Apple
iPhone 15 vs iPhone 16
Device summary
Apple
iPhone 16
Full specifications
| Basic information | ||
|---|---|---|
| Release year | 2023 | 2024 |
| Starting price | $799 | $799 |
| Display size | 6.1-inch | 6.1-inch |
| Dimensions | 71.6 mm × 147.6 mm × 7.8 mm | 71.6 mm × 147.6 mm × 7.8 mm |
| Weight | 171 g | 170 g |
| Front material | Ceramic Shield | Ceramic Shield |
| Back material | Color-infused glass | Color-infused glass |
| Display | ||
| Display technology | Super Retina XDR OLED | Super Retina XDR OLED |
| Resolution | 2556 × 1179 | 2556 × 1179 |
| Refresh rate | 60 Hz | 60 Hz |
| Peak brightness | 2000 nits | 2000 nits |
| Protection | Ceramic Shield | Ceramic Shield |
| Performance | ||
| Chipset | Apple A16 Bionic | Apple A18 |
| CPU | 6-core CPU | 6-core CPU |
| GPU | 5-core GPU | 5-core GPU |
| RAM | 6 GB | 8 GB |
| Storage | 128 GB, 256 GB, 512 GB | 128 GB, 256 GB, 512 GB |
| Expandable storage | No | No |
| Cameras | ||
| Main camera | Main · 48 MP · ƒ/1.6 · 26 mm · Sensor-shift OIS | Fusion · 48 MP · ƒ/1.6 · 26 mm · Sensor-shift OIS |
| Ultra-wide camera | Ultra Wide · 12 MP · ƒ/2.4 · 13 mm | Ultra Wide · 12 MP · ƒ/2.2 · 13 mm |
| Front cameras | TrueDepth · 12 MP · ƒ/1.9 | TrueDepth · 12 MP · ƒ/1.9 |
| Video recording | 4K Dolby Vision up to 60 fps, Action mode up to 2.8K at 60 fps | 4K Dolby Vision up to 60 fps, Spatial video up to 4K at 30 fps |
| Battery & charging | ||
| Wired charging | 20 W | 25 W |
| Wireless charging | 15 W | 15 W |
| Charging standard | MagSafe, Qi | MagSafe, Qi2 |
| Battery type | Built-in rechargeable lithium-ion | Built-in rechargeable lithium-ion |
| Connectivity | ||
| Cellular | 5G (sub-6 GHz), Gigabit LTE | 5G (sub-6 GHz), Gigabit LTE |
| Wi‑Fi | Wi‑Fi 6 (802.11ax) | Wi‑Fi 7 (802.11be) |
| Bluetooth | Bluetooth 5.3 | Bluetooth 5.3 |
| USB | USB-C (USB 2) | USB-C (USB 2) |
| NFC | Yes | Yes |
| eSIM | Yes | Yes |
| Satellite | Emergency SOS via satellite | Emergency SOS via satellite |
| Build & durability | ||
| Frame | Aluminum | Aluminum |
| Ingress protection | IP68 | IP68 |
Basic information
Release year
- iPhone 15
- 2023
- iPhone 16
- 2024
Starting price
- iPhone 15
- $799
- iPhone 16
- $799
Display size
- iPhone 15
- 6.1-inch
- iPhone 16
- 6.1-inch
Dimensions
- iPhone 15
- 71.6 mm × 147.6 mm × 7.8 mm
- iPhone 16
- 71.6 mm × 147.6 mm × 7.8 mm
Weight
- iPhone 15
- 171 g
- iPhone 16
- 170 g
Front material
- iPhone 15
- Ceramic Shield
- iPhone 16
- Ceramic Shield
Back material
- iPhone 15
- Color-infused glass
- iPhone 16
- Color-infused glass
Display
Display technology
- iPhone 15
- Super Retina XDR OLED
- iPhone 16
- Super Retina XDR OLED
Resolution
