iPhone 15 Vs. iPhone 16: Which Apple Device Is Best?

Apple launched its newest lineup of iPhones recently, and it’s time to make a decision. You may be contemplating one of two questions: Either you already have the iPhone 15 and you’re wondering if the iPhone 16 is worth the upgrade; or, since Apple still sells the iPhone 15, you want a new iPhone in general and you want to compare the two. Both are very reasonable scenarios. When looking at the iPhone 15 versus iPhone 16, there’s a lot to know about both devices.

One key thing to note is that Apple has a history of supporting its iPhones for a long time. Not only are support options available for older iPhones, but Apple tends to keep its phones up to date with the latest software for many years. Should you decide to go with the iPhone 15, you’ll still have quite a few software upgrades in your future.

But the iPhone 16 got a lot of upgrades over its predecessor, including two new buttons, and of course, that’s not something any amount of software upgrades can make up for. So, should you get the latest and greatest from Apple, or should you save some cash and go with last year’s iPhone 15? Here’s what you need to know.

The Latest Base Model From Apple

iPhone 16

Display size: 6.1-inch | Display type: 1,179 x 2,556-pixel Super Retina XDR OLED | RAM: 8GB | Storage options: 128GB, 256GB and 512 GB | Processor: Apple A18 Bionic | OS: iOS 18 | Battery: 3,561mAh | Dimensions: 5.8 x 2.8 x 0.3 inches | Weight: 6 ounces | Front camera resolution: 12MP | Rear camera resolutions: 48MP (wide), 12MP (ultra-wide) | Colors: Black, white, pink, teal and ultramarine

Best For:

• Those who want the latest Apple has to offer
• Mobile gamers who want a combination of gaming features and affordability
• Shutter bugs who want a solid no-frills camera

Skip if:

• You already have the iPhone 15
• You’re on a budget

Last Year's Powerful Base iPhone

iPhone 15

Display size: 6.1-inch | Display type: 1,179 x 2,556-pixel Super Retina XDR OLED | RAM: 6GB | Storage options: 128GB, 256GB and 512 GB | Processor: Apple A16 Bionic | OS: iOS 17 | Battery: 3,34 mAh | Dimensions: 5.8 x 2.8 x 0.3 inches | Weight: 6 ounces | Front camera resolution: 12 megapixels | Rear camera resolutions: 48 megapixels (wide), 12 megapixels (ultra-wide) | Colors: Black, blue, green, yellow, pink

Best for:

• People who want a balance of budget and quality
• You don’t mind missing out on the Action Button or Camera Control

Skip if:

• You want the new buttons on the iPhone 16

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iPhone 15 Vs. iPhone 16: Design

Close, But Some New Features May Sway You

The iPhone 15 and the iPhone 16 have a few features in common including the exact same height, very close weight (less than .1 ounces) and similar screen size. When I tested both cameras, the images looked close in detail and quality. Apple says it changed up the hardware and image pipeline. On paper, they both have a 48MP main camera, 12MP ultrawide camera, and 12MP selfie camera. The iPhone 16’s ultrawide camera has autofocus, which means better macro shots—something the iPhone 15 doesn’t have.

You can still buy the same storage configurations from 128GB all the way up to 512GB. They also both have a lot of the same specifications when it comes to Bluetooth, NFC and the like, though the iPhone 16 adds Wi-Fi 7 compatibility. Notably, both phones also have USB-C ports for charging and data, and both phones have the dynamic island surrounding the selfie camera/Face ID sensors. Those were both big differentiators between the iPhone 14 versus iPhone 15.

iPhone 15 Vs. iPhone 16: Action Button

It Makes A Difference—If You Plan To Use It

The iPhone 15 sacrificed the Action button to the Pro users—but that’s no longer the case. This year, all four iPhone models got the Action Button, which is a big win for non-pro users. The Action Button allows you to trigger certain actions with the press of a dedicated, programmable button.

It’s worth noting that the user interface where you select your action is wholly unique from everything else Apple has to offer, and it feels odd. But you can select the flashlight, a voice recorder or any other of about a dozen actions that can be paired to the button. But it gets even more versatile when you associate the button with a shortcut.

