Is the iPhone 15 still worth buying in 2025?

This article will explore the reasons for purchasing iPhone 15 in 2025. Although it is not the latest model, it can still meet the needs of users in many ways.

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• The iPhone 15 still looks fashionable
• The iPhone 15 and iPhone 16 share the same screen
• A17 Bionic Chip has strong performance
• 48MP main camera has excellent shooting effect
• The iPhone 15 has excellent battery life
• Price and purchase channels
• Is it worth upgrading to iPhone 15?
• Are you considering buying a brand new or refurbished iPhone 15 Pro?

Summary

• The iPhone 15 still offers an excellent camera, the same screen as the iPhone 16 and a very long battery life in 2025, and is affordable.
• The A17 Bionic chip equipped with iPhone 15 provides excellent performance for daily tasks and supports iOS 18.
• The only downside to buying the iPhone 15 is the lack of Apple Intelligence features. If you don't care about this, the iPhone 15 will be a good choice.

If you want to buy a new iPhone but don't want to pay more for the latest models, the iPhone 15 may be the perfect choice for you. Here’s how to make the most of the benefits of this phone in 2025:

The iPhone 15 still looks fashionable

Apple hasn't changed the size or material of its regular iPhone for a while. The difference between the iPhone 16 and iPhone 15 is the rear camera module. If it weren't for the camera sensors arranged vertically on the new iPhone, we wouldn't have discussed this aspect at all.

Select iPhone 15 and you can still choose from five subtle and beautiful color options, including black, blue, green, yellow and pink.

The iPhone 15 and iPhone 16 share the same screen

Even in 2025, the iPhone 15 still has many advantages. For example, the flagship model of 2023 has the same display as its successor, the iPhone 16. Both phones use Super Retina XDR OLED panels with a pixel resolution of 460 ppi and a refresh rate of 60Hz. Even the peak brightness (1600 nits HDR and 2000 nits outdoor use) is the same on both phones.

Both iPhones are equipped with Lingdong Island (originally released with the iPhone 14 Pro). The additional feature of the iPhone 16 is the ability to turn the screen brightness down to 1 nit, which helps use the phone in dimly lit environments, but you can simulate similar effects on the iPhone 15 by lowering the white spots (this is an accessibility setting).

Apart from that, the iPhone 15's screen doesn't have any outdated or old places.

A17 Bionic Chip has strong performance

While the iPhone 15 is comparable to the latest iPhone in terms of display, it lags behind in one key aspect: System-on-chip (SoC). The 2023 model comes with an A16 Bionic chipset that provides enough computing power to edit 4K videos or run video games with the highest graphics settings.

Although this processor was launched in 2022, its GeekBench score is comparable to the Snapdragon 8 Gen 3 launched on Android phones in 2023. Still, Apple decided not to release GenAI features (called Apple Intelligence) on the iPhone 15, and I even think that could be a potential downside for those who want to try out new features.

But if you can ignore this, the iPhone 15's CPU and GPU performance will definitely not disappoint you. You can't use Apple Intelligence features, but you can still use the new iOS 18 features, including improved control center, customizable home screen/lock screen, RCS support for messaging apps, hiding apps without downloading third-party apps etc.

In addition, given Apple's excellent record, the company should push at least three or four major iOS updates for this device. With the release of iOS 18, Apple eliminated the iPhone X and iPhone 8 that were launched in 2017. In other words, these phones receive the latest iOS updates for up to six years.

48MP main camera has excellent shooting effect

The iPhone 15 comes with a 48MP (f/1.6) main camera (similar to the iPhone 16), and even if the camera's resolution is set to 24MP by default, you can use the JPEG MAX button in the camera app to take advantage of all the extras Pixels. The photos are very clear, with balanced colors and excellent dynamic range.

This phone also comes with a 12MP (f/2.4) ultra-wide-angle camera, which can take excellent photos. In terms of video recording, the iPhone 15 can record 4K Dolby Vision video at up to 60 fps with a rear camera and a 12MP (f/1.9) front camera. In addition, the camera system of the iPhone 15 is similar to that of the iPhone 16.

Just the side camera control buttons and the ultra-wide-angle camera's macro shooting ability slightly tilts toward the iPhone 16. But to be honest, I rarely use these features on my iPhone 16, so in 2025 I can easily recommend the iPhone 15.

The iPhone 15 has excellent battery life

According to Apple data, the iPhone 15 can provide up to 20 hours of offline video playback (offline) and 80 hours of audio playback on one charge. In addition, using a 20W adapter can charge to 50% in 30 minutes. You can also get support for MagSafe and Qi2 wireless charging (15W).

These data are similar to those on the new iPhone 16. If you can give up the 25W MagSafe charging on the latest version, you can save some money and opt for the iPhone 15.

In our review of the iPhone 15, How-To Geek's Corbin Davenport mentioned that he got 5 hours and 20 minutes of screen turn-on time before plugging the phone back into the power supply, and there are about 30-35% left power.

Price and purchase channels

The basic iPhone 15 (128GB) is priced at $699 on Apple's official website. If you need more storage, you can buy the 256GB version for $799.

However, you can buy the base version at Best Buy for as little as $579.99 (activate now). The iPhone 15 (256GB) is priced at $679.99 on the e-commerce platform.

Is it worth upgrading to iPhone 15?

For users who are still using iPhone 11 or iPhone 12 in 2025 and want to upgrade to a modern and affordable iPhone, I recommend iPhone 15.

Of course, if you want to experience the new Apple Intelligence feature, you have to choose the iPhone 16. But if this is not the case, I can't see why the iPhone 15 shouldn't be on anyone's smartphone shopping list in 2025.

If you have been an Android user for a long time and want to get your first iPhone, the iPhone 15 may be a great entry point to get into the Apple ecosystem. Anyone using a two to three-year-old Android flagship phone should consider the iPhone 15 as a viable option.

Are you considering buying a brand new or refurbished iPhone 15 Pro?

The iPhone 15 Pro offers many advantages over the regular version. First, the phone uses a titanium frame, giving it a more advanced feel. Secondly, it comes with a ProMotion display (variable refresh rate) and supports always-on.

Under the hood, the iPhone 15 Pro runs on the A17 Pro chip, which provides enough computing power to run Apple Foundation Models, and these models form the basis for GenAI capabilities on the device. So if Apple Intelligence is important to you, you can consider buying a brand new or refurbished iPhone 15 Pro model.

The iPhone 15 Pro model comes with a third telephoto camera that allows you to enlarge the subject in the distance. Last but not least, these models have faster USB-C connectors that support data transfer speeds up to 10 Gb/s.

You can easily find the refurbished iPhone 15 Pro on platforms such as Best Buy, Walmart and Amazon. Or you can buy it from people you know and have used this phone with caution. On the other hand, if you want to buy a new iPhone 15 Pro, Best Buy offers it for $899.99 (if you use AT&T or Verizon to activate your phone when you purchase it).

If you are moving to the iPhone 15, you may also want to understand the cost of building an Apple ecosystem in 2025.

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