want the same 6.1-inch screen, USB-C and a 48MP camera, and you can live without Apple's AI features.
You want Apple Intelligence
You like a dedicated camera button
You want macro photos of small things
You keep phones for a long time
You want the lowest price on a USB-C iPhone with a 48MP camera
You don't need Apple Intelligence
You like the Ring/Silent switch
You charge with a cable, not MagSafe
Skip both if: you want a 120Hz screen. Both are 60Hz. The iPhone 17 is the first standard iPhone with 120Hz.
The short version
The iPhone 15 and iPhone 16 look and feel almost the same. Both have a 6.1-inch OLED screen with the Dynamic Island, 2000 nits peak brightness outdoors, a 48MP main camera with 2x optical-quality zoom, USB-C at USB 2 speed and IP68 water resistance. They even weigh about the same: 171 g and 170 g.
The iPhone 16 adds the things you touch and the things you can't see. On the outside, it has the Action button and Camera Control. On the inside, the A18 chip runs Apple Intelligence, which the iPhone 15 does not support. It also gets macro photos, spatial video, faster MagSafe charging and two more hours of video playback.
What's different
See every spec side by side
| iPhone 15 | iPhone 16 | |
|---|---|---|
| Released | September 2023 | September 2024 |
| Screen | 6.1" OLED, Dynamic Island | 6.1" OLED, Dynamic Island |
| Refresh rate | 60Hz | 60Hz |
| Peak brightness (outdoor) | 2000 nits | 2000 nits |
| Chip | A16 Bionic | A18 |
| Apple Intelligence | No | Yes |
| Main camera | 48MP, 2x optical-quality zoom | 48MP Fusion, 2x optical-quality zoom |
| Ultra wide | 12MP | 12MP, with macro |
| Spatial photos and video | No | Yes |
| Front camera | 12MP | 12MP |
| Buttons | Ring/Silent switch | Action button and Camera Control |
| Video playback | Up to 20 hours | Up to 22 hours |
| MagSafe | Up to 15W | Up to 25W |
| Port | USB-C (USB 2) | USB-C (USB 2) |
| Wi-Fi | Wi-Fi 6 | Wi-Fi 7 |
| Weight | 171 g | 170 g |
| Water resistance | IP68 (6 m, 30 min) | IP68 (6 m, 30 min) |
| Refurbished price | From $569.99 | From $889.99 |
Apple Intelligence: the biggest difference
Apple Intelligence includes Writing Tools for rewriting and proofreading, notification summaries, Clean Up in Photos, Image Playground, Genmoji and a smarter Siri.
Read more
It needs an iPhone 15 Pro or newer. The regular iPhone 15 does not support it. Every iPhone 16 model does.
If you don't care about AI features, this point doesn't matter to you, and the iPhone 15 does everything else very well. If you are curious about them, or want a phone that stays current longer, the iPhone 16 is the safer choice.
Action button and Camera Control
The iPhone 15 has the classic Ring/Silent switch.
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The iPhone 16 replaces it with the Action button, which you can set to silent mode, the flashlight, a voice memo, a shortcut and more.
The iPhone 16 also adds Camera Control, a pressure-sensitive button on the side. Press it to open the camera, press again to take a photo, and slide your finger on it to zoom or change exposure. It makes the iPhone 16 feel more like a real camera, and it opens Visual Intelligence too.
Camera
The main camera is 48MP on both, with a 2x optical-quality zoom.
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In most shots, results are close.
The iPhone 16's 12MP ultra wide has autofocus and can take macro photos and video, so you can shoot flowers, food and small details from a few centimetres away. The iPhone 15 can't. The iPhone 16 also records spatial photos and video for Apple Vision Pro, because its cameras sit one above the other.
Battery, charging and chip
Apple rates the iPhone 16 at up to 22 hours of video playback against up to 20 hours for the iPhone 15.
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Streamed video is up to 18 hours against 16 hours. Both get through a normal day.
Wired fast charging is the same, 50% in about 30 minutes with a 20W adapter. MagSafe is faster on the iPhone 16, up to 25W against up to 15W on the iPhone 15.
The A18 in the iPhone 16 is newer and faster than the A16 Bionic in the iPhone 15. For apps, photos and games you won't feel lag on either. The iPhone 16 also has Wi-Fi 7 and Bluetooth 5.3. The iPhone 15 has Wi-Fi 6 and Bluetooth 5.3.
Size and software support
The two phones have the same 147.6 by 71.6 by 7.80 mm body.
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Because the camera layout changed, iPhone 15 cases don't fit the iPhone 16 properly.
Apple does not publish an end date for iOS updates. The iPhone 16 came out a year later and has a newer chip, so expect it to be supported longer. If you keep phones for many years, that is a point for the 16.
Price range
Refurbished, the iPhone 15 starts at $569.99 and the iPhone 16 starts at $889.99. Higher storage and better grades cost more. Prices on this page update live from our store.
Want a bigger screen? The iPhone 15 Plus and iPhone 16 Plus have 6.7-inch screens. Browse the full iPhone 16 series. Have an older phone? You can sell or trade it in.
Should you buy new or refurbished?
Apple no longer sells the iPhone 15, so refurbished is the easiest way to buy one, and it is a smart way to save on an iPhone 16.
Read more
Every phone we sell is inspected and tested, unlocked, and backed by up to a 1-year warranty and 14-day returns. Grades describe looks only. Read new vs used vs refurbished to learn more.
Still choosing? Our buying guides: best phones in Canada, best camera phones, best battery life and best phones for seniors.
FAQ
Is the iPhone 16 worth it over the iPhone 15?
Yes if you want Apple Intelligence, Camera Control, the Action button or macro photos. If you don't need those, the iPhone 15 gives you the same screen, size and main camera.
Does the iPhone 15 support Apple Intelligence?
No. The regular iPhone 15 and 15 Plus do not. Apple Intelligence needs an iPhone 15 Pro, 15 Pro Max or any iPhone 16 or newer.
Is the iPhone 16 the same size as the iPhone 15?
Yes. Both are 147.6 by 71.6 by 7.80 mm with a 6.1-inch screen. The iPhone 16 weighs 170 g and the iPhone 15 weighs 171 g. Cases are not interchangeable because the camera layout is different.
Which has better battery life?
The iPhone 16, by about two hours. Apple rates it at up to 22 hours of video playback against up to 20 hours for the iPhone 15.
Do both have USB-C?
Yes. Both have a USB-C port running at USB 2 speed, up to 480Mb/s.
Évitez le prix du neuf
Procurez-vous le iPhone 16 d'occasion à partir de $889.99, testé par de vrais techniciens, avec une garantie de 90 jours à 1 an selon l'état et des retours sous 14 jours.
