iPhone 15 vs iPhone 16: Which One is Better?

Apple’s iPhone 16 brings changes in hardware, performance, and improved Apple Intelligence compared to the previous iPhone 15 model. While each of these phones carries Apple's premium design and functionality, understanding the key distinctions between the two models can help you make the best choice. Let's figure out which one is better and whether it's worth upgrading your current iPhone.

Design and Display Quality

The iPhone 16 does not differ from the iPhone 15 in screen diagonal – 6.1 inches OLED – which is optimal in terms of size and convenience. The brightness level stays high and the colors remain as deep as before, thanks to OLED technology: the maximum brightness of the screen reaches 1,000 nits, the same as iPhone 15. Notably, the minimum brightness in the iPhone 16 drops to 1 nit – ideal for low-light viewing without straining the eyes.

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Updated Design Elements and New Buttons

The iPhone 16 brings a new design, with more vibrant colors that give a fresh look to the series. Another notable design shift is the vertically aligned rear camera, a nod to earlier iPhone generations and a functional enhancement that supports Spatial Video capture. This layout improves compatibility with immersive experiences on devices like Apple’s Vision Pro headset.

For the first time, the iPhone 16 features two additional buttons: the Action Button and Camera Control. The Action Button replaces the traditional mute switch, allowing customizable shortcuts for functions like launching specific apps, toggling settings, or activating the camera. The Camera Control Bbutton, positioned below the power button, acts as a shutter key, supporting a half-press to lock focus and a full press to capture an image. This innovation enables faster access to photography without needing to tap on the screen.

Display: What Stayed the Same

Despite several design upgrades, one thing remains unchanged in the iPhone 16: the refresh rate. Both the iPhone 15 and iPhone 16 operate at 60Hz, which is functional for regular use but lacks the fluidity of the 120Hz ProMotion display featured on Pro models. While rumors suggest that ProMotion might arrive on base models with the iPhone 17, users seeking this feature might need to look at the Pro line.

Performance and Software

In terms of performance and software, the iPhone 16 is a major upgrade in performance introducing Apple’s latest A18 chip that is based on 3nm process technology. This is a two-generation leap ahead of the iPhone 15’s A16 Bionic chip, which is expected to increase performance by around 25%. For users regularly multitasking, gaming, or working with demanding apps, this upgrade delivers faster processing and smoother operation.

Apple Intelligence and iOS 18

Running on iOS 18, the iPhone 16 also comes equipped with enhanced Apple Intelligence features, marking Apple’s commitment to integrating AI into everyday user experiences. At launch, iOS 18 includes notification summaries, intuitive writing tools, and the Clean Up tool in Photos, which quickly declutters your photo library. By December, Apple will introduce iOS 18.2, bringing more advanced tools such as ChatGPT integration, Visual Intelligence, and new creative tools like Image Playground for AI-generated images and Genmoji for customizable avatars.

While both iPhone 15 and 16 support iOS 18, the expanded RAM in the iPhone 16 (likely 8GB compared to the iPhone 15’s 6GB) ensures smoother performance, especially when using resource-heavy AI applications. The added memory also enhances Apple Intelligence capabilities, making the iPhone 16 a more future-proof device as Apple continues to roll out new AI features.

Camera Capabilities

The iPhone 16 builds on the camera improvements introduced with the iPhone 15, bringing subtle but meaningful upgrades to both hardware and software.

Main and Ultra-Wide Cameras

The iPhone 16 continues the iPhone 15’s 48MP main camera and a 12MP ultra-wide camera for sharp, detailed images and excellent low-light capability. With an f/1.6 aperture, the main camera captures bright, detailed images even in challenging lighting conditions. But the ultra-wide camera now boasts a slightly wider aperture of f/2.2, which lets in more light for better, punchier ultra-wide shots.

Among the other changes in the software of the iPhone 16, it is possible to highlight the support for macro photography which was previously available only in the Pro versions of the device. This capability brings added versatility for close-up shots, ideal for capturing intricate details and textures.

Spatial Video for Immersive Content

iPhone 16 is the first base model that supports Spatial Video to record 3D video content compatible with Apple Vision Pro. Spatial Video is still a way off from becoming a standard feature, but for those who want to create media content, it is a welcome addition.

Camera Control Button and AI Enhancements

The iPhone 16’s new Camera Control button improves this concept of photography by providing faster capture functionality like traditional camera shutter button. Apple has also implemented the AI-based photo editing tools in iOS 18 releasing conveniences and creative options for smart resizing, moving objects within a frame, and applying filters on the go.

Audio Quality and Haptics

Apple has always had great audio output and the iPhone 16 is no different. While the speaker layout has not changed much since the iPhone 15, advances in audio handling make the audio just a little fuller and more engaging. The haptics, driven by Apple’s Taptic Engine, remain as accurate as before, giving good feedback for all the functions of the device.

Battery and Charging

The iPhone 16 has a slightly larger battery of 3,561mAh as compared to the 3,349mAh battery that is in the iPhone 15. This small rise means that the battery can now produce up to 22 hours of video playback on a single charge, as compared to 20 hours on the iPhone 15. This incremental improvement is a welcome addition, though day-to-day differences may be marginal for light users.

Enhanced MagSafe Charging

The iPhone 16 introduces faster MagSafe charging, supporting up to 25W wireless charging when paired with a 30W adapter, a significant upgrade from the iPhone 15’s 15W MagSafe speed. For users prioritizing wireless charging, this faster MagSafe capability offers a convenient and efficient solution. Wired charging remains capped at 20W, meaning users seeking the fastest possible charging speeds may need to look to other devices.

Connectivity and Modem Capabilities

The iPhone 15 and iPhone 16 have the Snapdragon X70 modem for 5G connectivity, along with reliable data speed. Although the iPhone 16 Pro and above models use the Snapdragon X75, which is better in terms of connectivity and power consumption, the Snapdragon X70 is still a good chip for most users. 

Should You Upgrade to the iPhone 16?

The decision to switch from the iPhone 15 to the iPhone 16 mainly depends on personal needs and preferences. The iPhone 16 brings significant updates, especially for those who care about the new software, additional photo features, and minor improvements to battery and performance enhancements. Key features, like the Action Button, faster MagSafe charging, and Apple Intelligence integration may appeal to those seeking the latest conveniences and future-proofing.

However, for those iPhone 15 users who are happy with their device’s performance and do not need these improvements, it is enough to stay with iPhone 15, especially since many of the features are similar: OLED display and basic AI tools. It stands as a new iPhone for people who want to update or those who use an older model, the iPhone 16 is a richer experience and a good balance of design, power and software innovation.

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