The iPhone 14 was a slight disappointment last year, especially for users who owned the popular iPhone 12 or iPhone 13. It remains to be seen whether the iPhone 15 will be a greater success this year. The suggested retail price has dropped in price, but is still high. We already know most of the innovations from the iPhone 14 Pro.
Now the question is, which iPhone is the best? Is the currently cheaper iPhone 14 a smart choice, or would it be better to opt for the new iPhone 15? We previously listed the differences between the iPhone 15 and iPhone 15 Pro, but what about the comparison between the iPhone 14 and its successor iPhone 15? We compare the facts and specifications so that you get a good idea of ​​the new device.
Renewals iPhone 15 â–¸ iPhone 14
In the overview below we briefly summarize the iPhone 15 innovations compared to the iPhone 14. This means that the options, capabilities and hardware below are only available on the iPhone 15 and iPhone 15 Plus. At the bottom of this overview we explain some of the differences in detail, so that you get a good idea.
- Notch replaced by the Dynamic Island (pill-shaped cutout)
- Sloped side for better grip
- Super Retina XDR display with 2000 nits peak brightness (outdoors)
- Back of colored glass
- Advanced dual camera system (48MP main and 12MP ultra-wide angle)
- Optical image stabilization with sensor shift
- 2x optical zoom thanks to 48 MP camera and the new sensor
- Smart HDR 5 for photos
- Latest generation portraits with focus and depth control
- U2 chip for ultra wideband with accurate people search
- Roadside assistance with SOS emergency notification via satellite (US only)
- USB-C with USB 2 support (up to 480 Mb/s)
- Available in the colors pink, yellow, green, blue and black
- Standard 128 GB storage space
- Price: iPhone 15 from € 969 | iPhone 15 Plus from €1119
- Extensive information about the iPhone 15
Familiar design, better screen
The design of the iPhone 14 is the same as last year’s model, but the camera module protrudes a little further. Furthermore, the disappearance of the notch is noticeable and has been replaced by the Dynamic Island. This is an interactive pill-shaped cutout that responds to various events on the iPhone.
The brightness of the iPhone 15 (Plus) screen has been adjusted. This now has a Super Retina In addition, the brightness in direct sunlight has been increased to 2000 nits. The resolution has been adjusted by a few pixels to 2556 x 1179 pixels at 460 ppi for the 15 and 2796 x 1290 pixels at 460 ppi for the Plus.
A16 chip
The iPhone 15 (Plus) uses the A16 chip that Apple added to the iPhone 14 (Pro) last year. With 5-nanometer technology, the A16 Bionic has a 5-core GPU that offers fast graphics performance.
Dual camera system with 48 megapixels
The iPhone 15 (Plus) still uses a dual-camera system that is placed diagonally. The most striking change is for the standard wide-angle lens, this 48 megapixel camera with quad-pixel sensor has been improved in every respect. Thanks to this lens it is now also possible to zoom in 2x optically without loss of quality.
- 48MP main camera: 26mm, aperture Æ’/1.6, sensor shift optical image stabilization, 100% Focus Pixels, support for super high-resolution photos (24 MP and 48 MP)
- 12MP ultra-wide angle: 13mm, aperture ƒ/2.4 and 120° angle of view
- 12-MP 2x telephoto lens (possible thanks to the quad-pixel sensor): 52 mm, aperture Æ’/1.6, optical image stabilization with sensor shift, 100% Focus Pixels
- 2x optical zoom in, 2x optical zoom out; 4x optical zoom
- Up to 10x digital zoom for photo and up to 6x digital zoom for video
The quad-pixel sensor for the 48 MP camera is an image sensor that combines pixels in a clever way, effectively creating pixels four times larger. This results in better low-light performance and improved image quality by capturing more light and reducing noise. The camera system now includes an optical-quality 2x telephoto zoom. This is because the quad-pixel sensor automatically combines the different pixels.
Software camera functions
Not only has Apple improved the hardware, the camera software also provides new possibilities. The options below are only available on the iPhone 15 (Plus).
- Changing the focus of a portrait photo afterwards
- Take better portrait photos of pets
- Shortcut to take portrait photos in the Camera app
- Smart HDR 5
USB-C port
Apple has said goodbye to the lightning port in the iPhone 15 series. This has been replaced by USB-C so that the company complies with the new European legislation. The law requires manufacturers to provide new products with USB-C from 2024.
While all ‌iPhone 15‌ models will have USB-C ports instead of Lightning ports, the faster transfer speeds will be limited to the ‌iPhone 15‌ Pro models. For example, the iPhone 15 (Plus) has USB 2.0 speeds, the same as Lightning, namely up to 480 Mb/s. The iPhone 15 Pro is the first iPhone to support USB 3 with speeds of up to 10 Gb/s. That means a huge leap in transfer speed for faster professional workflows than ever. Additional benefit. You can also charge AirPods and Apple Watch via the USB-C port.
Switch to an iPhone 15
Do you own an iPhone 13 or iPhone 14? Then skip this version, because there are no significant improvements that are really worth it. The Dynamic Island is more of a gimmick for the time being and the A16 chip is not really a reason to switch immediately. However, USB-C and the 48 MP camera can influence your choice.
If you own an iPhone 12, it is worth considering. The screen is better, SOS emergency notification via Satellite for emergencies and the camera has been drastically updated compared to this older model, especially in low light. If you still have an iPhone SE, iPhone 11 or older, you can also benefit from a completely new design with OLED screen.