Solely the fortunate few are capable of improve their iPhones on a yearly foundation. For many of us, a extra sensible ambition is to purchase a brand new handset each two or three years; that method, other than the extra manageable value, you get a number of units of upgrades directly, and the enhancements are way more noticeable. So this yr’s announcement of the iPhone 15 refresh could also be of extra curiosity to those that personal an iPhone 13 from 2021 than these with an iPhone 14.
With that in thoughts, we’ve put collectively an easy-to-understand comparability of the usual iPhone 15 with its equal from the 13-series era. We examine their tech specs and efficiency and study the design adjustments which have been added since 2021, that will help you determine which is best for you. We additionally provide steerage on whether or not now’s the time to improve, or whether or not you must anticipate the iPhone 16 in 2024.
iPhone 15 vs. iPhone 13: Tech specs
| iPhone 13 | iPhone 15 | |
|---|---|---|
| Dimensions | 5.78 x 2.82 x 0.3 inches (146.7 x 71.5 x 7.65mm) | 5.81 x 2.82 x 0.31 inches (147.6 x 71.6 x 7.8mm) |
| Weight | 6.14 ounces (174 grams) | 6.02 ounces (171 grams) |
| Show | 6.1-inch 2532×1170 460ppi Tremendous Retina XDR OLED show; 1,200 nits peak brightness (HDR) | 6.1-inch 2556×1179 460ppi Tremendous Retina XDR OLED show; 1,600/2,000 nits peak brightness (HDR/out of doors); Dynamic Island |
| Processor | A15 Bionic (6-core CPU, 4-core GPU) |
A16 Bionic (6-core CPU, 5-core GPU) |
| Rear digital camera | Twin 12MP f/1.6 Foremost, 12MP f/2.4 Extremely Vast; .5X and 1X zoom, Sensible HDR 3 | Twin 48MP f/1.6 Foremost, 12MP f/2.4 Extremely Vast; .5X, 1X, and 2X zoom; Sensible HDR 5 |
| Entrance digital camera | 12MP f/2.2 | 12MP f/1.9 |
| Charging | Lightning | USB-C |
| Storage | 128/256/512GB | 128/256/512GB |
| Est. battery life | As much as 19 hours video playback | As much as 19 hours of video playback |
| Charging | Quick cost: As much as 50% cost in half-hour with 20W adapter | Quick cost: As much as 50% cost in half-hour with 20W adapter |
| Wi-fi | Wi‑Fi 6, Bluetooth 5.0, 5G | Wi‑Fi 6, Bluetooth 5.3, 5G |
Throughout a two-generation hole, you may anticipate some main adjustments within the tech specs of those two handsets. However that is sophisticated by the truth that in 2022, Apple instigated a coverage of aggressively pushing prospects in the direction of its Professional iPhones, which meant that the iPhone 14 bought a weaker and older processor than the 14 Professional. That coverage continued in 2023, with the end result that the iPhone 15 has a processor chip (the A16 Bionic) that’s one era newer than the A15 Bionic within the iPhone 13, not two. In different phrases, whereas the iPhone 15 is actually sooner than the iPhone 13, don’t anticipate earth-shattering enhancements.
Battery life is prone to be round an hour longer with the 15, you get Bluetooth 5.3 (which is considerably extra environment friendly) as an alternative of 5.0, and the USB-C port means you need to use the identical cable to cost your iPhone, iPad, and Mac.
Dominik Tomaszewski / Foundry
iPhone 15 vs. iPhone 13: Design & construct
At first look the iPhone 13 and iPhone 15 look very comparable (the scale are just about an identical), and it’s true that Apple hasn’t made any radical design adjustments in recent times. However there are bodily variations value figuring out about.
Show
The obvious exterior distinction between these two units pertains to the cutout on the high of the display screen. The iPhone 13 has a notch; the iPhone 15 will get the newer Dynamic Island.
These two design parts are there for a similar cause: to accommodate the front-facing cameras and facial-recognition sensors. And it may very well be argued that they create comparable drawbacks, specifically {that a} small however fairly outstanding part of your display screen is unavailable. The Dynamic Island is a little bit smaller, granted, however it’s not like the skinny strip of display screen above it will make all of the distinction if you’re watching a TV present in your cellphone.
However there’s extra to it than that. The notch is basically lifeless display screen actual property: a small space that is still featureless and black it doesn’t matter what’s taking place on the remainder of the show. However the Dynamic Island, because the advertising and marketing language makes an attempt to convey, can do issues: it reveals notifications if you join an adjunct or battery energy is low, signifies any songs or podcasts which are at the moment taking part in and might even show stay info associated to timers, map instructions, or the rating of present sports activities video games. (Right here’s a listing of Dynamic Island features as of the iPhone 14’s launch final yr; extra had been added with the iOS 17 software program replace this fall.) This includes a sure diploma of sleight of hand because the island additionally incorporates pixel-less areas for the sensor apertures, however by making it develop and contract in neat animations Apple’s software program does a intelligent job of using the lifeless house as beneficial actual property.
Apple
The screens are in any other case very comparable, with just about an identical sizes and resolutions. The iPhone 15 has a brighter display screen, nevertheless, going all the way in which as much as 2,000 nits when in shiny daylight.
Colours
Right here’s a superficial however nonetheless legitimate level of distinction: the 2 cellphone generations come in numerous colours.
Apple
Each can be found in black and pale pink, however the 13 will get darkish inexperienced, darkish blue, shiny pink, and white. The iPhone 15 will get yellow, inexperienced, and blue, however all three are extraordinarily pale. It comes right down to choice, after all, however since most individuals will put it in a case anyway, the colour shouldn’t actually issue into your resolution.
