iPhone 15 vs 16: Difference Between iPhone 15 and 16

Choosing between Apple’s iPhone 15 and iPhone 16 can be tricky. Both phones share many of the same basic features, but the new iPhone 16 does bring a few key upgrades that may — or may not — make your life a little easier, Apple Intelligence being among the most talked about (more on that later).

If you’re wondering whether it’s best to upgrade to the iPhone 16 or to grab the iPhone 15 at its new lower price, you’ve come to the right place. 

So, how do you choose between these two great iPhones? It starts with answering the question what are the differences between iPhone 15 and iPhone 16? That’s what this article is all about. Let’s get started.

iPhone 15 vs 16: Specs

Before we dive into further details, here is a quick look at how both iPhone models stack up against each other:

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iPhone 15 vs 16: Display

A surprising announcement from Apple’s “Glowtime” event in September was that the company made no big changes to the displays between iPhone 15 vs 16. 

Both phones feature the same 6.1-inch OLED Super Retina XDR display with a 2,556 x 1,179 pixel resolution. The good news is that if you’re happy with how the iPhone 15 screen looks, you’ll be just as content with the iPhone 16. If you'd like a larger 6.7-inch screen, you can opt for the iPhone 16 Plus.

But the iPhone 16 has received one significant improvement: its brightness levels. While the iPhone 15 has a max brightness of 1,000 nits, the iPhone 16 gets up to 2,000 nits peak brightness. (Both phones also have a 60Hz refresh rate.)

That means the iPhone 16 screen will be easier to read in bright sunlight or outdoor environments, and if you like taking photos or shooting video outside, its boost in brightness could make a real difference in how you capture and view your content. 

iPhone 15 vs 16: Design and New Features

One of the biggest additions to the iPhone 16 is the introduction of the Action Button and the new Camera Control Button. 

The iPhone 16’s Action Button replaces the Ring/Silent switch found on the iPhone 15, and it can be customized to perform a wide range of actions, like launching an app, activating a shortcut, or turning on the flashlight. Last year, it was exclusive to the iPhone 15 Pro and iPhone 15 Pro Max. 

The new Camera Control Button, located just below the Power button on the iPhone 16, lets you quickly open your camera and zoom or focus with simple swipes of your finger.

Both phones keep the Dynamic Island at the top of the display, where notifications and alerts appear. But the iPhone 16 gets an improved version of “Ceramic Shield,” a drop protection material that Apple says is “two times tougher than any smartphone glass.” 

Another small but noticeable design difference between the iPhone 15 and 16 is the layout of the rear camera lenses. The iPhone 15 has diagonally stacked rear cameras, while the iPhone 16 returns to a vertical alignment not seen on an iPhone for the last few models. 

iPhone 15 vs 16: Cameras

While the cameras on both models are similar, the iPhone 16 has some small but mighty improvements over the 15. 

Both devices feature a 12MP selfie camera on the front and a 48MP main camera and a 12MP ultra-wide camera on the back. However, the iPhone 16 improves upon the 15 with an f/2.2 aperture for its ultra-wide lens. 

The lower aperture means the lens will perform slightly better in low-light conditions (capturing up to 2.6 times more light than the iPhone 15, according to Apple). 

This addresses one of the things reviewers criticized about the iPhone 15 — that its ultra-wide photos can sometimes look blurry in dim environments. The ultra-wide lens on the iPhone 16 can also take improved macro photography shots compared to the 15.

Thanks to the previously mentioned Camera Control Button, taking these shots should feel more intuitive on the iPhone 16. You can open the camera and adjust controls like zoom, depth of field, and exposure, all from one button.

The iPhone 16 can also capture spatial video recording at 1080p and 30fps, creating a 3D-like video that can be viewed on Apple Vision Pro devices. 

iPhone 15 vs 16: Audio

Another difference between the two phones, which may not be as exciting as some other features here, is how they capture audio. 

While the iPhone 15 can record stereo, the iPhone 16 offers several additional features, including Spatial Audio recording, Audio Mix, and Wind Noise Reduction.

Spatial audio creates a virtual surround sound effect, which can be experienced using Apple AirPods, Apple Vision Pro, or a surround sound setup. Audio Mix lets you adjust recorded sound to focus on a subject, like someone speaking to the camera, by reducing background noise. 

The iPhone 16’s Wind Noise Reduction features also help improve sound quality using machine learning algorithms. So, if recorded audio quality is important to you, the iPhone 16 is undoubtedly the better choice over the 15. 

iPhone 15 vs 16: CPU and GPU

Unsurprisingly, the iPhone 16 and its A18 Bionic chip beats the iPhone 15's A16 Bionic. 

While both chips are powerful, according to Apple, the A18 is about 30 percent faster and uses 30 percent less power than the A16. 

