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

For some time now, a part of Apple’s modus operandi for making iPhones reasonably priced (comparatively talking) has been to maintain no less than one older mannequin on sale. The result’s that whereas there are 4 variations of the

iPhone 16
accessible, together with the

iPhone 16e
, you possibly can 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 really drop money on an iPhone 15 in 2025? You have most likely already obtained an inclination, however the reply is a bit more advanced than you is likely to be imagining. And even if you would like one, chances are you’ll want to think twice about how, the place, and if you purchase it.

Associated

Apple’s credibility is on the line with this fall’s Siri revamp

It is likely to be a do-or-die scenario for belief within the firm.

How does the iPhone 15 stack up towards the iPhone 16 and 16e?

Efficiency

The main distinction is, in fact, processor energy. Whereas each iPhone 16 is provided 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. Meaning they’re incapable of operating

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

ChatGPT integration
. It isn’t an enormous deal in the meanwhile (I not often use ChatGPT myself) however AI will inevitably turn into an even bigger and greater 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 may tax the A16 to its limits, and most different apps needs to be silky clean. Certainly, since upgrading to an iPhone 16 Professional, I have been stunned at how not often the A18 is (noticeably) higher than the A15 chip in my outdated iPhone 13.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 needs to be famous that the iPhone 15 solely has 6GB of RAM, versus 8GB with the iPhone 16 collection, however the enhance between generations is usually for the sake of Apple Intelligence. It might 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 most likely will not discover more often than not.

Associated

With the iPhone 16e, is Apple abandoning budget devices?

Some upcoming {hardware} refreshes ought to verify the place Apple is headed.

Digicam tech

Functionally, the iPhone 15 digicam system is just about an identical to the iPhone 16 lineup. The usual 16 does have benefits like macro images, Visible Intelligence, and help for spatial pictures and movies you possibly can expertise with a

Vision Pro
, however it nonetheless makes use of a 48-megapixel major digicam and a 13-megapixel ultra-wide, identical to the 15. Most pictures and movies ought to look an identical beneath comparable circumstances, except maybe you resolve to experiment with the expanded Photographic Types on the 16 and 16 Plus.

The iPhone 15 really has an edge over the 16e. There is not any ultra-wide digicam on the 16e, so if you happen to’re a fan of taking pictures vistas, structure, or tight areas, the 15 is a greater possibility. The 16e additionally lacks Focus Management — which lets 15 and 16 house owners change a portrait’s point of interest after the very fact — in addition to another options, like Motion (stabilization) and Cinematic (shallow depth-of-field) modes for video. There is not any wind noise discount on the 15, thoughts, or any

smart audio mixing
choices.

Associated

5 tips for phone photographers that make your pictures not suck

You are able to do rather a lot with just a little if you happen to suppose like a professional.

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 based mostly on Apple’s testing, whereas the usual 16 will get 22 hours, and the 16e will get 26 hours, only one wanting my iPhone 16 Professional. In follow, nobody makes use of a telephone the way in which 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 usually discover their gadget operating on fumes.

The 15 Plus matches the 16e, so that could be the way in which to go if you would like each wonderful battery life and a bigger 6.7-inch display with out spending on a 16 Plus. Each different telephone on this comparability (excluding my iPhone 16 Professional, in fact) has a 6.1-inch show.

When it comes to 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 most effective speeds from USB charging anyway, so this can be a moot level if you happen to’re apprehensive about charging in a rush. MagSafe is an enormous deal for different causes too. It is usually one of the simplest ways of mounting an iPhone, or attaching equipment like wallets and exterior batteries. You possibly can reside with out it, naturally, however it’s frankly wonderful 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. Which will really be extra vital than MagSafe for some folks, because it makes it simpler to regulate media playback, change apps, and preserve tabs on Reside Actions like timers and meals deliveries. I take advantage of it day-after-day. There aren’t too many different variations to level out, however 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, generally known as mmWave. When you’ve obtained a wise residence, 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 change.

Associated

Here’s how I built a Matter smart home

Matter could make your sensible residence seamless — these are the issues it’s essential to get began.

Must you get an iPhone 15 in 2025?

Perhaps, however it is time to go cut price searching

As you have seen, the iPhone 15 holds up surprisingly properly, if largely as a result of iPhone (and app) evolution has come to a crawl. You would possibly get jealous of the battery life on new fashions, and ultimately remorse the absence of Apple Intelligence, however even these issues will not matter a lot if you happen to’re simply attempting to get to work or browse social media. It is really a more sensible choice than the 16e if you happen to care about digicam tech, MagSafe equipment, and Dynamic Island controls.

I would strongly advocate towards shopping for a 15 from Apple, nevertheless. Official costs begin at $699, which is not value it for a base-spec iPhone that is practically 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 keen to purchase a used however non-refurbished gadget 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 predicted to launch in September. The iPhone 16 will drop to the iPhone 15’s present value, and manufacturing of the 15 will cease totally. The excellent news on that entrance is that the iPhone 15 will proceed to be a related gadget — simply relegated to the used/refurbished market, presumably at even decrease price. That is likely to be the chance to strike if value trumps all different components.

You may additionally like

Everything you need to know about PEVs, or personal electric vehicles

You should use PEVs to discover, run errands, or pace up your commute.