iPhone 15 vs. iPhone 16 Buyer's Guide: 30+ Upgrades Compared

[Ramchi]

I asked my son to wait until iPhone 16 launch to gets his first iPhone (He has iPad Pro 11inch M2) upgrading from RealMe 6 Pro after 4 years of use, but he refused and bought iPhone 15 128 GB this Monday after getting some minor discount. Actually I started liking the 6.1 inch form factor.

If SE rumours become reality, I may keep my eyes on it.

 

[IIGS User]

I suppose everyone is different. A friend of mine at work just upgraded from an 8 to a 15. My wife still has an 11. Another friend of mine at work gets the new PM on launch day every year..

I'm one of those "new phone every year" people. This has been a sort of hobby of mine since I was in my 20's and drove out of state to get a Nextel i90 in the early 2000's.

Different people have different priorities. I'll trade my 15PM in for a 16PM on launch day. I'll pay VZW $200 and an activation fee for the privilege, trading in my "old" phone for the newest thing out there.

Some people gamble, some drink, some smoke, some smoke. I do none of these things. I like having an iPhone with the latest features and the best camera because I like taking the best pictures I can with an iPhone. I also do a LOT with my phone. It's pretty central to my life, so I like to have the best one I can.

So for me, it's worth it. I enjoy having the latest thing and it's fun for me. For some people, a phone is just a phone, or they have other things to spend their money on and that's fine.

 

[ab2c4]

My wife and I decided this summer to pass on the 16 series and I'm glad. Literally the only thing appealing to me this year is the new size of 6.3" for the Pro and that size will probably stay around for a few years anyways.

12gb of RAM and rounded sides (or at least not flat sides like we have now) are what would interest me in a new iphone.

 

[HJM.NL]

I can’t get over the flash off the camera bump.

Googles new pixel pro solution is by far more elegant. This is also the year Apple lost its design crown.

 

[dominiongamma]

Personally, we’re approaching dangerous territory with people expecting “big” updates each cycle. Most of the people who want these updates, don’t understand the concept of financial literacy, much less actually being disciplined enough to save for the future. It’s actually pretty scary how younger people are so consumed with the newest tech, that all they do is basically lease everything in their lives…Long gone are the days of spending a grand on something, taking care of it, and build wealth in the meantime…

sorry, I don’t buy it, when Google is innovating with their phones and have better AI features then I can’t give Apple the lazy pass for this. Apple can do better, Apple could start computers at 16gb of ram along with their outrageous SSD storage prices

 

[twolf2919]

The title purports to compare iPhone 15 to iPhone 16 models - but then omits all mention of the Pro and Pro Max differences. Pretty illogical to include "Plus" but not "Pro".

 

[HJM.NL]

I suppose everyone is different. A friend of mine at work just upgraded from an 8 to a 15. My wife still has an 11. Another friend of mine at work gets the new PM on launch day every year..

I'm one of those "new phone every year" people. This has been a sort of hobby of mine since I was in my 20's and drove out of state to get a Nextel i90 in the early 2000's.

Different people have different priorities. I'll trade my 15PM in for a 16PM on launch day. I'll pay VZW $200 and an activation fee for the privilege, trading in my "old" phone for the newest thing out there.

Some people gamble, some drink, some smoke, some smoke. I do none of these things. I like having an iPhone with the latest features and the best camera because I like taking the best pictures I can with an iPhone. I also do a LOT with my phone. It's pretty central to my life, so I like to have the best one I can.

So for me, it's worth it. I enjoy having the latest thing and it's fun for me. For some people, a phone is just a phone, or they have other things to spend their money on and that's fine.

I agree with you when reading your post. You have always been using iPhones it seems. The one thing that bothers me is that Apple is years behind in what the competition is offering but still manages to sell it for premium prices.

I wish you’ll go one day to a phone shop where they sell other brands. Look, try it out and compare. You’ll notice that prices for the iPhone are way off. Competition has managed to build with same quality, offer equal (open) ecosystems and beyond that have real useful innovations the ones Apple promises for next year.

 

[contacos]

Let us know how your experience on the other side are. I think they’re the same if not better. But hearing it from someone who can definitely compare would be great 👍🏻.

