iPhone 16 vs iPhone 15 Pro 2025: Which Should You Buy?
The iPhone 16 features the new A18 chip with 40% faster CPU performance and Apple Intelligence capabilities, while the iPhone 15 Pro uses the A17 Pro with a titanium design and superior zoom. The iPhone 16 is the newer standard model, whereas the iPhone 15 Pro remains Apple's previous-generation flagship.
iPhone 16
Apple's 2024 standard flagship smartphone with A18 chip and Apple Intelligence
Most consumers upgrading from older iPhones or switching from Android; those wanting latest AI features at reasonable price
iPhone 15 Pro
Apple's 2023 flagship smartphone with A17 Pro chip and triple camera system.
Users requiring telephoto zoom; those preferring titanium durability; buyers finding refurbished iPhone 15 Pro deals under $700
Quick Answer
AI SummaryThe iPhone 16 features the new A18 chip with 40% faster CPU performance and Apple Intelligence capabilities, while the iPhone 15 Pro uses the A17 Pro with a titanium design and superior zoom. The iPhone 16 is the newer standard model, whereas the iPhone 15 Pro remains Apple's previous-generation flagship.
Our Verdict
AI-assistedChoose iPhone 16 if you want the latest A18 processor, full Apple Intelligence support, and better value at $799 — ideal for most buyers seeking current technology. Choose iPhone 15 Pro if you need a telephoto lens, titanium build, higher resolution display, and don't require Apple Intelligence features — better as a refurbished deal but now outdated.
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Choose iPhone 16 if
Best pickMost consumers upgrading from older iPhones or switching from Android; those wanting latest AI features at reasonable price
Choose iPhone 15 Pro if
Users requiring telephoto zoom; those preferring titanium durability; buyers finding refurbished iPhone 15 Pro deals under $700
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Key Differences at a Glance
- Processor:✓ iPhone 16 wins(A18 chip vs A17 Pro chip)
- Apple Intelligence Support:✓ iPhone 16 wins(Full support (iOS 18+) vs Limited/No support)
- Design Material:✓ iPhone 15 Pro wins(Titanium frame vs Aluminum frame)
Key Facts & Figures
52 numeric metrics compared
| Metric | iPhone 16 | iPhone 15 Pro | Ratio |
|---|---|---|---|
| RAM(GB) | 8 GB | — | — |
| Weight(grams) | 170g | 187g | |
| Thickness(inches) | 7.8 mm | — | — |
| Battery Capacity(mAh) | 3,582 mAh | 3,349 | |
| Primary Camera(MP) | 48 MP | — | — |
| Ultra-wide Camera | 12 MP | — | — |
| Guaranteed Software Updates(years) | 6+ years | — | — |
| Display Refresh Rate(Hz) | 1-120Hz adaptive OLED | 120Hz ProMotion | |
| Typical Resale Value After 2 Years(%) | 60-70% | — | — |
| Processor Single-Core Performance(Geekbench 6 score) | A18 - 3,460 points | 2,900 | |
| Multi-core Performance(Geekbench 6 score) | A18 - 8,437 points | — | — |
| Main Camera Sensor Size(inches) | 1/1.56-inch (48MP) | — | — |
| Magic Eraser Success Rate(%) | 67% (via Photonic Engine) | — | — |
| Base Storage(GB) | 128GB | 128GB | |
| Starting Price(USD) | $799 | $999 | |
| Display Size(inches) | 6.1-inch | 6.1-inch | |
| Refresh Rate(Hz) | 60Hz | — | — |
| Main Camera(MP) | 48MP f/1.6 aperture | — | — |
| Video Recording(fps at 4K) | 4K at 60fps | — | — |
| Base Price(USD) | $799 | — | — |
| CPU Performance (Geekbench 6 Score)(points) | 3,200 | 2,900 | |
| Maximum Optical Zoom(x magnification) | 3x | 5x | |
| Battery Life (typical usage)(hours) | 20 hours | 19 hours | |
| Display Peak Brightness(nits) | 3000 | 3000 | |
| Titanium Frame Weight Reduction(percent) | Aluminum (standard) | 40% lighter than steel | — |
| Neural Engine Cores for AI(cores) | 16 cores with Apple Intelligence | Not supported | — |
| Peak Display Brightness(nits) | 2000 nits | 2000 nits | |
| Main Camera Resolution(MP) | 48MP f/1.6 | 48MP with sensor-shift OIS | |
| Processor AnTuTu Score(points) | 1,239,000 | — | — |
| Wired Charging Speed(watts) | 25W with MagSafe | 20W | |
| Software Update Support(years) | 7 years | — | — |
| Starting Price (USA)(USD) | $799 | — | — |
| CPU Performance Increase(%) | 40% faster | Baseline (A17 Pro) | |
| Main Camera Sensor(MP) | 48MP with OIS | 48MP with OIS | |
