iPhone 15 Pro vs iPhone 16
Last updated
Full spec comparison
iPhone 15 Pro
6
categories won
iPhone 16
6
categories won
Size Comparison
Rendered to scale at 1.3px per mm. The iPhone 16 is 1mm wider and 1mm taller than the 15 Pro — a meaningful fit difference for cases.
Specs Comparison
| Specification | iPhone 15 Pro | iPhone 16 |
|---|---|---|
| Launch year | 2023 | 2024 |
| Display | 6.1-inch · OLED · 120Hz | 6.1-inch · OLED · 60Hz |
| Display type | OLED | OLED |
| Resolution | 2556x1179 | 2556x1179 |
| PPI | 460 ppi | 460 ppi |
| Refresh rate | 120Hz ProMotion | 60Hz |
| Brightness | 1,000 nits typical; 1,600 nits peak HDR; 2,000 nits peak outdoors | 1,000 nits typical; 1,600 nits peak HDR; 2,000 nits peak outdoors |
| HDR display | Yes | Yes |
| True Tone | Yes | Yes |
| Always-on display | Yes | No |
| Notch style | Dynamic Island | Dynamic Island |
| Chip | A17 Pro; 6-core CPU, 6-core GPU, 16-core Neural Engine | A18; 6-core CPU, 5-core GPU, 16-core Neural Engine |
| Main camera | 48MP, f/1.78, OIS | 48MP, f/1.6, OIS |
| Ultrawide camera | 12MP | 12MP |
| Telephoto camera | 12MP, 3x optical zoom | No dedicated telephoto; 2x optical-quality Telephoto option is enabled by the 48MP Fusion Main sensor |
| Front camera | 12MP | 12MP |
| Video max | 4K/60fps | 4K/60fps |
| Battery (video) | Up to 23 hours | Up to 22 hours |
| Apple fast-charge adapter requirement | 20W-or-higher adapter for Apple's fast-charge claim; maximum device draw not published | 20W-or-higher adapter for Apple's fast-charge claim; maximum device draw not published |
| MagSafe charging | Yes, 15W | Yes, 25W |
| Connector | USB-C (USB 3, up to 10Gb/s) | USB-C (USB 2, up to 480Mb/s) |
| 5G | Yes | Yes |
| Wi-Fi | WiFi 6E | WiFi 7 |
| Bluetooth | 5.3 | 5.3 |
| Crash Detection | Yes | Yes |
| Satellite SOS | Yes | Yes |
| Dynamic Island | Yes | Yes |
| Camera Control | No | Yes |
| Action Button | Yes | Yes |
| Night Mode | Yes | Yes |
| Apple Intelligence | Yes | Yes |
| Apple lineup status | No longer sold by Apple, checked 2026-09-14 | In Apple's current lineup, checked 2026-09-14 |
| Biometrics | Face ID | Face ID |
| Frame / back | titanium / glass | aluminum / glass |
| IP rating | IP68 | IP68 |
| Dimensions | 146.6 × 70.6 × 8.25 mm | 147.6 × 71.6 × 7.8 mm |
| Weight | 187 g | 170 g |
| Storage options | 128 GB, 256 GB, 512 GB, 1 TB | 128 GB, 256 GB, 512 GB |
| Launch price | $999 | $799 |
Pro telephoto versus Camera Control: iPhone 15 Pro and iPhone 16
The iPhone 15 Pro leads on display quality (120Hz ProMotion and Always-On vs 60 Hz), camera reach (3x optical telephoto and LiDAR vs 2x crop only), build (titanium frame), and a slight battery edge (23 vs 22 hours). The iPhone 16 counters with the A18 chip and Apple Intelligence support, Camera Control, 25W MagSafe versus 15W, Wi-Fi 7, and a lower launch MSRP. If you already own a 15 Pro, there is little reason to switch to the standard 16; new buyers should match live listings to the features they will actually use.
