Apple iPhone 15 vs. iPhone 14: What’s New and Which Is Better

In the ever-evolving world of smartphones, Apple continues to set the bar high with each new iteration of its iconic iPhone. With the recent release of the iPhone 15, many Apple enthusiasts would be curious to know how it stacks up against its predecessor — the iPhone 14. If you’re wondering which device to pick between the iPhone 15 vs. iPhone 14, we’ve got you covered.

In this article, we’ll compare the two phones to highlight the differences between the iPhone 14 and iPhone 15. We will delve into the details of these two remarkable devices, highlighting their differences and improvements. The iPhone 15 brings several new features to the table, and we’ll discuss it all. So, let’s get to it.

Also Read: iPhone 15 Pro vs iPhone 14 Pro – What’s the Difference

iPhone 15 vs. iPhone 14: Specifications

Features	iPhone 15	iPhone 14
Processor	Apple A16 Bionic	Apple A15 Bionic
Storage	128GB, 256GB, 512GB	128GB, 256GB, 512GB
Display	6.1-inch (2556×1179-pixel resolution) OLED display with 60Hz refresh rate Dynamic Island	6.1-inch (2532×1170-pixel resolution) OLED display with 60Hz refresh rate
Brightness	1,000 nits max brightness (typical); 1,600 nits peak brightness (HDR); 2,000 nits peak brightness (outdoor)	800 nits max brightness (typical); 1200 nits peak brightness (HDR)
Rear Camera	48MP main camera 12MP ultrawide camera	12MP main camera 12MP ultrawide camera
Front Camera	12MP	12MP
Battery	Up to 20 hours of video playback	Up to 20 hours of video playback
Charging Port	USB-C (USB 2.0)	Lightning connector (USB 2.0)
Charging	Fast charging up to 20W	Fast charging up to 20W
Connectivity	Wi-Fi 6, Bluetooth 5.3	Wi-Fi 6, Bluetooth 5.3
Colors	Black Blue Green Yellow Pink	Midnight Starlight (PRODUCT)RED Blue Purple Yellow
Weight	6.02 ounces (171 grams)	6.07 ounces (172 grams)

Design and Display

The iPhone 14 has a good old iPhone design with a notch at the top. However, the iPhone 15 introduces the Dynamic Island to the standard iPhone variant — something that was previously limited to the iPhone 14 Pro series. Using the Dynamic Island, you can make use of Live Activities. This lets you easily track your cab ride, see who’s calling, check your flight status, and more.

Another difference in the design of the iPhone 15 is on its back. The device features an all-new back glass with color infused throughout the material. This gives the iPhone 15 a matte texture — again, something that was only reserved for the Pro variants last year.

As a result, the camera array has a look that matches the look of the glass back. Additionally, the iPhone 15 also has a new contoured edge to make the camera array blend seamlessly with the design. Essentially, it doesn’t look like a different camera island, like the one on the iPhone 14. The matte texture also adds more grip while keeping fingerprints at bay.

Apart from that, both devices come with an aerospace-grade aluminum casing, along with an IP68 rating for protection against dust and water. Additionally, both displays feature a Ceramic Shield front to protect against scratches.

However, the iPhone 15 features a much brighter display with a peak brightness of over 1,600 nits. Additionally, it can go up to 2,000 nits when used outdoors. If you want a brighter display and are confused between the iPhone 15 and the iPhone 14, the 15 offers massive improvements for sure.

Camera

One of the major improvements with the iPhone 15 over the iPhone 14 is in the camera department. The iPhone 14 carried the same dual 12MP camera setup as the iPhone 13. However, with the iPhone 15, things are different. The base iPhone packs a flagship 48MP (f/1.6) primary sensor, which previously debuted on the iPhone 14 Pro.

Apple makes use of 2-in-1 pixel binning with the iPhone 15. Essentially, the sensor groups four pixels together into a larger two-micron pixel, resulting in improved light capture. The shot is then processed by the Photonic Engine for better detailing. As a result, the final output is a 24MP shot with improved details and better illumination. That’s double the resolution of the shots captured by the iPhone 14.

That’s not all. Thanks to the new bigger sensor, Apple has also introduced a 2x telephoto option on the iPhone 15. It’s worth noting, though, that this feature is software-based and works by cropping into the frame of the 48MP sensor. The final output is a 12MP shot that retains the same level of detail as a standard 12MP 2x telephoto lens would produce.

Portrait Mode

Apple has also made changes to the Portrait mode. Even after you’ve taken a shot, the iPhone 15 allows you to shift the focus from one subject to another. Moreover, you don’t even have to enable the Portrait mode manually. Since the iPhone 15 automatically captures depth information, you can always add a blur effect later on, as long as your subject is a person, dog, or cat. Apple has also improved the HDR processing with Smart HDR 5 for photos on the iPhone 15.

