With the release of the iPhone 16 Pro, Apple’s most recent flagship phone, the iPhone 15 Pro is no longer a part of the official iPhone lineup. However, is the new model truly that much better?
According to our evaluation of the iPhone 16 Pro, Apple’s most recent flagship doesn’t much differ from its predecessor, which raises a few questions: Is the iPhone 15 Pro a better purchase than the iPhone 16 Pro if you can get it via a third-party retailer for less money? Is it advisable to upgrade to Apple’s new Pro model if you currently own an iPhone 15 Pro?
Now that we’ve used both of these phones for a long period of time, we have a solid understanding of how they compare. Let’s examine the iPhone 16 Pro vs. iPhone 15 Pro in more detail.
Specs comparison
Here is a quick summary of the main features of these two phones before we go into a detailed analysis of how they compare.
| iPhone 16 Pro | iPhone 15 Pro | |
|---|---|---|
| Dimensions: | 149.6 x 71.5 x 8.3mm | 146.6 x 70.6 x 8.3mm |
| Weight: | 199g | 187g |
| Display: | 6.3-inch 120Hz OLED | 6.1-inch 120Hz OLED |
| Resolution: | 1206 x 2622 | 1179 x 2556 |
| Chipset: | Apple A18 Pro | Apple A17 Pro |
| RAM: | 8GB | 8GB |
| Storage: | 128GB, 256GB, 512GB, 1TB | 128GB, 256GB, 512GB, 1TB |
| Rear cameras: | 48MP wide, 48MP ultra-wide, 12MP 5x telephoto | 48MP wide, 12MP ultra-wide, 12MP 3x telephoto |
| Front camera: | 12MP | 12MP |
| Battery: | 3,582mAh | 3,274mAh |
| Charging: | 20W wired, 25W wireless | 27W wired, 15W wireless |
Design and Display
Since the release of the iPhone 12 in 2020, Apple has largely maintained the same iPhone look. If speculations about its appearance are to be believed, those looking for something new could be better off waiting for the iPhone 17.
The iPhone 15 Pro and iPhone 16 Pro currently have a strikingly similar appearance. They share the same basic form, front and rear Ceramic Shield glass, and a rim made of mostly flat grade 5 titanium.
Their camera modules are identical, with a rounded square platform with three lenses positioned in a triangle. The Dynamic Island notch, which is located away from the bezels and provides useful heads-up app information, is present on the front of both phones.
However, as you use these two phones more, you’ll notice some significant design variations. For starters, the iPhone 16 Pro is heavier and bigger than the iPhone 15 Pro. Even though the variations are only 3 mm higher, almost a millimeter wider, and 12 g heavier, they are nonetheless noticeable.
This is due to three factors: the newer phone has a larger telephoto camera, a somewhat larger display, and a more capacious battery. However, it does suggest that people who like smaller phones might want to choose the model from the previous year.
The extra button on the iPhone 16 Pro is the other significant design change. The Camera Control, which is located on the phone’s lower right-hand edge, functions as a shutter button and shortcut to the Camera app. Additionally, it serves as a capacitive control to browse through different photography modes.
The Action button on both phones may be set to almost any function you want. It is set to mute your phone by default, but you have the option.
The iPhone 16 Pro’s display is marginally bigger than the iPhone 15 Pro’s, as we’ve already discussed. The iPhone 16 Pro’s dimensions are 6.3 inches, while the iPhone 15 Pro’s is 6.1 inches. As a result, the iPhone 16 Pro’s pixel count has increased slightly from the iPhone 15 Pro’s 1179 x 2556 to 1206 x 2622. However, as the pixel densities produced by the two devices are nearly identical, nothing significant can be inferred from those specifications.
In fact, except from size, the display specifications of these two phones are nearly identical. Both of these LTPO Super Retina XDR OLEDs have adjustable “ProMotion” refresh rates ranging from 1 to 120 Hz. In normal operation, both can reach a maximum brightness of 1,000 nits, and in high brightness mode (HBM), 2,000 nits.
There isn’t much more to say about the iPhone 16 Pro than that it has a little smaller bezel. You won’t be let down by any of their stunning screens, which have exceptional clarity and color accuracy.
Cameras
Although the camera setup of the iPhone 15 Pro wasn’t a significant improvement over the iPhone 14 Pro, the iPhone 16 Pro is superior in a few aspects.
There is a noticeable improvement in two of the three back lenses. The ultra-wide and telephoto cameras are new and enhanced, although the 48MP primary camera does appear a lot like the iPhone 15 Pro’s.
The iPhone 16 Pro’s 48MP sensor replaces the iPhone 15 Pro’s 12MP sensor thanks to the ultra-wide. The telephoto camera, meanwhile, advances from a 3x optical zoom to a 5x alternative zoom.
