The iPhone 16 delivers 30% faster performance with the A18 chip, improved 12MP ultra-wide camera with autofocus, and enhanced battery life, while the iPhone 15 remains capable with the A17 Pro chip at a lower price point.
iPhone 15 vs iPhone 16 — Side-by-side comparison on A Versus B
Apple's 2023 flagship smartphone with A17 Pro chip and dual 48MP/12MP camera system.
Apple's 2024 flagship featuring the A18 chip, improved ultra-wide camera, and Apple Intelligence integration.
Processor Performance. Ultra-Wide Camera. Battery Life. Apple Intelligence Support. Price (Base Model). Display Technology. Thermal Design
Choose iPhone 16 if you want the latest AI capabilities through Apple Intelligence, significantly better battery life (35% improvement), and a faster processor with a brighter display—worth the upgrade if you keep phones 3+ years. Choose iPhone 15 if budget is your priority and you don't need Apple Intelligence features, as the A17 Pro chip still handles all current tasks efficiently and the price difference can be substantial on secondary markets.
iPhone 15: Apple A17 Pro | iPhone 16: N/A
iPhone 15: 2,900 points | iPhone 16: N/A
iPhone 15: 2x optical zoom | iPhone 16: Digital only
iPhone 15: 48MP f/1.6 aperture | iPhone 16: 48MP f/1.6 aperture
iPhone 15: No telephoto (digital zoom only) | iPhone 16: None (2x digital max)
iPhone 15: Liquid Retina without always-on | iPhone 16: OLED
iPhone 15: 2000 nits | iPhone 16: 3000 nits
iPhone 15: A17 Pro | iPhone 16: A18 (30% faster CPU)
iPhone 15: 6.1 inches Super Retina XDR | iPhone 16: 6.1 inches Super Retina XDR
iPhone 15: OLED, 460 ppi, 120Hz ProMotion, 2000 nits peak | iPhone 16: N/A
iPhone 15: 18% faster single-core | iPhone 16: N/A
iPhone 15: 48MP with f/1.6, OIS, sensor-shift | iPhone 16: N/A
iPhone 15: 20 hours | iPhone 16: 27 hours
iPhone 15: 6 meters (IP69) | iPhone 16: 6 meters (IP69)
iPhone 15: 460 ppi (OLED) | iPhone 16: 2556 x 1179
iPhone 15: A17 Pro (2024) | iPhone 16: N/A
iPhone 15: f/1.6 with OIS | iPhone 16: N/A
iPhone 15: 20 hours | iPhone 16: 20 hours
iPhone 15: IP69 (6 meters) | iPhone 16: N/A
iPhone 15: 60Hz standard (120Hz on Pro models) | iPhone 16: 120Hz LTPO OLED
iPhone 15: 48MP f/1.6 | iPhone 16: 48MP with OIS
iPhone 15: 20W | iPhone 16: 25W with MagSafe
iPhone 15: 3582 mAh | iPhone 16: 3,582 mAh
iPhone 15: 7+ years (iOS 18+) | iPhone 16: N/A
iPhone 15: 7,400 points | iPhone 16: N/A
iPhone 15: 12MP, 120° field of view | iPhone 16: 12 MP
iPhone 15: USB-C (20W max wired) | iPhone 16: N/A
iPhone 15: 4K at 120fps with ProRes | iPhone 16: N/A
iPhone 15: Fixed focus | iPhone 16: Autofocus enabled
iPhone 15: Standard ML features only | iPhone 16: Apple Intelligence with on-device processing
iPhone 15: N/A | iPhone 16: iOS 26.4 (March 2026)
iPhone 15: N/A | iPhone 16: A18 (2024 generation)
iPhone 15: N/A | iPhone 16: Slow, heavily polished, selective rollout
iPhone 15: N/A | iPhone 16: Computational photography focus (Photonic Engine)
iPhone 15: N/A | iPhone 16: Restricted (limited default app changes, closed file system)
iPhone 15: N/A | iPhone 16: A18 - 3,460 points
iPhone 15: N/A | iPhone 16: A18 - 8,437 points
iPhone 15: N/A | iPhone 16: 1/1.56-inch (48MP)
iPhone 15: N/A | iPhone 16: 67% (via Photonic Engine)
iPhone 15: N/A | iPhone 16: 48MP f/1.6 aperture
iPhone 15: N/A | iPhone 16: Aluminum (standard)
iPhone 15: N/A | iPhone 16: 16 cores with Apple Intelligence
iPhone 15: N/A | iPhone 16: Full support (Genmoji, Visual Intelligence, Writing Tools)
iPhone 15: N/A | iPhone 16: 12 years (through 2036)
How to choose between iPhone 15 and iPhone 16
iPhone 15 vs iPhone 16 — Structured Comparison Data
Machine-readable comparison dataset for iPhone 15 vs iPhone 16. Contains 95 attribute comparisons, 5 FAQ pairs.
