Is the iPhone 15 nonetheless value shopping for in...

For some time now, a part of Apple’s modus operandi for making iPhones inexpensive (comparatively talking) has been to maintain at the least one older mannequin on sale. The result’s that whereas there are 4 variations of the

iPhone 16
accessible, together with the

iPhone 16e
, you possibly can nonetheless purchase the iPhone 15 and

15 Plus
, which initially shipped in 2023. They could be tempting for some consumers, on condition that Apple tends to help its telephones for a very long time, and the 16e is not actually meant to be a flagship — it is a substitute for the budget-priced iPhone SE.

Must you really drop money on an iPhone 15 in 2025? You have in all probability already bought an inclination, however the reply is a bit more complicated than you is perhaps imagining. And even if you would like one, you might want to consider carefully about how, the place, and once you purchase it.

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How does the iPhone 15 stack up in opposition to the iPhone 16 and 16e?

Efficiency

The main distinction is, in fact, processor energy. Whereas each iPhone 16 is supplied with some model of Apple’s A18 chip — the 16e having a four-core GPU, as an alternative of the common 16’s five-core unit — each the iPhone 15 and 15 Plus are caught with the A16. Which means they’re incapable of operating

Apple Intelligence
, together with every part from notification summaries to Visible Intelligence and

ChatGPT integration
. It isn’t a giant deal in the mean time (I not often use ChatGPT myself) however AI will inevitably change into a much bigger and greater a part of iOS, so you might miss out on key options as iOS 19 and its successors roll out.

In any other case, the A16 remains to be a really succesful processor. There are few video games that can tax the A16 to its limits, and most different apps ought to be silky easy. Certainly, since upgrading to an iPhone 16 Professional, I have been stunned at how not often the A18 is (noticeably) higher than the A15 chip in my outdated iPhone 13. Issues set up quicker, and navigation apps are snappier, however the A18 would not make a lot distinction to apps like Cronometer or Reddit.

It ought to be famous that the iPhone 15 solely has 6GB of RAM, versus 8GB with the iPhone 16 collection, however the improve between generations is generally for the sake of Apple Intelligence. It might make a distinction in another areas — notably high-end 3D video games like Resident Evil: Village — however Apple’s {hardware} and software program is so tightly optimized that you just in all probability will not discover more often than not.

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Digital camera tech

Functionally, the iPhone 15 digicam system is just about similar to the iPhone 16 lineup. The usual 16 does have benefits like macro images, Visible Intelligence, and help for spatial pictures and movies you possibly can expertise with a

Vision Pro
, however it nonetheless makes use of a 48-megapixel predominant digicam and a 13-megapixel ultra-wide, similar to the 15. Most pictures and movies ought to look similar below comparable circumstances, except maybe you resolve to experiment with the expanded Photographic Types on the 16 and 16 Plus.

The iPhone 15 really has an edge over the 16e. There is not any ultra-wide digicam on the 16e, so when you’re a fan of taking pictures vistas, structure, or tight areas, the 15 is a greater possibility. The 16e additionally lacks Focus Management — which lets 15 and 16 homeowners change a portrait’s point of interest after the actual fact — in addition to another options, like Motion (stabilization) and Cinematic (shallow depth-of-field) modes for video. There is not any wind noise discount on the 15, thoughts, or any

smart audio mixing
choices.

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Battery life, wi-fi charging, and different options

One space the place the bottom iPhone 15 is soundly trounced is battery life. You will get about 20 hours out of it based mostly on Apple’s testing, whereas the usual 16 will get 22 hours, and the 16e will get 26 hours, only one wanting my iPhone 16 Professional. In observe, nobody makes use of a telephone the way in which Apple does, and you will be charging all of those gadgets in a single day — however the 16e may very well be preferable for vacationers or different individuals who usually discover their machine operating on fumes.

The 15 Plus matches the 16e, so which may be the way in which to go if you would like each wonderful battery life and a bigger 6.7-inch display screen with out spending on a 16 Plus. Each different telephone on this comparability (excluding my iPhone 16 Professional, in fact) has a 6.1-inch show.

When it comes to wi-fi charging, the iPhone 15 sits within the center. It does have MagSafe, which robotically places it above the torpid 7.5W Qi speeds of the 16e, but it is capped at 15W versus the iPhone 16’s 25W. You will get one of the best speeds from USB charging anyway, so this can be a moot level when you’re anxious about charging in a rush. MagSafe is a giant deal for different causes too. It is usually the easiest way of mounting an iPhone, or attaching equipment like wallets and exterior batteries. You possibly can stay with out it, naturally, however it’s frankly superb that Apple felt it may very well be sacrificed, given the cash it makes from the accent market.

One other factor the 16e lacks is Dynamic Island multitasking. That will really be extra vital than MagSafe for some individuals, because it makes it simpler to manage media playback, swap apps, and hold tabs on Stay Actions like timers and meals deliveries. I take advantage of it each day. There aren’t too many different variations to level out, however it’s value noting that solely the common 16 helps

Wi-Fi 7
, and that the 16e would not help the quickest type of 5G, often called mmWave. Should you’ve bought a wise dwelling, neither the iPhone 15 nor the iPhone 16e have a Thread radio for appropriate equipment. The iPhone 16 and the iPhone 16e have a customizable Motion button rather than a hoop/mute swap.

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Must you get an iPhone 15 in 2025?

Possibly, however it is time to go discount searching

As you have seen, the iPhone 15 holds up surprisingly effectively, if largely as a result of iPhone (and app) evolution has come to a crawl. You would possibly get jealous of the battery life on new fashions, and ultimately remorse the absence of Apple Intelligence, however even these issues will not matter a lot when you’re simply attempting to get to work or browse social media. It is really a more sensible choice than the 16e when you care about digicam tech, MagSafe equipment, and Dynamic Island controls.

I would strongly suggest in opposition to shopping for a 15 from Apple, nonetheless. Official costs begin at $699, which is not value it for a base-spec iPhone that is practically two years outdated. As of this writing, you may get a refurbished one on Amazon for $508, and the 15 Plus is simply barely {dollars} extra. Should you’re keen to purchase a used however non-refurbished machine from eBay, you’ll find an unlocked 15 Professional for round $600.

There’s additionally a time window at play, for the reason that

iPhone 17
is anticipated to launch in September. The iPhone 16 will drop to the iPhone 15’s present worth, and manufacturing of the 15 will cease fully. The excellent news on that entrance is that the iPhone 15 will proceed to be a related machine — simply relegated to the used/refurbished market, presumably at even decrease price. That is perhaps the chance to strike if worth trumps all different components.

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