The iPhone 15 and iPhone 15 Plus are Apple's latest basic iPhone models, with some more significant advancements than in previous years, but how different are the two succeeding iPhone generations?
In 2022, Apple introduced the iPhone 14, the successor to the successful iPhone 13, with 2GB more capacity, greater battery life, the Photonic Engine, Action mode, Emergency SOS via satellite, Crash Detection, and other features. The iPhone 15 and iPhone 15 Plus, which start at $799 for the 128GB model and are less expensive than the "Pro" versions but more feature-rich than the low-cost iPhone SE, will likely be the most popular option for many shoppers. Apple continues to sell the iPhone 14 and iPhone 14 Plus for $699 and $799, respectively.
Because the iPhone 14 and iPhone 15 share the vast majority of their features, should you buy or remain with the iPhone 14 to save money? Our guide will assist you in determining which of these two iPhone models is ideal for you, as well as highlighting the distinctions that the iPhone 15 brings to the table. This page concentrates on Apple's ordinary iPhone models, the iPhone 14 and iPhone 15, but to understand the distinctions between the iPhone 14 Pro and iPhone 15 Pro, check our other buyer's guide:
Buyer's Guide for the iPhone 14 Pro vs. iPhone 15 Pro: 30+ Upgrades Compared
The iPhone 14 and iPhone 15 have identical display sizes, battery life, 12-megapixel ultra-wide camera, and other features. Nonetheless, the iPhone 15 provides a number of significant advancements, like the Dynamic Island, USB-C connector, and a 48-megapixel camera.
The iPhone 15 has a more polished and attractive appearance with curved edges, frosted rear glass, and Dynamic Island over the iPhone 14. The brighter display and USB-C connector are significant quality-of-life improvements that all users will benefit from. The 48-megapixel main camera, 2x optical zoom option, next-generation portraiture, Smart HDR 5, and enhanced Night mode all contribute to a major overall camera upgrade for typical users.
Iterative updates like the A16 Bionic and Qi2 support are also nice additions.
Depending on your use, switching from an iPhone 13 or iPhone 14 model to the iPhone 15 may not be worth it unless you actively desire some of the new capabilities, but the iPhone 15 and iPhone 15 Plus appear to be an exceptionally big improvement for Apple's non-Pro iPhones. As a result, many consumers who own one of these earlier models may be able to rationalize upgrading to an iPhone 15 model. Those who own an iPhone 11 or older will undoubtedly benefit greatly from acquiring an iPhone 15.
For regular users, it's worth noting that the iPhone 15's transition to USB-C renders all existing Lightning cords and accessories obsolete, necessitating the purchase of a $29 converter or the usage of a new cable. If you're upgrading from an earlier device, you'll probably need to acquire a new power adapter as well. If you are upset with this move, it may be worth waiting another year, but it is worth noting that the conversion to USB-C is good in the long run because it is a standard port used by a wide range of devices.
Because the iPhone 15 is a fairly noticeable advance, it is typically not worth purchasing an iPhone 14 model instead, unless it is much cheaper. The iPhone 14 and iPhone 14 Plus are only a year old and remain excellent smartphones, but the iPhone 15 has a number of enhancements that will likely make it age better and be somewhat more useful over time, justifying its higher price.
iPhone 14 | iPhone 15 |
|---|---|
Aluminum chassis with squared-off edges | Aluminum chassis with contoured edges |
| Glossy glass back | The color-infused frosted glass back |
| "Notch" TrueDepth camera array | Dynamic Island |
| 800 nits max brightness (typical) | 1,000 nits max brightness (typical) |
| 1,200 nits peak brightness (HDR) | 1,600 nits peak brightness (HDR) |
| 2,000 nits peak brightness (outdoor) | |
| A15 Bionic chip | A16 Bionic chip |
| 5-core GPU | 5-core GPU with 50% more memory bandwidth |
| 12-megapixel main camera with ƒ/1.5 aperture | 48-megapixel main camera with ƒ/1.6 aperture |
| 0.5x and 1x optical zoom options | 0.5x, 1x, and 2x optical zoom options |
| 24- and 48-megapixel super-high-resolution photos | |
| Smart HDR 4 | Smart HDR 5 |
| Portrait mode with Focus and Depth Control | Next-generation portraits with Focus and Depth Control |
| Night mode and Night mode portraits | Improved Night mode and Night mode portraits |
| Improved audio quality on phone calls | |
| First-generation Ultra Wideband chip | Second-generation Ultra Wideband chip (connects from 3x further away) |
| Precision Finding for Find My Friends | |
| Lightning port | USB-C port |
| Support for Qi wireless charging | Support for Qi2 wireless charging |
| Yellow, Blue, Purple, (PRODUCT)RED, Starlight, and Midnight color options | Yellow, Blue, Pink, Green, and Black color options |