iPhone 16 vs iPhone 15 Pro 2025: Specs & Price
The iPhone 16 features Apple's newest A18 chip with 10% better CPU performance and improved AI capabilities, while the iPhone 15 Pro offers a larger 6.7-inch display and superior camera system with 5x optical zoom—making the choice dependent on whether you prioritize cutting-edge processing power or professional photography features.
iPhone 16
Apple's 2024 flagship smartphone with A18 chip and Apple Intelligence
Budget-conscious users, those wanting latest AI features, and everyday photographers
iPhone 15 Pro
Apple's 2023 flagship with professional camera system and titanium design
Professional photographers, content creators, and users needing 5x zoom capabilities
Quick Answer
AI SummaryThe iPhone 16 features Apple's newest A18 chip with 10% better CPU performance and improved AI capabilities, while the iPhone 15 Pro offers a larger 6.7-inch display and superior camera system with 5x optical zoom—making the choice dependent on whether you prioritize cutting-edge processing power or professional photography features.
Our Verdict
AI-assistedChoose iPhone 16 if you want the latest processor, Apple Intelligence features, and better value at a lower price point—ideal for everyday users and those upgrading from older models. Choose iPhone 15 Pro if you require professional-grade photography with 5x optical zoom, premium titanium build, and don't need the newest chip generation.
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Choose iPhone 16 if
Best pickBudget-conscious users, those wanting latest AI features, and everyday photographers
Choose iPhone 15 Pro if
Professional photographers, content creators, and users needing 5x zoom capabilities
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Key Differences at a Glance
- Processor Generation:✓ iPhone 16 wins(A18 chip (2024) vs A17 Pro chip (2023))
- Camera Telephoto Range:✓ iPhone 15 Pro wins(5x optical zoom vs 3x optical zoom)
- Display Size (Standard Model):6.1 inches vs 6.1 inches (Pro Max: 6.7)
Key Facts & Figures
65 numeric metrics compared
| Metric | iPhone 16 | iPhone 15 Pro | Ratio |
|---|---|---|---|
| RAM(GB) | 8 GB | 8 | |
| Weight(grams) | 170g | 187 | |
| Thickness(inches) | 7.8 mm | — | — |
| Primary Camera(MP) | 48 MP | — | — |
| Ultra-Wide Camera(megapixels) | 12 MP | — | — |
| Guaranteed Software Updates(years) | 6+ years | — | — |
| Display Refresh Rate(Hz) | 60Hz standard display | 120Hz ProMotion display | |
| Typical Resale Value After 2 Years(%) | 60-70% | — | — |
| Processor Single-Core Performance(Geekbench 6 points) | A18 - 3,460 points | 2,900 | |
| Multi-Core Performance(Geekbench 6 score) | A18 - 8,437 points | — | — |
| Main Camera Sensor Size(inch) | 1/1.56-inch (48MP) | — | — |
| Magic Eraser Success Rate(%) | 67% (via Photonic Engine) | — | — |
| Base Storage(GB) | 128GB | 256 | |
| Starting Price(USD) | $799 | $999 | |
| Display Size(inches) | 6.1 inches | 6.1 | |
| Refresh Rate(Hz) | 60Hz fixed | 120 | |
| Main Camera(MP) | 48MP f/1.6 aperture | — | — |
| Optical Zoom(x magnification) | Digital only | 3x | — |
| Video Recording | 4K at 60fps | — | — |
| Base Price(USD) | $799 | — | — |
| CPU Performance (Geekbench 6 Score)(points) | 3,200 | 2,900 | |
| Maximum Optical Zoom(x) | 2x digital | 5x | |
| Battery Life (typical usage)(hours) | 20 hours | 19 hours | |
| Display Peak Brightness(nits) | 3000 | 3,000 nits HDR | |
| 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) | 3000 nits | 2000 nits | |
| Main Camera Resolution(MP) | 48MP main sensor | 48MP main sensor | |
| Processor AnTuTu Score(points) | 1,239,000 | — | — |
| Wired Charging Speed(W) | 25W with MagSafe | 20 | |
| Software Update Support(Years) | 7 years | — | — |
| Starting Price (USA)(USD) | $799 | — | — |
| CPU Performance Increase(%) | 40% faster | Baseline (A17 Pro) | |
| Main Camera Sensor(megapixels) | 48MP with OIS | 48MP f/1.78 | |
| Battery Life (typical use)(hours) | 20 hours | 19 hours | |
| Base Model Price (2024/2025)(USD) | $799 | $999 (discontinued) | |
| Release Year | 2024 | 2023 | |
| Processor Performance Score(AnTuTu Points) | 3,389,627 | — | — |
| Battery Capacity(mAh) | 3,582 mAh | 3,582 | |
