iPhone 16 vs. iPhone 15: Is It Worth the Wait?

Every year, Apple launches a new generation of iPhones, and the iPhone 16 is slated to be released soon this year. Although the official launch of the iPhone 16 is not until September 2024, the leaked rumors have been abuzz with a slew of exciting feature upgrades. The upcoming model, which will follow the iPhone 15 series, offers various changes and new features. The rumored features and specs of the iPhone 16 suggest updates across the board, from the camera and chips to the iPhone 16 screen and entirely new buttons. However, the upcoming lineup will continue to offer four models like the previous generation.

As the widely anticipated release of the next-generation iPhone 16 approaches in a few months, every iPhone 15 user faces the inevitable decision of whether or not to upgrade. Are you in a dilemma and questioning yourself, 'Should I wait for iPhone 16'? If you are on the fence about iPhone 15 vs iPhone 16, read this article to help you decide.

Rumored Features of iPhone 16 Compared with iPhone 15

For almost a year or more, there have been numerous rumors about the iPhone 16, including feature improvements and increased specifications over the iPhone 15. So, here are all the expected differences between iPhone 16 models and their respective iPhone 15 variants:

Design

The iPhone 16 and 16 Plus are expected to largely carry over the design of their predecessors, the iPhone 15 and iPhone 15 Plus, with similar dimensions and shapes. However, the most noticeable difference between the new iPhone 16 and 16 Plus models is the vertical rear camera arrangement compared to the diagonal rear camera arrangement on the iPhone 15 and 15 Plus.

Another major design change for iPhone 16 models is removing the mute switch. It will be replaced by the Action button on the left side, which was only available on the iPhone 15 Pro models. On the right side of iPhone 16 models, an all-new Capture button is added, as well as a capacitive button with pressure and touch sensitivity.

Specs

All four iPhone 16 models are said to have the all-new A18 chip, built on 3nm technology, and have improved efficiency and performance. The iPhone 15 and 15 Plus models use a 5nm A16 chip, while the iPhone 15 Pro and 15 Pro Max use a 3nm A17 chip. However, the iPhone 16 Pro models might include a higher-clocked A18 Pro chip with faster GPU cores and updated Neural Engine cores to support exclusive generative AI capabilities.

All iPhone 16 models are expected to come with 8 GB of RAM to support AI features and improve multitasking, but the iPhone 15 models have 6 GB of RAM.

The iPhone 16 Pro and Pro Max will feature double the maximum storage capacity of the iPhone 15 Pro models, ranging from 1TB to 2TB.

Display

The iPhone 16 Pro and iPhone 16 Pro Max are reported to have larger screens than their predecessors. The iPhone 16 Pro will have a 6.3-inch display, up from the 6.1-inch screen on the iPhone 15 Pro. Also, the iPhone 16 Pro Max is expected to have a 6.9-inch display, up from the 6.7-inch screen on the iPhone 15 Pro Max. If the rumors are true, the iPhone 16 Pro Max will be the largest iPhone ever released.

The upcoming iPhone 16 and iPhone 16 Pro are expected to use micro-lens technology on their OLED displays, intended to increase brightness while reducing power usage. Additionally, the iPhone 16 models are also expected to feature thinner bezels, thanks to a new Border Reduction Structure (BRS) technology.

Cameras

The iPhone 16 Pro is also expected to employ a new 48 MP ultra-wide camera, a significant improvement over the current 12 MP ultra-wide camera in the iPhone 15 Pro. However, the iPhone 16 Pro models will have the same 5x zoom tetraprism camera found only on the iPhone 15 Pro Max.

The iPhone 16 Pro Max is expected to include a 48-megapixel wide-angle sensor and upgraded Telephoto and ultra-wide cameras. It is also expected to have a super-telephoto periscope camera with a focal length of more than 300mm. However, the iPhone 15 Pro Max comes with a 120mm telephoto lens.

Operating System

With the public release of iOS 18 scheduled for September, the iPhone 16 will come with it pre-installed. Additionally, the iPhone 15 will be updated to iOS 18. This new operating system provides extensive customization options and introduces several new features, including Apple Intelligence, enabled by generative AI. The Apple Intelligence AI features will be supported exclusively by the iPhone 15 Pro models, while the entire iPhone 16 lineup is rumored to support it, thanks to the new A18 chip. Among the many new features of Apple Intelligence is a completely redesigned Siri that can understand context.

Battery

The iPhone 16 lineup is expected to come with larger batteries with stacked battery technology for increased energy density and prolonged lifespan. The new models could also offer faster charging speeds like 20W MagSafe charging and 40W wired fast charging. Currently, the iPhone 15 charges 15W using MagSafe and 27W with a USB-C cable.

Pros and Cons of iPhone 16

While the iPhone 15 is one of the best smartphones available, the upcoming iPhone 16 is expected to outperform it even more. Based on current rumors about iPhone 16 models, these are the advantages and disadvantages of the iPhone 16 over the iPhone 15:

Pros of iPhone 16 over iPhone 15:

• Vertical Rear Camera: The rear cameras in the iPhone 16 and 16 Plus models are vertically arranged to facilitate spatial video capture. Therefore, the iPhone 16 camera is expected to be better than its predecessor.
• Faster Processor: All iPhone 16 models will come with the latest A18 chip with 3nm technology for improved multitasking, gaming, and AI performance.
• Upgraded Camera: Advanced camera system for better photos and video quality. The extra lens and higher resolution sensor could be a major selling point for photography enthusiasts.
• Larger and Brighter Display: The iPhone 16 Pro models are expected to get bigger and brighter screens than the iPhone 15 Pro models.
• Bigger Battery: All iPhone models will get bigger and denser batteries with faster charging capabilities than the iPhone 15 models.
• Action and Capture buttons: New feature additions like the action button and capture button for all models to enhance accessibility.

