iPhone 16 vs. iPhone 15: Detailed Comparison

a new camera button, and a slightly refined design. If you have an iPhone 15, the upgrade might not be compelling. But for those with an iPhone 14 or older, or who are excited about on-device AI, the iPhone 16 will be a more significant step forward.

iPhone 16 vs. iPhone 15: Detailed Comparison Table

Feature iPhone 15 / 15 Plus iPhone 16 / 16 Plus (Rumored) Key Takeaway

Design & Build - Colored matte glass back - Contoured edges - Aluminum frame - Dynamic Island - Vertical camera arrangement (standard models) - New "Capture" Button - Slightly refined frame - Possible new color options (e.g., white, rose) The vertical cameras and new button are the biggest physical changes. The overall look and feel remain very similar.

Display - 6.1" / 6.7" Super Retina XDR - 60Hz Refresh Rate - 2,000 nits peak HDR brightness - Same sizes: 6.1" / 6.7" - Still 60Hz refresh rate - Possible slight brightness bump No change to the 60Hz display. This remains the key differentiator from the Pro models.

Chipset & Performance A16 Bionic (5nm) - 5-core GPU - 16-core Neural Engine A18 Bionic (or A17) - Based on newer N3E 3nm process - Significantly enhanced Neural Engine (for AI) The new chip is primarily about efficiency and powering Apple Intelligence features, not raw CPU speed.

Apple Intelligence (AI) Limited AI features. Will support some iOS 18 AI functions but not the most advanced ones. Designed for Apple Intelligence - On-device processing for complex AI tasks - Full access to Siri with ChatGPT integration - Advanced photo editing, writing tools, etc. This is the #1 reason to upgrade. The iPhone 16 is built from the ground up to be an "AI phone."

Rear Camera System Main: 48MP (f/1.6) Ultra-Wide: 12MP (f/2.4) - 2x "Optical Quality" zoom via crop Main: 48MP (new sensor) Ultra-Wide: 12MP - New lens coatings to reduce glare - Spatial Video recording (for Vision Pro) - Enhanced HDR & Night Mode Spatial Video is a major new feature. Improved sensor and computational photography driven by the new Neural Engine.

Video Recording 4K @ 60fps - Action Mode - Cinematic Mode All of iPhone 15 features, plus: - 4K 120fps Spatial Video A key upgrade for Vision Pro users.

Battery & Charging - iPhone 15: 3,349 mAh (est.) - iPhone 15 Plus: 4,383 mAh (est.) - USB-C (USB 2.0 speeds) - Slightly larger batteries - More energy-efficient A18 chip for better battery life - Possible faster wired charging - Stacked battery technology for longer lifespan Expect moderately improved battery life, especially on the 16 Plus.

New Features USB-C, Dynamic Island - Dedicated "Capture" Button (capacitive, force-sensitive) - Camera Control Button (on side) - Full suite of Apple Intelligence features The Capture Button is a new hardware interface designed specifically for quick photo/video access.

Connectivity USB-C (USB 2.0 - 480 Mbps) - Wi-Fi 6 - Bluetooth 5.3 - USB-C (Possibly USB-C 3.0 speeds) - Wi-Fi 6E - Bluetooth 5.4 Faster data transfers and more modern wireless standards.

Price (Starting) $799 (iPhone 15) / $899 (15 Plus) Expected to start at the same price: $799 / $899 Apple is likely to maintain its pricing structure.