Besides, both the phones share the same 12MP (f/2.4) Ultrawide lens. However, with the inclusion of the new 48MP sensor and a 2x zoom option, coupled with the improvements to the Portrait mode, the iPhone 15 gives you the feel of having a total of three lenses. Apart from that, the front camera is the same 12MP (f/1.9) on both models. So, selfies from both phones should be broadly similar.

Processor and Performance

Moving on to performance, the iPhone 15 and iPhone 14 utilize the SoCs introduced in the previous generation. The Apple A15 Bionic powers the iPhone 14, while the iPhone 15 features the Apple A16 Bionic under the hood. On paper, the A16 and A15 chips both have a 6-core CPU and a 5-core GPU.

However, the A16 Bionic packs in a total of 16 Billion transistors, thus ensuring much faster processing speeds. Additionally, the A16 on the iPhone 15 also has up to 50% more GPU memory bandwidth. And if that’s not all, the A16 comes with a new ISP as well to support the aforementioned camera performance.

So, it’s clear that the iPhone 15 will perform better when compared to the iPhone 14 in almost all scenarios. It’s also worth noting that a newer chipset probably means an extra year of software updates going forward.

More on Chip Capabilities and Performance: A17 Pro vs A16 Bionic

Battery and Charging

Next up — battery life. As always, Apple hasn’t shared the battery capacity of the iPhone 15. But, the brand shares an approximate figure of the battery life you can expect. Interestingly, both the iPhone 14 and iPhone 15 share a similar battery life of up to 20 hours of video playback. However, the major difference lies in how you charge these devices.

The iPhone 15 finally marks Apple’s welcoming change to USB-C for their smartphone lineup. The iPhone 15 uses a USB-C connector instead of the Lightning port on the iPhone 14. This means you won’t have to carry around an extra cable just for your iPhone. Instead, you can use a single USB-C cable to charge all your devices, peripherals, accessories, and more. In fact, you can use a USB-C cable to charge your AirPods or Apple Watch using your iPhone 15 as well.

That being said, it’s worth noting that the iPhone 15 and iPhone 14 only support 20W fast charging over wired connections. Alternatively, if you opt for MagSafe charging, that caps out at 15W. In either case, you’d have to purchase a charging adapter separately since Apple doesn’t ship one in the box.

Connectivity

If you’re wondering about the differences in connectivity on the iPhone 15 and iPhone 14, there’s little separating the two. Both devices come with support for Wi-Fi 6 coupled with Bluetooth 5.3. Neither of the devices is compatible with physical SIM cards (at least in the US). Instead, they support dual eSIM. However, select regions will have a different version of the iPhone 15 and 14 that feature support for a single nano-SIM coupled with an eSIM.

That being said, not everything is still the same. The iPhone 15 uses the newer second-generation Ultra Wideband chip. Thanks to this new chip, Precision Finding for Find My Friends now has a three times greater range. As a result, you can locate your friends and family in a crowded area much more easily with the iPhone 15.

Adding to this, Apple also announced Roadside Assistance via satellite. This is handy if your car breaks down and there’s no cell coverage. While the feature is available across iPhone 15 and iPhone 14, Roadside Assistance via satellite is included for free for two years with iPhone 15. However, remember that this feature is only available in select regions.

Storage and Colors

The iPhone 14 is available in a handful of color options. This includes Blue, Purple, Yellow, Midnight, Starlight, and PRODUCT (RED) to suit your liking. On the other hand, while the iPhone 15 offers an improved finish, the color options are rather restricting. You can choose from Black, Blue, Green, Yellow or Pink.

As far as storage is concerned, the iPhone 15 and 14 are available in three storage variants – 128GB, 256GB, and 512GB.

Pricing and Availability

The iPhone 14 is already available at a starting price of $699. You can get the 256GB variant for $799, while the 512 GB will cost you $999. You can always score a great deal on sites like Amazon and BestBuy, though.

On the other hand, the iPhone 15 has been announced at a base price of $799. The 256GB and 512GB variants will cost you $899 and $1099 respectively. The pre-orders for the iPhone 15 lineup will begin on September 15, 2023. Alternatively, you can purchase the iPhone 15 in stores starting September 22, 2023.

iPhone 15 vs. iPhone 14: Which One Should You Buy

So, which iPhone to get? If you went through all the details in the comparison, it’s not difficult to choose between the iPhone 15 vs iPhone 14. At just a $100 price bump, the iPhone 15 brings much more to the table and offers an excellent overall package. You get improved processing, an interactive notch in the form of Dynamic Island, better cameras, USB-C connectivity, and much more. Unless you can bag yourself a great deal on the iPhone 14, the iPhone 15 is definitely the way to go.