Like every year, Apple has launched its latest iPhone series on September 10, 2024. The all-new iPhone 16 series. In the new iPhone 16 lineup, the iPhone 16 and 16 Plus offered nothing new or unique besides the new camera shutter button & new chipset (Apple A16 Bionic in iPhone 15 and Apple A18 Bionic in iPhone 16).
However, the remaining two models, i.e., the premium ones, the iPhone 16 Pro & iPhone 16 Pro Max, have several upgrades to discuss.
So, iPhone 15 Pro vs iPhone 16 Pro, which one to buy? If you are already an iPhone 15 Pro/Pro Max user and want to upgrade to the iPhone 16 Pro series or are confused about whether you should invest in the iPhone 16 Pro or Pro Max, we are here to help!
Read Also: iOS 17.7 vs iOS 18: Which One is Better for You? Find Out!
iPhone 15 Pro vs iPhone 16 Pro Series: Detailed Comparison
Both iPhone 15 Pro and iPhone 16 Pro models belong to the premium price range category and offer several features. In this article, we have compared the iPhone 15 Pro models vs. iPhone 16 Pro models in different aspects so you will know the primary difference between these two flagship models.
Are you wondering which pro model suits your needs? How to decide whether to continue using your iPhone 15 Pro models or to go with the iPhone 16 Pro models instead? Let’s find out.
The new iPhone 16 Pro phones have larger, improved, and more powerful components like the display, chipset, cameras, and battery compared to the previous model. However, the iPhone 15 Pro phones share many features with their successor and are still strong phones.
We’ve made this quick comparison table to better understand the key specifications of both iPhone 15 Pro & iPhone 16 Pro models thoroughly. Let’s study it first.
| Parameters | iPhone 15 Pro | iPhone 16 Pro | iPhone 15 Pro
Max |
iPhone 16 Pro Max |
| Display | 6.1-inch LTPO Super Retina XDR OLED, HDR10, Dolby Vision, 120Hz | 6.3-inch LTPO Super Retina XDR OLED, HDR10, Dolby Vision, 120Hz | 6.7-inch LTPO Super Retina XDR OLED, HDR10, Dolby Vision, 120Hz | 6.9-inch LTPO Super Retina XDR OLED, HDR10, Dolby Vision, 120Hz |
| Resolution | 1179✖2556 Pixels | 1206✖2622 Pixels | 1290✖2796 Pixels | 1320✖2868 Pixels |
| Brightness | 1000 nits (typ), 2000 nits (HBM) | 1000 nits (typ), 2000 nits (HBM) | 1000 nits (typ), 2000 nits (HBM) | 1000 nits (typ), 2000 nits (HBM) |
| Processor | Apple A17 Pro Hexa Core, made @ TSMC’s 3nm Technology | Apple A18 Pro
Hexa Core, made @ TSMC’s N3E 2nd-Gen 3nm Technology |
Apple A17 Pro Hexa Core, made @ TSMC’s 3nm Technology | Apple A18 Pro
Hexa Core, made @ TSMC’s N3E 2nd-Gen 3nm Technology |
| GPU | Apple GPU 6-Core | Apple GPU 6-Core | Apple GPU 6-Core | Apple GPU 6-Core |
| RAM | 8GB | 8GB | 8GB | 8GB |
| Storage | 128GB/256GB/512GB/1TB NVMe | 128GB/256GB/512GB/1TB NVMe | 256GB/512GB/1TB NVMe | 256GB/512GB/1TB NVMe |
| Size | 5.77✖2.78✖0.33 inches | 5.89✖2.81✖0.33 inches | 6.30✖3.02✖0.33 inches | 6.42✖3.06✖0.33 inches |
| Rear Cameras | 48MP Main
12MP Ultrawide 12MP Telephoto with PDAF, OIS, 3✖Optical Zoom |
48MP Main
48MP Ultrawide 12MP Periscope Telephoto with dual pixel PDAF, 3D sensor-shift OIS, 5✖Optical Zoom |
48MP Main
12MP Ultrawide 12MP Periscope Telephoto with dual pixel PDAF, 3D sensor-shift OIS, 5✖Optical Zoom |
48MP Main
48MP Ultrawide 12MP Periscope Telephoto with dual pixel PDAF, 3D sensor-shift OIS, 5✖Optical Zoom |
| Front Cameras | 12MP PDAF, OIS + SL 3D Depth/Biometric Sensor | 12MP PDAF, OIS + SL 3D Depth/Biometric Sensor | 12MP PDAF, OIS + SL 3D Depth/Biometric Sensor | 12MP PDAF, OIS + SL 3D Depth/Biometric Sensor |
| Body | Titanium Frame (Grade 5) + Front & Back made of Gorilla Glass | Titanium Frame (Grade 5) + Front & Back made of Gorilla Glass | Titanium Frame (Grade 5) + Front & Back made of Gorilla Glass | Titanium Frame (Grade 5) + Front & Back made of Gorilla Glass |
| Weight | 187g | 199g | 221g | 227g |
| Network | 2G/3G/4G/5G | 2G/3G/4G/5G | 2G/3G/4G/5G | 2G/3G/4G/5G |
We’ve noted both similarities and differences as we go. Here is a breakdown of everything you need to understand about these pro phones.
