Apple’s iPhone Professional fashions are among the hottest smartphones accessible. The basic three-camera array might be noticed in every single place you go, and that’s no shock as these units stay one of the best mix of know-how and options on an iPhone. However, with the iPhone 16 Professional now accessible, must you improve out of your iPhone 15 Professional? Or, you probably have discovered an iPhone 15 Professional on sale, is it nonetheless value shopping for now the 16 Professional is right here? Discover out which iPhone is the best choice when it comes to specs and funds in our comparability evaluate of the iPhone 15 Professional and iPhone 16 Professional.
iPhone 16 Professional vs iPhone 15 Professional: Design and Construct
At first look, there’s not a lot to inform the 2 units aside, however whenever you decide them up it turns into obvious {that a} redesign has taken place. The iPhone 16 Professional is fractionally greater than it’s predecessor in order that it may accommodate the 6.3-inch show, whereas the iPhone 15 Professional solely has to encase a 6.1-inch panel.
Anyron Copeman / Foundry
Right here’s the comparative dimensions:
- iPhone 15 Professional – 146.6 mm (5.77 inches) x 70.6 mm (2.78 inches) x 8.25 mm (0.32 inches); 187 grams (6.60 ounces); 6.1-inch show
- iPhone 16 Professional – 149.6 mm (5.89 inches) x 71.5 mm (2.81 inches) x 8.25 mm(0.32 inches); 199 grams (7.03 ounces); 6.3-inch show
As you possibly can see, the newer mannequin is taller, wider and heavier than the earlier technology, making it a bit extra of a handful. There are, in fact, the even bigger Professional Max fashions, which characteristic the identical specs as their relative counterparts, however boast bigger screens – 6.7-inch on the iPhone 15 Professional Max and a whopping 6.9-inch on the iPhone 16 Professional Max, making the latter the most important show on an iPhone to date.
Listed here are these dimensions:
- iPhone 15 Professional Max – 159.9 mm (6.29 inches) x 76.7 mm (3.02 inches) x 8.25 mm (0.32 inches); 221 grams (7.81 ounces) 6.7-inch show
- iPhone 16 Professional Max – 149.6 mm (5.89 inches) x 71.5 mm (2.81 inches) x 8.25 mm(0.32 inches); 199 grams (7.03 ounces); 6.9-inch show
All these iPhones characteristic a Titanium chassis and textured matte glass backs. The iPhone 15 Professional is available in Pure Titanium, Blue Titanium, White Titanium, and Black Titanium, whereas the iPhone 16 Professional is on the market in Desert Titanium, Pure Titanium, White Titanium, and Black Titanium.
Apple
iPhone 16 Professional vs iPhone 15 Professional: Options
The newer mannequin additionally comes with Apple’s new Digicam Management button, which acts as a shortcut to numerous settings throughout the digicam app, in addition to a fast launch and taking pictures management. Evaluations to date have been fairly skeptical on its positioning as a result of it’s awkward to succeed in in panorama mode except you could have lengthy fingers. It could be higher suited to the brand new Visible Intelligence characteristic coming in iOS 18.2 (primarily Apple’s model of Google Lens), which is meant for use in portrait mode. Extra on the cameras beneath.
Each generations of iPhone Professional/Max include the Motion button, which can be utilized for varied shortcuts, quantity controls and the Aspect/Energy button. USB-C is now commonplace on iPhones, and has been because it was launched with the iPhone 15 vary, so there’s parity right here too. You’ll even be glad to know that the waterproof ranking is IP68 throughout the board, as is assist for MagSafe, though the iPhone 16 Professional additionally helps fast-charging with MagSafe, which the iPhone 15 Professional doesn’t.
In our battery checks, the iPhone 16 Professional did carry out considerably higher than the 15 Professional, lasting a whopping 54% longer in our benchmark checks. The iPhone 16 Professional Max additionally improves over its predecessor, working 43% longer within the benchmarks over the iPhone 15 Professional Max. Whereas this gained’t straight translate into these positive factors in day-to-day exercise, you possibly can make certain that you’ll discover the iPhone 16 Professional and Professional Max will outlast their older stablemates.
iPhone 16 Professional vs iPhone 15 Professional: Show
There’s not a lot to distinguish between the shows, apart from the brand new sizing. Each include Tremendous Retina XDR panels that characteristic the Dynamic Island, ProMotion, All the time-On, HDR, True Tone, Vast Coloration (P3), and 1,000 nits max brightness (typical), 1,600 nits max brightness (HDR) and a couple of,000 nits max brightness (outside). The one characteristic that’s new on the iPhone 16 Professional (and the Professional Max) is a 1 nit minimal brightness that would save energy in darker settings.
Apple
The shows on iPhones are at all times nice, and there’s little to separate those on each generations. Naturally, the bigger 6.3-inch panel on the iPhone 16 Professional may have a special decision – 2622 x 1206 versus 2556 x 1179 on the 6.1-inch panel for the iPhone 15 Professional – however as they’ve the identical 460ppi they’re as sharp as one another.
Equally, the bigger 6.9-inch panel on the iPhone 16 Professional Max gives a decision of 2868×1320, versus 2796×1290 on the 6.7-inch panel for the iPhone 15 Professional Max – however with the identical 460ppi they’re equally sharp.
