iPhone 15 vs iPhone 14: Do the new features justify an annual upgrade?

The iPhone 15 has launched, bringing with it the customary upgrades that accompany a new device from Apple. But should you consider upgrading from an iPhone 14 or even buy the older model rather than the new one? We compare the two devices to help you make the best choice.

iPhone 15 vs iPhone 14: Tech specs

	iPhone 15	iPhone 14
Display	6.1-inch 2556×1179 460ppi Super Retina XDR OLED display; 1000/1,600/2,000 nits peak brightness (TypicalHDR/Outdoor); Dynamic Island	6.1-inch 2532×1170 460ppi Super Retina XDR OLED display, 800/1200 nits brightness (Typical/HDR)
Processor	A16 Bionic	A15 Bionic
Storage	128GB/256GB/512GB	128GB/256GB/512GB
Rear Camera	Dual 48MP f/1.6 Main, 12MP f/2.4 Ultra Wide; 0.5X, 1X, and 2X zoom; Smart HDR 5	Dual 12MP camera system, Main: 12MP, ƒ/1.5 aperture, Ultra Wide: 12MP, ƒ/2.4 aperture, Smart HDR 4
Front Camera	12MP TrueDepth, f/1.9	12MP TrueDepth f/1.9
Video Recording	4K video recording at 24 fps, 25 fps, 30 fps or 60 fps, HDR video recording with Dolby Vision up to 4K at 60 fps, Cinematic mode, Action Mode	4K video recording at 24 fps, 25 fps, 30 fps, or 60 fps, HDR video recording with Dolby Vision up to 4K at 60 fps, Cinematic mode, Action mode
Biometric Security	Face ID	Face ID
Wi-Fi	Wi-Fi 6	Wi-Fi 6
LTE	5G	5G
Charging	USB-C	Lightning
Wireless Charging	Qi, MagSafe	Qi, MagSafe
Bluetooth	5.3	5.3
Apple Pay	Yes	Yes
Waterproofing	IP68	IP68
SIM	Dual  (nano and eSim)	Dual (nano and eSIM)
Dimensions	147.6mm x 71.6mm x 7.8mm	146.7mm x 71.5mm x 7.80mm
Weight	171g	172g

With only a year between them, there isn’t a huge amount of difference between the iPhone 15 and iPhone 14. As you’d expect, the processor gets a bump from the A15 Bionic in the older model to the A16 in the newer model, which does bring some slight performance improvements. You have the same options when it comes to storage (128GB/256GB/512GB) and Apple lists 20 hours of video playback time for either device, which can be replenished to 50 percent in 30 minutes with a 20W or higher charger (not included).

iPhone 15 vs iPhone 14: Design and build

At first glance, there’s little to tell the two iPhones apart. But you’ll find some meaningful changes when you look a little deeper.

Construction

Apple has stuck with the squared-off design it introduced in the iPhone 12 series, making the two devices very similar in their aesthetics. However, you’ll find that the iPhone 15 has a slight curve on the edge that gives it a nicer feel. The dimensions are also remarkably close, but while the iPhone 15 is marginally larger, it also shaves off 1g of its weight. Either way, you won’t notice the differences when holding the devices, especially if you use a protective case.

Here are the dimensions:

• iPhone 15: 147.6mm x 71.6mm x 7.8mm; 171g
• iPhone 14: 146.7mm x 71.5mm x 7.80mm; 172g

One obvious change comes with the charging port, which for the first time ever is USB-C on the iPhone 15. This means that the iPhone 14 is the last to use a Lightning port. There’s not much difference from a design or operational standpoint, but at least you’ll be able to use the same cables on pretty much all your devices from now on.

Both have aluminum frames, glass backs, IP68 waterproof ratings, support Dual SIMs, are compatible with wireless charging, and have 5G and Wi-Fi 6 capabilities. If you prefer more capacious displays, then both also come in Plus sizes, with the iPhone 14 Plus and iPhone 15 Plus being identical in terms of specs, just with larger frames.

