✦ SIDE-BY-SIDE COMPARE

iPhone 15 vs iPhone 16 Pro: which is better?

iPhone 15 and iPhone 16 Pro compared side by side across 22 specs and 7 scored categories — every winner highlighted, so the right pick is obvious.

2 PRODUCTS · 22 SPECS · 7 SCORED CATEGORIES · LIVE RE-RANKING
COMPARING
2 / 4
SMARTPHONES
Add or remove products — every chart and spec row re-ranks live.
Apple iPhone 15
APPLE
iPhone 15
$799
BEST VALUE
← TOP PICK
Apple iPhone 16 Pro
APPLE
iPhone 16 Pro
$999
BEST OVERALL
+
Add product
2 AVAILABLE
⚡ COMPARZONE VERDICT

The iPhone 16 Pro takes the overall win.

Highest composite at 9.4/10 — 0.8 ahead of the iPhone 15. Tightest race: software, just 0.2 apart. Scroll for the category-by-category breakdown.

View best price →
CATEGORY WINS · 7 SCOREDTIES SHOWN GREY
PERF
CAME
DISP
BATT
SOFT
VALU
DESI
iPhone 15×0
iPhone 16 Pro×7
Apple iPhone 15BEST VALUE
Apple iPhone 16 ProBEST OVERALL
01 · SCORE RADAR

Performance profile

CLICK A PRODUCT TO ISOLATE ITS SHAPE
246810PERFORMANCECAMERADISPLAYBATTERYSOFTWAREVALUEDESIGN
LARGEST GAPDesign — iPhone 16 Pro leads by 9.3
TIGHTESTSoftware — only 0.2 between the top two
02 · CATEGORY BREAKDOWN

Category showdown

IPHONE 1516 PRO
PerformanceiiPhone 16 Pro · +0.9
IPHONE 158.8
16 PRO9.7
CameraiiPhone 16 Pro · +1.1
IPHONE 158.5
16 PRO9.6
DisplayiiPhone 16 Pro · +1.7
IPHONE 157.8
16 PRO9.5
BatteryiiPhone 16 Pro · +0.8
IPHONE 158.0
16 PRO8.8
SoftwareiiPhone 16 Pro · +0.2
IPHONE 159.2
16 PRO9.4
ValueiiPhone 16 Pro · +0.2
IPHONE 158.4
16 PRO8.6
DesigniiPhone 16 Pro · +9.3
IPHONE 150.0
16 PRO9.3
03 · VALUE MAP

Price vs performance

TOP-LEFT IS THE SWEET SPOT
SWEET SPOTPREMIUM PICKBUDGET TIERPOOR VALUE$806$868$930$9928.69.09.4PRICE →SCORE ↑BEST DEALiPhone 15iPhone 16 Pro
SCORE PER $100 · RANKED
01iPhone 151.08BEST DEAL
02iPhone 16 Pro0.94
Map shows current starting prices · trends show tracked street prices. Check live deals before deciding.
04 · THE FULL SHEET

Full specifications

22 SPECS · ALL SHOWN
SPECS
iPhone 15$7991W8.6
iPhone 16 Pro$9998W9.4
Battery CapacityMAHi
3,349 mAh
3,582 mAh← BEST +7%
Wired ChargingWi
20 W
27 W← BEST +35%
Wireless ChargingWi
15 W
25 W← BEST +67%
Main CameraMPiSAME
48 MP
48 MP
Ultra-Wide CameraMPi
12 MP
48 MP← BEST +300%
Telephotoi
None (2x in-sensor crop)
12MP 5x
Front CameraMPiSAME
12 MP
12 MP
Max Videoi
4K@60fps
4K 120fps Dolby Vision
Wi-Fii
Wi-Fi 6
Wi-Fi 7
WeightGi
171 g← 14% lighter
199 g
Buildi
Aluminum frame, color-infused glass back
Grade 5 titanium
Water ResistanceiSAME
IP68
IP68
Display SizeINi
6.1 in
6.3 in← BEST +3%
Display Typei
OLED Super Retina XDR
Super Retina XDR LTPO OLED
Refresh RateHZi
60 Hz
120 Hz← BEST +100%
Peak BrightnessNITSiSAME
2,000 nits
2,000 nits
Chipseti
Apple A16 Bionic
Apple A18 Pro
RAMGBi
6 GB
8 GB← BEST +33%
AnTuTu Scorei
1,450,000
1,720,000← BEST +19%
Operating Systemi
iOS 17 (upgradable)
iOS 18
OS Update SupportYRiSAME
6 yr
6 yr
Storage Optionsi
128/256/512GB
128GB / 256GB / 512GB / 1TB
ROW WINS
1
8
05 · WHICH ONE IS FOR YOU