| Battery Life (Typical Use)(hours) | 20 hours | 19 hours | |
| Base Model Price (2024/2025)(USD) | $799 | $999 (discontinued) | |
| Release Year | 2024 | 2023 | |
| Peak Brightness(nits) | 2,000 nits | 2,000 nits | |
| Telephoto Optical Zoom(x magnification) | 3x | 3x | |
| Processor Multi-Core Performance(Geekbench 6 points) | 7,200 | 7,200 | |
| Base Model Price(USD) | $999 | $999 | |
| Geekbench 6 Single-Core(points) | 2,850 | 2,850 | |
| Starting Price (USD)(USD) | $999 | $999 | |
| CPU Performance (Single-Core Geekbench)(points) | 3,450 | 3,450 | |
| GPU Performance (Multi-Core Geekbench)(points) | 11,200 | 11,200 | |
| File Transfer Speed (USB)(Gbps) | USB 3.0 (10 Gbps) | USB 3.0 (10 Gbps) | |
| Battery Video Playback(hours) | 29 hours | 29 hours | |
| CPU Performance Improvement(%) | Baseline (0%) | Baseline (0%) | |
| Ultra-Wide Camera Aperture(f-stop) | ƒ/2.4 | ƒ/2.4 | |
| Video Playback Battery Life(hours) | Up to 26 hours | Up to 26 hours | |
| Starting Storage Capacity(GB) | 256GB | 256GB | |
| Telephoto Zoom Capability(x optical zoom) | 3x | 3x |
Sourced from publicly available data ·
Key Differences
7 attributes compared head-to-head
- A18 chip(winner)ProcessorA17 Pro chip
- Full support (iOS 18+)(winner)Apple Intelligence SupportLimited/No support
- Aluminum frameDesign MaterialTitanium frame(winner)
- None (standard iPhone 16)Telephoto Lens12MP, 3x optical zoom(winner)
- Super Retina XDR, 2556x1179Display TechnologySuper Retina XDR, 2796x1290(winner)
- $799(winner)Price (Base Model)$999 (discontinued, refurbished ~$700-800)
- Photographic Styles 2.0, Genmoji, Visual Intelligence(winner)Camera Computational FeaturesPhotographic Styles, Advanced features
- Processor
iPhone 16
A18 chip(winner)
iPhone 15 Pro
A17 Pro chip
- Apple Intelligence Support
iPhone 16
Full support (iOS 18+)(winner)
iPhone 15 Pro
Limited/No support
- Design Material
iPhone 16
Aluminum frame
iPhone 15 Pro
Titanium frame(winner)
- Telephoto Lens
iPhone 16
None (standard iPhone 16)
iPhone 15 Pro
12MP, 3x optical zoom(winner)
- Display Technology
iPhone 16
Super Retina XDR, 2556x1179
iPhone 15 Pro
Super Retina XDR, 2796x1290(winner)
- Price (Base Model)
iPhone 16
$799(winner)
iPhone 15 Pro
$999 (discontinued, refurbished ~$700-800)
- Camera Computational Features
iPhone 16
Photographic Styles 2.0, Genmoji, Visual Intelligence(winner)
iPhone 15 Pro
Photographic Styles, Advanced features
Full Comparison
| Attribute | iPhone 16 | iPhone 15 Pro |
|---|---|---|
| RAM(GB) | 8 GB | — |
| Processor Generation (2026) | A18 (2024 generation) | — |
| Processor Single-Core Performance(Geekbench 6 score) | A18 - 3,460 points(winner) | 2,900 |
| Processor | A18 chip (6-core CPU) | — |
| CPU Performance (Geekbench 6 Score)(points) | 3,200(winner) | 2,900 |
Show 10 more attributesProcessor AnTuTu Score(points) 1,239,000 — Processor Model Apple A18 Apple A17 Pro CPU Performance Increase(%) 40% faster Baseline (A17 Pro) Processor Multi-Core Performance(Geekbench 6 points) 7,200 — Processor Generation A17 Pro (2023) — Geekbench 6 Single-Core(points) 2,850 — CPU Performance (Single-Core Geekbench)(points) 3,450 — GPU Performance (Multi-Core Geekbench)(points) 11,200 — Main Processor Apple A17 Pro — CPU Performance Improvement(%) Baseline (0%) — | ||
| Storage Options(GB) | 128, 256, 512 GB | — |
| Base Storage(GB) | 128GB | 128GB |
| Starting Storage Capacity(GB) | 256GB | — |
| Display Type | OLED | Super Retina XDR with always-on |
| Display Refresh Rate(Hz) | 1-120Hz adaptive OLED | 120Hz ProMotion |
| Display Size(inches) | 6.1-inch | 6.1-inch |
| Refresh Rate(Hz) | 60Hz | — |
| Display Peak Brightness(nits) | 3000 | 3000 |
Show 3 more attributesPeak Display Brightness(nits) 2000 nits 2000 nits Display Resolution(pixels) 2556 x 1179 2796 x 1290 Peak Brightness(nits) 2,000 nits — | ||
| Weight(grams) | 170g(winner) | 187g |
| Frame Material | Aluminum | Titanium |
| Thickness(inches) | 7.8 mm | — |
| Battery Capacity(mAh) | 3,582 mAh(winner) | 3,349 |
| Battery Life (typical usage)(hours) | 20 hours(winner) | 19 hours |
| Battery Life (Typical Use)(hours) | 20 hours(winner) | 19 hours |
| Battery Video Playback(hours) | 29 hours | — |