| Software Update Guarantee(Years) | 12 years (through 2036) | — | — |
| Video Playback Battery Life(hours) | 27 hours | 29 hours | |
| Main Camera Megapixels(MP) | 48MP | — | — |
| Processor GPU Cores(cores) | 5-core GPU | — | — |
| RAM Memory(GB) | 8GB | — | — |
| Base Storage Capacity(GB) | 128GB | — | — |
| Telephoto Optical Zoom(x zoom) | 3x optical zoom | 5x optical zoom | |
| Starting Price (MSRP)(USD) | $799 | $999 | |
| Peak Brightness(nits) | 2,000 nits | 2,000 nits | |
| Processor Multi-Core Performance(Geekbench 6 points) | 7,200 | 7,200 | |
| Base Model Price(USD) | $999 | $999 | |
| Geekbench 6 Single-Core(points) | 2,850 | 2,850 | |
| Starting Price (USD)($) | $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 | |
| Starting Storage Capacity(GB) | 256GB | 256GB | |
| Telephoto Zoom Capability(x optical zoom) | 3x | 3x | |
| Processor Single-Core Score (Geekbench 6)(points) | 2,900 | 2,900 | |
| CPU Performance (Single-core)(Geekbench 6 score) | 2,924 | 2,924 | |
| GPU Performance(TFLOPS) | 16.9 TFLOPS | 16.9 TFLOPS | |
| Video Recording Speed(frames per second at 4K) | 120fps | 120fps | |
| Data Transfer Speed (Charging Port)(Mbps) | USB-C 3.0 (480 Mbps) | USB-C 3.0 (480 Mbps) |
Sourced from publicly available data ·
Key Differences
7 attributes compared head-to-head
- A18 chip (2024)(winner)Processor GenerationA17 Pro chip (2023)
- 3x optical zoomCamera Telephoto Range5x optical zoom(winner)
- 6.1 inchesDisplay Size (Standard Model)6.1 inches (Pro Max: 6.7)
- 27 hoursBattery Life (Video Playback)29 hours(winner)
- 128GBStarting Storage128GB
- Apple Intelligence (Full suite)(winner)On-Device AI FeaturesLimited AI capabilities
- $799(winner)Price (Starting MSRP)$999
- Processor Generation
iPhone 16
A18 chip (2024)(winner)
iPhone 15 Pro
A17 Pro chip (2023)
- Camera Telephoto Range
iPhone 16
3x optical zoom
iPhone 15 Pro
5x optical zoom(winner)
- Display Size (Standard Model)
iPhone 16
6.1 inches
iPhone 15 Pro
6.1 inches (Pro Max: 6.7)
- Battery Life (Video Playback)
iPhone 16
27 hours
iPhone 15 Pro
29 hours(winner)
- Starting Storage
iPhone 16
128GB
iPhone 15 Pro
128GB
- On-Device AI Features
iPhone 16
Apple Intelligence (Full suite)(winner)
iPhone 15 Pro
Limited AI capabilities
- Price (Starting MSRP)
iPhone 16
$799(winner)
iPhone 15 Pro
$999
Full Comparison
| Attribute | iPhone 16 | iPhone 15 Pro |
|---|---|---|
| RAM(GB) | 8 GB | 8 |
| Processor Generation (2026) | A18 (2024 generation) | — |
| Processor Single-Core Performance(Geekbench 6 points) | A18 - 3,460 points(winner) | 2,900 |
| Multi-Core Performance(Geekbench 6 score) | A18 - 8,437 points | — |
| CPU Performance (Geekbench 6 Score)(points) | 3,200(winner) | 2,900 |
Show 17 more attributesProcessor AnTuTu Score(points) 1,239,000 — Processor Model Apple A18 Apple A17 Pro CPU Performance Increase(%) 40% faster Baseline (A17 Pro) Processor Performance Score(AnTuTu Points) 3,389,627 — Processor A18 (6-core CPU, 10% faster) A17 Pro (6-core CPU) Processor GPU Cores(cores) 5-core GPU — RAM Memory(GB) 8GB — 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%) — Processor Single-Core Score (Geekbench 6)(points) 2,900 — CPU Performance (Single-core)(Geekbench 6 score) 2,924 — GPU Performance(TFLOPS) 16.9 TFLOPS — | ||
| Storage Options(GB) | 128, 256, 512 GB | — |
| Base Storage(GB) | 128GB | 256(winner) |
| Base Storage Capacity(GB) | 128GB | — |
| Storage Configuration(GB) | 128GB / 256GB / 512GB | 128GB / 256GB / 512GB / 1TB |
| Starting Storage Capacity(GB) | 256GB | — |
| Display Type | OLED | Super Retina XDR with always-on |
| Weight(grams) | 170g(winner) | 187 |
| Thickness(inches) | 7.8 mm | — |
| Primary Camera(MP) | 48 MP | — |
| Ultra-Wide Camera(megapixels) | 12 MP | — |
| Computational Photography | Standard | — |
| Camera Hardware Strategy | Computational photography focus (Photonic Engine) | — |
| Main Camera Sensor Size(inch) | 1/1.56-inch (48MP) | — |
