The iPhone 15 is an excellent choice for those looking to get the most performance possible in a smartphone (excluding the iPhone 16). It comes with Dynamic Island, an improved CPU and camera, and USB-C connectivity. However, the iPhone 14 is still one of the most powerful phones you can buy, and you can get it for less. Canโt decide? Here is a detailed comparison of the iPhone 14 vs. the iPhone 15 to know which one suits you best.
Table of contents
Reasons to buy the iPhone 14
- Similar performance to the iPhone 15
- Familiar design and connectivity with a small notch and Lightning jack
- All-day battery life
- 4K video recording and Action Mode
- More affordable
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Reasons to buy the iPhone 15
- Better display
- Better CPU
- Improved cameras
- USB-C connectivity
- Dynamic Island
- New colors
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iPhone 14 vs. iPhone 15 at a glance
Here are all the similarities and differences between the iPhone 14 and the iPhone 15.
| Feature | iPhone 14 | iPhone 15 |
|---|---|---|
| Dimensions | 5.78 x 2.82 x 0.31 in 71.5โxโ146.7โxโ7.8โmm | 5.81 x 2.82 x 0.31 in 71.6โxโ147.6โxโ7.8โmm |
| Weight | 6.07 oz 172โg | 6.02 oz 171โg |
| Colors | Midnight, Starlight, Blue, Purple, (Product)RED, Yellow | Black, Blue, Green, Yellow, Pink |
| Display size | 6.1 inches | 6.1 inches |
| Display type | Super Retina XDR OLED | Super Retina XDR OLED |
| Resolution | 2,532 x 1,170 at 460 PPI | 2,556 x 1,179 at 460 PPI |
| Refresh rate | 60Hz | 60Hz |
| Processor | A15 Bionic 5-core GPU 16-core neural engine | A16 Bionic 5-core GPU 16-core neural engine |
| RAM | 6GB | 6GB |
| Rear cameras | 12MP dual-camera system TrueDepth front camera with autofocus ฦ/1.5 aperture | 48MP dual-camera system TrueDepth front camera with autofocus ฦ/1.5 aperture |
| Front camera | 12MP TrueDepth Autofocus | 12MP TrueDepth Autofocus |
| Video recording | 4K at 24, 25, 30, 60 FPS HDR with Dolby Vision 1080p 240 FPS slow motion Sensor-shift optical image stabilization | 4K at 24, 25, 30, 60 FPS HDR with Dolby Vision 1080p 240 FPS slow motion Sensor-shift optical image stabilization |
| Action Mode | Yes | Yes |
| Battery life | Video playback: up to 20 hours | Video playback: up to 20 hours |
| Storage | 128GB, 256GB, 512GB | 128GB, 256GB, 512GB |
| Face ID | Yes | Yes |
| MagSafe | Yes | Yes |
| Water and dust resistance | IP68 | IP68 |
| Max OS compatibility | iOS 18 | iOS 18 |
| SIM | eSIM | eSIM |
| Connectivity | 5G, Wi-Fi 6, Bluetooth 5.3, Emergency SOS via satellite, Roadside assistance via satellite, Lightning | 5G, Wi-Fi 6, Bluetooth 5.3, Emergency SOS via satellite, Roadside assistance via satellite, USB-C |
| Price (new) | Starts at | Starts at |
| Price (refurbished) | Starts at | Starts at |
iPhone 14 vs. iPhone 15: How do they compare?
Letโs find out what new features the iPhone 15 brings and all the differences worth highlighting concerning the iPhone 14.
Design
The iPhone 14 and the iPhone 15 are similar in design, but thereโs an essential difference: Apple got rid of the 14โs small notch in favor of the Dynamic Island.
Dynamic Island is an interactive, small, rounded, pill-shaped hub that displays notifications and ongoing activities and lets you seamlessly access your favorite shortcuts and apps.
Aside from its usefulness, Dynamic Island allows the iPhone to become an all-screen phone that doesnโt cover videos or apps you use in full screen.
Image by: Apple
However, this change may not suit everyone. Some users may prefer to stick to the small notch of the iPhone 14.
Keep in mind that the iPhone 14 Pro and the iPhone 14 Pro Max come with Dynamic Island as well, but not the 14 or the 14 Plus.
Although the iPhone 15 looks similar to the iPhone 14, it has new rounded edges on the front and back, and its back has a new matte finish that gives it a slightly different look. Their dimensions and weight are almost identical.
Display
Both the iPhone 14 and the iPhone 15 have a beautiful 6.1-inch Super Retina XDR OLED display and a pixel density of 460 PPI. They both have a fixed refresh rate of 60Hz.
However, the 15โs display beats its predecessor in several ways.
The iPhone 15โs display has a peak brightness of up to 2,000 nits, which makes it more visible in direct sunlight and other bright environments.
It also has improved color accuracy and contrast ratio compared to the iPhone 14 display.
Itโs worth noting that the iPhone 15 Pro and Pro Max, along with the iPhone 16 Pro and Pro Max models, have 120Hz variable refresh rate displays, which is a more advanced feature than the 60Hz fixed refresh rate display on the regular iPhone 15.
However, when viewing a static image, the refresh rate will drop to 60Hz to save battery life.
Cameras
The iPhone 14 and iPhone 15 both have excellent camera systems, but there are a few key differences between them.
Starting with the iPhone 15,ย Apple now includes a 48 MP main camera on their phones. This is a huge difference, especially considering that only the Pro models of the iPhone 14 came with it.
It can take sharper and more detailed photos. It also has a new ultrawide camera sensor with a wider field of view and improved low-light performance. This means that you can take wider and more detailed landscape photos and videos, even in low-light conditions.
Which iPhone is right for you depends on your individual needs and budget. If you are looking for the best possible camera performance on an iPhone, then the iPhone 15 is the better choice.
However, the iPhone 14 still has an outstanding camera system, and it may be the better choice for you if you are on a budget or if you do not need the most advanced camera features.
Performance
The iPhone 14 is powered by the A15 Bionic chip, while the iPhone 15 is powered by the A16 Bionic chip.
The A16 Bionic chip is Appleโs latest and greatest chip, and it is significantly faster and more efficient than the A15 Bionic chip.
One of the key differences between the chips is that the A16 Bionic chip has an extra GPU core.
This means that the A16 Bionic chip is better at graphics processing, which is essential for gaming and the most recent high-demanding titles.
In terms of performance, the A16 Bionic chip is up to 9.78% faster in single-core usage and up to 15.89% faster in multi-core than the A15 Bionic chip.
In short, you can use any app and play any game without any performance issues.
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Conclusion
The iPhone 15 has a better display, CPU, cameras, and connectivity (including USB-C) than the iPhone 14, but it is also more expensive. The iPhone 14 is still an outstanding phone with years of durability and is cheaper, especially if you buy it refurbished.
To save money, consider buying a refurbished iPhone. Refurbished iPhones are inspected and certified by professional technicians, and they come with a warranty. You can buy refurbished iPhones from a variety of retailers.
To make your search easier, you can use RefurbMe, a top comparator for refurbished Apple products.
See our entire catalog of refurbished iPhones compared in real time here. ๐
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Good luck!
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