Is the iPhone 15 nonetheless value shopping for in...

For some time now, a part of Apple’s modus operandi for making iPhones reasonably priced (comparatively talking) has been to maintain at the very least one older mannequin on sale. The result’s that whereas there are 4 variations of the

iPhone 16
accessible, together with the

iPhone 16e
, you’ll be able to nonetheless purchase the iPhone 15 and

15 Plus
, which initially shipped in 2023. They might be tempting for some consumers, on condition that Apple tends to assist its telephones for a very long time, and the 16e is not actually meant to be a flagship — it is a substitute for the budget-priced iPhone SE.

Must you truly drop money on an iPhone 15 in 2025? You have in all probability already received an inclination, however the reply is a bit more complicated than you is likely to be imagining. And even in order for you one, it’s possible you’ll want to consider carefully about how, the place, and while you purchase it.

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How does the iPhone 15 stack up in opposition to the iPhone 16 and 16e?

Efficiency

The main distinction is, after all, processor energy. Whereas each iPhone 16 is supplied with some model of Apple’s A18 chip — the 16e having a four-core GPU, as an alternative of the common 16’s five-core unit — each the iPhone 15 and 15 Plus are caught with the A16. Which means they’re incapable of operating

Apple Intelligence
, together with every part from notification summaries to Visible Intelligence and

ChatGPT integration
. It isn’t a giant deal in the mean time (I not often use ChatGPT myself) however AI will inevitably turn out to be an even bigger and greater a part of iOS, so it’s possible you’ll miss out on key options as iOS 19 and its successors roll out.

In any other case, the A16 continues to be a really succesful processor. There are few video games that may tax the A16 to its limits, and most different apps needs to be silky easy. Certainly, since upgrading to an iPhone 16 Professional, I have been stunned at how not often the A18 is (noticeably) higher than the A15 chip in my outdated iPhone 13. Issues set up quicker, and navigation apps are snappier, however the A18 would not make a lot distinction to apps like Cronometer or Reddit.

It needs to be famous that the iPhone 15 solely has 6GB of RAM, versus 8GB with the iPhone 16 sequence, however the improve between generations is usually for the sake of Apple Intelligence. It may make a distinction in another areas — significantly high-end 3D video games like Resident Evil: Village — however Apple’s {hardware} and software program is so tightly optimized that you just in all probability will not discover more often than not.

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Digicam tech

Functionally, the iPhone 15 digital camera system is nearly an identical to the iPhone 16 lineup. The usual 16 does have benefits like macro images, Visible Intelligence, and assist for spatial photographs and movies you’ll be able to expertise with a

Vision Pro
, nevertheless it nonetheless makes use of a 48-megapixel foremost digital camera and a 13-megapixel ultra-wide, identical to the 15. Most photographs and movies ought to look an identical beneath comparable situations, except maybe you resolve to experiment with the expanded Photographic Types on the 16 and 16 Plus.

The iPhone 15 truly has an edge over the 16e. There isn’t any ultra-wide digital camera on the 16e, so for those who’re a fan of taking pictures vistas, structure, or tight areas, the 15 is a greater choice. The 16e additionally lacks Focus Management — which lets 15 and 16 homeowners change a portrait’s focus after the very fact — in addition to another options, like Motion (stabilization) and Cinematic (shallow depth-of-field) modes for video. There isn’t any wind noise discount on the 15, thoughts, or any

smart audio mixing
choices.

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Battery life, wi-fi charging, and different options

One space the place the bottom iPhone 15 is soundly trounced is battery life. You may get about 20 hours out of it primarily based on Apple’s testing, whereas the usual 16 will get 22 hours, and the 16e will get 26 hours, only one wanting my iPhone 16 Professional. In apply, nobody makes use of a telephone the way in which Apple does, and you will be charging all of those units in a single day — however the 16e may very well be preferable for vacationers or different individuals who usually discover their system operating on fumes.

The 15 Plus matches the 16e, so which may be the way in which to go in order for you each wonderful battery life and a bigger 6.7-inch display with out spending on a 16 Plus. Each different telephone on this comparability (excluding my iPhone 16 Professional, after all) has a 6.1-inch show.

When it comes to wi-fi charging, the iPhone 15 sits within the center. It does have MagSafe, which mechanically places it above the torpid 7.5W Qi speeds of the 16e, but it is capped at 15W versus the iPhone 16’s 25W. You may get the most effective speeds from USB charging anyway, so this can be a moot level for those who’re anxious about charging in a rush. MagSafe is a giant deal for different causes too. It is usually the easiest way of mounting an iPhone, or attaching equipment like wallets and exterior batteries. You’ll be able to dwell with out it, naturally, nevertheless it’s frankly superb that Apple felt it may very well be sacrificed, given the cash it makes from the accent market.

One other factor the 16e lacks is Dynamic Island multitasking. That will truly be extra important than MagSafe for some individuals, because it makes it simpler to regulate media playback, swap apps, and preserve tabs on Dwell Actions like timers and meals deliveries. I exploit it day-after-day. There aren’t too many different variations to level out, nevertheless it’s value noting that solely the common 16 helps

Wi-Fi 7
, and that the 16e would not assist the quickest type of 5G, often called mmWave. If you happen to’ve received a wise house, neither the iPhone 15 nor the iPhone 16e have a Thread radio for suitable equipment. The iPhone 16 and the iPhone 16e have a customizable Motion button instead of a hoop/mute swap.

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Must you get an iPhone 15 in 2025?

Perhaps, however it is time to go cut price looking

As you have seen, the iPhone 15 holds up surprisingly properly, if principally as a result of iPhone (and app) evolution has come to a crawl. You may get jealous of the battery life on new fashions, and ultimately remorse the absence of Apple Intelligence, however even these issues will not matter a lot for those who’re simply making an attempt to get to work or browse social media. It is truly a more sensible choice than the 16e for those who care about digital camera tech, MagSafe equipment, and Dynamic Island controls.

I would strongly suggest in opposition to shopping for a 15 from Apple, nevertheless. Official costs begin at $699, which is not value it for a base-spec iPhone that is almost two years outdated. As of this writing, you will get a refurbished one on Amazon for $508, and the 15 Plus is just barely {dollars} extra. If you happen to’re keen to purchase a used however non-refurbished system from eBay, you could find an unlocked 15 Professional for round $600.

There’s additionally a time window at play, for the reason that

iPhone 17
is anticipated to launch in September. The iPhone 16 will drop to the iPhone 15’s present value, and manufacturing of the 15 will cease fully. The excellent news on that entrance is that the iPhone 15 will proceed to be a related system — simply relegated to the used/refurbished market, presumably at even decrease price. That is likely to be the chance to strike if value trumps all different elements.

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