Apple iPhone 15 vs iPhone 14: which model is best?
Is there a big difference between iPhone 15 and 14?
They may look similar at a glance, but the iPhone 15 does contain some significant changes from the iPhone 14.
The front notch is replaced with the “Dynamic Island” feature that was previously only on the Pro models, it is charged by USB-C instead of a Lightning port, the main camera is 48 megapixels (MP) instead of 12MP, and the back panel is a matte material that is pleasantly grippy to hold.
The chip is now an A16 Bionic (the 14 shares the same A15 as the 13) which is faster and better at multitasking, plus it comes in a selection of new muted pastel colours (we’re partial to the light pink, frosty blue and pale green).
While it’s a shame that the customisable “action button” didn’t make its way to the standard iPhone 15 or Plus, there’s no always-on display – the 15 series is better overall. Both phones launched at £50 more affordable than the iPhone 14 did last year.
Is iPhone 15 the same size as iPhone 14?
Yes – the iPhone 15 and the 14 share the same 6.1-inch display size. The same goes for the 15 Plus and 14 Plus, which each have a 6.7-inch display. All use a high-resolution OLED panel, although the newer iPhone 15 models go slightly brighter so they're easier to read in the sun.
The iPhone 15 has a better camera system than the iPhone 14 as it now gives you all of the features from last year’s Pro models. So, instead of a 12MP system on the iPhone 14 (and the 13 before it) you’re getting a much more competent 48MP main lens, and we found that usual shots – that are stored as 24MP – look great by default in bright and low light. On the iPhone 15 you’re getting a new 2x optical zoom for crisp close-ups, and a brilliant automatic portrait mode that adds beautifully blurred backgrounds behind people and pets. A menu lets you change the focus point after you’ve taken the photo too, and it works seamlessly.
iPhone 15 vs 14 photos
Does the iPhone 15 cost the same as the iPhone 14?.
Yes – the iPhone 15 contains the latest A16 Bionic processor, while the iPhone 14 houses the A15, the same chip that also powered the iPhone 13 lineup. What this means for you is that the iPhone 15 feels faster and snappier, for example when you download apps or open lots of browser tabs for multitasking. Generally, the newer chips are slightly more efficient so they give you much better performance while playing mobile games or processing photos.
What colours are available?
The iPhone 15 comes in a variety of pastel hues: pink, yellow, green, blue and black. The 14’s colour selection is slightly more vibrant, coming in blue, purple, a much brighter yellow, red and white. The more subtle approach of the iPhone 15 is paired with a matte material on the back – we think it adds grippiness in the hand, although we’d always recommend buying a case – while the 14’s colours are stronger and on a shinier glass rear panel.