iPhone 15 vs 16: What Are the Differences?

September 2024 was the month that the highly anticipated iPhone 16 was released worldwide, alongside the Plus, Pro, and Pro Max models. This device joined the previous year's iPhone 15, which is still available today – but it's now $100 cheaper than the latest generation, which starts at $799 for the 128GB model.

A longer battery life, sleek matte design, Dynamic Island, and 48MP camera were all new additions to the iPhone 15. However, Apple built on these features with the iPhone 16, while also adding a whole host of upgrades.

Many of the new functions we'll explore in this article were included to support Apple Intelligence, the tech giant's very own artificial intelligence platform. This is powered by the iOS 18 operating system, which can be used on both devices. However, Apple Intelligence is, unfortunately, restricted to the newer model.

If you're in the market for a new iPhone, both devices make an exceptional choice. But the key question is: which is better? Whether you're considering the upgrade from the iPhone 15 or want to dive straight in with Apple's latest launch, check out our comparison of the differences between both iPhones before making your final choice! 

Features & Technical Specifications

Apple has carried many of the key design features from the iPhone 15 over to the 16, which shows how solid the older device remains as a smartphone choice. Take a closer look at each model's technical specs side-by-side below:

iPhone 15 vs iPhone 16: 3 Differences

Still not sure which iPhone will serve you better? Keep reading as we review the similarities and differences between the iPhone 16 and 15 in three key areas:

1. Design and Display

The iPhone 15 and 16 share the same 5.81 x 2.82 x 0.31-inch dimensions. They also sport squared edges with a slightly round shape near the display and back panel, along with Apple's iconic Dynamic Island at the top.

This design is complete with an aluminum frame and a color-infused glass back – however, since Apple likes to mix it up every year, each model comes in different color options.

Both devices also have the same 6.1-inch display size, which features an OLED panel and a relatively slow 60Hz refresh rate (particularly when compared to the Google Pixel 9!), as well as a peak indoor brightness of 1600 nits.

But while the iPhone 15 uses Apple's Ceramic Shield glass to protect its display, the iPhone 16 introduces a newer version of the material. The latest-generation Ceramic Shield is 50x tougher, plus 2x more durable than the glass on any other smartphone.

2. Performance & Battery Life

The iPhone 16's A18 chipset features the same 6-core CPU and 5-core GP as the iPhone 15's A16 Bionic chip. However, the A18 offers a significantly better, more efficient performance, working 30% faster than the previous model.

This is thanks to an upgraded 16-core Neural Engine, which is designed to support Apple Intelligence processing and graphics-intensive gaming with up to 5x higher frame rates. The iPhone 16's smoother performance is also facilitated by an extra 2GB of RAM – just one of the reasons why this is the only model to run Apple Intelligence.

Alongside enhanced performance, the A18 chip delivers battery life improvements too. The 16's capacity is slightly larger, at 3561 mAh compared to 3349 mAh, and offers 22 hours of video playback versus the iPhone 15's 20 hours. Both can reach up to 50% charge in 30 minutes, using a 20W adapter paired with a USB-C port-compatible cable.

3. Camera System

Another big difference is the iPhone 16's new vertically aligned cameras, compared to the diagonal iPhone 15 system. These are built to work with the Apple Vision Pro, a virtual reality headset that captures spatial photos and videos in 3D.

Apart from this, the hardware remains pretty much unchanged – even if Apple has changed the name of the Main camera to the Fusion camera on the iPhone 16. These lenses come with the same 48MP, 1.6 focal length lens, and can both take 12MP photos at 2x zoom.

The only other difference between the hardware of the iPhone 16 and iPhone 15 cameras can be found in the overall design of the devices, with the new Camera Control button.

Camera Control is located on the bottom right of the iPhone 16 and allows users to perform different actions on the Camera app, simply by applying varying pressure levels. For instance, light touches are useful for zooming in and out, while a full press takes a photo.

Unlike its predecessor, the iPhone 16 Camera app also supports Apple Intelligence features, including Visual Intelligence. Click and hold the Camera Control button when holding your phone up and Visual Intelligence will generate contextual information about the places and objects around you.

Which iPhone Should You Buy?

Thanks to these upgrades, the features of the base model iPhone 16 bring this device very close to those of the Pro models – in fact, they're the closest of any iPhone generation to date! The performance improvements alone that come with the AI features make the iPhone 16 a great choice, with its higher RAM and better battery life.

For photography enthusiasts, there's little difference between the design or quality of the two models, other than the new vertically aligned cameras. And speaking of design, this is another area where little separates the iPhone 16 and 15.

So, considering these similarities and differences, which iPhone model would we recommend? If you're wanting to use Apple Intelligence, then definitely go with the iPhone 16, since the 15 isn't built to support this platform.

However, the iPhone 15 remains a solid phone with a durable design, relatively fast performance, and high-quality camera systems. But for just an extra $100, the 16 really is a steal. So, if you're considering the 15, perhaps wait for the price to drop a little further to experience the real benefits of choosing an older model.