iPhone 15 Long Term Review: Now the Best VFM Smartphone In 2024!

I said goodbye to the iPhone 12 Mini, my daily driver for the past two and a half years, in April 2024 due to its poor battery life and overheating issues. Since then, I had two options—either go with a feature-laden Samsung Galaxy S23 Ultra or remain an iSheep with the 'then-new' iPhone 15.

Fast forward to the festive season when smartphone prices dropped on Flipkart and Amazon, I purchased the iPhone 15 (256 GB variant) for INR 62,999. Many would argue that the Galaxy S23 Ultra offers better specs on paper and is a more value-for-money product than the iPhone 15. But my experience with the latter says otherwise.

Here’s why I believe the iPhone 15 is the best value-for-money smartphone in 2024, even when compared to top-tier Androids.

A16 Bionic is stable and reliable

Apple's A16 Bionic processor, previously exclusive to the iPhone 14 Pro models, powers the iPhone 15. And let me tell you, it gets all the job done without any hiccups.

Whether I’m switching between dozens of apps, watching videos on YouTube, scrolling through tons of brain-rotting reels or playing Battleground Mobile India, the iPhone 15 never skips a beat. In contrast, even flagship Android chips like the Snapdragon 8 Gen 3 can occasionally show signs of strain under similar workloads, especially over time.

The A16 Bionic chip also contributes to the phone’s battery efficiency. On a full charge, it lasts me almost a day with general usage. However, if I use the camera or play graphically intensive games for extended periods, it needs another top-up.

Long-term reliability is another advantage. While most Android phones, even flagships, begin to lag over time, the iPhone 15 would likely maintain the same performance for years. I can vouch for this since my experience with the iPhone 12 Mini was similar.

The 'Revolutionary' USB-C is here

Apple actually created a solution for its own problem that should not have existed in the first place. The iPhone 15 brings the ‘revolutionary’ USB-C port, finally aligning Apple with the universal charging standard. As someone who has multiple devices—laptops, tablets, cameras—all charged via USB-C, this change has made my life significantly easier.

Back when I had the iPhone 12 Mini, forgetting my Lightning cable was a nightmare, often requiring a scavenger hunt to borrow one (my colleagues still do that). Now, I can simply borrow a USB-C cable from almost anyone, which is incredibly convenient.

But here’s the twist: not all USB-C ports are created equal. The iPhone 15 supports USB 2.0 speeds, which might seem like a step back compared to the ultra-fast file transfers offered by many Android phones. However, for most users (including me), most of my transfers are done via Airdrop or cloud storage.

A camera that outsmarts Android

As someone who loves travelling, creating reels, and snapping random pictures, I’m a sucker for a good camera. The iPhone 15 delivers in spades. Its 48-megapixel main sensor, borrowed from 14 Pro’s Pro models, produces sharp and highly detailed photos with natural colours.

Although I’m yet to take it on a trip, I’ve used it at various spots in Delhi-NCR, and the results speak for themselves.

The 12-megapixel ultrawide sensor clicks similar shots but sometimes has noise in it. The iPhone 15 brings 2x sensor zoom on the main camera, which has helped me to show off my portrait skills among my friends.  

When it comes to video, no Android phone can match the iPhone. I’ve shot and edited countless Instagram Reels on it, and they consistently look better and smoother than anything I’ve seen from Android devices.

For someone like me, who needs to upload directly to Instagram or Snapchat, the iPhone is a lifesaver. These apps often compress image quality on Android. But on iOS, the photos and videos remain pristine.

That said, I’ll admit Android phones still have an edge in certain scenarios. The Pixel 8 Pro, for instance, excels in astrophotography and computational zoom. But for the average user looking to snap quick and reliable shots, the iPhone 15 is unbeatable.

A display that’s just right

The iPhone 15 features a 6.1-inch Super Retina XDR display and while it may lack the 120Hz refresh rate found in many budget Android phones, its colour accuracy and brightness are second to none (in its category).

I have watched several anime on Netflix on my iPhone 15 and it’s an absolute joy, with vibrant colours and deep blacks that rival OLED displays on Android phones. Even outdoors, the display remains bright and legible, thanks to its 2,000-nit peak brightness.

If you’re coming from a high-refresh-rate Android screen, the iPhone’s 60Hz might feel like a step down at first. But in everyday use, the buttery-smooth animations of iOS make this a non-issue for most.

The green line issue has been very common on Android phones and several manufacturers are yet to do something about this, which is one of the reasons why I went for an iPhone since I didn’t want to go through all this hassle.

The Dynamic Island is a mixed bag. While it’s slightly distracting when watching videos, it’s incredibly useful for multitasking. I can change songs or check Google Maps directions without leaving the current app. Unsurprisingly, Android brands have already started copying this feature.

Apple ecosystem: The secret sauce

If you’ve ever used an iPhone alongside other Apple devices, you’ll know the ecosystem is Apple’s trump card. For me, the seamless handoff between my iPhone 15 and MacBook Air M1 is a game-changer.

Most of the features like Airdrop, iCloud and FaceTime calls are synced in real-time across both devices. If you want to know how the Apple ecosystem is helping me in my daily life, read this piece that I wrote last week.

Android’s equivalent, such as Samsung’s ecosystem with DeX or Google’s cross-device syncing, has come a long way. But it still doesn’t match the cohesiveness of Apple’s ecosystem.

ALSO READ: How to Use Apple Intelligence Features On Non-Supported Old iPhones?

Longevity that Android struggles to match

One of the biggest reasons I recommend the iPhone 15 is its longevity. With guaranteed iOS updates for at least five years, the iPhone 15 is a long-term investment. I could sell my iPhone 15 in three or four years and still be able to recover some portion of my cost in that period. 

In contrast, even a premium Android phone's resale value deflates over a while.

So, is it the best value?

The iPhone 15 strikes an incredible balance between price, performance and longevity, making it the best value-for-money premium smartphone in 2024. 

If you want Apple Intelligence features and want to get an iPhone 16, I would recommend waiting till January since that is the time when it would start receiving a price cut. 

ALSO READ: iPhone 16 vs iPhone 15: Should You Pay Rs 10,000 Extra?

If you’re someone who values a polished and reliable experience over flashy features, the iPhone 15 is a no-brainer. Apple may have finally given us an iPhone that feels like a steal.

For 2024, it’s my top pick in the mid-premium segment.