iPhone 15 vs 16... Pros and Cons of Each Ahead of the 17

Buying an iPhone these days is a bit like walking into IKEA.

You go in thinking, “I’ll just get the phone I need”.

Next thing you know, you’ve added £200 here for more storage, £150 there for the bigger screen, and by the time you’ve made it to the checkout, your “sensible” upgrade has cost as much as a small used car… and Apple’s marketing team is probably cackling amongst themselves somewhere in Cupertino.

So let’s cut through the nonsense. If you’re looking at buying a new iPhone, you’re probably wondering: Should I buy the iPhone 15? Go all in on the 16? Or just hold out for the iPhone 17?

That’s what we’re here to figure out. And spoiler alert: whichever you choose, you’re not going to get a bad phone. But there are definitely some sneaky details that make one choice smarter than the others, depending on what you’re upgrading from.

iPhone 15: Still Worth It in 2025?

The iPhone 15 sits in a funny spot. On paper, “it came out two years ago,” which sounds boring. But in practice, it’s still an excellent phone, especially if you’re not desperate for Apple’s latest buzzword feature (that’s Apple Intelligence).

iPhone 15 Pros and Cons

Pros

Cons

Price drops outside Apple’s store. Apple won’t budge, but retailers like Amazon, carriers, or even Costco-type places often shave off £100–£200, and suddenly, the 15 looks like a bargain.

Dynamic Island. It’s not revolutionary, but it makes notifications and music controls feel more… Apple-y. A nice upgrade from the old notch.

Solid camera setup. Great main sensor, decent ultrawide, plus the software trickery Apple does so well. Unless you’re into pro-level shooting, this is plenty.

No Apple Intelligence. If you want Apple’s AI features, forget it… unless you’re buying a 15 Pro. The regular 15 is left out, which stings a bit for a phone that’s only a few years old.

Aging faster. The 15 will keep getting updates for years, but by 2026, you’ll start to feel the push to upgrade again. Apple knows how to nudge you along.

60Hz screen. Still locked at that refresh rate. Once you’ve used 120Hz, it’s like going back to black-and-white TV.

The verdict? The iPhone 15 is still a fantastic choice if you can snag it for less than retail and don’t care about AI. If you’re upgrading from an iPhone 12 or older, it’ll feel like a rocket ship. If you’re already on a 13 or 14, though… you’ll probably just be buying it because it’s cheaper, not because it’s meaningfully better.

iPhone 16: What’s Actually New?

The iPhone 16 is not wildly different from the 15… but it does have just enough upgrades to make you wonder if it’s worth the extra.

What’s new with the iPhone 16:

Apple Intelligence support. This was the big headline. The 16 (and 16 Pro) are the entry tickets to Apple’s new AI features, which include smart summaries, image editing, writing suggestions, and all that fun stuff. Whether you’ll actually use it daily is another story, but at least you’re future-proofed.
Action Button + Camera Control button. Last year’s Pro-only Action button is now on the standard 16. And, there’s a new camera control button for, you know, taking even more photos of your cat.
Brighter display. Small bump, but noticeable outdoors.
Slight design tweaks. Slimmer bezels, slightly different colours, aka “the reason your friend knows you upgraded.”

Pros and Cons of the iPhone 16

Pros

Cons

Future-proof with Apple Intelligence.

Handy physical buttons for shortcuts and cameras.

Strong all-around performance, same smooth iOS experience Apple nails every year.

Storage still starts at 128GB. And trust me, you’ll regret buying the base storage once your holiday videos start eating up all your space.

Not a huge leap from the 15. If you own a 13 or 14, the difference isn’t night and day.

Battery life isn’t much better. Apple claims improvements, but in real life, it’s still an “end of the day with 15–20% left” phone.

The verdict? The iPhone 16 is the safe choice if you’re upgrading this year. You’re buying into Apple’s next-gen ecosystem, you get all the latest features, and it’ll last you longer than the 15. But if you were hoping for a radical change… well, maybe wait for the 17.

iPhone 16 Pro: Is It Worth the Extra?

