The iPhone 16 Pro ($999) offers cutting-edge A18 Pro performance, advanced AI features, and enhanced camera capabilities, making it ideal for power users and professionals. The iPhone 15 Pro ($999 MSRP, now $299-629 discounted) remains an excellent choice for those seeking strong performance at a lower price point without needing the latest AI features.
iPhone 16 Pro vs iPhone 15 Pro — Side-by-side comparison on A Versus B
Apple's 2024 flagship with A18 Pro chip and Camera Control button
Apple's 2023 flagship with A17 Pro chip and ProMotion display
Price. Processor. Camera System. AI & Software. Design & Build. Battery Life. Display Quality. Value for Money
The iPhone 16 Pro is the superior choice for 2026 if you want the latest AI capabilities, advanced camera features, and peak performance. However, the iPhone 15 Pro delivers exceptional value at current discounted prices ($299-629) and remains a powerful, capable device for most users—making it the smarter buy for budget-conscious consumers.
iPhone 16 Pro: 199 g | iPhone 15 Pro: 187 g
iPhone 16 Pro: OLED Super Retina XDR, ProMotion 120Hz, Always-On | iPhone 15 Pro: N/A
iPhone 16 Pro: 27 hrs | iPhone 15 Pro: N/A
iPhone 16 Pro: Apple A18 Pro (3nm) | iPhone 15 Pro: N/A
iPhone 16 Pro: 48 MP, f/1.78, OIS, sensor-shift | iPhone 15 Pro: N/A
iPhone 16 Pro: 5× optical (12 MP, 120mm eq.) | iPhone 15 Pro: N/A
iPhone 16 Pro: 187g | iPhone 15 Pro: N/A
iPhone 16 Pro: $999 | iPhone 15 Pro: N/A
iPhone 16 Pro: 128 GB, 256 GB, 512 GB, 1 TB | iPhone 15 Pro: N/A
iPhone 16 Pro: Titanium frame, textured matte glass back, Ceramic Shield front | iPhone 15 Pro: N/A
iPhone 16 Pro: USB-C (USB 3), Wi-Fi 7, Bluetooth 5.3, Thread, UWB, MagSafe | iPhone 15 Pro: N/A
iPhone 16 Pro: 27W peak | iPhone 15 Pro: N/A
iPhone 16 Pro: 48 MP f/1.78 | iPhone 15 Pro: N/A
iPhone 16 Pro: $759 (Certified Refurb) | iPhone 15 Pro: N/A
iPhone 16 Pro: None | iPhone 15 Pro: N/A
iPhone 16 Pro: IP68 (6 m, 30 min) | iPhone 15 Pro: N/A
iPhone 16 Pro: iOS 18 | iPhone 15 Pro: N/A
iPhone 16 Pro: Apple A18 Pro (3 nm) | iPhone 15 Pro: N/A
iPhone 16 Pro: 1-120Hz ProMotion | iPhone 15 Pro: 120
iPhone 16 Pro: 48MP with f/1.8 aperture | iPhone 15 Pro: N/A
iPhone 16 Pro: 3x optical | iPhone 15 Pro: 3x
iPhone 16 Pro: 4K at 120fps | iPhone 15 Pro: N/A
iPhone 16 Pro: Grade 5 titanium | iPhone 15 Pro: Titanium
iPhone 16 Pro: 2,000 nits | iPhone 15 Pro: 3,000 nits HDR
iPhone 16 Pro: 5x maximum | iPhone 15 Pro: N/A
iPhone 16 Pro: 3,582 mAh | iPhone 15 Pro: 3,582
iPhone 16 Pro: 512GB | iPhone 15 Pro: N/A