- iPhone 15
- 2556 × 1179
- iPhone 16
- 2556 × 1179
Refresh rate
- iPhone 15
- 60 Hz
- iPhone 16
- 60 Hz
Peak brightness
- iPhone 15
- 2000 nits
- iPhone 16
- 2000 nits
Protection
- iPhone 15
- Ceramic Shield
- iPhone 16
- Ceramic Shield
Performance
Chipset
- iPhone 15
- Apple A16 Bionic
- iPhone 16
- Apple A18
CPU
- iPhone 15
- 6-core CPU
- iPhone 16
- 6-core CPU
GPU
- iPhone 15
- 5-core GPU
- iPhone 16
- 5-core GPU
RAM
- iPhone 15
- 6 GB
- iPhone 16
- 8 GB
Storage
- iPhone 15
- 128 GB, 256 GB, 512 GB
- iPhone 16
- 128 GB, 256 GB, 512 GB
Expandable storage
- iPhone 15
- No
- iPhone 16
- No
Cameras
Main camera
- iPhone 15
- Main · 48 MP · ƒ/1.6 · 26 mm · Sensor-shift OIS
- iPhone 16
- Fusion · 48 MP · ƒ/1.6 · 26 mm · Sensor-shift OIS
Ultra-wide camera
- iPhone 15
- Ultra Wide · 12 MP · ƒ/2.4 · 13 mm
- iPhone 16
- Ultra Wide · 12 MP · ƒ/2.2 · 13 mm
Front cameras
- iPhone 15
- TrueDepth · 12 MP · ƒ/1.9
- iPhone 16
- TrueDepth · 12 MP · ƒ/1.9
Video recording
- iPhone 15
- 4K Dolby Vision up to 60 fps, Action mode up to 2.8K at 60 fps
- iPhone 16
- 4K Dolby Vision up to 60 fps, Spatial video up to 4K at 30 fps
Battery & charging
Wired charging
- iPhone 15
- 20 W
- iPhone 16
- 25 W
Wireless charging
- iPhone 15
- 15 W
- iPhone 16
- 15 W
Charging standard
- iPhone 15
- MagSafe, Qi
- iPhone 16
- MagSafe, Qi2
Battery type
- iPhone 15
- Built-in rechargeable lithium-ion
- iPhone 16
- Built-in rechargeable lithium-ion
Connectivity
Cellular
- iPhone 15
- 5G (sub-6 GHz), Gigabit LTE
- iPhone 16
- 5G (sub-6 GHz), Gigabit LTE
Wi‑Fi
- iPhone 15
- Wi‑Fi 6 (802.11ax)
- iPhone 16
- Wi‑Fi 7 (802.11be)
Bluetooth
- iPhone 15
- Bluetooth 5.3
- iPhone 16
- Bluetooth 5.3
USB
- iPhone 15
- USB-C (USB 2)
- iPhone 16
- USB-C (USB 2)
NFC
- iPhone 15
- Yes
- iPhone 16
- Yes
eSIM
- iPhone 15
- Yes
- iPhone 16
- Yes
Satellite
- iPhone 15
- Emergency SOS via satellite
- iPhone 16
- Emergency SOS via satellite
Build & durability
Frame
- iPhone 15
- Aluminum
- iPhone 16
- Aluminum
Ingress protection
- iPhone 15
- IP68
- iPhone 16
- IP68
Key differences
The most meaningful measured gaps in size and weight — not an overall winner.
Height
Very similar height
Width
Very similar width
Thickness
Very similar thickness
Weight
Very similar weight
Height, width, thickness, and weight are very similar between these devices.
User Experience Summary
iPhone 16
Strengths
- Compact size with excellent one-handed handling
- Reliable all-day battery for typical use
- Consistent everyday camera and video quality
Compromises
- 60Hz display — the most repeated criticism at this price
- No Always-On display or telephoto lens
- Camera Control polarizes owners