If you have the time for doing this can you compare your experience with the latest Android and your hardware experience separate? Thanks in advance 😊

I love it! I have had almost every 2nd iPhone since the 3G days and before that I had multiple iPods as well.

OneUI by Samsung feels very iOS (my opinion) with many customisations or options I always wish my iPhone had. Even basic thinks like hiding the Home bar. And the multitasking! I no longer have to switch between apps, only to go right back to the previous app a moment later.

Never getting a Non-Fold again haha

Now I can just watch things without having to carry my iPad on a trip as well.

Battery life is also good, once the optimization thing has done its thing.

I could go on and on. You also get used to the narrow screen. I actually find it more convenient now.

It's also funny how fast you get used to things. Now when I use my 15 Plus, I keep doing things wrong because I got used to android already (I actually hate it when people just say "android" like ... WHICH one?! The interface and experience can be very different among each vendor)

 

[twolf2919]

I agree with you when reading your post. You have always been using iPhones it seems. The one thing that bothers me is that Apple is years behind in what the competition is offering but still manages to sell it for premium prices.

I wish you’ll go one day to a phone shop where they sell other brands. Look, try it out and compare. You’ll notice that prices for the iPhone are way off. Competition has managed to build with same quality, offer equal (open) ecosystems and beyond that have real useful innovations the ones Apple promises for next year.

Sorry, but that's just an opinion not backed by facts. By all accounts, iPhones are not years behind anyone. In some regards, they're still year(s) ahead: FaceID is still way more secure than any competitors' facial biometrics offering; Apple's processors are way faster than any of the competitions (although that gap is only about a year now); and in terms of integration between their devices, there's not even any competition period! If you have a smartphone, a smartwatch, a laptop, and a tablet - there is not a single manufacturer other than Apple that lets you seamlessly do stuff across all those devices.

Yes, there are things other phones are ahead of the iPhone in - but nothing like what you claim.

 

[HJM.NL]

I love it! I have had almost every 2nd iPhone since the 3G days and before that I had multiple iPods as well.

OneUI by Samsung feels very iOS (my opinion) with many customisations or options I always wish my iPhone had. Even basic thinks like hiding the Home bar. And the multitasking! I no longer have to switch between apps, only to go right back to the previous app a moment later.

Never getting a Non-Fold again haha

Now I can just watch things without having to carry my iPad on a trip as well.

Battery life is also good, once the optimization thing has done its thing.

I could go on and on. You also get used to the narrow screen. I actually find it more convenient now.

It's also funny how fast you get used to things. Now when I use my 15 Plus, I keep doing things wrong because I got used to android already (I actually hate it when people just say "android" like ... WHICH one?! The interface and experience can be very different among each vendor)

Thanks for your real user experience! Most people think iOS and iPhone are the holy grail and never try elsewhere.

Innovation is dead on iPhone and it has become boring. Since the iPhone 12 came out it’s practically the same phone.

 

[HJM.NL]

Sorry, but that's just an opinion not backed by facts. By all accounts, iPhones are not years behind anyone. In some regards, they're still year(s) ahead: FaceID is still way more secure than any competitors' facial biometrics offering; Apple's processors are way faster than any of the competitions (although that gap is only about a year now); and in terms of integration between their devices, there's not even any competition period! If you have a smartphone, a smartwatch, a laptop, and a tablet - there is not a single manufacturer other than Apple that lets you seamlessly do stuff across all those devices.

Yes, there are things other phones are ahead of the iPhone in - but nothing like what you claim.

You haven’t checked competing systems I guess. Apple’s ecosystem is very good I agree. The integration between hard- and software too.

But competition didn’t stood still. They copied what Apple is doing and making it even better. There are lots of phones who beat Apple in Speedtests just search for it on YouTube.

Technology wise… Apple only designs their microprocessors. The rest are of the shelve parts available to anyone. Competition is giving you far better hardware for the price. Cameras, RAM, standard 120hz refresh rate screens, etc.

Since Android and iOS don’t differentiate that much these days in look and feel, I’m starting to wonder why I keep on buying Apple stuff. I’m from Europe and most people here use Android. iPhone hasn’t changed since iPhone 12. Only some incremental changes. Because of apples closed system I don’t benefit that much from Apple’s closed features. It’s more an handicap to me. For example: iMessage is worthless over here, airdrop only works between Apple phones etc.

