Apple iPhone 15 Series vs iPhone 16 Series: What is the Difference

As Apple continues to innovate, each new iPhone series brings exciting upgrades and new updates. With the release of the new iPhone 16 series, many are wondering: what is the real difference between the iPhone 15 series and iPhone 16 series? From design changes to camera improvement and performance boost, let’s find out what set the iPhone 16 series apart and whether its worth the upgrade.
Design and New Features

Both the iPhone 15 and iPhone 16 share the same 6.1-inch from factors, ensuring that the size remains familiar, but there is a small change in the iPhone 16 design. The traditional Mute Switch is now replaced with an Action Button.
This new button provides enhanced customization and camera control, offering a more versatile approach to handling notifications and other quick actions. Also, the iPhone 16 introduces a new vertical camera layout, while the iPhone 15 maintains the diagonal camera layout. This design not only look appealing but could also improve camera stability.
The iPhone 16 Plus and the iPhone 15 Plus also have the same body and shape, but the iPhone 16 Plus has a new vertical camera bump with large cameras, while the iPhone 15 Plus has a square-shaped camera with diagonal lens.
iPhone 16 Plus and iPhone 15 Plus share the same glass-aluminum build, and there is an addition of Action Button and a Capacitive Camera Control button in iPhone 16 Plus, replacing the traditional Mute Switch in iPhone 15 plus.

iPhone 16 Pro features a larger 6.3-inch screen compared to the 6.-inch screen of iPhone 15 Pro. The iPhone 16 Pro also has a slimmer 1.2mm bezel while the iPhone 15 Pro has a 1.7mm bezel.
Both iPhone 16 Pro Max and iPhone 15 Pro Max feature a sleek titanium design, but the iPhone 16 Pro Max is the largest iPhone ever (6.9-inch), slightly taller and wider than iPhone 15 pro max (6.7-inch). iPhone 16 pro max also has 1.2mm bezels, thinner than the 1.55mm bezels on the iPhone 15 Pro Max, enhancing its overall look and feel.
Performance
One of the most significant upgrades in the iPhone i6 is the introduction of the Apple A18 chipset. iPhone 16 is powered by the new Apple A18 chipset, which promises better speed and efficiency compared to the A16 Bionic chip in iPhone 15. This upgrade ensures foster processing speeds, improved energy efficiency and better overall performance, making task like gaming and multitasking smoother.
iPhone 16 Plus is powered by the A18 chip built on a 3nm process making it deliver foster performance while the iPhone 15 Plus has the A16 Bionic chip on a 5nm process, which while still powerful, is not as advanced as the A18 in the iPhone 16 Plus.
While the iPhone 15 has A17 Pro chip, the iPhone 16 Pro has upgraded to A18 Pro chip, this upgrade means smoother multitasking and enhanced performance for demanding apps.
iPhone 16 Pro Max is powered by the second-gen 3nm Apple A18 Pro chip, compared to the first-gen A17 Pro chip in the iPhone 15 Pro Max. Both chips are built on the 3nm process, but the A18 Pro offers faster and more efficient processing.
Also, iPhone 16 and iPhone 16 Plus provides a boost in memory with 8GB of RAM, compared to 6GB of RAM in iPhone 15 and iPhone 15 Plus. However, these devices share the same storage options (128GB, 256GB, and 512GB).
iPhone 16 and 15 Pro Max have memory of 8GB of RAM sharing the same storage options (128GB, 256GB, 512GB, 1TB), iPhone 16 and 15 Pro Max also have memory of 8GB RAM, sharing the same storage options (256GB, 512GB, 1TB)
The addition of AI support in the iPhone 16 series allows it to perform tasks like image analysis, natural language processing, and machine learning more effectively. This is a notable upgrade over the iPhone 15 series, which lacks AI functionality.
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Camera

One of the significance differences is in the camera layout. The iPhone 16 and iPhone 16 plus introduces a vertical camera layout that supports Spatial video-a feature perfect for immersive content creation, while the iPhone 15 and iPhone 15 Plus has the square-shaped camera with diagonal lens.
Both iPhone 15, iPhone 15 Plus, iPhone 16 and iPhone16 Plus feature a 48MP main camera, but the iPhone 16 improves on this with a 48MP Fusion camera, enhancing image quality.
Also, the iPhone 16 and 16 Plus includes a 12MP ultra-wide camera with macro support , providing more versatility for close-up photography, whereas the iPhone 15 and 15 Plus ultra-wide camera lacks the same macro capabilities.