Display
The iPhone 15 Pro holds a decisive display advantage: 120Hz ProMotion with adaptive refresh and Always-On Display versus the iPhone 16's 60Hz static panel. ProMotion makes animations and scrolling visibly smoother, and the Always-On clock and notification glance is a daily convenience the 16 lacks. Both panels are OLED at identical 2556×1179 resolution and 460 PPI, so static image quality is equivalent. The gap here is entirely in the dynamic experience — if you've never used a 120Hz phone you may not miss it, but if you switch from the 15 Pro to the 16 you'll notice the difference immediately.
Performance
The iPhone 16 runs the A18, Apple's first chip designed specifically with Apple Intelligence in mind — it has hardware-accelerated on-device AI features that the A17 Pro in the 15 Pro also supports, though the A18 handles them more efficiently. In raw CPU performance the chips are close, but the A18's neural engine and GPU architecture have been tuned for generative AI workloads. For gaming, video editing, and non-AI tasks, the difference is small day-to-day. The A17 Pro has a 6-core GPU vs the A18's 5-core, which is a notable GPU spec difference.
Camera
The iPhone 15 Pro's triple-camera system outclasses the iPhone 16's dual-camera setup for versatility. The 15 Pro has a dedicated 12MP 3x optical telephoto lens and LiDAR Scanner — the 16 offers only 2x digital zoom from the main sensor's excess resolution, which degrades noticeably at the pixel level compared to optical zoom. Both have identical 48MP main sensors and 12MP ultrawide cameras, and both shoot 4K/60fps video. The iPhone 16 introduces Camera Control — a dedicated hardware button for shooting — which is a workflow feature, not an optical improvement.
Battery
The iPhone 15 Pro and 16 are close in battery life: 23 hours versus 22 hours of video playback respectively. The larger gap is in wireless charging — the iPhone 16 supports 25W MagSafe while the 15 Pro was limited to 15W. Both use a 20W-or-higher adapter for Apple's fast-charge claim; maximum device draw is not published.
Design & Build
The iPhone 15 Pro uses a titanium frame — lighter, stiffer, and more premium-feeling than aluminum, in Black, White, Blue, and Natural Titanium colorways. The iPhone 16 returns to aluminum with a matte finish, available in Black, White, Pink, Teal, and Ultramarine. The 15 Pro is narrower at 70.6mm versus the 16's 71.6mm and 0.45mm thicker. The 16 adds a Camera Control button on the right edge — a dedicated hardware interface for photo/video capture. The 15 Pro has an Action Button; the 16 does not. Both use USB-C. The 15 Pro weighs 187g versus 170g for the 16.
Value
The iPhone 16 launched at $799 versus $999 for the 15 Pro — a launch-MSRP difference. For first-time buyers, compare live listings, warranty terms, and feature priorities: the 16 offers a newer chip, connectivity, Camera Control, and faster MagSafe, while the 15 Pro adds ProMotion and a telephoto camera. A used 15 Pro may be compelling when its listing gap fits those priorities.
Who Should Buy Which: iPhone 15 Pro's camera versus iPhone 16's newer features
Choose the iPhone 15 Pro if:
- •120Hz ProMotion and Always-On Display are features you rely on every day.
- •You need 3x optical zoom — portraits, wildlife, and detail shots benefit from the telephoto lens.
- •You want 1TB storage, which the standard iPhone 16 doesn't offer.
- •You find a used 15 Pro at a price well below the 16's retail — the Pro-tier hardware makes it worth considering.
Choose the iPhone 16 if:
- •You want the latest chip — A18 is built for Apple Intelligence features and has the newest architecture.
- •Camera Control is appealing — a dedicated hardware shutter and scroll wheel for the camera app is a workflow improvement.
- •You want the fastest MagSafe charging — 25W charges noticeably faster than the 15 Pro's 15W cap.
- •Budget matters and a lower live listing for a new device with full warranty is a sensible choice.
Case Compatibility
iPhone 15 Pro and iPhone 16 cases are NOT interchangeable. The 15 Pro has a titanium frame and measures 146.6×70.6mm — the 16 measures 147.6×71.6mm, a full millimeter wider and taller. Beyond dimensions, the 15 Pro has a triple-camera bump with LiDAR while the 16 has a dual-camera layout. The 16 also has the Camera Control cutout on the right side that 15 Pro cases lack. Cases are entirely model-specific; do not attempt to interchange them.