Apples progress to talk nice with the outside world only comes when they’re pressed to do so… usb c etc.

That and the fact they still charge premium for yesterday of the shelf technology makes me rethink.

 

[ChaosHex]

I am one of those people who absolutely love the reduced form factor of the iPhone 13 Mini. It’s still got a fantastic dual camera adapted for night vision, robust MagSafe charging, and 5G+ LTE with hotspot tethering. Why Apple can’t be bothered to respect their die hard mini affectionados is beyond me except for the idea maybe that incorporating premium assets into the base models cannibalizes premium traits from the more expensive (often ostentatiously bigger) models they want you to invest extra in, but I think it’s deeper than that, and you can see the same trend in other ‘mini’ products like the long-awaited iPad of that size: People who are content with what they have, and resist the planned obsolescence and FOMO hype that drives the desire for an ever better product, to the point we’re replacing these very expensive, already resilient devices year after year, are antithetical to a business model dependent on our addiction to luxury over utility. Yet in the same spirit as the right-to-repair movement, we should acknowledge the validity of wanting a product that suits the ‘pro’ lifestyle’s purposes with all the bells & whistles you can manage to fit efficiently in that small package, without feeling threatened by what that could mean for not needing to transition to the new shiny or desire for more space as though that translates to function or worth. To the point on other minimal devices like the iPad Mini, their refresh cycle is painfully long and inconsistent, I suspect because they are aware people are often content with the device that suits their core needs subtly without requiring a fatter footprint or price tag, and (like me) abhor the idea of a superfluous substitution for more of the same, or if missing features that could easily have been incorporated only with resentment that they are being strong-armed into paying much more for what should be a standard feature, like throwing out the third camera lens; frankly you can’t convince South Koreans to buy a smartphone they can’t physically replace the battery for, but when the product is discontinued as the iPhone Mini is it’s not clear that right or means however difficult it has been up to now will persist at all into perpetuity. The reality of Apple’s modern chips as we approach M4 means we can do a heck of a lot more with relatively low power the transistors themselves shrink in the march towards 1nm, but we’re only using those gains to demand more from all devices without compromise towards facilitating Apple Intelligence, and the mini iPhone may seem at first glance to not be ideal for such a grandiose plan, but you really need no more volumetric space than the pen in your hand in principle, because intelligence is about communication, and what restrictions are implied by the relative scarcity of real estate on a phone’s screen is dwarfed by that of the interconnected technology that pairs with it, whether iPad or computer or Vision Pro or television etc. Once upon a time, intelligence boiled down to how well you could read and write. Would it be so wrong to let my phone be as small as a match box? Frankly it’s annoying that I don’t have a choice about whether I can use a phone at all, and the more space and heat it takes up, the less excited I am to need to dedicate ever more of my attention and energy to powering, protecting, touching and looking at this window. Phones are not something you look into for me so much as the open window through which anything and everything pours into my eyes, a vector for transmission, and it’s sometimes helpful to pull down the blinds and close your eyes. The colors are pretty, but when you see something in black & white, what you lose in vibrancy you gain in texture, depth and contrast. Power is as much about what you don’t need as what you have.

 

[siddavis]

How would the alternative look? If they added whatever they possibly could each year, the updates would be even more subtle.

For instance, iPhone 13 Pro added cinematic mode, while iPhone 14 Pro added the Dynamic Island and the 15 Pro added the action button.

Had the 13 Pro received all of those additions, what would be the 14 Pro’s marquee feature, 2X zoom?

I don’t mind the dink and dunk addition of features because I don’t upgrade each year. I wait 2-4 years to get all the features I “missed out” previously on the latest model.

Maybe a lower price?

 

[pavvel]

What? No support for the Apple Pencil?

Don't get angry. Someone just literally made this article up.

 

[siddavis]

Apple can’t milk the dual camera on the standard iPhones for an incredible 6th consecutive year surely??!

It amazes me even last year we saw this too. When you look at phones in the same price range to the standard iPhones with much better specs and features, it’s quite insulting to Apple users I would say. I know we use iPhones because we prefer iOS etc, but let’s have something back on the hardware.

Yup. Just artificial product differentiation to create a "Pro" tier. I remember the days of, "this is iPhone".