Cons of iPhone 16 over iPhone 15:

• Increased Price: The upcoming iPhone 16 is expected to cost significantly more than the iPhone 15 models.
• Similar processing speed: Although the new A18 chip is relatively faster and more powerful than the predecessor A17 Bionic, some users might find the upgrade not big of a jump.
• Not Significant Improvements: No drastic enhancement with equipment and features on standard iPhone 16 models compared to the standard iPhone 15 models.

Expected Prices of iPhone 16

Historically, Apple has reduced the price of old-generation iPhones after the new-generation iPhone models were launched. So, here are the predicted pricing for iPhone 15 (Post Launch) and iPhone 16:

Should You Upgrade From iPhone 15?

After comparing the rumored upgrades of iPhone 16 with respective iPhone 15 models, here are three practical choices for current iPhone 15 users to consider:

Upgrade to iPhone 16 from iPhone 15:

• If you are a technology enthusiast who prefers cutting-edge tech and faster processing speeds, upgrading to iPhone 16 models will be worth it.
• If you feel your current iPhone 15 lacks performance or battery backup, upgrading to an iPhone 16 might help with longer battery life and smoother performance.
• If you want a multi-function action button like the iPhone 15 Pro Max on lower variants, purchasing the iPhone 16 might be a good idea.
• If you are an avid photographer and miss a dedicated capture button with an upgraded camera system, upgrading to iPhone 16 might solve the problem.
• If you are an iPhone 15 or 15 Plus user and want to use the new Apple Intelligence features, you should upgrade to any iPhone 16.

Stick with iPhone 15:

• If you are happy with the performance and features of your current iPhone 15, then upgrading to iPhone 16 might not get you more.
• If the expected price of the iPhone 16 is out of your budget, then purchasing it will not make sense.
• If the camera system upgrades in iPhone 16 are not essential for your needs, then stay with your iPhone 15.
• If the incremental upgrades of the iPhone 16 do not justify the purchase of the iPhone 15, then you can stick with the iPhone 15.

How to Move Your Data to New iPhone 16

Have you decided to upgrade from your old iPhone 15 to a new iPhone 16? You could use the Wondershare - MobileTrans program to move all your data. Not only does this application help you transfer your data between two iPhones, but you can also transfer your data from an old Android phone to a new iPhone 16. It is a one-stop and worry-free solution to all the phone data transfer situations. There are two methods to achieve this:

Method 1: Move Data From iPhone 15 to iPhone 16 Using MobileTrans Desktop

You can use the MobileTrans Desktop app to transfer data from your old iPhone 15 to your new iPhone 16 through a USB cable. You can also take backups to recover your iPhone data on your system.

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Follow the below steps to transfer to your new iPhone 16 using the MobileTrans desktop app:

Step 1: Download and install the Wondershare - MobileTrans Desktop application on your computer.

Step 2: Launch the application and select the "Phone Transfer" option on the main screen. Then, choose the "Phone to Phone" option in the list.

Step 3: Connect your old iPhone 15 and new iPhone 16 to the computer using the USB cables. The application will automatically detect and display the connected two iPhones. The old iPhone 15 is the "Source phone", and the new iPhone 16 is the "Destination iPhone."

Step 4: Click the "Flip" button if the two connected iPhones are in the wrong positions.

Step 5: Select all the data you want to transfer to your new iPhone 16 and click the "Start" button to transfer.

Step 6: Wait until the transfer process ends and disconnect your new iPhone 16.

You can find all the data on your new iPhone 16 successfully transferred.

Method 2: Move Data From iPhone 15 to iPhone 16 Using the MobileTrans App

If you want to wirelessly transfer your data directly from your iPhone 15 to your new iPhone 16? The MobileTrans app is the way to go. The app is not only available for iPhone, but also available for Android devices.

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Follow the below steps to transfer data to your new iPhone 16 using the MobileTrans App:

Step 1: First, download and install the MobileTrans app on your iPhone 15 and your new iPhone 16 from Apple Store.

Step 2: Now, open the MobileTrans app on both your iPhone 15 and your new iPhone 16. Tap the "Old phone" option on the iPhone 15 and the "New phone" option on your new iPhone 16.

Step 3: Scan the QR code on your iPhone 15 with your new iPhone 16 to establish a connection.

Step 4: Choose the data you want to move from your old iPhone 15 to the new iPhone 16 and tap the "Send" button.

Step 5: Wait for the data transfer process to complete. On your new iPhone 16, you will see a "Received successfully" message.

Is it Better to Wait or Skip iPhone 16?

With the official release of the iPhone 16 around the corner, the leaked specifications, features, and expected pricing suggest a significant improvement over the iPhone 15. Whether you are a tech enthusiast or a creative professional, the anticipated enhancements in the iPhone 16 could offer substantial benefits.

If the rumored features meet your needs and the price is within your budget, waiting for the iPhone 16 could be a smart choice. Similarly, if you upgrade your older generation iPhone, the iPhone 16 might be a major leap forward.

On the other hand, if you are satisfied with your current iPhone 15 model and the projected cost of the iPhone 16 is beyond your budget, it may be more practical to keep your existing device. Ultimately, the decision to upgrade is personal, based on individual preferences and requirements.