iPhone 16 vs iPhone 15: these are the biggest differences

Do you not yet know which iPhone you want to buy and are you unsure between the iPhone 16 and the iPhone 15? We have listed the biggest differences for you.

iPhone 16 vs iPhone 15

The iPhone 16 has officially appeared! Apple has brought a number of features from the iPhone 15 Pro to the iPhone 16. The phone has an action button, it is possible to take macro photos and the iPhone 16 has support for Apple Intelligence. The iPhone 15 has to make do without these features. These are the main differences between the iPhone 16 and the iPhone 15!

1. Design

Apple has made a number of changes to the design of the iPhone 16. The lenses in the camera island of the new iPhone are placed directly below each other. With the iPhone 15, the cameras were still diagonally apart. The new layout of the camera island allows the iPhone 16 to take spatial photos and videos, which can be viewed with the Apple Vision Pro.

On the side of the iPhone 16 we find the action button and the new camera control. With the action button you can set which action will be performed, and with the camera controller you get access to almost all camera functions. Both buttons are useful additions to the iPhone 16, which we do not see on the iPhone 15. The action button was already available on the iPhone 15 Pro (Max), but is now no longer an exclusive Pro function.

• Colors iPhone 15: blue, pink, yellow, green and blue;
• iPhone 16 colors: ultramarine, teal, pink, white and black.

2. Screen

Are you afraid of scratches or other damage on the screen? This happens much less quickly with the latest iPhone, because the iPhone 16 has a much stronger screen than the iPhone 15. Apple has introduced a new generation of Ceramic Shield released, which is twice as strong as the first generation. The iPhone 16’s display is much better protected against damage.

Another adjustment can be seen at the minimum brightness of the screen. With the iPhone 15 this is two to four nits, the iPhone 16 has a minimum brightness of only one nit. This brightness is only achieved in extremely dark rooms. Very useful, because the display of the iPhone 15 is still quite bright, especially in the evening. You have less of this problem with the iPhone 16.

3. New chip and more RAM

The iPhone 16 runs on the A18 chip, a completely new processor. For the iPhone 15, Apple has opted for the A16 Bionic chip, which we previously saw in the iPhone 14 Pro and the iPhone 14 Pro Max. Other important differences under the hood are support for WiFi 7 (WiFi 6 on the iPhone 15) and ray tracing. Due to the latter function, games run much smoother on the iPhone 16 than the iPhone 15.

Another change is the amount of working memory. All versions of the iPhone 16 have 8 GB of RAM, while the iPhone 15 has 6 GB. In principle, 6 GB is enough for most users, but this will change with the arrival of Apple Intelligence. With 8 GB of RAM, the iPhone 16 has no problems performing multiple heavy tasks at the same time.

4. Apple Intelligence

A major disadvantage of the iPhone 15 is that the device does not support Apple Intelligence. This is due to the A16 Bionic chip, which is assisted by ‘only’ 6 GB of RAM. According to Apple, the iPhone 15 does not have enough computing power for Apple Intelligence, meaning the phone will have to make do without all the new features. The iPhone 16 does get these features.

Apple Intelligence will only be available later in the Netherlands and Belgium, but with the iPhone 16 you are guaranteed support for all new functions. Almost all apps are expanded with Apple Intelligence, so you get useful writing assistance and Siri becomes much smarter. Are you curious about what changes Apple Intelligence brings to your iPhone? Then read all about Apple Intelligence here!

5. Camera

The iPhone 16 can take spatial photos and videos, but that’s not the only improvement to the new iPhone’s camera. You can now take macro photos with the regular iPhone, while previously this was a Pro exclusive feature. It is also possible to take videos in macro mode. The iPhone 15 has to make do without this feature, making the iPhone 16 much more suitable for taking photos and videos up close.

In addition, the aperture has been improved on the iPhone 16, which ensures that you take better photos and videos in low light. The new photographic styles give you much more choice when editing images. Videos are filmed with Dolby Vision, which makes colors appear much more realistic. Another advantage: the camera has an anti-reflective layer. As a result, you have less problems with reflections with the iPhone 16 than with the iPhone 15.

6. More audio features

In addition to the improved image quality, Apple has introduced more audio functions with the iPhone 16. When recording videos outdoors, the new iPhone filters out wind noise better. That is still a major problem with the iPhone 15, because the wind is clearly audible during videos. The iPhone 16 has also been expanded with Audio Mix, we did not yet see this option on the iPhone 15.

This feature allows you to adjust voices in videos after recording the video. You can choose from three voice profiles: in frame, studio and film. With the former, only the voices of the people in the picture are included, with film, all the voices around you are captured. Studio recreates a professional studio effect. The audio on the iPhone 16 has therefore been greatly improved compared to the iPhone 15.

7. Battery life

Perhaps the most important improvement: the iPhone 16 has a longer battery life than the iPhone 15. The iPhone 15 had almost exactly the same battery as the iPhone 14, but we (fortunately) see changes with the iPhone 16. The battery lasts up to 22 hours with the iPhone 16, and up to 20 hours with the iPhone 15. That’s a difference of two hours, meaning the iPhone 16 can last all day without any problems.

Is your iPhone empty? Then charging is much faster with the iPhone 16. The new iPhone can use wired fast charging up to 30 watts, while the iPhone 15 only has 20 watts. Wireless charging is possible up to 25 watts, which is 15 watts on the iPhone 15. The iPhone 16 therefore lasts longer and charges much faster than the iPhone 15. Please note, because your charger must be suitable for fast charging. Read here which chargers have enough power.

Switching to the iPhone 16?

Are you still unsure between the iPhone 15 and the iPhone 16? Then we recommend that you choose the iPhone 16. The phone has taken over many functions from the iPhone 15 Pro and is equipped with the new camera controller. Those are nice additions, but the most important features are still to come. The iPhone 16 has support for Apple Intelligence, while the iPhone 15 has to make do without those functions.

Apple Intelligence is not yet available in the Netherlands and Belgium, but with the iPhone 16 you are prepared for the future. Moreover, the device has a very good camera, with which you can now also make professional videos. Do you use the camera infrequently and do you not need the latest (AI) functions? Or do you want to save money? Then the iPhone 15 is still a very good device. View the best prices of the iPhone 15 here:

If you are confident that your iPhone works with Apple Intelligence? And do you want access to the latest camera and audio features? Then we recommend the iPhone 16. The difference with the iPhone 15 is not very big, but it is undoubtedly worth the switch if you have an iPhone 14 or older. You currently pay €949. Our price comparator contains the lowest prices, so you never pay too much: