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

Apple has launched the iPhone 16 Series in India, consisting of four models: iPhone 16, 16 Plus, 16 Pro, and 16 Pro Max. The iPhone 16 starts at Rs 79,999 for the 128GB variant in India. On the other hand, the iPhone 15 has also received a Rs 10,000 price cut. The new iPhone 16 has some major upgrades over the iPhone 15, like a camera control button, an action button, Apple Intelligence features, and more. But are all these features worth Rs 10,000 extra for the iPhone 16 over the iPhone 15? In this article, we have compared the iPhone 16 against the iPhone 15. 

iPhone 16 vs iPhone 15: Design and display

The iPhone 16 has design changes compared to the previous model. The iPhone 16 has a vertical camera setup, whereas the iPhone 15 has a diagonal camera module. Both models are made of aluminum, however, the iPhone 16 has saturated colours this year. It comes in ultramarine, teal, pink, white, and black, whereas the iPhone 15 is available in pink, yellow, green, blue, and black.  The iPhone 16 has a camera control button that the iPhone 15 lacks.

In terms of display, both smartphones look almost identical with Dynamic Island. Both iPhone models feature a 6.1-inch OLED display with a 60 Hz refresh rate and 2000 nits peak brightness. The iPhone 16 can be as low as 1 nit in dark environments.

iPhone 16 vs iPhone 15: Camera

iPhone 16 and iPhone 15 feature the same camera configuration. Both models have a dual camera setup on the back consisting of a 48MP main and a 12MP ultrawide sensor. The iPhone 16 features a 2x telephoto zoom option using a 12MP sensor. On the front, both models use a 12MP sensor for selfies and video calls. 

Both smartphones capture 4K 60 fps videos from all three rear and front lenses. The iPhone 16 is capable of capturing spatial photos and videos from rear lenses, which is not possible in iPhone 15. 

iPhone 16 vs iPhone 15: Performance and AI

Performance is the segment where the iPhone 16 leads over the iPhone 15. The iPhone 16 is powered by the A18 Bionic processor that has a 6-core CPU and 5-core GPU with a 16-core neutral engine. The iPhone 15 has an A16 Bionic processor; it also has a 6-core CPU and a 5-core GPU. The latest iPhone 16 is compatible with the Apple Intelligence features that are missing on iPhone 15.

The new iPhones are capable of running AI features with iOS 18 out of the box, whereas the iPhone 15 will not receive any AI apps even after the iOS 18 update. 

iPhone 16 vs iPhone 15: Battery and Charging

Apple has improved the battery life of the iPhone 16. According to a China-based leaker on Weibo, the latest iPhone 16 has a 3,561mAh battery pack which Apple claims can last 22 hours of video playback and up to 18 hours of video playback streaming. It supports 20W wired, 25W wireless charging with Magsafe, and 15W Qi2 wireless charging. The iPhone 15, on the other hand, has a 3,367 mAh battery capacity according to DXOMARK website. It supports 15W Magsafe and 15W Qi2 wireless charging. 

iPhone 16 vs iPhone 15: Verdict

The iPhone 16 is priced Rs 10,000 higher than the iPhone 15, but for the additional cost, you get the latest A18 chipset, Apple Intelligence features, an updated camera interface, and a dedicated camera button. The new iPhone also offers improved battery life, making it more promising and future-proof on paper. If you're planning to buy a phone for the long term and can afford the extra Rs 10,000, the iPhone 16 is the better choice.