 

[B.A.T]

I'll be holding onto my 12 mini for another two years and then all the wishlist items everyone is complaining about in this thread will be included. But the complaining will still go on......

 

[iMac The Knife]

The Mini Clan strikes again! You all need to stage a sit-in at Tim Apple's house, and do not leave until he agrees to release a new Mini. For real though, I know I give you all a hard time for your incessant complaining on MR, but when it is all said and done I would like you all to be able to buy the phone you really want. I don't think Apple will ever release another Mini though.

 

[Ramchi]

I'll be holding onto my 12 mini for another two years and then all the wishlist items everyone is complaining about in this thread will be included. But the complaining will still go on......

I loved my 12 Pro Max and I shouldn’t have traded for 15PM since I do not see any big difference as such. Believe me, from 12 Mini in two years, you will be seeing astonishing improvements when you buy iPhone 18 series. That would make you a very clever buyer. I am planning to hold my 15PM as long as possible, may be until iPhone 19 - 20 but I might go Foldable rout if I do not see any major improvements in iPhones by then.

 

[spcopsmac21]

After over a year of rumors, the iPhone 16 and iPhone 16 Plus are set to launch next month. There are now 20 changes and improvements expected to be offered by the new standard models, so here's everything we're expecting.

All of the changes the iPhone 16 models are expected to feature compared to their direct forerunners are listed below, using information from a wide range of reliable sources that we have previously covered here on MacRumors. We will continue to update this article as more rumors emerge prior to Apple's "It's glowtime" event on Monday, September 9.

This guide focuses on the iPhone 15 and iPhone 16, but to learn about how we are expecting the iPhone 16 Pro to improve on the iPhone 15 Pro, see our other comparison article.

Design

The iPhone 16 and iPhone 16 Plus are expected to largely carry over the design of their predecessors, meaning that they will have the same dimensions. The most noticeable alteration that will denote the new models is said to be a vertical rear camera arrangement to facilitate spatial video capture, but the removal of the mute switch in favor of the Action button introduced on last year's Pro models.

iPhone 15	iPhone 16
Diagonally arranged rear camera array	Vertically arranged rear camera array
Ring/Silent switch	Action Button
Thermal design with copper heatsink	New thermal design with graphene heatsink
iPhone 15: 171g weight iPhone 15 Plus: 201g weight	iPhone 16: 173g weight (+1%) iPhone 16 Plus: 203g weight (+1%)

Cameras

The iPhone 16 models are slated to receive a small number of camera enhancements, such as an improved ultra wide camera, macro photography support, and a dedicated hardware button for photography and videography on the side of the device.

iPhone 15	iPhone 16
	Capacitive "Capture Button" with force-sensitive half-press and sliding gestures to trigger photography and videography features
Ultra wide camera with f/2.4 aperture	Ultra wide camera with f/2.2 aperture for improved-low light performance
	Macro photography support
	Spatial video capture

Chip, Memory, and Connectivity

The iPhone 16 models are rumored to benefit from a moderate improvement in processing power thanks to an all-new A18 chip with a more powerful Neural Engine to support exclusive generative AI capabilities. We are also expecting an 33% more memory and Wi-Fi 6E support.

iPhone 15	iPhone 16
A16 Bionic chip (TSMC's "N4P" enhanced 5nm process)	A18 chip (TSMC's "N3E" enhanced 3nm process)
16-core Neural Engine	Enhanced Neural Engine with "significantly" more cores to support Apple Intelligence
6GB memory	8GB memory (+33%)
Wi-Fi 6 connectivity	Wi-Fi 6E connectivity

Batteries and Charging

The iPhone 16 models could receive some major improvements in battery technology and charging, sporting denser batteries and faster charging capabilities. It is worth noting that the iPhone 16 Plus is rumored to feature a smaller battery than its predecessor, but it is not clear how this will affect actual battery life.

iPhone 15	iPhone 16
Single-layer battery technology	Stacked battery technology for increased energy density and prolonged lifespan
iPhone 15: 3,349 mAh battery iPhone 15 Plus: 4,383 mAh battery	iPhone 16: 3,561 mAh battery (+6%) iPhone 16 Plus: 4,006 mAh battery (-9%)
Up to 27W wired charging	Up to 40W wired charging (48% faster)
15W charging via MagSafe	20W charging via MagSafe (33% faster)