The iPhone 16 Pro’s upgraded camera system features a 5X telephoto lens and a 48MP ultra-wide lens, offering improved zoom and wider field of view compared to the iPhone 15 Pro’s 3X telephoto and 12MP ultra-wide. Also, iPhone 16 Pro includes a new physical camera control for enhanced manual photography.
iPhone 16 Pro Max introduces a new 48MP ultra-wide camera with a larger sensor, while iPhone 15 Pro Max retains the 12MP ultra-wide camera. The 16 Pro Max also features a new Camera Control button that functions as a shutter and zoom button, which the 15 Pro Max lacks.
Battery Life

iPhone 16 boasts a slightly longer battery life than the iPhone 15, offering up to 22 hours of video playback compared to the iPhone 15’s 20 hours. This makes a real difference for users wo are always on the go.
Both iPhone 15 and 16 series support 20W wired charging. However, the iPhone 16 offers significantly faster 25W MagSafe wireless charging, allowing for quicker battery replenishment, while the iPhone 15 series supports 15W MagSafe.
iPhone 16 Plus offers up to 27 hours of video playback, while iPhone 15 Plus offers 26 hours of video playback. iPhone 15 and16 Plus comes with the same 25W max wired fast charging and MagSafe wireless charging.
The iPhone 16 Pro has a larger battery, providing up to 27 hours of video playback, while the iPhone 15 Pro offers up to 20 hours. Also, the iPhone 16 Pro features faster MagSafe charging compared to the 25W wired charge of the iPhone 15 Pro.
iPhone 16 Pro Max boasts a longer battery life than iPhone 15 Pro Max, offering up to 33 hours of video playback compared to the iPhone 15 Pro Max’s 29 hours. Plus, it charges faster with 25W MagSafe and Qi2/Qi technology, while the iPhone 15 Pro Max is limited to 15W MagSafe charging.
Color Options

While the iPhone 15 and 15 Plus comes in Blue, Pink, Green Yellow and Black, the iPhone 16 and 16 Plus comes in Black, White, Pink, Teal and Ultramine.

The iPhone 15 pro and 15 Pro Max comes in Black, White, Blue, and Natural Titanium, while the iPhone 16 and 16 Pro Max comes in Black, White, Natural and Desert Titanium.
Spec Comparison
Below is a table showing the iPhone 16 series and iPhone 15 series spec comparison.
IPHONE 16 VS IPHONE 15

Specs | iPhone 16 | iPhone 15 |
Dimension | 147.6 x 71.6 x 7.8 mm | 147.6 x 71.6 x 7.8 mm |
Weight | 170g | 170g |
Processor | Apple A18 | Apple A16 Bionic |
RAM, Storage | 8/128GB 8/256GB 8/512GB | 6/128GB 6/256GB 6/512GB |
Camera | 48MP Fusion 12MP Ultra Wide with Macro | 48MP Main 12MP Ultra Wide |
Battery Size (Video Playback) | Up to 22 hours | Up to 20 hours |
Screen | 6.1-inch OLED 60Hz | 6.1-inch OLED 60Hz |
Charging Speeds | 20W wired 25W MagSafe | 20W wired 15W wireless |
Color | Black, White, Teal, Pink, Ultramarine | Black, Blue, Green, Yellow, Pink |
Price (Approximate) | ₦1,897,500 | ₦1,336,900 |
IPHONE 16 PLUS VS IPHONE 15 PLUS

Specs | iPhone 16 Plus | iPhone 15 Plus |
Dimension | 160.9 x 77.8 x 7.8 mm | 160.9 x 77.8 x 7.8 mm |
Weight | 199g | 201g |
Processor | A18 3nm | A16 Bionic 5nm |
RAM, Storage | 8/128GB 8/256GB 8/512GB | 6/128GB 6/256GB 6/512GB |
Camera | 48MP Main 12MP Ultra 12MP front | 48MP Main 12MP Ultra 12MP front |
Screen | 6.7-inch OLED 60Hz | 6.7-inch OLED 60Hz |
Battery (Video Playback) | Up to 27 hours | Up to 26 hours |
Charging | 25W wired MagSafe | 25W wired MagSafe |
Colors | Black, White, Teal, Pink, Ultramarine | Black, Blue, Green, Yellow, Pink |
Price (Approximate) | ₦2,656,500 | ₦1,500,000 |
IPHONE 16 PRO VS IPHONE 15 PRO

