The iPhone 15 received the necessary innovations last year, but it did not go down a storm. Whether the iPhone 16 will be a bigger success this year is still the question. The recommended price is still high and major additions are lacking. In addition, we already know most of the innovations from the iPhone 15 Pro.
Now the question is, which iPhone is the best? Is the currently cheaper iPhone 15 a smarter choice, or should you opt for the new iPhone 16? We previously listed the differences between the iPhone 16 and iPhone 16 Pro , but what about the iPhone 15 compared to its successor, the iPhone 16? We compare the facts and specs side by side so that you can get a good picture of the new device.
iPhone 16 Innovations â–¸ iPhone 15
In the overview below we briefly summarize the iPhone 16 innovations compared to the iPhone 15. This means that the options, possibilities and hardware below are only available on the iPhone 16 and iPhone 16 Plus. At the bottom of this overview we explain some differences in detail, so that you get a good idea.
- Super Retina XDR display with 1 nit minimum brightness
- Latest generation Ceramic Shield on the front
- A18 chip with support for Apple Intelligence
- Multifunctional action button instead of sound switch
- Camera Control: Extra pressure-sensitive button for taking photos and videos
- Vertically positioned dual camera system (48MP Fusions wide-angle and 12MP ultra-wide angle)
- Fusion standard lens: 48 MP, aperture Æ’/1.6 with anti-reflection coating (reduces lens flare)
- Ultra wide angle: 12 MP, aperture Æ’/2.2
- Photographic styles of the latest generation
- Macro photography and macro video recording
- Ability to record spatial videos and photos for Apple Vision Pro
- Record video up to 4K Dolby Vision at 24 fps, 25 fps, 30 fps or 60 fps
- QuickTake video up to 4K at 60 fps in Dolby Vision
- Spatial audio and stereo recording during video recording
- Wind noise reduction and audio mixing (effects) in video recording
- Improved battery life thanks to processor and larger battery
- Wireless charging with MagSafe up to 25W with 30W or higher adapter
- Thread Network Technology
- Wifi 7 support
- Available in ultramarine, teal, pink, white and black
- Standard 128 GB storage space
- Price: iPhone 16 from €969 | iPhone 16 Plus from €1119
- Extensive information about the iPhone 16
Familiar design, new back
The iPhone 16’s design and screen size are the same as last year’s model, except that Apple has now placed the camera lenses vertically instead of diagonally.
Last year, the brightness of the iPhone 15 (Plus) screen was adjusted. The 16 (Plus) model also has the same Super Retina XDR (HDR) OLED display with a contrast ratio of 2,000,000:1, 1000 nits as standard and can reach 1600 nits for HDR content. In addition, the brightness in direct sunlight has been increased to 2000 nits. New is the 1 nit minimum brightness in dark environments.
A18 chip for Apple Intelligence
The iPhone 16 (Plus) uses the A18 chip, which is a welcome addition. The previous generation used an A16 chip and therefore did not support Apple Ingelligence. A personal intelligence system for Mac, iPhone and iPad that combines the power of generative models with the individual context of the user, resulting in AI that is both useful and relevant.
The possibilities of Apple Intelligence are great, but for now only for users in the United States. AI will first be available in English (US) and later this year in other English-language variants. Next year, Apple Intelligence will be available in French, Spanish, Japanese and Chinese, among others.
Users can change the language of their device to use AI, but due to European legislation, Apple has blocked this for the EU. This means that you cannot use AI in the Netherlands and Belgium for the time being. In addition, the iPhone 15 Pro (Max) is also suitable for Apple Intelligence, so a new device is not necessary.
Dual camera system with 48 megapixels
The iPhone 15 (Plus) still uses a dual-camera system that is placed diagonally. The most noticeable change is reserved for the standard wide-angle lens, this 48 megapixel camera with quad-pixel sensor has been improved in every way. Thanks to this lens, it is now also possible to zoom in 2x optically without loss of quality.
- 48‑MP Fusion: 26 mm, ƒ/1.6 aperture, sensor-shift optical image stabilization, 100% Focus Pixels, support for super high-resolution photos (24 MP and 48 MP)
- Also enables the 12MP 2x telephoto lens: 52mm, Æ’/1.6 aperture, sensor-shift optical image stabilization, 100% Focus Pixels
- 12MP ultra-wide angle: 13 mm, ƒ/2.2 aperture and 120° angle of view, 100% Focus Pixels
- 2x optical zoom in, 2x optical zoom out; 4x optical zoom
- Up to 10x digital zoom for photos and up to 6x digital zoom for video
The quad-pixel sensor for the 48 MP camera is an image sensor that intelligently combines pixels, effectively creating pixels that are 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 features
Not only has Apple improved the hardware, the camera software also offers new possibilities. The options below are only available on the iPhone 15 (Plus).
- Photographic styles of the latest generation
- Macro photography and macro video recording
- Ability to record spatial videos and photos for Apple Vision Pro
- Record video up to 4K Dolby Vision at 24 fps, 25 fps, 30 fps or 60 fps
- QuickTake video up to 4K at 60 fps in Dolby Vision
- Spatial audio and stereo recording during video recording
- Wind noise reduction and audio mixing (effects) in video recording
Pressure sensitive camera control
New is the Camera control button, camera control in Dutch, which can be found on the right side under the side button. This smart button can be used while taking photos and videos. This is a pressure-sensitive button that can even be operated with swipe movements. By lightly pressing the button, the user can, for example, fix the focus or exposure, just like with a DSLR camera.
By pressing the button all the way down, the photo can be taken. You could also zoom in and out by swiping left or right over the button, or adjust the portrait mode, etc. If you press the button for a long time, you can take a video.
When the camera app is not open, the button also ensures that you can open the Camera app from any situation, so you can capture all your favorite moments immediately. In addition, other apps can also fully utilize the camera control button.
Switching to an iPhone 16
Do you own an iPhone 15? Then there are no significant improvements that are really worth switching to now. The action button and camera controller are nice additions, but not groundbreaking features. In addition, Apple Intelligence is not yet available and for the time being there is no reason to switch. Perhaps Apple’s AI capabilities will only come to the Netherlands and Belgium at the end of next year and then the iPhone 17 will be a more interesting choice.
If you own an iPhone 14 or older, it is worth considering. The screen is better, you can use the Dynamic Island and of course all the new buttons. The camera has also been drastically renewed compared to the older models, 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.