iPhone 16 Pro: 6.3 inches | iPhone 15 Pro: N/A
iPhone 16 Pro: 48MP (12MP output) | iPhone 15 Pro: 48MP main sensor
iPhone 16 Pro: 5x optical | iPhone 15 Pro: N/A
iPhone 16 Pro: 7 years | iPhone 15 Pro: N/A
iPhone 16 Pro: 3,000 nits | iPhone 15 Pro: N/A
iPhone 16 Pro: 12 MP | iPhone 15 Pro: 12 MP
iPhone 16 Pro: ~45 minutes (45W) | iPhone 15 Pro: N/A
iPhone 16 Pro: 7 years guaranteed | iPhone 15 Pro: N/A
iPhone 16 Pro: Apple A18 Pro | iPhone 15 Pro: A17 Pro (6-core CPU)
iPhone 16 Pro: Baseline | iPhone 15 Pro: N/A
iPhone 16 Pro: 120 Hz ProMotion | iPhone 15 Pro: 120 Hz ProMotion
iPhone 16 Pro: 6.27 inches | iPhone 15 Pro: 6.1
iPhone 16 Pro: $999 | iPhone 15 Pro: $999
iPhone 16 Pro: f/1.78 | iPhone 15 Pro: f/1.8
iPhone 16 Pro: 12MP | iPhone 15 Pro: N/A
iPhone 16 Pro: 4K 60fps | iPhone 15 Pro: N/A
iPhone 16 Pro: 2,580 | iPhone 15 Pro: 2,924
iPhone 16 Pro: Baseline A18 Pro | iPhone 15 Pro: 16.9 TFLOPS
iPhone 16 Pro: 4K at 120fps, ProRes | iPhone 15 Pro: N/A
iPhone 16 Pro: 12x dual telephoto system | iPhone 15 Pro: N/A
iPhone 16 Pro: Grade 5 Titanium | iPhone 15 Pro: N/A
iPhone 16 Pro: Apple A18 Pro | iPhone 15 Pro: Apple A17 Pro
iPhone 16 Pro: 30% faster | iPhone 15 Pro: Baseline (0%)
iPhone 16 Pro: ƒ/1.2 | iPhone 15 Pro: ƒ/2.4
iPhone 16 Pro: 33 hours | iPhone 15 Pro: 27 hours
iPhone 16 Pro: 256GB | iPhone 15 Pro: 256GB
iPhone 16 Pro: 3x (with improved processing) | iPhone 15 Pro: 3x
iPhone 16 Pro: 27 hours | iPhone 15 Pro: N/A
iPhone 16 Pro: 3x optical zoom | iPhone 15 Pro: N/A
iPhone 16 Pro: $1099 | iPhone 15 Pro: $999
iPhone 16 Pro: 256GB | iPhone 15 Pro: 256
iPhone 16 Pro: 2000 nits | iPhone 15 Pro: 2,000 nits
iPhone 16 Pro: 12MP (120°) | iPhone 15 Pro: N/A
iPhone 16 Pro: 5x + 12x (dual periscope) | iPhone 15 Pro: N/A
iPhone 16 Pro: ~33 hours | iPhone 15 Pro: 19 hours
iPhone 16 Pro: IP69 (6m for 30 mins) | iPhone 15 Pro: IP69
iPhone 16 Pro: 5x optical | iPhone 15 Pro: 5x
iPhone 16 Pro: 6-core GPU | iPhone 15 Pro: N/A
iPhone 16 Pro: 256GB | iPhone 15 Pro: N/A
iPhone 16 Pro: 2,000 nits (HDR) | iPhone 15 Pro: N/A
iPhone 16 Pro: Baseline (A18 Pro) | iPhone 15 Pro: Baseline (A17 Pro)
iPhone 16 Pro: 1/1.27" (larger) | iPhone 15 Pro: N/A
iPhone 16 Pro: 12MP 5x optical | iPhone 15 Pro: N/A
iPhone 16 Pro: Standard baseline | iPhone 15 Pro: N/A
iPhone 16 Pro: 3,358 | iPhone 15 Pro: 2,900
iPhone 16 Pro: ~26 hours | iPhone 15 Pro: N/A
iPhone 16 Pro: 4K @ 120fps | iPhone 15 Pro: 4K at 120fps
iPhone 16 Pro: 6-7 years (typical) | iPhone 15 Pro: N/A
iPhone 16 Pro: A18 Pro | iPhone 15 Pro: A17 Pro baseline