iPhone 15 Pro vs iPhone 16 Pro: Price & Availability
When the iPhone 15 series was launched, these were the prices of the pro models:
- iPhone 15 Pro starts @ $999
- iPhone 15 Pro Max starts @ $1,199
The prices of the iPhone 16 Pro/Pro Max this year are the same as those of the iPhone 15 Pro/Pro Max last year.
- iPhone 16 Pro starts @ $999
- iPhone 16 Pro Max starts @ $1,199
Note: It is worth noting that with the launch of the iPhone 16 series, Apple has discontinued the iPhone 15 Pro/Pro Max smartphones. It doesn’t mean that your iPhone 15 Pro/Pro Max will not get software or security upgrades.
Both these phones will get all the software upgrades that were promised during the launch.
Also, you still can buy iPhone 15 Pro and iPhone 15 Pro Max from the authorized retailer near you.
iPhone 15 Pro vs iPhone 16 Pro Series: Design & Build Quality
The design & build quality of the iPhone 16 Pro series improves upon that of the blueprint of the iPhone 15 Pro series with several significant upgrades, especially in the area of display. One obvious change is that now the display size of iPhone 16 Pro and Pro Max is 6.3 and 6.9 inches respectively.
The bezels are also reduced by 30%. Additionally, both iPhone 16 Pro and Pro Max now come with 2nd-gen ceramic shield protection on the front glass. Which in Apple’s words is twice as tough when compared to iPhone 15 Pro models’ glass protection.
With the iPhone 16 Pro models, Apple has enhanced thermal control, resulting in a 20% increase in heat transfer that helps maintain performance during demanding workloads.
A major addition to the iPhone 16 lineup is the new Capacitive Camera Control button, placed on the right side rail of the iPhones. Other than that, the design of the iPhone 15 Pro phones and iPhone 16 Pro phones are fairly identical.
Both include titanium flat sides, a USB Type-C 3.2 Gen 2 port for data transfer and charging, a front camera and Face ID system within the Dynamic Island and an Action button that can be customized on the left side. The old Blue Titanium color has been replaced with a new color, Desert Titanium, while the remaining colors have also been somewhat tweaked.
iPhone 15 Pro vs iPhone 16 Pro Series: Cameras
The camera setup in the 16 Pro and Pro Max phones has undergone several focused enhancements in particular areas. A faster sensor, better ultra-wide lens, extended video capabilities, and an independent Camera Control button are the major improvements.
With its 2nd-gen quad-pixel sensor, the fusion camera iPhone 16 Pro & Pro Max offers faster capture speeds and less shutter lag for faster and more responsive photography.
Although the 48 MP primary camera and the 12MP ultrawide lens are present on both (16 Pro and 16 Pro Max), the 16 Pro’s periscope telephoto sensor raises the bar. Now it provides 5x lossless optical zoom, while on the other hand, 15 Pro offers 3x optical zoom.
Which is a great deal for photo enthusiasts. By the way, the iPhone 16 Pro Max also comes with this 5x periscope telephoto lens. Another upgrade is related to the Ultra-wide camera. It has a 48MP resolution, matching the resolution of the primary sensor and providing greater performance in low-light conditions, particularly in macro images.
On the video front, both iPhone 16 Pro and 16 Pro Max can now record 4K videos up to 120fps which was not the case with iPhone 15 Pro and 15 Pro Max series. The 15 Pro series iPhones were limited to the 4K 60fps videos.
Furthermore, the onboard editing within the Photos app present in the iPhone 15 Pro models was somewhat limited. The iPhone 15 Pro models lack enhanced onboard editing capabilities for adjusting audio and video playback speed. Which is now present in the iPhone 16 Pro models.
iPhone 16 Pro models can record –
- 4K Dolby Vision videos up to 120fps.
- 1080p Dolby Vision videos up to 120 fps.
- ProRes videos at 120fps.