Other Features and Changes

Support for Apple Intelligence is expected to be one of the iPhone 16's most important features, bringing the new array of AI tools to Apple's standard line of iPhones for the first time.

iPhone 15	iPhone 16
	Apple Intelligence support
Microphone	Upgraded microphone with improved signal-to-noise ratio and water resistance, designed to support new AI features
	More efficient OLED display with brighter micro-lens technology
Available in Blue, Pink, Green, Yellow, and Black	Available in Blue, Pink, Green, Yellow, Black, White, and Purple

Release Date

The iPhone 16 and iPhone 16 Plus are expected to be announced at Apple's "It's glowtime" event on Monday, September 9. Pre-orders are likely to open on Friday, September 13, with launch following one week later on Friday, September 20. For more information about the iPhone 16 Pro models, see our comprehensive roundup.

Will It Be Worth Upgrading?

The iPhone 15 was a significant upgrade over 2023's iPhone 14, introducing a new design with a the Dynamic Island, a 48-megapixel camera, a USB-C port, and more. The iPhone 16's upgrades will likely not be as substantial as those offered by its predecessor. As a result, most iPhone 15 users will have little reason to upgrade, but Apple Intelligence and the new Action and Capture buttons are likely to be among the main motivations to get the latest device.

Article Link: iPhone 15 vs. iPhone 16: 20 Rumored Upgrades Compared

So an iPhone 12SSSSSSSSSS

This is getting old.

 

[spcopsmac21]

I loved my 12 Pro Max and I shouldn’t have traded for 15PM since I do not see any big difference as such. Believe me, from 12 Mini in two years, you will be seeing astonishing improvements when you buy iPhone 18 series. That would make you a very clever buyer. I am planning to hold my 15PM as long as possible, may be until iPhone 19 - 20 but I might go Foldable rout if I do not see any major improvements in iPhones by then.

This is EXACTLY what I’ve been doing.
I have a 14PM and it’s MEH.
The Dynamic Island makes every type of media consumption terrible. It’s an eye sore.

I just spent 10 minutes with a Google Pixel Pro 9 fold…..
Unless the iPhone 16 line up blows me away I’ll be buying the new Pixel Pro fold.

 

[siddavis]

Googles new pixel pro solution is by far more elegant. This is also the year Apple lost its design crown.

For me it has been a couple of years. The square triangle diagonal asymmetrical nonsense with a giant cutout from the screen is not appealing. I don’t care how many times the AT&T gal says titanium, it’s still ugly.

 

[miamialley]

9% smaller battery on the 16 Pro Max? Yikes!

Will the new thermals actually keep the 16 less hot? My 15PM sometimes gets so hot it’s not useable.

 

[iMac The Knife]

Thanks for your real user experience! Most people think iOS and iPhone are the holy grail and never try elsewhere.

Innovation is dead on iPhone and it has become boring. Since the iPhone 12 came out it’s practically the same phone.

I agree with my fellow foldable user. I had every iPhone from the 4 to the 12PM and I finally decided to ditch the iPhone and get a Z Fold 3. Since then, I've had the Z Fold 4, 5, 6, the Pixel Fold, and now my daily is the OnePlus Open. I will never go back to a slab phone again. I also have the Pixel 9 Pro Fold and the Honor Magic V3 coming early in September. I'm looking forward to trying them out. Having a regular phone and a mini tablet in one device is amazing. I actually love Android now, which is something I never thought I would say because when I tried it out several years ago it was trash. It has come such a long way over the last five years. I actually prefer Android over iOS now (I have an iPhone for work). I will most likely give a book style foldable iPhone a try if they ever release one, but I don't think I will go back to iOS for one of my personal phones anytime soon. Also, I had no problems leaving the Apple ecosystem, all except for my trusty 2017 27" iMac 5K.

 

[felixroqu3]

Lord, if Apple were to finally add 120Hz to these models, I will gladly downgrade and stop getting the Pro models. But I really doubt they will, so not getting my hopes up.

 

[The-Real-Deal82]

Lord, if Apple were to finally add 120Hz to these models, I will gladly downgrade and stop getting the Pro models. But I really doubt they will, so not getting my hopes up.

I doubt they will either. It’ll be another 60hz, dual camera, low RAM device with an £800 to £1k price tag no doubt.