Colors

At the time of writing, you can pick up the iPhone 14 in a wider selection of colors than its newer sibling. Over the past few years though, Apple has started releasing new color schemes for the latest iPhone when it’s been out for around six months, presumably as a ploy to bolster sales that might start flagging at that point. So, you should treat the current hues available on the iPhone 15 as incomplete.

iPhone 15 is available in Pink, Yellow, Green, Blue, and Black.

While the iPhone 14 comes in Blue, Purple, Yellow, Midnight, Starlight, and (PRODUCT) Red.

iPhone 15 vs iPhone 14: Display

The displays in either iPhone are great, but this time around Apple has tweaked the newer variant in a few ways. The most obvious difference is the addition of the Dynamic Island that first appeared on the Pro models last year. This detaches the notch from the top of the screen and utilizes software to make it interactive. Another welcome upgrade is that the panel in the iPhone 15 is brighter than its predecessor. The typical max brightness is boosted from the 800 nits in the iPhone 14 to 1,000, with the HDR mode going from 1,200 to 1,600 nits. There’s now an additional outdoor mode that ramps things up to a blinding 2,000 nits to make the panel more visible when in strong sunlight.

Other than these new adjustments, you’ll find a 6.1-inch Super Retina XDR OLED display in either device, with a crystal-clear 440ppi and ceramic shield fronts.  

iPhone 15 vs iPhone 14: Cameras

One area that Apple has given some serious attention to with the new generation is its camera sensors. The iPhone 14 comes with a dual rear camera array, comprised of two 12MP sensors, the main a ƒ/1.5 aperture, paired with a ƒ/2.4 aperture ultra-wide. The iPhone 15 retains the dual nature of the rear cameras, but the main unit has been upgraded to a 48MP f/1.6 module. This extra data enables the device to offer a 2x optical zoom (the first time on a non-Pro model), and a new computational feature with which you can change the focus of an image after it’s taken. There’s also a bump to Smart HDR 5, with the iPhone 14 sporting the still impressive Smart HDR 4.

Video specs are the same for both, but the Action Mode (which is available on both phones) should be smoother in the iPhone 15 as it has more data to work with when it comes to cropping in and applying extreme stabilization for times when the camera is likely to shake.

The front-facing camera is the same 12MP TrueDepth f/1.9 on both models, so if selfies are your thing, there’s no change here.

Find out all about the new features in the iPhone 15 series in our guide: Best new iPhone 15 features.

iPhone 15 vs iPhone 14: Price

One of the biggest factors in favor of the iPhone 15 is that it only costs $100/£100 more than the iPhone 14. That price difference may be much larger in reality though, as you are more likely to find discounts on the price of the iPhone 14.

Here’s how much either device will set you back when bought directly from Apple.

iPhone 15:

• 128GB: $799 / £799 / AU$1,499
• 256GB: $899 / £899 / AU$1,699
• 512GB: $1,099 / £1,099 / AU$2,049

You can find some deals if you shop around, so here’s a selection of the best prices we’ve seen recently.

iPhone 14:

Here’s the current cost from the Apple store.

• 128GB: $699 / £699 / AU$1,299
• 256GB: $799 / £799 / AU$1,499
• 512GB: $999 / £999 / AU$1,849

Again, here’s some of the best prices we’ve found from other retailers.

iPhone 15 vs iPhone 14: Verdict

As these two devices are so close together in terms of release dates, it’s questionable whether it’s worth upgrading from an iPhone 14 to the iPhone 15. The new camera sensor is a nice improvement, while the Dynamic Island is probably just as marmite as the notch, so we wouldn’t say that alone would be something that would justify the expense.

If you are coming to these devices fresh and trying to decide between the iPhone 14 and 15 it comes down to how much money you can save. The iPhone 14 is a solid device that does much of what the iPhone 15 does, so it is worth buying one if see an iPhone 14 at a good price (you are more likely to see good deals on that phone than the newer model). Alternatively, if the camera is what is important to you, and you can find another $100/£100 then it’s an easy decision to buy the iPhone 15.