iPhone 15 vs iPhone 16 — Attribute Category Vocabulary
Taxonomy of attribute categories used to classify comparison data for iPhone 15 vs iPhone 16.
Is the iPhone 16 worth upgrading from iPhone 15?
The iPhone 16 is worth upgrading if you use your phone for 3+ years and prioritize battery life (35% improvement), camera quality (autofocus on ultra-wide), and Apple Intelligence features. If you upgrade yearly or use your phone lightly, the iPhone 15 remains excellent. The A17 Pro still handles all 2026 apps smoothly without noticeable lag.
What's the main camera difference between iPhone 15 and iPhone 16?
Both have identical 48MP main cameras, but the iPhone 16's ultra-wide camera adds autofocus, enabling sharp macro shots at 2-4cm distances—the iPhone 15's fixed-focus ultra-wide struggles with close subjects. The iPhone 16's display is also 50% brighter (3000 nits vs 2000), making photos and videos look more vibrant.
Does iPhone 15 support Apple Intelligence?
No. iPhone 15 cannot run Apple Intelligence due to lacking the dedicated neural engine in the A18 chip. Apple Intelligence requires the A18, A18 Pro, or M4 chips for on-device AI processing. This is a permanent limitation—no software update will add support to iPhone 15.
How much longer does iPhone 16 battery last in real-world use?
Apple claims 35% longer video playback (27 hours vs 20 hours). In mixed daily use, expect iPhone 16 to last a full day plus evening use without charging, while iPhone 15 typically requires charging by evening. The improvement is noticeable if you stream video, use GPS navigation, or work with photos frequently.
Is the iPhone 16 display noticeably better than iPhone 15?
Yes, noticeably in bright sunlight. The iPhone 16's 3000-nit peak brightness vs iPhone 15's 2000 nits makes outdoor visibility significantly better. In indoor lighting, both are excellent. If you spend time in direct sunlight (hiking, beach, outdoor work), the iPhone 16's brighter display is a real advantage.
How to Choose Between iPhone 15 and iPhone 16
Processor Performance: iPhone 15 has A17 Pro chip, while iPhone 16 has A18 chip (30% faster CPU).
Ultra-Wide Camera: iPhone 15 has 12MP, fixed focus, while iPhone 16 has 12MP with autofocus, f/2.2 aperture.
Battery Life: iPhone 15 has Up to 20 hours video playback, while iPhone 16 has Up to 27 hours video playback (35% improvement).
Apple Intelligence Support: iPhone 15 has Not supported, while iPhone 16 has Full support with on-device AI features.
Price (Base Model): iPhone 15 has $799 (current), while iPhone 16 has $799 (same launch price).
Display Technology: iPhone 15 has Super Retina XDR, 2000 nits peak, while iPhone 16 has Super Retina XDR, 3000 nits peak (50% brighter).
Thermal Design: iPhone 15 has Standard heat dissipation, while iPhone 16 has Advanced thermal design with copper components.