When September rolls around, it naturally means that there’s a new iPhone lineup on the horizon. As confirmed at the latest Apple Event earlier in September, the iPhone 15 family launches on September 22nd and comes with some groundbreaking features that you won’t find on other devices.
But how does the iPhone 15 stack up against its predecessors, the iPhone 14 and 13? We’ll look in-depth to see which iPhone model has the strongest specifications and the best value.
iPhone 15 vs. iPhone 14
The iPhone 15 and iPhone 14 are both smartphones made by Apple. The iPhone 15 is the newer model, with a few visible improvements over the iPhone 14. For example, the iPhone 15 has a faster processor, a better camera, and a longer-lasting battery. However, the iPhone 14 is still a great phone and is a bit cheaper than the iPhone 15. If you are on a budget, the iPhone 14 is still a strong option. But if you want the latest and greatest, the iPhone 15 is the way to go.
If you liked the Dynamic Island on the iPhone 14 Pro, you’ll love it on the iPhone 15. Apple has brought the feature to its standard iPhone 15 and 15 Plus, replacing the notch with a pill-shaped cutout that houses all Face ID sensors. A particular software layer around the cutout makes it come to life, allowing you to control music playback, track timers, follow sports scores using Live Activities, and more.
It’s also an excellent interface for phone calls, which expand from the top of the display when you receive one. The 15 also has stronger call management features, including filtering out background noise on live calls.
The iPhone 14, on the other hand, sticks with the more traditional notch for Face ID. It doesn’t have the same features as Dynamic Island, which makes the 14 feel like it’s more technically outdated and less feature-rich than its successor. However, you may prefer the more traditional look of the notch. If that’s the case, the older iPhone is a good option.
| Specification | iPhone 15 | iPhone 14 |
| Display | 6.1-inch Super Retina XDR display | 6.1-inch Super Retina XDR display |
| Processor | A16 Bionic chip | A15 Bionic chip |
| Camera | 48MP rear camera system with 12MP Ultra Wide, 12MP Wide, and 12MP Telephoto cameras | 12MP rear camera system with 12MP Wide and 12MP Ultra Wide cameras |
| Battery | 3,349 mAh Li-Ion battery with up to 28 hours of video playback | 3,279 mAh Li-Ion battery with up to 17 hours of video playback |
| Price | Starts at $799 | Starts at $699 |
The Design
The iPhone 15 has a similar design to its predecessors but has some new features that make it stand out. The front and back of the phone have rounded edges, which gives it a more comfortable feel in the hand.
The glass on the back has a new matte finish, which provides a slightly different look. The aluminum side rails and IP68 dust and water resistance ratings of the iPhone 14 have been carried over to the iPhone 15 models. Apple has also replaced the old mute switch on the side of the iPhone with a new “Action Button” on the iPhone 15 Pro and Pro Max.
You can quickly and easily customize the Action Button to perform various tasks, such as turning on the flashlight, activating a Focus mode, running a custom shortcut, or simply muting the phone as the old switch did. However, this button is only available on the iPhone 15 Pro models.
Perhaps the biggest change to the iPhone 15’s design is the switch from Apple’s proprietary Lightning chargers to the USB-C charging used by most other mobile devices. This is a significant convenience upgrade and also offers much faster charging. It also removes the iPhone 14’s strict reliance on first-party Apple chargers, giving consumers many more options in this area.
Once exclusive to the iPhone 14 Pros, the Dynamic Island is now available on all iPhone 15 models. This small design change makes the phone look more modern. Overall, the iPhone 15’s design is a minor update to the iPhone 14, but it has some new features that make it a worthwhile upgrade.
The Cameras
Apple upgraded its primary lens to a new 48-megapixel sensor, four times the megapixels of the iPhone 14’s primary lens. This allows for more accurate colors, improved performance at night, and sharper images since you can shoot 48MP images if you like. Plus, you can use the middle 12 megapixels of the sensor for zooming in without losing quality, which is a convenient feature. Moreover, you also get an improved 12-megapixel ultrawide camera with less lens flare, better portrait mode photos, and 4K video support in Cinematic mode.
In contrast, the iPhone 14 has a more simplistic camera setup. It has a 12-megapixel primary camera and a 12-megapixel ultrawide camera, both carried over from the iPhone 13, so they are starting to become outdated. The photo and video quality is consistently good, and you will likely be impressed with the results, but they are far from the most capable cameras that Apple sells. You will not be able to enjoy the extra resolution of the iPhone 15’s cameras or any of the new portrait mode features.