This implies that the camera technology of the iPhone 16 Pro and the iPhone 16 Pro Max are exactly the same. The iPhone 15 Pro’s camera system’s lower zoom capabilities compared to the iPhone 15 Pro Max was one of our complaints about the device. We consider it a huge victory that picking the smaller phone is no longer a compromise.
The impact of its more pixel-rich ultra-wide camera on macro photos is among its most notable enhancements. The extreme close-ups are much sharper now.
Although the primary camera appears to be rather identical on paper, Apple asserts that the 16 Pro model is quicker, and we did observe that the newer phone had less motion blur when filming action sequences. Additionally, the iPhone 16 Pro can now record 4K 120 fps video, often known as Cinematic Slow Motion, which produces incredibly crisp slow-motion images.
Styles is arguably the iPhone 16 Pro’s most revolutionary software update, at least for photographers. By modifying how your iPhone handles elements like skin tones or shadows, you can effectively pre-process your photos.
Additional enhancements pertain to the editing process, such as the Audio Mix video editing tool, which assists you in focusing and adjusting the audio that is recorded in your videos.
The iPhone 16 Pro’s added Camera Control, which adds an additional degree of immediacy and tactile appeal to the photographic process, is, of course, the single biggest upgrade to the camera.
Performance and Software
The A18 Pro chip in the iPhone 16 Pro is an update from the A17 Pro chip in the iPhone 15 Pro. We realize it’s shocking.
The iPhone 15 Pro, in reality, was already far faster than it needed to be, navigating through tasks, games, and programs with disdainful ease. Technically, the iPhone 16 Pro is significantly faster, as demonstrated by our benchmark findings.
However, what does being quicker than incredibly fast mean? Nothing right now, but you’re investing in more future-proofing with the iPhone 16 Pro. The iPhone 16 Pro will continue to feel fast for a longer period of time because Apple always supports its phones for at least five years.
Every year, we say the same thing about iPhones, but there is one potentially intriguing flaw. Over the next few months, Apple is expected to begin pushing out AI (that’s Apple Intelligence, don’t you know) features to iOS 18. Although these features will be available on both of these phones, it’s likely that the iPhone 16 Pro’s better hardware will result in a more seamless experience. Keep an eye on this area.
Android phones that do AI tasks can put a significant strain on even the most expensive hardware, as we have found. AI performance may be hampered by the 8GB of RAM that both the iPhone 16 Pro and the iPhone 15 Pro have. Simply put, we won’t know until these features are available.
Similar to similar AI features, practically every UI change Apple made to iOS 18 is compatible with both of these phones. Visual Intelligence, which will be connected to the new Camera Control button on the iPhone 16 Pro, will be the sole significant difference. By doing this, you can use your camera to focus on an object and get additional information about it via Apple Intelligence.
Support for Wi-Fi 7 is another benefit of the iPhone 16 Pro’s hardware specifications. There are many Wi-Fi 7 routers available, which is another feature that makes the iPhone 16 Pro more future-proof than the iPhone 15 Pro, but you won’t be able to use this with your bog standard broadband service.
Battery
The iPhone 16 Pro’s larger battery is one of the reasons it is somewhat heavier and larger than the iPhone 15 Pro, as we mentioned in the design section. The newest phone has a 3,582mAh battery, compared to the 3,274mAh of the iPhone 15 Pro.
We were able to extend the life of the iPhone 16 Pro, whether it was due to this more capacity or the more effective A18 Pro chip—probably a mix of the two. The new phone outlasted its older brother by up to four hours, lasting 14 hours in our Future Labs battery-drain testing.
While both of these phones are “charge up every night,” the iPhone 16 Pro will allow you to work harder for longer periods of time without experiencing any issues.
Although there are rumors that going quicker with the iPhone 16 Pro may result in somewhat faster results, Apple maintains that cable charging stays at the same 20W peak for both phones.
Wireless charging is one feature of the iPhone 16 Pro that we are certain is faster. The 25W MagSafe/Qi2 charging capability included to Apple’s latest phone is an improvement above the 15W counterpart found in the iPhone 15 Pro.
iPhone 15 Pro vs 16 Pro Comparisons
The fact that the iPhone 16 Pro is a better phone than the iPhone 15 Pro is not shocking. It features a more versatile camera system, a little larger display, faster performance (for whatever that’s worth), and a new button that makes capturing photos more tactile.
The most recent model is unquestionably the greatest small choice available if you’re in the market for a new iPhone and need an upgrade. The daily experience of using these two phones isn’t all that different, though, if you’re on a limited budget or just want to get the greatest deal. In light of this, as well as Apple’s excellent legacy support, the iPhone 15 Pro’s lower price.
Naturally, if you already own an iPhone 15 Pro (or possibly even an iPhone 14 Pro), you really don’t need to upgrade to the iPhone 16 Pro. If rumors are to be believed, the upcoming model promises even more intriguing changes.