| Video Playback Battery Life(hours) | Up to 26 hours | — |
| Primary Camera(MP) | 48 MP | — |
| Ultra-wide Camera | 12 MP | — |
| Computational Photography | Standard | — |
| Camera Hardware Strategy | Computational photography focus (Photonic Engine) | — |
| Main Camera Sensor Size(inches) | 1/1.56-inch (48MP) | — |
Show 12 more attributesMain Camera(MP) 48MP f/1.6 aperture — Optical Zoom(times) Digital only — Video Recording(fps at 4K) 4K at 60fps — Main Camera Aperture(f-stop) f/1.6 f/1.8 Maximum Optical Zoom(x magnification) 3x 5x Main Camera Resolution(MP) 48MP f/1.6 48MP with sensor-shift OIS Main Camera Sensor(MP) 48MP with OIS 48MP with OIS Telephoto Lens(x optical zoom) None (2x digital max) 3x optical Telephoto Optical Zoom(x magnification) 3x — Maximum Video Recording(fps at resolution) 4K at 120fps — Ultra-Wide Camera Aperture(f-stop) ƒ/2.4 — Telephoto Zoom Capability(x optical zoom) 3x — | ||
| Operating System(OS) | iOS 26.4 (March 2026) | — |
| iOS Version Support | iOS 18+ | iOS 17-18 (limited iOS 18 features) |
| Guaranteed Software Updates(years) | 6+ years | — |
| AI Features Rollout Approach | Slow, heavily polished, selective rollout | — |
| Typical Resale Value After 2 Years(%) | 60-70% | — |
| Operating System Customization | Restricted (limited default app changes, closed file system) | — |
| Multi-core Performance(Geekbench 6 score) | A18 - 8,437 points | — |
| Magic Eraser Success Rate(%) | 67% (via Photonic Engine) | — |
| Starting Price(USD) | $799(winner) | $999 |
| Starting Price (USA)(USD) | $799 | — |
| Base Model Price (2024/2025)(USD) | $799(winner) | $999 (discontinued) |
| Base Price(USD) | $799 | — |
| Titanium Frame Weight Reduction(percent) | Aluminum (standard) | 40% lighter than steel |
| Neural Engine Cores for AI(cores) | 16 cores with Apple Intelligence | Not supported |
| Wired Charging Speed(watts) | 25W with MagSafe(winner) | 20W |
| Software Update Support(years) | 7 years | — |
| Water Resistance Rating(depth (meters)) | IP69 | IP69 |
| Apple Intelligence Features | Full support (Genmoji, Visual Intelligence, Writing Tools) | Not supported |
| Release Year | 2024(winner) | 2023 |
| Base Model Price(USD) | $999 | — |
| Starting Price (USD)(USD) | $999 | — |
| File Transfer Speed (USB)(Gbps) | USB 3.0 (10 Gbps) | — |
iPhone 16Show 10 more attributes
Show 3 more attributes
Show 12 more attributes
Pros & Cons
10 pros·6 cons across both
iPhone 16
Pros
- A18 chip delivers 40% CPU performance boost over A17 Pro
- Full Apple Intelligence support for on-device AI features
- $799 base price (most affordable current iPhone)
- Updated 48MP main camera with improved computational photography
- Thermal efficiency allows thinner bezels and longer sustained performance
Cons
- No telephoto lens (limited to 2x digital zoom on standard model)
- Aluminum frame less premium than titanium used on Pro models
- 6.1-inch display has lower 460 PPI pixel density than iPhone 15 Pro
iPhone 15 Pro
Pros
- Titanium frame is 25% lighter and more durable than aluminum
- 12MP 3x telephoto lens with advanced optical zoom
- 6.1-inch Super Retina XDR display with 460 PPI (highest resolution standard iPhone)
- Thermal design optimized for sustained gaming and video recording
- Action button for custom shortcuts and features
Cons
- A17 Pro lacks Apple Intelligence support entirely
- Now discontinued with limited new inventory; reliant on refurbished market
- Higher original $999 price point when new; less value proposition now
Frequently Asked Questions
5 questions
Only if you specifically want Apple Intelligence features (Genmoji, Visual Intelligence, Writing Tools) or prioritize the latest processor. The iPhone 15 Pro retains superior zoom (3x telephoto), titanium frame, and higher resolution display. For most users, the iPhone 15 Pro remains capable; upgrade only if you need AI features or can sell the Pro to offset costs.
Resources & Learn More
Curated sources to dive deeper
Where to Buy
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Wikipedia
SmartReview Ratings
Aggregated ratings from Reddit, G2, Capterra, Trustpilot & more
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