The new iPhone 15 is here and it’s making users wonder if they should upgrade from their iPhone 14 right away. There are several crucial upgrades this year that are attracting a lot of potential buyers. If you’re one such user who can’t make up his mind just yet, this post will let you decide if you should upgrade to the iPhone 15 from iPhone 14 or any older device.
There’s a new stunning design, new color options with the return of the much-covetable pink shade, an advanced camera setup, and more essential enhancements on this year’s iPhone 15. It’s a breath of fresh air since last year the iPhone 14 only featured certain minor upgrades from its predecessor iPhone 13.
iPhone 15 vs iPhone 14: What’s New This Time?
The iPhone 15 was unveiled at Apple’s “Wonderlust” event with a fascinating color-infused design with contoured aluminum edges and five new vibrant color options. There’s a pink shade available in this year’s lineup while the traditional Product (RED) color is absent.
The iPhone 15 is powered by the Bionic A16 processor which was featured in last year’s iPhone 14 Pro series. Apple has included a major camera upgrade this year with the standard iPhone 15 and iPhone 15 Plus getting a 48MP Main camera with 2x Telephoto but the third camera has been removed.
Users can choose between a 6.1-inch display on the iPhone 15 or a 6.7-inch display on the iPhone 15 Plus. Both the devices feature a Super Retina XDR display with up to 2,000 nits brightness which is double that of the iPhone 14. So, seeing your phone under bright sunlight won’t be an issue anymore.
The iPhone 15 and iPhone 15 Plus have also got the innovative Dynamic Island which was exclusive to the iPhone 14 Pro models last year. It can be programmed to a wide range of features for enhanced user experience. Lastly, there is a USB Type-C connector for charging instead of the classic Lightning port.
iPhone 15 vs iPhone 14: Comparing Specs & Features
Here is a detailed comparison between the specs and features of the newly launched iPhone 15 and last year’s iPhone 14 side-by-side:
Specs/ Features | iPhone 15 and 15 Plus | iPhone 14 and 14 Plus |
---|---|---|
Display
|
– 6.1 or 6.7 inches
– Super Retina XDR OLED – HDR, True Tone, P3 color – 2,000 nits peak brightness – Dynamic Island |
– 6.1 or 6.7 inches
– Super Retina XDR OLED – HDR, True Tone, P3 color – 1,200 nits peak brightness |
Processor
|
Apple A16 Bionic
|
Apple A15 Bionic
|
RAM
|
6GB
|
6GB
|
Storage
|
128, 256, or 512GB
|
128, 256, or 512GB
|
Power
|
– Unknown battery sizes
– MagSafe (up to 15W) and Qi2 (7.5W) wireless charging – USB-C port, including reverse charging for accessories – No charger in the box |
– 3,279 or 4,325mAh batteries
– MagSafe (up to 15W), Qi (7.5W) wireless charging – Lightning port – No charger in the box |
Cameras
|
– Main: 48MP, 26mm f/1.6, sensor-shift OIS, 2x crop zoom
– Ultra-wide: 12MP, 13mm f/2.4 – Selfie: 12MP (other details missing) – True Tone flash, Photonic Engine, Deep Fusion, other features |
– Main: 12MP, 26mm f/1.5, sensor-shift OIS
– Ultra-wide: 12MP, 13mm f/2.4 – Selfie: 12MP, 23mm f/1.9 – True Tone flash, Photonic Engine, Deep Fusion, other features |
Audio
|
– Stereo speakers, no 3.5mm jack
– Voice Isolation for improved phone calls |
– Stereo speakers, no 3.5mm jack
|
IP rating
|
IP68
|
IP68
|
Biometrics
|
FaceID
|
FaceID
|
SIM
|
nano-SIM and eSIM (US models are eSIM-only)
|
nano-SIM and eSIM (US models are eSIM-only)
|
Software
|
iOS 17
|
iOS 17
|
Dimensions and weight
|
|
|
Colors
|
Pink, Yellow, Green, Blue, Black
|
Midnight, Starlight, Product RED, Blue, Purple, Yellow
|
iPhone 15 vs iPhone 14: Which Phone is Better?
The iPhone 15 is definitely better than the iPhone 14 due to a number of upgrades Apple introduced this year. To begin with, the iPhone 15 and iPhone 15 Plus are powered by the Bionic A16 processor which is both faster and power efficient than the iPhone 14’s Bionic A15.
The 6-core CPU uses 20% less power than last year’s CPU and is significantly faster and capable of handling intensive tasks. There is also a 5-core GPU which has 50% more memory bandwidth than the iPhone 14’s GPU for smooth graphics when streaming videos and playing games.
There is also the Dynamic Island which can boost user experience positively and the display is also brighter on the iPhone 15. Most importantly, the iPhone 15 has a USB-C connector which is more universal and can be used for reverse charging accessories. Meanwhile, the iPhone 14 lacked such abilities.
Is the iPhone 15 Camera Better than the iPhone 14?
