The iPhone 16 Pro features Apple's faster A18 Pro chip (30% faster CPU), improved camera system with 12MP ultra-wide f/1.2 aperture, and new Camera Control button, while the iPhone 15 Pro uses the A17 Pro chip and maintains a traditional design with physical action button.
iPhone 15 Pro vs iPhone 16 Pro — Side-by-side comparison on A Versus B
Apple's 2023 flagship smartphone with A17 Pro chip and triple camera system.
Apple's 2024 flagship smartphone with A18 Pro chip, Camera Control button, and improved ultra-wide camera.
Processor Performance. Ultra-Wide Camera Aperture. Camera Control Button. GPU Performance Boost. Action Button Control. Starting Price. Battery Life Improvement
Choose iPhone 16 Pro if you want the latest performance gains (30% faster CPU), better low-light photography with the new ƒ/1.2 ultra-wide camera, and the convenient Camera Control button for faster access to photography tools. Choose iPhone 15 Pro if you already own one and want to save $300+ on a still-capable flagship, as real-world performance differences will be minimal for typical users and the camera quality remains excellent.
iPhone 15 Pro: 6.1-inch | iPhone 16 Pro: 6.1-inch Super Retina XDR
iPhone 15 Pro: 2,000 nits | iPhone 16 Pro: N/A
iPhone 15 Pro: 2,900 | iPhone 16 Pro: ~3,100
iPhone 15 Pro: 7,200 | iPhone 16 Pro: N/A
iPhone 15 Pro: 3,349 | iPhone 16 Pro: 3,200 mAh
iPhone 15 Pro: $999 | iPhone 16 Pro: N/A
iPhone 15 Pro: IP69 | iPhone 16 Pro: N/A
iPhone 15 Pro: 187g | iPhone 16 Pro: 199 g
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: 48MP with sensor-shift OIS | iPhone 16 Pro: 48MP with sensor-shift OIS
iPhone 15 Pro: 4K at 120fps | 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: f/1.8 | iPhone 16 Pro: f/1.78
iPhone 15 Pro: 19 hours | iPhone 16 Pro: N/A
iPhone 15 Pro: 3000 | iPhone 16 Pro: N/A
iPhone 15 Pro: $999 | iPhone 16 Pro: $1,199
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: Baseline (A17 Pro) | iPhone 16 Pro: N/A
iPhone 15 Pro: 128GB | iPhone 16 Pro: N/A
iPhone 15 Pro: 48MP with OIS | iPhone 16 Pro: N/A
iPhone 15 Pro: $999 (discontinued) | iPhone 16 Pro: N/A
iPhone 15 Pro: Titanium | iPhone 16 Pro: Grade 5 titanium
iPhone 15 Pro: iOS 17-18 (limited iOS 18 features) | iPhone 16 Pro: N/A
iPhone 15 Pro: 2023 | iPhone 16 Pro: N/A
iPhone 15 Pro: Apple A17 Pro | iPhone 16 Pro: Apple A18 Pro
iPhone 15 Pro: Baseline (0%) | iPhone 16 Pro: 30% faster
iPhone 15 Pro: ƒ/2.4 | iPhone 16 Pro: ƒ/1.2
iPhone 15 Pro: Up to 26 hours | iPhone 16 Pro: Up to 27 hours
iPhone 15 Pro: 120Hz ProMotion | iPhone 16 Pro: 120Hz ProMotion
iPhone 15 Pro: 256GB | iPhone 16 Pro: 256GB
iPhone 15 Pro: 3x | iPhone 16 Pro: 3x (with improved processing)
iPhone 15 Pro: N/A | 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: 120Hz ProMotion
iPhone 15 Pro: N/A | iPhone 16 Pro: 48MP with f/1.8 aperture
iPhone 15 Pro: N/A | iPhone 16 Pro: 3x optical
iPhone 15 Pro: N/A | iPhone 16 Pro: 4K at 120fps
iPhone 15 Pro: N/A | iPhone 16 Pro: 6.3 inches
iPhone 15 Pro: N/A | 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: 48MP (quad-pixel 12MP effective)
iPhone 15 Pro: N/A | 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: A18 Pro chip
iPhone 15 Pro: N/A | iPhone 16 Pro: Baseline
iPhone 15 Pro: N/A | iPhone 16 Pro: 12GB
iPhone 15 Pro: N/A | 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: N/A | iPhone 16 Pro: Baseline A18 Pro
iPhone 15 Pro: N/A | iPhone 16 Pro: 4K at 120fps + ProRaw
iPhone 15 Pro: N/A | iPhone 16 Pro: 12x dual telephoto system
iPhone 15 Pro: N/A | iPhone 16 Pro: Grade 5 Titanium
How to choose between iPhone 15 Pro and iPhone 16 Pro
iPhone 15 Pro vs iPhone 16 Pro — Structured Comparison Data
Machine-readable comparison dataset for iPhone 15 Pro vs iPhone 16 Pro. Contains 92 attribute comparisons, 5 FAQ pairs.