- Slow-mo videos up to 240 fps in 1080p resolution & 120fps in 4K Dolby Vision.
The selfie/Front camera is identical in both of these iPhone 16 Pro models, just like the one in the iPhone 15 Pro and 15 Pro Max.
In a nutshell, the iPhone 16 Pro models are now even more powerful and capable phones for video production. But these enhancements might not signify as much to casual users.
iPhone 15 Pro vs iPhone 16 Pro Series: Performance
This year’s Pro models (16 Pro & 16 Pro Max) now come with the latest A18 Pro chipset. Last year’s Pro models (15 Pro & 15 Pro Max) were equipped with A17 Pro chipset.
Because the A18 Pro is fabricated using TSMC’s improved N3E 3nm technology, the A18 Pro chipset in the iPhone 16 Pro models represents an acceptable improvement over the old A17 Pro chipset present in the iPhone 15 Pro models.
Due to this upgrade, the A18 Pro performs 15% faster on CPU operations and 20% faster on GPU tasks while maintaining power efficiency.
If we talk about the RAM, there is no difference between the iPhone 15 and 16 Pro Models. You will get 8GB RAM in all four of these phones.
The big breakthrough has to do with ray tracing, which is now twice as fast. This enables more lifelike lighting and shadows in graphically demanding apps like games. Furthermore, the iPhone 16 Pro’s new 16-core Neural Engine performs better on AI workloads thanks to 17% greater memory bandwidth.
The iPhone 16 Pro models are simply stronger and future-ready for the needs of future improvements in AI and connectivity. Even though the iPhone 15 Pro phones are still highly powerful for daily use.
iPhone 15 Pro vs iPhone 16 Pro Series: Battery & Charging
When selecting a new phone, battery capacity and charging speed are usually a crucial factor. With a 17.39% larger battery capacity than the iPhone 15 Pro, the new iPhone 16 Pro offers an increment over its predecessor. It can run up to 27 hours on a single charge.
In line with this, the new 16 Pro Max can run up to 33 hours, 13.79% more than the previous model (iPhone 15 Pro Max). Refer to the chart above to know the exact battery capacity of each iPhone.
MagSafe wireless charging is now improved from 15W to 25W, offering a 66.67% boost in charging speed with a 30W charger or above. But the wired charging speed remains the same as before at 20 watts.
| iPhone 15 Pro | iPhone 16 Pro | iPhone 15 Pro Max | iPhone 16 Pro Max | |
| Video Playback Capacity | Up to 23 Hours | Up to 27 Hours | Up to 29 Hours | Up to 33 Hours |
| Audio Playback Capacity | Up to 75 Hours | Up to 85 Hours | Up to 95 Hours | Up to 105 Hours |
iPhone 15 Pro vs iPhone 16 Pro Series: Software
Although iOS 18 will be pre-installed in the whole iPhone 16 series, you can also upgrade your iPhone 15 series iPhones to the iOS 18.
All of the capabilities, including Apple Intelligence, are compatible with both series (iPhone 15 & iPhone 16), yet as of now, Apple has not made them available to the general public.
Note: Apple Intelligence will only be compatible with these devices:
- iPhone 16
- iPhone 16 Plus
- iPhone 16 Pro
- iPhone 16 Pro Max
- iPhone 15 Pro
- iPhone 15 Pro Max
Visual Intelligence is a particular feature that will not be available on the iPhone 15 series. With the help of this feature, which is linked to the Camera shutter button, you can quickly understand what’s in front of you by using iPhone 16 Pro cameras.
Read Also: How to Customize the Control Center on Your iPhone or iPad?
iPhone 15 Pro vs iPhone 16 Pro Series: Should You Upgrade to iPhone 16 Pro Phones?
iPhone 15 Pro/Pro Max or iPhone 16 Pro/Pro Max: Which one should you buy? So here we are! This is the end point of the discussion.
The iPhone 16 Pro’s enhancements may seem little and less groundbreaking to those who currently own the iPhone 15 Pro. However if you are using an iPhone 15 Pro Max, and craving for the bigger display, bigger battery, new A18 Pro chipset, enhanced video recording capabilities, you can definitely switch to the iPhone 16 Pro Max.
In the same way, the new Camera Control button provides photographers with enhanced responsiveness and more precise control, making it a worthwhile update for amateur or professional photographers.
However, these updates might not seem that significant to the typical user who only uses their iPhone for daily tasks.
The increased battery capacity and quicker MagSafe charging are significant advantages but likely not big enough to convince most consumers to switch to the iPhone 16 Pro models.
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