iPhone 16 Pro: Full autofocus | iPhone 15 Pro: Fixed focus only
iPhone 16 Pro: 256 GB | iPhone 15 Pro: 128 GB
iPhone 16 Pro: N/A | iPhone 15 Pro: 5x optical zoom
iPhone 16 Pro: N/A | iPhone 15 Pro: 7,200
iPhone 16 Pro: N/A | iPhone 15 Pro: $999
iPhone 16 Pro: N/A | iPhone 15 Pro: 3x optical
iPhone 16 Pro: N/A | iPhone 15 Pro: A17 Pro (2023)
iPhone 16 Pro: N/A | iPhone 15 Pro: 2,850
iPhone 16 Pro: N/A | iPhone 15 Pro: Super Retina XDR with always-on
iPhone 16 Pro: N/A | iPhone 15 Pro: 3,450
iPhone 16 Pro: N/A | iPhone 15 Pro: 11,200
iPhone 16 Pro: N/A | iPhone 15 Pro: USB 3.0 (10 Gbps)
iPhone 16 Pro: N/A | iPhone 15 Pro: 2000 nits
iPhone 16 Pro: N/A | iPhone 15 Pro: 29 hours
iPhone 16 Pro: N/A | iPhone 15 Pro: 2,900
iPhone 16 Pro: N/A | iPhone 15 Pro: 19 hours
iPhone 16 Pro: N/A | iPhone 15 Pro: 40% lighter than steel
iPhone 16 Pro: N/A | iPhone 15 Pro: Not supported
iPhone 16 Pro: N/A | iPhone 15 Pro: Apple A17 Pro
iPhone 16 Pro: N/A | iPhone 15 Pro: 48MP f/1.78
iPhone 16 Pro: N/A | iPhone 15 Pro: $999 (discontinued)
iPhone 16 Pro: N/A | iPhone 15 Pro: iOS 17-18 (limited iOS 18 features)
iPhone 16 Pro: N/A | iPhone 15 Pro: 2023
Processor Single-Core Score (Geekbench 6)
iPhone 16 Pro: N/A | iPhone 15 Pro: 120fps
iPhone 16 Pro: N/A | iPhone 15 Pro: USB-C 3.0 (480 Mbps)
iPhone 16 Pro: N/A | iPhone 15 Pro: Limited AI capabilities
iPhone 16 Pro: N/A | iPhone 15 Pro: 128GB / 256GB / 512GB / 1TB
How to choose between iPhone 16 Pro and iPhone 15 Pro
iPhone 16 Pro vs iPhone 15 Pro — Structured Comparison Data
Machine-readable comparison dataset for iPhone 16 Pro vs iPhone 15 Pro. Contains 123 attribute comparisons, 4 FAQ pairs.
iPhone 16 Pro vs iPhone 15 Pro — Attribute Category Vocabulary
Taxonomy of attribute categories used to classify comparison data for iPhone 16 Pro vs iPhone 15 Pro.
Should I upgrade from iPhone 15 Pro to iPhone 16 Pro?
For most 15 Pro owners: no, not an essential upgrade. The 15 Pro is still an excellent phone in 2026 — the A17 Pro is fast, the camera system is outstanding, and it supports Apple Intelligence. The 16 Pro's meaningful advantages are: Camera Control button (new hardware camera shutter/zoom slider), 48MP ultrawide vs 12MP ultrawide (significant for macro and wide shots), 5× telephoto on the base 6.3" model (vs 3× on 15 Pro), and slightly larger display. If you regularly shoot video or photos and would use Camera Control and 48MP ultrawide: the upgrade has clear value. If you're happy with your 15 Pro's camera and performance: wait for the iPhone 17 Pro, which may introduce more fundamental changes.
