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

While the iPhone 14 is a suitable device overall, it didn’t bring significant upgrades compared to its predecessor. However, Apple’s latest base model, the iPhone 15, aims to compensate for that by enhancing key aspects. In this article, we’ll compare the iPhone 15 vs iPhone 14, helping you decide which suits your needs and why.

iPhone 15 vs. iPhone 14: Specifications

An iPhone 15 vs. iPhone 14 specs comparison is shown below.

iPhone 15 vs. iPhone 14: Price

When considering the purchase of a new smartphone, it’s important to consider the cost factor. The recently unveiled iPhone debuted at the Wanderlust event on September 12, 2023, and became available for purchase on September 15.

In terms of pricing, the flagship device comes with the following storage capacities:

• 128GB: $799 / £799 / AU$1,499
• 256GB: $899 / £899 / AU$1,699
• 512GB: $1,099 / £1,099 / AU$2,049

On the other hand, the iPhone 14 was officially introduced on September 7, 2022, and prior to its availability for purchase on September 16, it had the following prices for different storage models of the premium device:

• 128GB: $699 / £699 / AU$1,299
• 256GB: $799 / £799 / AU$1,499
• 512GB: $999 / £999 / AU$1,849

You may have observed that the launch prices of the iPhone 15 in the United States remain the same as those of the iPhone 14, whereas the prices in the UK have experienced a slight decrease.

However, the iPhone 15 launch prices in Australia are slightly higher compared to their iPhone 14 counterparts.

iPhone 15 vs. iPhone 14: Design and Size

As in the past, Apple has not made any drastic changes to its design and has maintained the traditional iPhone 15 and iPhone 14 styles with an aluminum body. However, it’s worth noting that there have been some subtle but noticeable changes.

The iPhone 15 debuts a revolutionary matte-textured rear cover that harmonizes flawlessly with the metal frame’s softly curved (or “contoured,” in Apple’s language) edge. While compared to the iPhone 14, these adjustments may seem minor, but they unquestionably improve the device’s ergonomics, making the iPhone 15 substantially more pleasant to handle.

One significant divergence in design between these two devices is the presence of a USB-C (2.0) port in the new iPhone 15, in contrast to the Lightning port found in the iPhone 14. The phones exhibit minimal discrepancies in size, with the iPhone 15 being marginally lighter.

iPhone 15 vs. iPhone 14: Display Differences

The iPhone 15 and iPhone 14 come equipped with Super Retina XDR displays, Apple’s top-tier OLED technology, which is famous for its excellent brightness, contrast, and color accuracy. There are a few notable differences between the iPhone 15 and iPhone 14 in terms of display:

• Peak brightness: The iPhone 15 has a peak brightness of 2000 nits, which is higher than the 1200 nits of the iPhone 14. This equates to the iPhone 15 having better visibility in direct sunlight.
• Display design: The iPhone 15 ditches the notch found on the iPhone 14 in favor of a Dynamic Island. The front camera and Face ID sensors are housed in this pill-shaped cutout, which provides a more compact design and maximizes screen space.

For a quick summary, here’s a table outlining the key distinctions:

Though the iPhone 15’s display outshines the iPhone 14 with its brighter and more contemporary design, both displays deliver an exceptional user experience.

iPhone 15 vs. iPhone 14: Performance and Storage

In terms of performance, the iPhone 15 is equipped with the A16 Bionic chip borrowed from the Pro models of the iPhone 14 series, while the iPhone 14 still operates on the A15 Bionic chip. This inclusion of the A16 Bionic chip gives the iPhone 15 a perceptible boost in speed compared to the iPhone 14, although the latter remains quite capable in terms of performance.

To put it simply, the difference in performance between the iPhone 15 and iPhone 14 is akin to the performance gap between the iPhone 14 and the iPhone 14 Pro, which is not substantial.

Moreover, the iPhone 14 also offers sufficient speed for the majority of users. However, the iPhone 15 provides a slightly higher level of power, allowing it to handle tasks like streaming, browsing, photography, and gaming with even greater ease.

Both the iPhone 15 and iPhone 14 offer the same choices in the storage department as they come with a base 128GB option, a 256GB option, and a top-tier 512GB option. Moreover, Apple does not officially disclose the RAM specifications, but both devices reportedly have 6GB of RAM.

iPhone 15 vs. iPhone 14: Camera

In terms of camera capabilities, the iPhone 15 has notably surpassed its predecessor, the iPhone 14. Previously, Apple provided a 12MP main rear camera, but with the iPhone 15, there’s a significant upgrade to a 48MP main rear camera. However, it’s important to note that the ultra-wide lens remains at 12MP.

It’s worth noting that the 48MP camera in both the iPhone 15 and iPhone 14 Pro models may seem similar, but it’s not the case as the 48MP camera in the iPhone 15 and the iPhone 14 Pro models differs due to the distinct sensors used in each device.

What sets the iPhone 15 apart is its flexibility. You can now capture a photo in normal mode and convert it into a portrait image and vice versa. Additionally, the iPhone 15’s camera sensors measure the depth of objects in the picture, adjusting the blurriness and de-blurriness accordingly, enhancing the overall photo quality.

Despite capturing snaps in 48MP, the iPhone 15 surprisingly doesn’t consume much of your iPhone storage, making it both lightweight and efficient. When comparing low-light images taken with the iPhone 14 and iPhone 15, the differences in the newer model are clearly evident, establishing it as the clear winner in this department.

iPhone 15 vs. iPhone 14: Audio Quality

Apple’s iPhones are renowned for featuring some of the finest phone speakers available. This holds true for both the iPhone 15 and iPhone 14. We observed no differences during our audio quality testing while watching YouTube videos or listening to podcasts. Furthermore, the vibrations also exhibited consistent performance in both of these phones.

iPhone 15 vs. iPhone 14: Battery and Charging

Apple typically keeps battery specifications private, but for the iPhone 14 it’s been revealed that it carries a 3,279mAh battery. This battery provides a full day of usage under normal everyday conditions.

The exact battery size remains undisclosed for now when talking about the newly launched iPhone 15. However, our tests demonstrated a similar capability of lasting almost 15-16 hours daily in casual use.

Additionally, the iPhone 15 retains the ability to charge to 50% in just 30 minutes, a feature consistent with the iPhone 14. It also maintains the same charging speeds of 15W for MagSafe and 7.5W for the Qi standard.

An interesting detail is that the iPhone 15 supports the new Qi2 standard for wireless charging, enabling 15W charging with more affordable, non-Apple accessories in the near future.

FAQs

Final thoughts

The decision to upgrade to the vanilla iPhone 15 depends on several factors, such as your current iPhone model, your preferences for a smartphone, and your budget.

In my opinion, if your budget allows, I would recommend considering the iPhone 15. It brings notable improvements in terms of performance, camera quality, battery life, and the addition of the dynamic island feature. However, if budget constraints are a concern, the iPhone 14 is a solid choice, offering most of the features of the iPhone 15 except for the dynamic island feature.

I’d love to hear your thoughts on this review. Are you leaning towards the iPhone 15 or the iPhone 14? Feel free to share your decision in the comments below.

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