Pick by persona

RE-RANKS LIVE AS YOU ADD OR REMOVE PRODUCTS
THE ALL-ROUNDER
Best overall
iPhone 16 ProAPPLE9.4
ALL GROUPSEQUAL WEIGHT
Best total score across weighted category factors.
RUNNER-UP · iPhone 15 (8.6)
FOR VALUE SEEKERS
Best bang for buck
iPhone 15APPLE8.6
SCORE ÷ PRICELIVE PRICES
Strongest score-to-price ratio from the available price data.
RUNNER-UP · iPhone 16 Pro (0.9)
PRIORITY · DESIGN
Best for design
iPhone 16 ProAPPLE9.3
DESIGN WEIGHTEDCONF 89%
Best visible score in the design category group.
RUNNER-UP · iPhone 15 (0.0)
PRIORITY · DISPLAY
Best for display
iPhone 16 ProAPPLE9.5
DISPLAY WEIGHTEDCONF 91%
Best visible score in the display category group.
RUNNER-UP · iPhone 15 (7.8)
06 · BOTTOM LINE

Why pick each

STRENGTHS · AND ONE HONEST TRADE-OFF
#2APPLE0.0
iPhone 15
The standard iPhone 15 brings the Dynamic Island, a 48MP main camera, and USB-C to Apple's mainstream flagship.
Software 9.2
Performance 8.8
Wins Main Camera
Wins Peak Brightness
TRADE-OFFDisplay capped at 60Hz refresh
BEST VALUEBest price →
#1APPLE0.0
iPhone 16 Pro
Premium compact flagship with A18 Pro performance, a 120Hz ProMotion display, pro-grade cameras, and a titanium body.
Performance 9.7
Camera 9.6
Wins Battery Capacity
Wins AnTuTu Score
TRADE-OFFExpensive
BEST OVERALLBest price →
Still deciding? The iPhone 16 Pro is the safest pick.
COMPOSITE 9.4/10 · WINS 7 OF 7 CATEGORIES
Buy the winner →

Apple iPhone 15 vs Apple iPhone 16 Pro: which is better?

The Apple iPhone 16 Pro is our overall pick, scoring 9.4/10 against 8.6/10 for the Apple iPhone 15 — a 9% edge. Current starting prices span $799–$999. The score weighs category-specific smartphones attributes, spec wins, price signals, and data confidence — not sponsorships.

  • Apple iPhone 16 Pro leads overall with a 9.4 total score.
  • Apple iPhone 16 Pro wins 8 comparable specs with a 37% weighted win rate.
  • Apple iPhone 16 Pro has the strongest high-impact advantage in Battery Capacity.
  • Apple iPhone 15 has the best visible score-to-price balance based on available starting price.

Apple iPhone 158.6/10

The standard iPhone 15 brings the Dynamic Island, a 48MP main camera, and USB-C to Apple's mainstream flagship.

Pros

  • + Excellent 48MP main camera with sharp 2x crop
  • + USB-C finally replaces Lightning
  • + Dynamic Island and bright OLED display
  • + Long, reliable iOS update support

Cons

  • Display capped at 60Hz refresh
  • No dedicated telephoto lens
  • Base 128GB storage feels tight for video shooters

Best for: Mainstream buyers wanting a balanced flagship · People upgrading from older iPhones · Users who value long software support

If you want the iPhone experience without paying Pro prices, the iPhone 15 is the sweet spot. You give up the 120Hz ProMotion display, telephoto lens and the fastest chip, but you keep the excellent 48MP camera, USB-C, the Dynamic Island and Apple's…

Apple iPhone 16 ProWINNER 9.4/10

Premium compact flagship with A18 Pro performance, a 120Hz ProMotion display, pro-grade cameras, and a titanium body.

Pros

  • + Best-in-class video and color science
  • + Fast, efficient A18 Pro chip
  • + Premium lightweight titanium build
  • + Industry-leading 5+ years of updates

Cons

  • Expensive
  • Charging slower than Android rivals
  • No expandable storage

Best for: Video and content creation · Apple ecosystem users · Long-term ownership

The most polished small flagship you can buy: best-in-class video, dependable cameras, top-tier performance, and the longest software support in the category. The main trade-offs are price and slower charging than Android rivals.

Frequently asked questions

Which is better, Apple iPhone 15 or Apple iPhone 16 Pro?

By ComparZone's weighted scoring of category-specific smartphones specs, the Apple iPhone 16 Pro scores highest overall (9.4/10, 0.8 points ahead of the Apple iPhone 15). It is the better all-round pick, but the right choice depends on your priorities — the spec table above shows exactly where each one wins.

What are the main differences between Apple iPhone 15 and Apple iPhone 16 Pro?

The biggest measurable differences are Chipset, Battery Capacity, AnTuTu Score. The grouped spec sheet above marks the winner of every comparable spec.

Is the Apple iPhone 16 Pro better value than the Apple iPhone 15?

The Apple iPhone 16 Pro starts around $999 and the Apple iPhone 15 around $799. Weigh the score gap against the price gap: a small score lead rarely justifies a large premium unless it comes from the specs you personally care about.

Can I compare other smartphones on ComparZone?

Yes — ComparZone supports dynamic comparison pages for any 2 to 4 smartphones from the same category, with verified specs, transparent scores, and live prices. See the related comparisons below or build your own from the category page.

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