You can configure shortcuts to launch a menu of actions, or even customize the action that happens based on what Focus Mode you’re in. It’s pretty cool, and I personally find it a great addition to the iPhone 16 that the iPhone 15 doesn’t have.

iPhone 15 Vs. iPhone 16: Camera Control

It (Finally) Comes To Non-Pro iPhones

The iPhone 16 offers Camera Control, an additional button that gives you complete control over your camera. A single press launches the camera, regardless of what app you’re currently using on the phone. A second press of the button captures a photo. Press and hold, and you can capture a video; this shaves precious seconds off your response time from grabbing a shot on the fly.

Once launched, you can slide your finger over the capacitive button to adjust settings in the camera such as zoom level, photographic styles, depth of field and more. The gestures involved take some getting used to. A double half-press of the button lets you change what the Camera control adjusts.

For most people, the single press to launch the camera and the single press to capture will be enough to optimize the camera experience. Those who take the time to learn what Camera Control can also do will get a lot more value besides. But again, this is only on the iPhone 16 models—not the iPhone 15. If you can live without this button, then you won’t care if your device doesn’t come with this special feature.

iPhone 15 Vs. iPhone 16: Memory And Processor

Two Big Internal Upgrades

Apple also made two big changes to the internals of the iPhone 16 compared to its predecessor. Notably, the incoming iPhone 16 gets 8GB RAM over the 6GB that ships with the iPhone 15. Also, the iPhone 16 ships with an A18 bionic processor which is two generations newer than the A16 bionic that ships in the iPhone 15.

So, what does this all mean? For the average user, it doesn’t mean a whole lot. You can launch apps a little faster, and you can launch more apps. For gamers and those doing heavier tasks like video editing and conversions, these upgrades will be more noticeable. But, most people will agree this is an overall quality-of-life/future-proofing improvement that we can all get on board with, especially since the new iPhone has the same price tag as the iPhone 15 had last year.

Minor Improvements In The Camera And Battery

You’ll want to consider a few other minor points when deciding on your next base model. The iPhone 16 has a larger battery than its predecessor—roughly about 6.5% larger. That doesn’t necessarily translate into a longer lasting phone by itself, but the A18 bionic professor is more efficient, so between the two, Apple says you should get an extra hour or two of video streaming. Ok, that’s nice—but it’s not a huge game changer, as the battery on the iPhone 15 is already pretty powerful.

Also, as I mentioned before, Apple added autofocus to the ultrawide camera which helps with macro photography. If you’re the type to grab closeups of flowers, or insects—or insects on flowers—that’s a nice feature to have. But if not, you’re probably not going to notice that difference. Both of those are minor bumps over the iPhone 15, but they’re still worth mentioning.

iPhone 15 Vs. iPhone 16: Verdict

Collective Improvements

The iPhone 16 is one of the biggest collective improvements of one generation of iPhone over its predecessor is recent memory. Apple added two whole buttons to this new phone—that’s not something to disregard. Both of those buttons bring a ton of value to the user experience. Add in the processor and memory upgrades and is all that worth the $100 premium you’ll pay for the iPhone 16?

That’s the question you’ll have to answer for yourself, but it feels a bit like a no brainer. There are so many upgrades here, the extra cost easily justifies itself. As for whether you should upgrade from your iPhone 15 to an iPhone 16, that’s where it gets a bit more complicated.

If you’re going to make that jump, do it for the new buttons. Camera Control and the Action button add a lot of value to the everyday iPhone experience, but the rest of it is something you already own 90% of. The answer to that question seems to come back to what kind of trade-in offer you can get or how much you can sell the iPhone 15 for. iPhones tend to have amazing resale value, so you might only end up paying an extra $200 of your own money to get these upgrades. That's still a tad steep, but not as bas as buying a new iPhone 16 outright.

If you have a choice, and you have the budget, get the iPhone 16—no question. If you already have the iPhone 15, you’re probably fine so skip this one.

My Expertise

I’m a Chicago-based freelance reviewer and have been writing about consumer electronics for over a decade with a particular focus on mobile phones and cellular technology including the birth of 5G. I’ve also tested most smartphones on the market over the last several years, including the Google Pixel 8 Pro. I also have compared top devices, from the Oneplus 12 versus the Samsung Galaxy S24 Ultra to the iPhone 14 versus iPhone 15. And, of course, I’ve tested each phone’s software, comparing Android versus iPhone to help you make informed buying decisions.

When I’m not testing the latest and greatest flagship phones, I’m hosting the Benefit of the Doud podcast/YouTube channel with my co-host Clifton M. Thomas and editing technology news articles for SlashGear. In addition to Forbes and SlashGear, I have bylines at Android Central, Reviewed.com, Android Authority, Lifewire and more.