Is iPhone 15 Worth Upgrading to iPhone 16?

With just a few weeks away before the iPhone 16 is launched, many iPhone users are probably already wondering: will it be worth upgrading to the iPhone 16?

Apple is expected to unveil the long-awaited iPhone 16 line-up at a September event where it will also launch iOS 18. Rumors about the iPhone 16 have been circulating for months, so many already have some hints about what it could look like and some key features. Apple Intelligence will also likely play a star role in the iPhone 16 launch since it will be the first new iPhone since Apple announced its on-device AI platform at WWDC 2024 last June.

If you currently have an iPhone 15 or you're considering buying one, you may be wondering whether the iPhone 16 will be a significant upgrade. While we won't know the official details until Apple reveals the iPhone 16 next month, there are a few things Stevie Bonifield of Tech Buying Advice will share below about the iPhone 16 that hint at how it will compare to Apple's current flagship.

Price

It's no secret that iPhones can be pricey, so price is a crucial factor to consider before trading in your phone for an iPhone 15 or 16. Apple hasn't announced the official price for the iPhone 16, but it will likely be on par with the pricing for the iPhone 15 line-up, which may get a price cut after the iPhone 16 launches.

Apple usually offers three generations of iPhone models at a time, reducing the price of previous years' models by US$ 100 when a new generation launches. So, the iPhone 16 will most likely cost US$ 799 for the base model at launch while the iPhone 15 will go down to US$ 699. This also means Apple will probably discontinue the iPhone 13 when the iPhone 16 launches.

Specs

The iPhone 16 line-up is expected to include Apple's A18 chips paired with an OLED display and an upgraded NPU and RAM. The iPhone 15 and 15 Plus run on the A16 Bionic chip while the iPhone 15 Pro and Pro Max are equipped with the more powerful A17 Pro processor.

That processor spec is an important difference and could be the deciding factor for iPhone 15 and 15 Plus users thinking about upgrading. Right now, the only iPhones capable of running Apple Intelligence, a new collection of on-device AI features, are the iPhone 15 Pro and Pro Max. The A16 chip in the base iPhone 15 and iPhone 15 Plus isn't powerful enough to run Apple Intelligence.

The iPhone 16 will likely feature a similar split between two different chips, but we're expecting all the iPhone 16 models to be compatible with Apple Intelligence. So, for example, the iPhone 16 and 16 Plus could have an A17 processor while the iPhone 16 Pro and Pro Max feature an A18 chip. It's also possible the entire iPhone 16 line-up will get the A18 chip with a Pro version for the iPhone 16 Pro and Pro Max.

Apple Intelligence may also push Apple to increase the RAM in the iPhone 16 line-up. Recent rumors indicate that Apple Intelligence requires at least 8GB of RAM unless Apple finds a way to have Apple Intelligence run on NAND flash instead, which would mean it would run on the iPhone's storage hardware rather than RAM.

Either case is good news for iPhone users since it means Apple will increase the iPhone 16's RAM to 8GB or increase its base storage to 256GB. Apple could even give us both upgrades!