That means apps load quicker, multitasking is smoother, and your battery may last noticeably longer, especially if you use your phone for gaming, video editing, or other power-intensive tasks.

The iPhone 16’s 5-core GPU also has noticeably faster speeds — the company says the new chip is up to 40 percent faster and 35 percent more efficient than the A16 Bionic. That makes the iPhone 16 an even better choice for smartphone gamers. 

But one of the biggest perks of the A18 chip is that it supports Apple Intelligence, Apple's new AI toolset. 

This gives the iPhone 16 an edge over the 15 since it can handle AI-powered writing assistance, image generation, and smart notification prioritization — and we'll discuss more Apple Intelligence features below. 

iPhone 15 vs 16: AI and Apple Intelligence Features

Apple Intelligence is an AI platform exclusive to Apple that promises to rewrite, proofread, summarize text, and handle tasks like organizing photos or drafting emails — all while keeping personal data private. 

The platform will be available on all iPhone 16 models but incompatible with the base iPhone 15 and iPhone 15 Plus. However, iPhone 15 Pro and iPhone 15 Pro Max users can access Apple Intelligence via a free update to iOS 18. 

Some of its AI features include:

• ChatGPT integration into iOS
• Improved Siri performance
• Ability to automatically rewrite text in a different style (like professional or friendly)
• Grammatical error detection
• Email and call recording summarization
• More powerful Photo Library search

If you’re interested in using AI to help you with your tasks, the iPhone 16 is the choice for you. 

iPhone 15 vs 16: Battery Life

Battery life is always a big concern, and the iPhone 16 offers a little more than the 15 in this department.

While the iPhone 15 gives users up to 20 hours of video playback, Apple claims the iPhone 16 can reach up to 22 hours. That extra two hours can be a big deal if you constantly use your phone for streaming, video calls, or taking photos on the go.

Both phones use USB-C charging, but the iPhone 16 also supports faster MagSafe charging at up to 25 watts compared to 15 watts on the iPhone 15. 

If you dislike waiting for your phone to charge, this update might be a reason to consider the iPhone 16.

iPhone 15 vs 16: Pricing

Pricing can sometimes be the deciding factor when choosing between two iPhones. 

The iPhone 16 starts at $799 for the 128GB model, while the iPhone 15 now starts at $699 following the iPhone 16’s announcement. We keep a running list of the best iPhone 16 deals across carriers and update it whenever we detect a change. 

Of course, if price is a key consideration, our iPhone 15 deals page is also worth a look. And if you want to jump right to the deals, our free unbiased Phone Deal Finder below helps you find the best iPhone deals you qualify for based on your criteria. 

Both phones have 128GB, 256GB, and 512GB storage options, so you'll have the same choices with either model if you need more space for photos, apps, and files. 

The main question is whether the improvements in performance, camera quality, and AI features on the iPhone 16 are worth the extra $100. You can also check out our featured iPhone deals from Verizon, T-Mobile, AT&T and other top carriers.

iPhone 15 vs 16: Colors

The iPhone 16 comes in five colors — Ultramarine, Teal, Pink, White, and Black (according to many online, Ultramarine may be the overall favorite this time around). 

Meanwhile, the iPhone 15 offers Black, Blue, Green, Yellow, and Pink. 

The Bottom Line

Given all the buzz about AI, the most obvious difference between iPhone 15 and 16 is the ability to access Apple Intelligence. Beyond that, other features where the iPhone 16 shines include brightness levels, enhanced camera features, audio improvements, its powerful chip, and battery life. Even so, the iPhone 15 remains a great option, which is why choosing between the iPhone 15 and 16 can be difficult.

If you still have an iPhone 14 or older, don’t care much about having the newest model, and simply need a new iPhone at a more affordable price, there are some great iPhone 15 deals right now worth considering. Whether you decide on the 15 or 16, Navi's free and unbiased Phone Deal Finder can help you quickly find the best deals you qualify for based on your trade-in device and other preferences.

Frequently Asked Questions

Is there a big difference between iPhone 15 and 16?

Yes, there are some big differences between the iPhone 15 and 16. While both phones share many of the same features, the iPhone 16 stands out with its brighter screen, faster chip, improved camera controls, and exclusive AI-powered Apple Intelligence tools. If you don’t need the latest features, the iPhone 15 is still a solid option, especially with its new lower price.

What iPhones will stop working in 2024?

In 2024, a handful of older iPhones received their last security update and are no longer supported by Apple. This change affected the iPhone 6s, 6s Plus, original SE, iPhone 7, 7 Plus, 8, 8 Plus, and the iPhone X. They’ll miss out on future updates and security patches.

When should you replace an iPhone?

If your iPhone has more than the usual bumps and scratches—like a cracked screen—it can lose its water and dust resistance, making it more vulnerable to internal damage. When the wear goes beyond everyday use, upgrading is usually the best way to make sure you can depend on your phone.