Apple
iPhone 15 vs. iPhone 13: Digital camera
The iPhone 13 has a really serviceable digital camera setup, with twin 12MP lenses on the rear (with flash). The iPhone 15 additionally has a dual-camera setup, however the principle digital camera has been upgraded to a 48MP f/1.6 sensor. Each telephones have the identical and a single 12MP entrance digital camera.
On the floor, the 2 telephones provide most of the similar options: Sensible HDR (4 on the iPhone 13 vs 5 on the iPhone 15), portrait mode, evening mode, 4K video recording, and extra. In regular capturing situations, neither will allow you to down if you want a fast shot. And with Sensible HDR and evening mode, you must do wonderful even when issues turn out to be tougher.
However the iPhone 15 is a much bigger improve than its comparable design signifies. Other than upgraded {hardware}, it additionally has a number of digital camera options that the 13 doesn’t. With the additional 36MP in the principle lens, you’ll take super-high decision pictures, and Apple can also be in a position to make use of the additional megapixels to carry 2X optical-quality zoom to the non-Professional iPhone for the primary time. The megapixel enhance received’t radically alter the standard of your photographs, which must be OK with the 13, however the zoom may very well be a gamechanger.
One is what Apple calls “next-generation portraits.” That is just like the portrait mode on the 13, which makes use of two lenses to separate the topic and background and generate a creative bokeh blurring impact however is smarter about doing so. The iPhone will mechanically detect individuals (or canines or cats) within the body, and seize depth info with out being instructed to, which implies you may “bokeh-fy” the image afterward, together with switching the main focus from one individual to a different.
One other is named Motion mode, which was truly added on the iPhone 14 however stays this yr. Motion mode applies heavy video stabilization in extraordinarily unsteady conditions: if you’re operating, for instance, or on a ship. There’s a particular button within the Digital camera app (when capturing video) that you just use to allow it.
The iPhone 15’s digital camera system appears to be like similar to the iPhone 14, however the principle lens now has a 48MP decision.
Jason Snell
iPhone 15 vs. iPhone 13: Emergency security options
When the iPhone 14 was launched in 2022, Apple introduced a raft of recent security options, together with crash detection and Emergency SOS through satellite tv for pc. (Evidently, the iPhone 15 will get these too.) This yr it added one other, Roadside Help through satellite tv for pc, which was added within the iOS 17 software program replace and applies to the iPhone 14 and iPhone 15… however not the 13.
These are all options that you just hope you’ll by no means want however may save the day in an emergency. The satellite tv for pc options are free for 2 years from the date of buy however Apple hasn’t stated what they’ll value after the free interval.
iPhone 15 vs. iPhone 13: Value
Listed here are the costs of the 2 telephones on the time of writing. (Evidently, the iPhone 13 is cheaper now than when it launched in 2021.) Proper now you stand to save lots of $200 by going for the iPhone 13 somewhat than the equal iPhone 15 mannequin.
iPhone 15 costs
- 128GB: $799 / £799 / AU$1,499
- 256GB: $899 / £899 / AU$1,699
- 512GB: $1,099 / £1,099 / AU$2,049
This near launch you’re unlikely to see important financial savings from Apple’s MSRP/RRP above, however different retailers will regularly begin to chip away on the pricing:
$829.99
iPhone 13 costs
- 128GB: $599 / £599 / AU$1,099
- 256GB: $699 / £699 / AU$1,299
- 512GB: $899 / £899 / AU$1,649
That’s Apple’s official pricing, at any price, however you must be capable of discover it a little bit cheaper in the event you store round different retailers:
iPhone 13 128GB – Pink – Unlocked
$513.06
iPhone 13 128GB – Pink – Unlocked
$518.39
iPhone 15 vs. iPhone 13: Verdict
There are two separate questions right here: Ought to an individual who already owns an iPhone 13 improve to an iPhone 15? And which of those two iPhones is the wisest buy for somebody who at the moment owns an older cellphone? We’ll tackle them in that order.
In the event you’ve bought an iPhone 13, the iPhone 15 isn’t going to rock your world all that a lot. Sure, you’re getting two units of upgrades directly, however given the cautious nature of each the 14- and 15-series refreshes, that also doesn’t add as much as quite a lot of pleasure.
There are many minor and iterative enhancements, nevertheless, and it’s possible you’ll really feel that the cumulative impact is well worth the cash. You get an hour extra of battery life (and possibly greater than that, if we take battery deterioration under consideration). The digital camera are is a bit higher, the processor is measurably sooner, the emergency security options could provide some peace of thoughts, and USB-C is a long-overdue however welcome enchancment. Maybe most of all, the Dynamic Island is a a lot better method of disguising the entrance sensors than the notch and appears so much cooler.
General, nevertheless, our recommendation can be to carry on to the iPhone 13 for an additional yr and decide up the iPhone 16 in 2024. That most likely received’t be an particularly thrilling replace both, however three years of upgrades ought to add as much as a considerable enchancment in your expertise with the product.
However what of the newcomer who wants a cellphone proper now, and is attempting to determine between these two choices? Once more, the variations will not be huge, however neither is the distinction in value. As an alternative of getting to cough up a minimal of $799 to get some great benefits of the 15, you’re an additional $200–and that’s most likely value it, on condition that the 13 is already two years previous and is prone to be 5 years previous by the point you’re seeking to substitute it. With its newer processor and help for USB-C, the iPhone 15 is way extra future-proofed, and that’s an vital consideration in the event you plan to maintain it for a number of years.