Specs | iPhone 16 Pro | iPhone 15 Pro |
Dimension | 149.6 x 71.5 x 8.25 mm | 146.6 x 70.6 x 8.25 mm |
Weight | 199g | 187g |
Screen | 6.3-inch OLED | 6.1-inch OLED |
Processor | A18 Pro (3nm) | A17 Pro (3nm) |
RAM, Storage | 8/128GB 8/256GB 8/512GB 8/1TB | 8/128GB 8/256GB 8/512GB 8/1TB |
Camera | 48MP Fusion, Ultra Wide, Telephoto 12MP front | 48MP Main, Ultra Wide, Telephoto 12MP front |
Battery (Video Playback) | Up to 27 hours | Up to 23 hours |
Charging | 20W wired 25W MagSafe | 20W wired 15W MagSafe |
Colors | Black Titanium, White Titanium, Natural Titanium, Desert Titanium | Black Titanium, White Titanium, Blue Titanium, Natural Titanium |
Price (Approximate) | ₦2,466,800 | ₦1,693,400 |
IPHONE 16 PRO MAX VS IPHONE 15 PRO MAX

Specs | iPhone 16 Pro Max | iPhone 15 Pro max |
Dimension | 163.0 x 77.6 x 8.25 mm | 159.9 x 76.7 x 8.25 mm |
Weight | 227g | 221g |
Screen | 6.9-inch OLED 120Hz ProMotion | 6.7-inch OLED 120Hz ProMotion |
Processor | A18 Pro (3nm) | A17 Pro (3nm) |
RAM, Storage | 8/256GB 8/512GB 8/1TB | 8/256GB 8/512GB 8/1TB |
Camera | 48MP main 48MP ultra 12MP 5x telephoto 12MP front | 48MP main 48MP ultra 12MP 5x zoom 12MP front |
Battery (Video Playback) | Up to 33 hours | Up to 29 hours |
Charging | 40W wired 20W MagSafe | 25W wired 15W MagSafe |
Colors | Black Titanium, White Titanium, Natural Titanium, Desert Titanium | Black Titanium, White Titanium, Blue Titanium, Natural Titanium |
Price (Approximate) | ₦3,036,000 | ₦2,049,000 |
Is the iPhone 16 Worth the Upgrade?
If you are happy with your iPhone 15, the upgrades in the iPhone 16 series might look unnoticeable. But when you dig deeper into features like the A18 chipset, AI support, and camera enhancements, the iPhone 16 series clearly offers more power and functionality. It is ideal for users who want the latest technology and improved performance, especially if you rely on your phone for photography, gaming, or daily multitasking.
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Where To Get The iPhone Series in Nigeria
You can get the iPhone series through authorized retailers like Slot Nigeria. These stores offer reliable customer service and often have the latest models available after launch.
You can also get the iPhone series on Online marketplace like Jumia and Konga. This online platforms has the latest iPhone models available for purchase with nationwide delivery. Lastly, for those who prefer to see and feel the product before purchasing, visiting an online store around you is the best option.
Tips for Buying your iPhone in Nigeria
- Always buy from trusted sources to avoid fake products. Make sure the seller is reputable and trustable
- Check prices across different platforms to find the best deal, price may vary.
- Make sure that the seller offers good after-sales support, such as repairs and maintenance.
Read ALso: How To Know Fake And Original iPhones In Nigeria
Conclusion
Although the iPhone 16 series and iPhone 15 series have similar form factors, the internal upgrade of iPhone 16 series is important. By focusing on performance, battery life, camera upgrades, the iPhone 16 series shows just how far Apple is pushing its technology forward. Whether you decide to stick with the iPhone or go for the upgrade, it is clear that apple continues to set the bar for smartphone innovation.