Apple loves dangling the Pro models in front of us like a shiny carrot. And honestly, the iPhone 16 Pro does bring some genuinely useful upgrades, but only if you’re the kind of person who’ll actually use them.

What the iPhone 16 Pro Adds:

ProMotion display (120Hz). Once you’ve used it, you can’t go back. Everything (scrolling, animations, gaming, etc) just feels smoother. The regular 16’s 60Hz looks sluggish in comparison.
Titanium build. It’s stronger, lighter, and gives the 16 Pro a slightly more premium feel. It also means fewer fingerprints than the glassy 15s.
A18 Pro chip. Faster, though let’s be real, Instagram and TikTok don’t need that much power. It’s mainly for gamers and video pros.
Cameras get serious. 48MP ultrawide sensor. 5x telephoto zoom (Pro Max only, but brilliant for wildlife… or spying on your kids at sports day), and 4K 120fps in Dolby Vision. This is ridiculous quality for video creators.
USB-C with USB 3 speeds. Super handy if you transfer big video files instead of relying on iCloud.

Pros and Cons of the iPhone 16 Pro

Pros

Cons

Best-in-class cameras on any smartphone.

Display feels buttery smooth.

Faster transfer speeds make it creator-friendly.

More storage options (up to 1TB).

Price bump. Around £200 more than the regular 16, and it climbs fast if you spec up storage.

Pro features aren’t for everyone. If you don’t shoot video or care about display refresh rates, you’re paying extra for bragging rights.

Max model only gets the best zoom. Which is annoying if you prefer smaller phones.

The verdict? If you’re a photographer, videographer, or just really care about having the smoothest, shiniest screen, the iPhone 16 Pro is worth it. For everyone else, the regular 16 is more than enough, and you can put that extra £200 towards, I don’t know, a holiday. Or more likely… another Apple accessory you didn’t plan to buy.

The “But If” Problem: Apple’s Pricing Mind Trick

Every Apple launch brings out the same old trap. You go in with a budget, thinking, “I’ll just grab the basic one”. But then the internal dialogue starts:

“But if I spend £100 more, I get a bigger screen.”

“But if I’m going bigger, I may as well go Pro.”

“But if I go Pro, I should upgrade the storage.”

“But if I’m already there, why not get the Max version?”

That’s Apple’s genius. They don’t need you to buy the cheapest iPhone. They just need to tempt you into thinking, “it’s only a little bit more…” over and over until you’re knee-deep in monthly payments.

How to Avoid the “But If” Spiral:

Decide on storage first. Don’t even look at models until you know how much space you need. (128GB is rarely enough.)
Pick your must-have features. Do you actually care about the ProMotion display? Or are you just chasing the shiny thing?
Lock in your budget and stick to it. Otherwise, Apple will gladly help you spend double.

The truth is that every iPhone Apple sells right now is fast, takes great photos, and runs iOS smoothly. You’re not going to buy a bad phone. The key is not letting Apple upsell you into one you didn’t actually need.

The Final Verdict on iPhone 15 vs 16… or Should You Wait for iPhone 17?

If you can wait, the iPhone 17 is almost certainly going to be a bigger leap than the 16. Apple’s been playing it safe for the last couple of years, and all the early rumours point to a bigger redesign, more advanced AI features, and maybe (just maybe) something genuinely exciting.

But waiting only makes sense if:

Your current phone is still holding up.
You don’t mind limping through another year with a dodgy battery.
You’re the type who always wants the latest latest anyway.

If your iPhone is already cracked, glitchy, or dying halfway through the day, don’t torture yourself. Grab the iPhone 16 now, and you’ll be set for years. It’s the safest choice, future-proofed with Apple Intelligence, and you won’t feel short-changed.

My rule of thumb:

If you need a phone today, buy the iPhone 16 (or 16 Pro if you’ll use the cameras).
If you just want a new phone, wait it out for the 17.

Either way, don’t let the “but if” trap suck you into overspending. Define your must-haves, pick the right storage, and stick to your budget. Apple’s always going to make the next thing shinier, so try to resist the FOMO if what you already have is perfectly good.