What is Camera Control on iPhone 16 Pro and is it useful?
Camera Control is a new hardware button on the iPhone 16 Pro and 16 Pro Max, located on the right side below the power button. Functions: single click opens Camera app; click again takes photo; slide finger left/right to adjust zoom; half-press focuses/locks exposure; long-press activates visual intelligence (point at object/text for information). Useful scenarios: taking photos without raising phone fully to eye; adjusting zoom quickly without pinching display; triggering video recording with dedicated button feel. Practical assessment: Camera Control is genuinely useful for photographers who want physical camera controls. It has a learning curve and requires deliberate practice. Critics note it can accidentally activate and it's not as essential as marketing suggests — but enthusiast photographers tend to appreciate it more over time.
Is iPhone 15 Pro still worth buying in 2026?
Yes — the iPhone 15 Pro is still an excellent phone in 2026. The A17 Pro chip remains fast for all daily tasks and will receive iOS software updates through approximately 2029–2030. The camera system — 48MP main, 3× tetraprism telephoto, ProRes video — is outstanding for photography. Titanium build is premium and durable. Key compromises vs 16 Pro: 3× telephoto (vs 5×), 12MP ultrawide (vs 48MP), no Camera Control, 6.1" display (vs 6.3"). For a significantly discounted refurbished 15 Pro at $699–800 vs 16 Pro at $999+: the 15 Pro is compelling value, especially for most casual photographers who won't notice the ultrawide sensor difference in daily use.
What is the difference between iPhone 16 Pro and 16 Pro Max?
iPhone 16 Pro (6.3") and 16 Pro Max (6.9") have the same A18 Pro chip, same camera hardware, same Camera Control, and same Apple Intelligence features — the key differences are size, battery, and price. 16 Pro Max offers: larger 6.9" display (vs 6.3"), longer battery life (33 hours video vs 27 hours for 16 Pro), and weighs 7.5 oz vs 6.3 oz. Price difference: ~$100 (16 Pro starts at $999, 16 Pro Max at $1,199). For 2025–2026, the 16 Pro is the sweet spot — the larger display of the Pro Max is substantial; if you don't want a very large phone or plan to keep it in your pocket constantly, the 16 Pro's 6.3" is the right choice.
How to Choose Between iPhone 16 Pro and iPhone 15 Pro
Price: iPhone 16 Pro has $999 (current MSRP), while iPhone 15 Pro has $999 MSRP (now $299-629 on sale).
Processor: iPhone 16 Pro has A18 Pro with Apple Intelligence, while iPhone 15 Pro has A17 Pro (no Apple Intelligence).
Camera System: iPhone 16 Pro has Advanced Photonic Engine, improved zoom, Camera Control button, while iPhone 15 Pro has Photonic Engine, 5x optical zoom, standard lens.
AI & Software: iPhone 16 Pro has Full Apple Intelligence support with on-device AI features, while iPhone 15 Pro has No Apple Intelligence support.
Design & Build: iPhone 16 Pro has Titanium construction, slightly refined ergonomics for Pro Max features in compact size, while iPhone 15 Pro has Titanium construction, proven Pro design.
Battery Life: iPhone 16 Pro has All-day battery with improved efficiency, while iPhone 15 Pro has All-day battery performance.
Display Quality: iPhone 16 Pro has Super Retina XDR, enhanced brightness and color, while iPhone 15 Pro has Super Retina XDR display.
Value for Money: iPhone 16 Pro has Premium pricing for cutting-edge features, while iPhone 15 Pro has Excellent value at current discounted prices.
iPhone 16 Pro is better than iPhone 15 Pro
The iPhone 16 Pro ($999) offers cutting-edge A18 Pro performance, advanced AI features, and enhanced camera capabilities, making it ideal for power users and professionals. The iPhone 15 Pro ($999 MSRP, now $299-629 discounted) remains an excellent choice for those seeking strong performance at a lo