iPhone 16 vs. iPhone 15: What’s New and Should You Upgrade?

Apple has officially launched the iPhone 16, and as with any new release, many are wondering how it compares to last year’s iPhone 15. In this article, we’ll dive into the key differences, upgrades, and whether an upgrade is worth considering.

Design & Build

iPhone 15

The iPhone 15 features a sleek design with a ceramic shield front and aluminum body. The rear camera array is positioned diagonally, which is a signature of its previous models. It is available in colors like blue, pink, and black.

iPhone 16

The iPhone 16 refines this design by introducing a vertical camera alignment, moving away from the diagonal setup seen in the iPhone 15. This new layout is primarily designed to enable spatial video capture for enhanced compatibility with Apple's Vision Pro headset. Color-wise, the iPhone 16 will be available in black, white, pink, teal, and ultramarine.

Display

iPhone 15

• Size: 6.1-inch Super Retina XDR display
• Refresh Rate: 60Hz
• Resolution: 2556 x 1179 pixels

iPhone 16

• Size: 6.1-inch OLED display (no major change in display size)
• Refresh Rate: 60Hz (same as iPhone 15)
• Resolution: 2556 x 1179 pixels
• MagSafe Improvements: Slimmer magnets for better accessory alignment and a slimmer MagSafe ring.

Performance

iPhone 15

The iPhone 15 is powered by the A16 Bionic chip, which was a major boost in performance for handling tasks and gaming. It also comes with 6GB of RAM, ensuring smooth multitasking.

iPhone 16

The iPhone 16, however, steps up with the A18 chipset, which promises improved energy efficiency and processing power. Although Apple hasn’t officially confirmed the RAM size, it's expected to come with 8GB of RAM, a noticeable increase that will enhance multitasking and the future Apple Intelligence features.

Cameras

iPhone 15

• Main Camera: 48MP main camera
• Ultrawide Camera: 12MP ultrawide
• Front Camera: 12MP front-facing camera

iPhone 16

• Main Camera: 48MP main camera (similar to iPhone 15)
• New Ultra-Wide Camera: 48MP ultra-wide with quad-pixel sensor for enhanced macro photography.
• Spatial Video: A significant upgrade in the iPhone 16 is its ability to capture spatial videos to be viewed using the Vision Pro headset, a feature absent from the iPhone 15.
• Telephoto Lens: Both the iPhone 16 Pro models now feature a 5x Telephoto lens on all Pro models, expanding optical zoom capabilities.

Battery Life

iPhone 15

The iPhone 15 has reliable battery life, but Apple did not significantly improve the battery capacity from previous models.

iPhone 16

Though Apple hasn't disclosed the specific battery size for the iPhone 16, the company claims a "big boost in battery life", likely due to the more efficient A18 chipset.

Other Features

iPhone 15

• Action Button: Exclusive to Pro models, allowing for custom shortcuts.
• Lightning Port: The last iPhone model to feature the Lightning port.

iPhone 16

• Action Button: Now available across all iPhone 16 models.
• Capture Button: A new Capture Button located on the right side allows for better photo and video capture control.
• USB-C: The iPhone 16 moves to a USB-C port, in line with global trends and regulations.

Pricing

Model	iPhone 15 (128GB)	iPhone 16 (128GB)
Starting Price	$799	$799

Conclusion

If you’re using an iPhone 15, the decision to upgrade to an iPhone 16 depends on your needs. The iPhone 16’s A18 chip, spatial video recording, and Camera Control Button are excellent improvements, but if these features don’t appeal to you, sticking with the iPhone 15 is still a solid option.

For those using older models or seeking to take advantage of Apple Intelligence and spatial video, the iPhone 16 is definitely a worthy upgrade.