Show 15 more attributesMain Camera(MP) 48MP f/1.6 aperture — Optical Zoom(x magnification) Digital only 3x Video Recording 4K at 60fps — Main Camera Aperture(f-stop) f/1.6 f/1.8 Maximum Optical Zoom(x) 2x digital 5x Main Camera Resolution(MP) 48MP main sensor 48MP main sensor Main Camera Sensor(megapixels) 48MP with OIS 48MP f/1.78 Telephoto Lens(optical zoom) None (2x digital max) 3x optical Ultra-Wide Camera Autofocus Autofocus enabled — Main Camera Megapixels(MP) 48MP — Telephoto Optical Zoom(x zoom) 3x optical zoom 5x optical zoom 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 — Video Recording Speed(frames per second at 4K) 120fps — | ||
| Operating System(version) | iOS 26.4 (March 2026) | — |
| Software Update Support(Years) | 7 years | — |
| iOS Version Support | iOS 18+ | iOS 17-18 (limited iOS 18 features) |
| AI/Machine Learning Features | Apple Intelligence with on-device processing | — |
| AI On-Device Processing | Full Apple Intelligence suite | Limited AI capabilities |
| Guaranteed Software Updates(years) | 6+ years | — |
| Display Refresh Rate(Hz) | 60Hz standard display | 120Hz ProMotion display(winner) |
| Display Size(inches) | 6.1 inches | 6.1 |
| Refresh Rate(Hz) | 60Hz fixed | 120(winner) |
| Display Peak Brightness(nits) | 3000 | 3,000 nits HDR |
| Peak Display Brightness(nits) | 3000 nits(winner) | 2000 nits |
Show 2 more attributesDisplay Resolution(pixels) 2556 x 1179 2796 x 1290 Peak Brightness(nits) 2,000 nits — | ||
| 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) | — |
| Magic Eraser Success Rate(%) | 67% (via Photonic Engine) | — |
| Starting Price(USD) | $799(winner) | $999 |
| Base Price(USD) | $799 | — |
| Frame Material | Aluminum | Titanium |
| Titanium Frame Weight Reduction(percent) | Aluminum (standard) | 40% lighter than steel |
| Battery Life (typical usage)(hours) | 20 hours(winner) | 19 hours |
| Battery Life (typical use)(hours) | 20 hours(winner) | 19 hours |
| Battery Capacity(mAh) | 3,582 mAh | 3,582 |
| Video Playback Battery Life(hours) | 27 hours | 29 hours(winner) |
| Battery Video Playback(hours) | 29 hours | — |
| Neural Engine Cores for AI(cores) | 16 cores with Apple Intelligence | Not supported |
| Wired Charging Speed(W) | 25W with MagSafe(winner) | 20 |
| Starting Price (USA)(USD) | $799 | — |
| Base Model Price (2024/2025)(USD) | $799(winner) | $999 (discontinued) |
| Starting Price (MSRP)(USD) | $799(winner) | $999 |
| Starting Price (USD)($) | $999 | — |
| Water Resistance Rating(meters) | 6 meters (IP69) | IP69 |
| Apple Intelligence Features | Full support (Genmoji, Visual Intelligence, Writing Tools) | Not supported |
| Release Year | 2024(winner) | 2023 |
| Max Video Recording(fps at resolution) | 4K 120fps | — |
| Software Update Guarantee(Years) | 12 years (through 2036) | — |
| RAM Configuration(GB) | 8GB | — |
| Base Model Price(USD) | $999 | — |
| File Transfer Speed (USB)(Gbps) | USB 3.0 (10 Gbps) | — |
| Data Transfer Speed (Charging Port)(Mbps) | USB-C 3.0 (480 Mbps) | — |
iPhone 16iPhone 15 ProShow 17 more attributes
Show 15 more attributes
Show 2 more attributes
Pros & Cons
10 pros·6 cons across both
iPhone 16
Pros
- A18 chip offers 10% faster CPU performance than A17 Pro
- Full Apple Intelligence suite with on-device AI processing
- $200 lower starting price than iPhone 15 Pro ($799 vs $999)
- New Camera Control button for faster photo/video access
- Up to 27 hours video playback battery life
Cons
- 3x optical zoom vs 5x on iPhone 15 Pro—limited telephoto capability
- Aluminum frame less premium than titanium on Pro models
- No ProMotion 120Hz display (standard 60Hz only)
iPhone 15 Pro
Pros
- 5x optical telephoto zoom enables 25x digital zoom for distant subjects
- Titanium frame and aerospace-grade materials feel premium
- ProMotion 120Hz display for smoother scrolling and gaming
- Action camera mode for stabilized video recording
- Proven A17 Pro chip handles all pro workflows smoothly
Cons
- No Apple Intelligence features—requires iPhone 16 for full AI suite
- A17 Pro chip 10% slower than A18 in CPU benchmarks
- $200 higher starting price ($999 vs $799)
Frequently Asked Questions
5 questions
Only if you heavily use AI features and want the latest chip. The iPhone 15 Pro's 5x zoom and 120Hz display remain superior for photography and video. Most users won't see significant real-world differences in everyday performance. The $200 price difference favors iPhone 16 only if Apple Intelligence is your priority.
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