iPhone 15 Pro vs iPhone 16 Pro — Attribute Category Vocabulary
Taxonomy of attribute categories used to classify comparison data for iPhone 15 Pro vs iPhone 16 Pro.
Is the iPhone 16 Pro worth upgrading from iPhone 15 Pro?
For most users, no. The A18 Pro's 30% speed boost won't be noticeable in daily use—both chips handle apps, games, and multitasking flawlessly. The main upgrade justification is the ƒ/1.2 ultra-wide camera (2x brighter for low-light photography) and the Camera Control button for faster photo access. Upgrade if you're a photography enthusiast or professional; otherwise, wait for iPhone 17 Pro or save money with iPhone 15 Pro.
How much better is the Camera Control button?
The Camera Control button is a quality-of-life improvement that enables single-handed camera control without menu navigation. You can half-press to focus and full-press to capture, or swipe to adjust zoom/exposure. On iPhone 15 Pro, you must use on-screen buttons. For serious photographers and videographers, this is genuinely convenient; for casual users, it's nice but not essential.
What's the real difference in low-light photography?
The iPhone 16 Pro's ƒ/1.2 ultra-wide camera gathers 2x more light than iPhone 15 Pro's ƒ/2.4 ultra-wide. This translates to noticeably brighter, cleaner ultra-wide photos in dim conditions. The main 12MP camera remains identical between models. Professional photographers and night/event shooters will appreciate this; casual users may not notice.
Should I buy iPhone 15 Pro now for the price savings?
Yes, if you can find iPhone 15 Pro stock. Retailers have begun discounting it as inventory clears. For $700-800, you're getting a flagship phone with exceptional performance and cameras. Real-world speed difference versus iPhone 16 Pro is imperceptible for non-professional work. The only advantage of iPhone 16 Pro is the ƒ/1.2 ultra-wide camera and Camera Control button.
Are there any exclusive iPhone 16 Pro features besides the camera button?
Yes: Apple Intelligence features (on-device AI) are iPhone 16 exclusive. These include improved photo search, writing tools, and smarter notifications. However, full Apple Intelligence rolled out slowly in 2024 via iOS updates, and some features arrived on iPhone 15 Pro via later updates. This advantage may narrow over time.
How to Choose Between iPhone 15 Pro and iPhone 16 Pro
Processor Performance: iPhone 15 Pro has A17 Pro (6-core CPU), while iPhone 16 Pro has A18 Pro (6-core CPU, 30% faster).
Ultra-Wide Camera Aperture: iPhone 15 Pro has ƒ/2.4 aperture, while iPhone 16 Pro has ƒ/1.2 aperture (2x brighter).
Camera Control Button: iPhone 15 Pro has Not present, while iPhone 16 Pro has Capacitive camera control button.
GPU Performance Boost: iPhone 15 Pro has A17 Pro GPU, while iPhone 16 Pro has A18 Pro GPU with 20% faster performance.
Action Button Control: iPhone 15 Pro has Physical action button (customizable), while iPhone 16 Pro has Action button + Camera Control button.
Starting Price: iPhone 15 Pro has $999, while iPhone 16 Pro has $999.
Battery Life Improvement: iPhone 15 Pro has Base battery capacity, while iPhone 16 Pro has Up to 27 hours video playback (3% improvement).