The iPhone 15 and iPhone 14 have 12-megapixel selfie cameras that take great photos. However, the iPhone 15’s better primary camera with a 48-megapixel sensor takes sharper images and performs better in low light. It also has an improved ultrawide camera. The iPhone 14 has a more basic camera setup but still takes good pictures.
The iPhone 15’s main camera has a larger sensor than the iPhone 14’s, which allows it to capture more light. This results in sharper images with less noise, even in low-light conditions. The iPhone 15’s ultrawide camera also has a larger sensor than the iPhone 14’s, which reduces lens flare and improves image quality. The iPhone 15’s portrait mode photos are sharper and more detailed than the iPhone 14’s.
Overall, the iPhone 15 has a significantly better camera than the iPhone 14 in several important ways. If you’re looking for the best possible photos, the iPhone 15 is the better choice. However, the iPhone 14 still takes good photos and is a more affordable option.
Performance
The iPhone 15 is expected to have several performance improvements over the iPhone 14. These include:
- A faster A16 Bionic processor is based on a 4nm process, making it much more efficient and powerful than the A15 Bionic. This will result in faster performance in everyday tasks and better graphics performance for gaming and other demanding applications.
- Improved graphics performance will benefit gamers and other users who rely on their phones for tasks requiring high computing power.
- A larger battery and a more efficient processor will work in tandem to achieve better battery life.
Overall, we generally think the iPhone 15 is a significant performance upgrade over the iPhone 14. If you want your iPhone’s best performance, the iPhone 15 is the phone to choose, especially if you’re interested in the full power of the brand-new A17 Pro Chip and Apple’s latest Silicone.
In addition to the performance improvements, the iPhone 15 has several other new features, including a periscope lens for improved zoom, a new aesthetic design, and a hole-punch display, all of which create a more premium exterior that elevates the conventional iPhone design.
Other Differences
If you upgrade to the new iPhone models, you’ll get a 48MP main camera, Dynamic Island, a faster chip, and a redesigned exterior. If you splurge on the iPhone 15 Pro or Pro Max, you’ll get even better cameras, the power of the new A17 Pro chip, and the unique customizable Action Button.
So, if you want the best camera, performance, display, and conveniences like USB-C charging capabilities, you’re better off opting for the iPhone 15. But if you need something cheaper, the iPhone 14 series is still an excellent option, and you can score amazing deals on lightly used and refurbished models.
iPhone 15 vs. iPhone 13
The iPhone 15 and iPhone 13 are both excellent smartphones, but they have some critical differences. The iPhone 15 has a newer A16 Bionic chip, a larger battery, and a better camera system than the iPhone 13. However, the iPhone 13 is still a competent phone, and it is significantly cheaper than the iPhone 15. Ultimately, your best phone will depend on your needs and budget.
| Specifications | iPhone 15 | iPhone 13 |
| Processor | A16 Bionic | A15 Bionic |
| Display | 6.1-inch OLED display | 6.1-inch OLED display |
| Camera | 48MP main camera, 12MP ultrawide camera, 12MP telephoto camera | 12MP main camera, 12MP ultrawide camera |
| Battery | 3,349 mAh | 2,815 mAh |
| Price | Starting at $799 | Starting at $599 |
The Design
Physically, the iPhone 15 is very similar to the iPhone 13. The most notable changes are the smaller notch, the larger Display Island, and the switch from Lightning to USB-C connectivity. The new USB-C connector is more durable than the Lightning connector. It is also the standard connector for many other devices, making finding compatible cables and accessories easier. The iPhone 15 also has a slightly curved aluminum frame that meets the matte back panel, which makes the phone more comfortable to hold.
The Cameras
The iPhone 14 Pro and Pro Max introduced a 48MP camera in 2022, the first megapixel increase since the iPhone 6S in 2015, making the iPhone 13’s camera a bit outdated. The iPhone 15’s new 48MP camera performs well in tests and offers a compelling case for switching to the latest model.
iPhone 15 users can shoot photos at 48MP or 24MP resolution, producing higher-quality images than the iPhone 13. The 48MP sensor will also improve zoom shots, even though the iPhone 15 does not have a dedicated telephoto lens. Instead, the camera will crop in on a section of the shot when the 2x zoom button is pressed, retaining detail and sharpness. Portrait mode, Night mode, and Smart HDR also received updates on the iPhone 15. Overall, the iPhone 15’s cameras are a significant upgrade over the iPhone 13.
Here are some additional details about the iPhone 15’s camera:
- The 48MP camera uses a larger sensor than the iPhone 13’s, allowing it to capture more light and detail.