Yes, the iPhone 15 has a significantly better camera than the iPhone 14 as its camera system is based on the 49-megapixel main sensor, a 12MP ultra-wide, and a 12MP selfie camera for sharp, crisp, and vivid pictures and highly stable videos. This is the first time Apple has included a 48MP lens on a non-Pro iPhone.
The iPhone 14 featured a 12MP main camera, a 12MP Ultra-Wide, and a 12MP front lens. On the other side, the main camera in the iPhone 15 defaults to 24MP for extra details and sharper captures.
Apple has also added an ‘optical-quality’ telephoto zoom of up to 2x while both the iPhone 15 and iPhone 14 support ‘digital zoom’ of up to 10x. A more specific comparison will be available later when we can compare pictures taken by both models once the iPhone 15 starts shipping on September 22nd.
Is the iPhone 15 Battery Life Longer than the iPhone 14?
Nope. Despite Apple making several claims that they’ve upgraded the battery life on the iPhone 15 and iPhone 15 Plus, the reality is different. Both the iPhone 15 and iPhone 14 have the same battery life of up to 20 hours of video playback, around 16 hours of video streaming, and up to 80 hours of audio playback.
This is despite the upgraded A16 processor on the iPhone 15 and Apple’s claims of the latest phones being more power efficient. It could simply mean one thing Apple has slightly reduced the battery size which would justify the iPhone 15’s battery life.
iPhone 15 vs iPhone 14: How much they cost?
The iPhone 15 and iPhone 15 Plus are available at the same price that the iPhone 14 and iPhone 14 Plus were launched last year. However, the price of the iPhone 14 has dropped by $100 with the release of its successor. The iPhone 14 now starts at $699 and the iPhone 14 Plus starts at $799.
Meanwhile, the iPhone 15 starts at $799 for the 128GB variant and goes up to $1,099 for the 512GB storage option. The iPhone 15 Plus starts at $899 and costs $1,199 for the 512GB storage model. Apple has upped the price of the iPhone 15 Pro Max by $100 though as it starts at $1,199 now.
The pricing won’t be an issue if you’re thinking of upgrading since the $100 difference can be justified by the iPhone 15’s new features, enhancements, and advanced specs.
Final Verdict: Should You Upgrade to iPhone 15?
The ultimate decision as to whether you should upgrade to the iPhone 15 will depend on your approach and the reason why you’re looking to get the newly released Apple device. If you bought the iPhone 14 a few months back and trying to get the most value for your money, you’re better off without buying the iPhone 15.
However, if you’re someone who always tends to get the latest devices, the iPhone 15 will be worth it for you as it includes a cool set of improvements, advancements, and new features that would definitely impress you. You can even try upgrading to the iPhone 15 Pro or the iPhone 15 Pro Max, as they’re the real deal.
If you have an older device, whether it’s the iPhone 14 bought at launch, or the iPhone 13, iPhone 12, or maybe even iPhone 11, you can get a good trade-in deal while upgrading to the iPhone 15. The new lineup features major improvements from last year’s device but they aren’t enough to force anyone to upgrade.
The only revolutionary change is the USB-C charging port instead of the Lightning port but it’ll hardly be anyone’s reason for an upgrade. However, the new vibrant colors, especially the pink one, could be one of the deciding factors for some users who didn’t get their desired shade last year.
If you’re satisfied with your iPhone 14, you can easily wait for next year’s iPhone 16. The eventual choice is yours. That’s all for this guide. Feel free to use the comment box if you have any queries or doubts.
Frequently asked Questions:
The iPhone 15 is worth upgrading from last year’s iPhone 14 as it’s faster, more power efficient, and offers an overall better performance with its Bionic A16 processors.
There’s also a Dynamic Island notch on the iPhone 15, an advanced camera setup with a 48MP Main camera, and an industry-first glass-infused design with vibrant colors which would be value for your money.
There are several major differences between the iPhone 14 and 15. The most significant upgrade on the iPhone 15 is its advanced camera setup which features a 48MP Main camera with a 2x Telephoto sensor while the iPhone 14 only has a 12MP main camera.
The iPhone 15 also sports the Bionic A16 processor which is faster and more power-efficient than iPhone 14’s Bionic A15.
The iPhone 15 is powered by the Bionic A16 processor and comes with a Super Retina XDR Display with up to 2,000 nits brightness. It also has a glass-infused finish with contoured aluminum edges.
There is Dynamic Island which can be programmed for several functions and the device has a USB-C charging port. For the first time, Apple has introduced a 48MP Main camera on a non-Pro series iPhone.
No, the iPhone 15 is launched at the same price the iPhone 14 launched last year. The 128GB storage variant of the iPhone 15 costs $799 while the cost goes up to $1,099 for the 512 storage option. However, the iPhone 14 recently witnessed a price drop and now starts at $699.
This is Saquib, a technology and social media expert with over 10 years of experience in the industry. With a passion for staying up-to-date on the latest developments and trends in the tech and social media world and as a writer, I have been creating informative and engaging content that is easy for readers to understand and enjoy, also published in several leading tech and social media publications and is a regular speaker at industry events. In addition to my writing and speaking engagements, I also work as a consultant, helping businesses grow with the ever-changing tech and social media niche.