iPhone 15 vs iPhone 16: Is the next model worth waiting for?
Apple/ Concept PhonesConfused between the iPhone 15 vs iPhone 16? Here’s a direct comparison between the two to help you decide whether to wait or not.
The standard iPhones are cheaper than the Pro models but they also have less impressive specs. Apple reserves the top features for the Pro.
The regular iPhone usually ends up with an older chip, an acceptable display, and a dual camera system. However, last year’s iPhone 15 was a significant upgrade, featuring better cameras and the all-new Dynamic Island.
That being said, Apple seems to be changing things up with the next iPhone, the iPhone 16. It could feature a new A-series chipset along with improvements to its display and battery life.
Availability
The iPhone 15 is easily available at various online and offline stores, whether you’re looking to get it from Amazon, Best Buy, Walmart, or an Apple Store near you.
The iPhone 16 is expected to be announced on September 9 during Apple’s “It’s Glowtime” event and should go on sale the following week. It will likely be available at all the stores mentioned above.
Design
AppleThe new iPhone 16 could bring an updated design. Apple could move away from the diagonal camera layout and bring back the vertical arrangement seen on the iPhone 12. The Dynamic Island seen on iPhone 15 is here to stay, however, Apple could reduce the bezels on the front.
Apple fans have already started making concept images of what the iPhone 16 could look like. A recent render shared by Apple Hub shows an iPhone X-like camera module with vertical camera sensors, meanwhile, MacRumors shared similar images.
iPhone 16 could also introduce a new “Capture Button”. According to a recent report, the capture button’s main function will be to trigger image or video capture. However, a light press could let you adjust focus instead.
Display
The iPhone 16’s display size will likely remain the same as the iPhone 15. Apple could continue to use a 60Hz display on the iPhone 16, which is definitely a bummer. Most Android phones, even the ones that cost less than $200, offer at least a 90Hz refresh rate.
A higher refresh rate translates into a smoother scrolling experience. It becomes important considering how much time most people spend scrolling through their phones.
The new iPhone could, however, use a more efficient display. Reports suggest it will be equipped with a Micro-lens technology for both improved brightness and reduced power consumption.
Cameras
AppleApple introduced a new 48MP main sensor with the iPhone 15. This complements the 12MP ultrawide shooter present on the phones. The iPhone now snaps images with much higher detail, as it captures more information with each shot.
With its new 48MP image sensor, the iPhone 15 now offers a 2X sensor crop, enabling 2X zoom with image quality similar to that of a dedicated telephoto camera.
The upcoming iPhone 16 is likely going to retain this camera setup, for better or worse. The Pro phones, however, will be receiving a serious upgrade in the camera department.
Performance
Apple/Kojima ProductionsThe iPhone 16 could offer solid performance improvements over the iPhone 15. The current model is powered by the A16 chip which is based on a 5nm process.
iPhone 16 is rumored to bring a new chipset, but it won’t be the A17 Pro chip found on the iPhone 15 Pro and Pro Max. Instead, the phone could use an A17 chip manufactured on TSMC’s inferior N3E process. This would help Apple keep the costs in control.
Separately, an analyst claims all four models in the iPhone 15 series will be powered by A18 series chips. The A18 series could include two chips, both made using the N3E manufacturing process. However, the chip that will be powering the iPhone 16 Pro models might get an extra GPU core that the regular chips won’t have.
It’s not quite clear yet if the standard iPhone 16 will have an A17 or A18 chip, but you can definitely expect it to be faster for gaming and other demanding tasks. It’s likely the chip will be built on a new, more advanced 3nm process.
Leaks suggest the iPhone 16 Pro’s A18 Pro chip will be a bit faster than the A17 Pro in the iPhone 15 Pro. Benchmark tests show an improvement of around 10% in multi-core performance. Single-core performance also seems to be better, with a max score of 3,570 for the A18 Pro compared to 2,890 for the A17 Pro.
For reference, the A16 Bionic scored 2568 in single-core and 6808 in multi-core. The A17 Pro is about 13% faster than the A16 Bionic in multi-core tasks. Even though the standard iPhone 16 won’t get the top-of-the-line A18 Pro chip, it should still be noticeably faster than the iPhone 15’s A16 chip.
Specifications
| | iPhone 15 | iPhone 16 (Rumored specs) |
| Processor | Apple A16 (4nm) | Apple A17 (3 nm) |
| RAM | 6GB (max) | 8GB (max) |
| Battery | 3349mAh | 3561mAh |
| Charging | 27W | 27W |
| Display | 6.3-inch Super Retina XDR OLED | 6.3-inch Super Retina XDR OLED |
| Cameras | 48+12, 12MP front. Dual camera with 2x digital zoom | 48+12, 12MP front. Dual camera with 2x digital zoom |
| Price | Starting at $799 | Starting at $799 |
Apple could bump up the RAM on the iPhone 16 from 6GB to 8GB. The storage options are expected to remain the same— 128GB, 256GB, and 512GB.
Elsewhere, the iPhone 16 could bring Wi-Fi 7 technology as well as an Apple-made 5G model, which might offer performance and efficiency improvements.
Apple may also raise the price of the upcoming iPhone 16. A DigiTimes report states that the iPhone 16 Pro will be $200 more expensive than the iPhone 15 Pro. However, there is no word on how the price of the base model will be affected.
Software
AppleThe new iPhone 16 will run iOS 18 out of the box, but the iPhone 15 will also receive it eventually. Both of these iPhones will have significant software updates in the coming days, as iOS 18 is set to be publicly released in September.
iOS 18, announced during WWDC 2024, brings many new features, including the option to customize the home screen by changing icon colors and placing icons anywhere on the screen. However, the iPhone 15 will not support Apple Intelligence. It’s expected that the iPhone 16, with its newer chip, will have these features.
Apple Intelligence has many new features, including a completely revamped Siri that understands context. Additionally, Apple is offering access to ChatGPT as an opt-in service and tools to generate images and text using AI.
Battery
The iPhone 16 could feature a larger 3561mAh battery, according to tipster Majin Bu. By comparison, the iPhone 15 has a 3349mAh battery. A larger battery should translate into more battery life.
On a battery test conducted by Tom’s Guide, the iPhone 15 lasted 11 hours and 5 minutes, approximately an hour and a half longer than the iPhone 14. It’s anticipated that the iPhone 16 will offer even longer battery life, potentially extending it by a few more hours.
Colors
A leak from tipster Sonny Dickson suggests that Apple is opting for new colors for the standard iPhone 16 models this year. The iPhone could be available in white, black, blue, green, and pink. For reference, the iPhone 15 comes in five color options — black, blue, pink, yellow, and green.
Apple usually announces another color after the launch. It announced a yellow color for the iPhone 14, and a red shade was rumored for the iPhone 15 but never materialized.
Is the iPhone 16 worth waiting for?
Base iPhone models don’t often see significant upgrades and the iPhone 16, in all likelihood, won’t be the exception. If the leaks and rumors are true, the new iPhone is barely going to be any better than the iPhone 15. So, if you’re looking to buy a new iPhone, getting the standard iPhone 15 won’t be a bad decision.
If you already have an iPhone 15, upgrading to the iPhone 16 might not be worth your while unless you’re super into the iPhone 12’s vertical camera setup. That said, a bunch of new flagships are now available. OnePlus 12 will be a solid smartphone below $1000. Samsung’s Galaxy S24 series might also interest you.