- The 48MP camera also has a new image signal processor that helps to improve image quality.
- The iPhone 15’s camera offers a new LiDAR scanner that helps with autofocus and depth sensing.
- The iPhone 15’s camera includes a new Cinematic mode that allows you to record videos with a depth-of-field effect. The phone also automatically adjusts to Portrait Mode when it detects a subject in the frame. When it does so, it adds light capture and rich details to enhance photographs further.
Overall, the iPhone 15’s camera is a major upgrade over the iPhone 13. It offers better image quality, more features, and improved performance. If you’re a photography enthusiast, it’s worth an upgrade to access some of the iPhone 15’s machine learning and computational photography and videography features. The iPhone 15’s camera is a big improvement over the iPhone 14, which itself was a noteworthy advancement over the iPhone 13.
Performance
With Apple, it’s reasonable to expect each new phone to perform faster than the previous one. However, this isn’t always the case, especially regarding processing power, since the company decided to ship the regular iPhone 14 with the A15 chipset from the iPhone 13 Pro while reserving the A16 Bionic for the iPhone 14 Pro models.
The iPhone 15 Pro and iPhone 15 Pro Max will have the A17 Pro chipset, which promises significant performance gains over its predecessor, especially regarding graphics and gameplay. You may appreciate the added performance boosts if you enjoy mobile gaming, remote play from a console, or game streaming using services like Game Pass and Apple Arcade. The standard iPhone 15, on the other hand, will have the A16 Bionic.
Upgrading from the A15-powered iPhone 13 to a standard iPhone 15 will mean a performance boost, but you would get even more of an upgrade by paying more for the iPhone 15 Pro. Rigorous hands-on testing can confirm just how stark these performance increases are.
The A17 Pro chipset is manufactured using a 3nm process, significantly improving over the 4nm process used for the A16 Bionic. This new manufacturing process and chip design should improve performance and efficiency in a big way. The A17 Pro also has a new GPU up to 40% faster than the GPU in the A16 Bionic. This GPU should make the iPhone 15 Pro and iPhone 15 Pro Max excellent devices for gaming and other graphics-intensive tasks.
The standard iPhone 15 is expected to be powerful but will not be quite as powerful as the Pro models. It will have the A16 Bionic, which is still a very capable chip. However, it will not have the same performance gains as the Pro models. The standard iPhone 15 should still offer strong performance, especially compared to an iPhone 13. But if you want the best possible performance, consider the iPhone 15 Pro or iPhone 15 Pro Max.
Other Differences
The iPhone 15 has a brighter screen than the iPhone 13, with a peak outdoor brightness of 2,000 nits. This means seeing the screen in direct sunlight will be easier. The iPhone 15 also has curved edges, while the iPhone 13 has straight edges. This gives the iPhone 15 a more modern look and feel.
The iPhone 15 is apt to have a longer battery life than the iPhone 13 thanks to its more robust Li-Ion battery and more effective chipset. So far, the battery stats indicate that it will perform better in general and have a great overall lifespan. All told, the iPhone 15 is a noticeable upgrade over the iPhone 13, with a brighter screen, curved edges, and a longer battery life. You also get access to a much more capable camera, even at the base models of the iPhone 15.
Here are some other improvements that the iPhone 15 has over the iPhone 13:
- A faster processor thanks to the A16 Chip. This performance gulf is even more significant if you opt for the Pro or Pro Max, which rely on the newest A17 Bionic Chip.
- A better camera system, including sensor clusters, more substantial light capture, and a more effective night mode. The night mode can now capture more accurate low-light scene details and auto-enhance photos without sacrificing color clarity or detail.
- More storage space options, with Pro and Pro Max models reaching up to 1TB of onboard storage. The base 15, 15+, and 15 Pro still have 128GB options, while the 15 Pro Max starts at 256GB of onboard storage.
- A more competitive price for better features. While you could save money on the 13, you’re losing several features in exchange, including faster performance, better camera setups, and more accessible FindMy features.
Though the iPhone 15 is the undisputed technical winner, there are still plenty of reasons to consider an iPhone 13. It’s a much more affordable device, especially if you buy a certified renewed model like the ones we offer at Gazelle. Also, you’re still getting access to the newest OS iteration and some fun new updates around the corner.
However, if you need top-tier performance, lightning-fast speeds, and a best-in-class camera, it’d make more sense to splurge for the iPhone 15, or even the 15 Pro or Pro Max. Ultimately, your preferred device will come down to your needs and budget. Luckily, Gazelle has smartphones for any buyer, and we also accept qualified trade-ins to help you save even more on your next handset.
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