Solely the fortunate few are capable of improve their iPhones on a yearly foundation. For many of us, a extra life like ambition is to purchase a brand new handset each two or three years; that manner, apart from the extra manageable price, 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 technology. We examine their tech specs and efficiency and study the design modifications which were added since 2021, that can assist you resolve which is best for you. We additionally supply steering on whether or not now could be the time to improve, or whether or not you must look ahead to 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 Important, 12MP f/2.4 Extremely Huge; .5X and 1X zoom, Sensible HDR 3 | Twin 48MP f/1.6 Important, 12MP f/2.4 Extremely Huge; .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 modifications 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 clients in 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 consequence that the iPhone 15 has a processor chip (the A16 Bionic) that’s one technology newer than the A15 Bionic within the iPhone 13, not two. In different phrases, whereas the iPhone 15 is definitely quicker than the iPhone 13, don’t anticipate earth-shattering enhancements.
Battery life is more likely 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 related (the scale are just about equivalent), and it’s true that Apple hasn’t made any radical design modifications in recent times. However there are bodily variations price understanding about.
Show
The obvious exterior distinction between these two gadgets pertains to the cutout on the prime of the display. The iPhone 13 has a notch; the iPhone 15 will get the newer Dynamic Island.
These two design components are there for a similar motive: to accommodate the front-facing cameras and facial-recognition sensors. And it might be argued that they convey related drawbacks, particularly {that a} small however fairly outstanding part of your display is unavailable. The Dynamic Island is a little bit smaller, granted, but it surely’s not like the skinny strip of display 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 actually lifeless display actual property: a small space that continues to be featureless and black it doesn’t matter what’s occurring 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 presently enjoying and may even show reside data associated to timers, map instructions, or the rating of present sports activities video games. (Right here’s an inventory of Dynamic Island capabilities as of the iPhone 14’s launch final yr; extra have been added with the iOS 17 software program replace this fall.) This entails a sure diploma of sleight of hand for the reason that island additionally comprises pixel-less areas for the sensor apertures, however by making it broaden and contract in neat animations Apple’s software program does a intelligent job of using the lifeless area as precious actual property.
Apple
The screens are in any other case very related, with just about equivalent sizes and resolutions. The iPhone 15 has a brighter display, nevertheless, going all the best way as much as 2,000 nits when in vibrant 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, vibrant crimson, and white. The iPhone 15 will get yellow, inexperienced, and blue, however all three are extraordinarily pale. It comes right down to desire, after all, however since most individuals will put it in a case anyway, the colour shouldn’t actually issue into your determination.
Apple
iPhone 15 vs. iPhone 13: Digicam
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 supply lots 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 taking pictures circumstances, neither will allow you to down if you want a fast shot. And with Sensible HDR and evening mode, you must do tremendous even when issues develop into harder.
However the iPhone 15 is an even bigger improve than its related design signifies. Other than upgraded {hardware}, it additionally has just a few digital camera options that the 13 doesn’t. With the additional 36MP in the principle lens, you’ll take super-high decision images, and Apple can be ready to make use of the additional megapixels to convey 2X optical-quality zoom to the non-Professional iPhone for the primary time. The megapixel improve received’t radically alter the standard of your photographs, which ought to be OK with the 13, however the zoom might be a gamechanger.
One is what Apple calls “next-generation portraits.” That is much 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 robotically detect individuals (or canines or cats) within the body, and seize depth data with out being instructed to, which implies you may “bokeh-fy” the image in a while, together with switching the main focus from one particular person 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 Digicam app (when taking pictures video) that you just use to allow it.
The iPhone 15’s digital camera system seems 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 by way of satellite tv for pc. (For sure, the iPhone 15 will get these too.) This yr it added one other, Roadside Help by way of 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 might 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 price after the free interval.
iPhone 15 vs. iPhone 13: Worth
Listed here are the costs of the 2 telephones on the time of writing. (For sure, 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 steadily 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 charge, however you must have the ability to discover it a little bit cheaper if you happen to store round different retailers:
iPhone 13 128GB – Pink – Unlocked
$506.14
iPhone 13 128GB – Purple – Unlocked
$513.22
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 presently owns an older cellphone? We’ll tackle them in that order.
If you happen to’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 a substantial amount of pleasure.
There are many minor and iterative enhancements, nevertheless, and it’s possible you’ll really feel that the cumulative impact is definitely 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 quicker, the emergency security options might supply 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 manner of disguising the entrance sensors than the notch and appears loads cooler.
General, nevertheless, our recommendation can be to carry on to the iPhone 13 for one more yr and choose 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 making an attempt to resolve between these two choices? Once more, the variations aren’t huge, however neither is the distinction in worth. As a substitute of getting to cough up a minimal of $799 to get some great benefits of the 15, you’re taking a look at an additional $200–and that’s most likely price it, on condition that the 13 is already two years previous and is more likely to be 5 years previous by the point you’re trying 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 if you happen to plan to maintain it for a number of years.
