iPhone 16 Pro vs iPhone 15 Pro
An honest, side-by-side look at the iPhone 16 Pro vs iPhone 15 Pro decision — specs, camera, battery and refurbished price — so you can buy the right one with confidence.
The iPhone 16 Pro grows to a 6.3-inch screen, adds the new Camera Control button, upgrades to a 5× telephoto and a 48MP ultrawide, and runs the A18 Pro chip with Apple Intelligence. The 15 Pro counters with a very similar design, the same titanium build and a 3× telephoto — at a lower refurbished price.
Both are excellent. The question is whether the 16 Pro's bigger screen and longer zoom are worth the premium over last year's flagship.
iPhone 16 Pro vs iPhone 15 Pro: specs side by side
| Feature | iPhone 16 Pro | iPhone 15 Pro |
|---|---|---|
| Released | 2024 | 2023 |
| Display | 6.3" LTPO OLED, 120Hz ProMotion | 6.1" LTPO OLED, 120Hz ProMotion |
| Chip | A18 Pro | A17 Pro |
| Camera | 48MP main, 5× tele, 48MP ultrawide | 48MP main, 3× tele, 12MP ultrawide |
| Battery | Up to 27h video | Up to 23h video |
| Standout | Camera Control, titanium, Apple Intelligence | Titanium, Action button, USB-C 3 (10Gbps) |
| Refurbished from | £610 | £445 |
The verdict
The iPhone 16 Pro is the better phone in every category that changed: a slightly larger 6.3-inch display, a 5× telephoto (versus 3× on the 15 Pro), a higher-resolution ultrawide, longer battery and Apple Intelligence support. If you want the most capable Pro, it's this one.
The iPhone 15 Pro remains a superb, near-identical device — same titanium frame, same 120Hz ProMotion, same Action button — and represents the better value now it's a generation old.
Buy the iPhone 16 Pro if…
You want the longest zoom, the biggest battery, Apple Intelligence and the most future-proof Pro. The flagship choice.
Shop refurbished iPhone 16 ProBuy the iPhone 15 Pro if…
You want genuine Pro features — titanium, 120Hz, telephoto — at a lower price, and don't need the 5× zoom or on-device AI.
Shop refurbished iPhone 15 ProCommon questions
Is the iPhone 16 Pro a big upgrade over the 15 Pro?+
It's a solid but incremental one: a larger 6.3-inch screen, 5× telephoto (up from 3×), better ultrawide, longer battery and Apple Intelligence. If you own a 15 Pro already there's little urgency, but as a fresh buy the 16 Pro is the more capable phone.
Does the iPhone 15 Pro get Apple Intelligence?+
The 15 Pro supports Apple Intelligence, as does the 16 Pro. The standard iPhone 15 does not — that requires the 15 Pro or any iPhone 16.