Is the iPhone 15 nonetheless value shopping for in 2025? The reply is difficult

For some time now, a part of Apple’s modus operandi for making iPhones reasonably priced (comparatively talking) has been to maintain at the least one older mannequin on sale. The result’s that whereas there are 4 variations of the

iPhone 16
obtainable, together with the

iPhone 16e
, you may nonetheless purchase the iPhone 15 and

15 Plus
, which initially shipped in 2023. They might be tempting for some patrons, on condition that Apple tends to help its telephones for a very long time, and the 16e is not actually meant to be a flagship — it is a alternative for the budget-priced iPhone SE.

Must you truly drop money on an iPhone 15 in 2025? You’ve got in all probability already received an inclination, however the reply is a bit more complicated than you is likely to be imagining. And even in order for you one, chances are you’ll want to think twice about how, the place, and if you purchase it.

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How does the iPhone 15 stack up in opposition to the iPhone 16 and 16e?

Efficiency

The main distinction is, after all, processor energy. Whereas each iPhone 16 is supplied with some model of Apple’s A18 chip — the 16e having a four-core GPU, as a substitute of the common 16’s five-core unit — each the iPhone 15 and 15 Plus are caught with the A16. Which means they’re incapable of operating

Apple Intelligence
, together with every thing from notification summaries to Visible Intelligence and

ChatGPT integration
. It is not a giant deal for the time being (I hardly ever use ChatGPT myself) however AI will inevitably grow to be a much bigger and larger a part of iOS, so chances are you’ll miss out on key options as iOS 19 and its successors roll out.

In any other case, the A16 continues to be a really succesful processor. There are few video games that can tax the A16 to its limits, and most different apps must be silky easy. Certainly, since upgrading to an iPhone 16 Professional, I have been shocked at how hardly ever the A18 is (noticeably) higher than the A15 chip in my outdated iPhone 13. Issues set up quicker, and navigation apps are snappier, however the A18 would not make a lot distinction to apps like Cronometer or Reddit.

It must be famous that the iPhone 15 solely has 6GB of RAM, versus 8GB with the iPhone 16 sequence, however the improve between generations is generally for the sake of Apple Intelligence. It may make a distinction in another areas — notably high-end 3D video games like Resident Evil: Village — however Apple’s {hardware} and software program is so tightly optimized that you simply in all probability will not discover more often than not.

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Digicam tech

Functionally, the iPhone 15 digital camera system is just about similar to the iPhone 16 lineup. The usual 16 does have benefits like macro pictures, Visible Intelligence, and help for spatial pictures and movies you may expertise with a

Vision Pro
, nevertheless it nonetheless makes use of a 48-megapixel predominant digital camera and a 13-megapixel ultra-wide, identical to the 15. Most pictures and movies ought to look similar below related circumstances, until maybe you resolve to experiment with the expanded Photographic Kinds on the 16 and 16 Plus.

The iPhone 15 truly has an edge over the 16e. There isn’t any ultra-wide digital camera on the 16e, so in case you’re a fan of capturing vistas, structure, or tight areas, the 15 is a greater possibility. The 16e additionally lacks Focus Management — which lets 15 and 16 homeowners change a portrait’s point of interest after the actual fact — in addition to another options, like Motion (stabilization) and Cinematic (shallow depth-of-field) modes for video. There isn’t any wind noise discount on the 15, thoughts, or any

smart audio mixing
choices.

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Battery life, wi-fi charging, and different options

One space the place the bottom iPhone 15 is soundly trounced is battery life. You will get about 20 hours out of it primarily based on Apple’s testing, whereas the usual 16 will get 22 hours, and the 16e will get 26 hours, only one in need of my iPhone 16 Professional. In observe, nobody makes use of a cellphone the best way Apple does, and you will be charging all of those gadgets in a single day — however the 16e might be preferable for vacationers or different individuals who typically discover their system operating on fumes.

The 15 Plus matches the 16e, so that could be the best way to go in order for you each glorious battery life and a bigger 6.7-inch display with out spending on a 16 Plus. Each different cellphone on this comparability (excluding my iPhone 16 Professional, after all) has a 6.1-inch show.

By way of wi-fi charging, the iPhone 15 sits within the center. It does have MagSafe, which robotically places it above the torpid 7.5W Qi speeds of the 16e, but it is capped at 15W versus the iPhone 16’s 25W. You will get the perfect speeds from USB charging anyway, so this can be a moot level in case you’re anxious about charging in a rush. MagSafe is a giant deal for different causes too. It is typically the easiest way of mounting an iPhone, or attaching equipment like wallets and exterior batteries. You possibly can stay with out it, naturally, nevertheless it’s frankly superb that Apple felt it might be sacrificed, given the cash it makes from the accent market.

One other factor the 16e lacks is Dynamic Island multitasking. That will truly be extra vital than MagSafe for some folks, because it makes it simpler to manage media playback, swap apps, and hold tabs on Reside Actions like timers and meals deliveries. I exploit it on daily basis. There aren’t too many different variations to level out, nevertheless it’s value noting that solely the common 16 helps

Wi-Fi 7
, and that the 16e would not help the quickest type of 5G, referred to as mmWave. When you’ve received a sensible house, neither the iPhone 15 nor the iPhone 16e have a Thread radio for appropriate equipment. The iPhone 16 and the iPhone 16e have a customizable Motion button instead of a hoop/mute swap.

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Must you get an iPhone 15 in 2025?

Perhaps, however it is time to go cut price looking

As you have seen, the iPhone 15 holds up surprisingly effectively, if principally as a result of iPhone (and app) evolution has come to a crawl. You may get jealous of the battery life on new fashions, and finally remorse the absence of Apple Intelligence, however even these issues will not matter a lot in case you’re simply making an attempt to get to work or browse social media. It is truly a more sensible choice than the 16e in case you care about digital camera tech, MagSafe equipment, and Dynamic Island controls.

I would strongly suggest in opposition to shopping for a 15 from Apple, nonetheless. Official costs begin at $699, which is not value it for a base-spec iPhone that is almost two years outdated. As of this writing, you will get a refurbished one on Amazon for $508, and the 15 Plus is just barely {dollars} extra. When you’re prepared to purchase a used however non-refurbished system from eBay, you’ll find an unlocked 15 Professional for round $600.

There’s additionally a time window at play, for the reason that

iPhone 17
is anticipated to launch in September. The iPhone 16 will drop to the iPhone 15’s present worth, and manufacturing of the 15 will cease fully. The excellent news on that entrance is that the iPhone 15 will proceed to be a related system — simply relegated to the used/refurbished market, presumably at even decrease price. That is likely to be the chance to strike if worth trumps all different elements.

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