The iPhone 14 and iPhone 15 look very similar, but the 15 brings three changes you'll notice: USB-C, a 48 MP main camera and the Dynamic Island. Refurbished, the price gap between them is usually a few tens of pounds. Is it worth it? It depends on how much those three changes matter to you.
What they have in common
- Display: 6.1" Super Retina XDR OLED at 60 Hz.
- Size and weight: practically the same.
- Crash Detection and Emergency SOS.
- Battery life: Apple quotes up to 20 hours of video on both.
- IP68 water resistance.
The differences that matter
USB-C vs Lightning
The most practical change. With the iPhone 15 you use the same cable as your laptop, tablet or any Android-using relative's phone. If carrying several chargers annoys you, this alone could decide it.
48 MP camera
The iPhone 15 brings the 48 MP sensor previously reserved for the Pro models. Photos have more detail and it allows a good-quality 2x zoom by cropping the sensor. Low-light photos also improve a little over the 14.
Dynamic Island
The "island" at the top replaces the notch and shows alerts, timers or music more conveniently. It won't change your life, but it makes the phone feel more modern.
Chip and years of updates
The iPhone 15 has the A16 Bionic, a year newer than the iPhone 14's A15. You won't notice it day to day, but the 15 came out a year later, so it should get iOS updates for a little longer.
Comparison table
| iPhone 14 | iPhone 15 | |
|---|---|---|
| Released | 2022 | 2023 |
| Chip | A15 Bionic (5-core GPU) | A16 Bionic |
| Main camera | 12 MP | 48 MP (2x zoom with little quality loss) |
| Top of screen | Notch | Dynamic Island |
| Port | Lightning | USB-C |
| Battery life (manufacturer) | Up to 20 h of video | Up to 20 h of video |
| Apple Intelligence | No | No |
Our verdict
- Choose the iPhone 15 if the price gap is small, if you want USB-C or if you plan to keep the phone for four or five years. It's the buy with the longest life ahead.
- Choose the iPhone 14 if you want to spend as little as possible on a current iPhone with Crash Detection and don't mind sticking with Lightning.
- If your budget is tighter, the iPhone 13 is still the best value. We compare it in iPhone 13 vs iPhone 14.