Apple continues its tradition of annual iPhone releases, and its latest is the introduction of the iPhone 16, following last year’s iPhone 15. While both devices share Apple’s familiar design ethos and focus on performance, the iPhone 16 brings several big upgrades. The display is stronger than ever, the cameras are prepped for action, and there’s a brand-new button.
But how does Apple’s newest iPhone stack up against last year’s model? Here’s what you need to know if you’re considering an upgrade.
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Design & Display: It’s a tough one
The iPhone 16 sticks to the familiar 6.1-inch size for the standard model and 6.7 inches for the iPhone 16 Plus, much like its predecessor, the iPhone 15. However, Apple has made some important design changes. The iPhone 16 introduces five vibrant colour options: ultra marine, teal, pink, white, and black.
The glass on the iPhone 16’s display is 50% tougher than the first-generation Ceramic Shield and twice as strong as regular glass. So it’s a good bit more durable than the iPhone 15. Brightness has been improved, with the iPhone 16’s display able to peak at 2000 nits and dim to just 1 nit, making it more versatile in various lighting conditions.
The iPhone 15 also comes with a 6.1-inch display and a 6.7-inch option for the iPhone 15 Plus, both sporting Super Retina XDR OLED technology. It shares the same 2000-nit peak brightness, but lacks the tougher glass of the iPhone 16. Both models have Ceramic Shield protection, and Apple introduced Dynamic Island to the standard iPhone 15, which carries over to the newer model.
Performance & Battery: Yesterday’s jam vs the latest and greatest
The iPhone 16 introduces Apple’s latest A18 chipset, featuring a 6-core CPU that is 30% faster than the A16 found in the iPhone 15. The 16-core neural engine, built using second-generation 3nm technology, is optimized for large generative models, ensuring that Apple Intelligence features like Visual Intelligence run smoothly and efficiently. Apple claims the A18 uses 35% less power, leading to better battery life, though specific battery details were not shared.
Meanwhile, the iPhone 15 is powered by the A16 Bionic chip. This processor still offers impressive performance, but is starting to get old now – it was carried over from the iPhone 14 Pro models. While not as fast or efficient as the A18, the A16 delivers strong everyday performance, particularly in gaming and multimedia tasks. Both the iPhone 15 and 15 Plus have all-day battery life, but the larger iPhone 15 Plus offers slightly longer usage due to its bigger battery cell.
Camera: How much AI do you fancy?
The iPhone 16 brings several exciting camera advancements. While it maintains the 48MP main sensor, Apple has introduced the Camera Control button, allowing for new ways to interact with the camera. Visual Intelligence is a standout feature exclusive to the iPhone 16, letting users snap photos and immediately interact with the objects in them. This feature can identify event posters, add them to your calendar, and even provide additional details through ChatGPT integration.
The new 12MP ultrawide camera gains autofocus and 2.6x more light capture, perfect for low-light and macro photography. The iPhone 16 also supports shooting in 4K 60fps with Dolby Vision HDR, and new AI-powered noise reduction improves video quality.
The iPhone 15 also sports a 48MP main camera, delivering bright, detailed photos. It introduces a 12MP telephoto feature with 2x zoom for sharper zoomed-in shots, alongside improved portrait mode, night mode, and Smart HDR. These features allow users to capture high-quality photos, though it lacks the advanced AI functionalities and new camera controls found in the iPhone 16.
Features: Getting closer to the Pros
The iPhone 16 adopts the customizable Action Button from last year’s iPhone 15 Pro models, allowing users to assign it different functions like launching the camera or switching the ringer. It also introduces a new Camera Control button, which lets users control their iPhone’s camera with taps and swipes. The Visual Intelligence feature offers a fresh way to interact with photos, identifying and analysing objects in real-time.
The iPhone 15, while offering many great features, lacks the customizable Action Button and Camera Control button. However, it does introduce USB-C charging for faster data transfer and charging, a major upgrade from previous models. The iPhone 15’s addition of Dynamic Island also brings some much-needed interactivity to the base model.
iPhone 16 vs iPhone 15 initial verdict
The iPhone 16 builds upon the foundation set by the iPhone 15, with significant upgrades in performance, camera technology, and user interactivity. The addition of the A18 chipset, new Visual Intelligence features, and a more customizable interface make it a clear evolution over the iPhone 15. That said, the iPhone 15 still holds its own as a capable, high-performing device, especially for those who don’t need the latest AI advancements or extra camera control.
If you’re on the iPhone 15, you probably don’t need to go out of your way to upgrade to the newer model. But if your contract comes up for renewal soon or you’re rocking an older model, it should definitely be on your radar.
Related: The iPhone 16 Pro is here, and it might be the new best pick for photographers
