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If you want to purchase a new iPhone but don’t want to spend more on the latest models, the iPhone 15 could be a great option for you. Here’s how the phone stands its ground in 2025.
The iPhone 15 Doesn’t Look Outdated
Apple hasn’t changed the dimensions or materials of its regular iPhones in a while.Between the iPhone 16 and the iPhone 15, the rear camera module helps differentiate between the phones. Had it not been for the vertically-aligned camera sensors on the newer iPhone, we wouldn’t be discussing this aspect at all.
Going with the iPhone 15, you’ll still getfive subtle yet beautiful color optionsto choose from, including black, glue, green, yellow, and pink.
The iPhone 15 Shares a Screen With the iPhone 16
Even in 2025, the iPhone 15 has a lot going for it. For instance, 2023’s flagship has the same display as its successor, the iPhone 16. Both phones share theSuper Retina XDR OLED panelwith a pixel resolution of 460 ppi and a disappointing refresh rate of 60Hz. Even the peak brightness (1,600 nits for HDR and 2,000 for outdoor usage) is the same across both phones.
You alsoget the Dynamic Island(released initially with theiPhone 14 Pro) on both iPhones. The only thing the iPhone 16 offers, in addition, is its ability to dim the screen to one nit of brightness, which helps use the phone in poorly lit environments, but you can imitate similar results on theiPhone 15 by reducing its white points(it’s an Accessibility setting).
Other than that, there’s nothing about the iPhone 15’s screen that makes it feel outdated or old.
The A17 Bionic Chip Is Still Highly Capable
While the iPhone 15 stands right next to the latest iPhone in terms of display, it runs behind in a key aspect: the system-on-a-chip (SoC). 2023’s modelfeatures the A16 Bionic chipset, which offers enough computational power to edit 4K videos or run video games at the highest graphical settings.
Even though the processor came out in 2022, its GeekBench scores are comparable tothe Snapdragon 8 Gen 3, which debuted in 2023 on Android handsets. Despite all of that, Apple has decided not to release the GenAI features (marketed as Apple Intelligence) on the iPhone 15, and even I agree that this could be a potential downside for those who wish to try the new features.
But if you can look past that, the iPhone 15’s CPU and GPU performance won’t disappoint at all. You don’t get the Apple Intelligence features, but you can still usethe new iOS 18 features, which include a revamped Control Center, customizable home/lock screen,RCS support for Messages, the ability to hide apps without downloading a third-party app, and so on.
Further, Apple should push at least three to four major iOS updates for the device, given the company’s excellent track record. With iOS 18, Apple retired theiPhone Xand iPhone 8, which came out in 2017. In other words, the phones received the latest iOS updates for a good six years.
48MP Primary Camera Shoot Great Pictures
TheiPhone 15 features a 48MP (f/1.6) primary camera(similar to the iPhone 16), and even though thecamera resolutionis set to 24MP by default, you can use the JPEG MAX button in the Camera app to utilize all the additional pixels. The pictures are super sharp, with balanced colors and excellent dynamic range.
The phone also features a 12MP (f/2.4) ultrawide camera, which captures great photos. In regard to video recording, the iPhone 15 can record4K Dolby Vision videosat up to 60 fps both from the rear and the 12MP (f/1.9) front camera. Moreover, the iPhone 15’s camera system is similar to that of the iPhone 16.
It’s just theCamera Control button on the sideand the ultrawide camera’s macro shooting ability that tilt the scales slightly in favor of the iPhone 16. But to be very honest,I hardly ever use these features on my iPhone 16, so I can easily recommend the iPhone 15 in 2025.
The iPhone 15 Lasts an Entire Day with Moderate Usage
According to Apple, the iPhone 15 can provide up to 20 hours of offline video playback (offline) and up to 80 hours of audio playback on a single charge. Further, the phone charges up to 50% in 30 minutes with a 20W adapter.You also get support for MagSafeandQi2 wireless charging (15W).
These numbers, right here, are similar to those on the new iPhone 16. If you can compromise on the 25W MagSafe charging on the latest version, you can save some money and settle with the iPhone 15.
In ourreview of the iPhone 15, How-To Geek’s Corbin Davenport mentions getting five hours and 20 minutes of screen-on time while still having around 30-35% charge left before plugging the phone back in.
Price and Availability
The baselineiPhone 15 (128GB)is available on Apple’s website for $699. If you want more storage, you can get the 256GB variant for $799.
However, you can get the base variant onBest Buyfor as low as $579.99 (with immediate activation). TheiPhone 15 (256GB)is available on the e-commerce platform for $679.99.
Should You Upgrade to iPhone 15?
I’d recommend the iPhone 15 to anyone who is using an iPhone 11 oriPhone 12in 2025 and wants to upgrade to a modern yet affordable iPhone variant.
Of course, if you want to get yourhands on the new Apple Intelligence features, you’ll have to go with the iPhone 16. But if that’s not the case, I don’t see why the iPhone 15 shouldn’t be on anyone’s smartphone shopping list in 2025.
If you’ve been an Android user for the longest time and wish to get your first iPhone, the iPhone 15 could be a greatentry point into the Apple ecosystem. Anyone using a two or three-year-old Android flagship should consider the iPhone 15 a viable option.
What About a New or Refurbished iPhone 15 Pro?
TheiPhone 15 Prooffers quite a few advantages over the vanilla version. First, the phone features atitanium frame, giving it a more premium feel. Second, it comes with aProMotion display(variable refresh rate) and supports the always-on functionality.
Under the hood, the iPhone 15 Pro runs onthe A17 Pro chip, which offers enough computational power torun the Apple Foundation Models, which form the basis of the on-device GenAI features. Hence, if Apple Intelligence is a priority for you, you can look at a new or refurbished iPhone 15 Pro model.
The iPhone 15 Pro models sport a thirdtelephoto camera, allowing you to zoom in on a distant subject. Last but not least, the models have a faster USB-C connector that supports up to 10 Gb/s data transferring speeds.
You can easilyfind a refurbished iPhone 15 Proon platforms like Best Buy, Walmart, and Amazon. Alternatively, you can purchase the phone from someone you know who has handled the phone with care. On the other hand, if you wish to get a new iPhone 15 Pro,Best Buyhas a listing for you at $899.99 (if you activate the phone at the time of purchase with either AT&T or Verizon).
If you’re moving to the iPhone 15, you might also want to know cost of setting up an Apple ecosystem in 2025.