In order for you a much bigger show, you could be drawn to the iPhone 16 Professional Max, which is a bit greater than it’s predecessor, and larger than the display on the iPhone 16 Plus. It’s the largest show ever seen on an iPhone. If the Professional Max fashions are too cumbersome, the iPhone 16 Professional is the one to decide on. Favor a extra compact handset? It’s the iPhone 15 Professional.
iPhone 15 Professional vs iPhone 16 Professional: Tech Specs
Right here’s a breakdown of the comparative technical specs of the iPhone 15 Professional and iPhone 16 Professional. For reference, the Professional Max fashions have the identical specs as their smaller siblings, apart from the scale, display sizes and battery – all of that are barely greater.
| iPhone 15 Professional/Max | iPhone 16 Professional/Max | |
| Show | 6.1-inch/6.7-inch Tremendous Retina XDR OLED panel, 2556×1179, 460ppi; 1,600/2,000 nits peak brightness (HDR/outside); Dynamic Island, ProMotion 120Hz refresh price, All the time On show | 6.3-inch/6.9-inch Tremendous Retina XDR OLED panel, 2622 x 1206 decision, 460ppi, ProMotion 120Hz refresh price, 1,600/2,000 nits peak brightness (HDR/outside), 1 nits minimal brightness; Dynamic Island, All the time On show |
| Processor | A17 Professional | A18 Professional |
| Storage | 128GB/256GB/512GB/1TB | 128GB/256GB/512GB/1TB |
| Rear Digicam | 48MP f/1.78 Principal, 12MP f/2.2 Extremely Vast, 12MP f/2.8 Telephoto, 0.5x, 1x, 2x, 3x optical zoom, Sensible HDR 5 | 48MP f/1.78 Fusion, 48MP f/2.2 Extremely Vast, 12MP f/2.8 Telephoto, 0.5x, 1x, 2x, 3x, x5 optical zoom, Sensible HDR 5, 48MP Macro, Spatial Pictures |
| Entrance Digicam | 12MP TrueDepth, f/1.9 | 12MP TrueDepth, f/1.9 |
| Video Recording | 4K video recording at 24 fps, 25 fps, 30 fps or 60 fps, ProRes video recording as much as 4K at 60 fps with exterior recording, Cinematic mode, Motion Mode, Macro, Log video, Academy Coloration Encoding System | 4K Dolby Imaginative and prescient video recording as much as 120fps, ProRes video recording as much as 4K at 120 fps with exterior recording, Cinematic mode, Motion Mode, Macro, Log video, Academy Coloration Encoding System |
| Biometric Safety | Face ID | Face ID |
| Wi-Fi | Wi-Fi 6E | Wi-Fi 6E |
| LTE | 5G | 5G |
| Charging | USB-C | USB-C |
| Wi-fi Charging | Sure, with MagSafe | Sure, with MagSafe, together with Quick Charging with 30W charger |
| Bluetooth | 5.3 | 5.3 |
| Apple Pay | Sure | Sure |
| Waterproofing | IP68 | IP68 |
| SIM | Twin (nano and eSIM besides within the US the place there isn’t any assist for bodily SIM playing cards) | Twin (nano and eSIM besides within the US the place there isn’t any assist for bodily SIM playing cards) |
| Dimensions | 146.6mm x 70.6mm x 8.25mm | 149.6mm x 71.5mm x 8.25mm |
| Weight | 187g | 199g |
iPhone 16 Professional vs iPhone 15 Professional: Efficiency
As these are the Professional iPhones, there’s at all times going to be loads of energy accessible. The iPhone 15 Professional featured Apple’s A17 Professional chip, which is provided with a 6-core CPU (2 efficiency, 4 effectivity), 6-core GPU, and 16-core Neural Engine and is suitable with the Apple Intelligence options.
The brand new A18 Professional within the iPhone 16 Professional gives the identical association of CPU, GPU and Neural Engine cores. However, underneath the hood, Apple does declare some respectable enhancements within the newer silicon. It says that there’s a 17% improve in whole system reminiscence bandwidth which ought to help within the working of Apple Intelligence options like Writing Instruments and Picture Playground. It additionally permits for the GPU to be 20% sooner, whereas the CPU has been redesigned to be 15% sooner whereas utilizing 20% much less energy.
Macworld
So, when you use your iPhone for demanding duties like gaming, video manufacturing and so forth, then these enhancements might be value the additional cash it takes to select up an iPhone 16 Professional.
Apple is placing lots of emphasis on the Apple Intelligence options. It ought to be famous that those self same options can be found on the iPhone 16, iPhone 16 Plus, Professional and Max, and the iPhone 15 Professional and Max. So Apple Intelligence isn’t a motive to select the iPhone 16 Professional over the iPhone 15 Professional.
iPhone 16 Professional vs iPhone 15 Professional: Cameras
Once more, it’s just about as you have been when it comes to cameras. And this yr there isn’t any distinction between the iPhone 16 Professional and the iPhone 16 Professional Max in relation to cameras. As these are Professional units, you get the three digicam array on the rear. Apple has spruced up the iPhone 16 Professional optics although, with the primary 48Mp f/1.78 sensor now known as a ‘Fusion’ digicam, slightly than only a digicam because it was on the iPhone 15 Professional. This appears to boil right down to it having the ability to act as a 48Mp shooter in addition to a 2x zoom, though there might be extra difficult options hidden underneath the floor.
One particular enchancment is that the 12Mp f/2.2 Extremely Vast of the iPhone 15 Professional has been changed with a 48Mp f/2.2 sensor within the iPhone 16 Professional, so you will get higher pictures when taking pictures broad. The 12Mp f/2.8 Telephoto digicam stays the identical.
Foundry
So, you get some upgraded {hardware}, bringing with it larger high quality Macro images, in addition to the flexibility to shoot Spatial images that may work with Apple’s Imaginative and prescient Professional headsets. Bit area of interest then.
Video undoubtedly appears to be the place the Fusion digicam comes into play, boosting 4K Dolby Imaginative and prescient recording as much as 120fps, whereas the iPhone 15 Professional can solely attain 60fps (and that’s simply commonplace 4K). Slo-mo now tops out at 4K Dolby Imaginative and prescient 120fps, which is a step up from the 1080p/240fps of the older mannequin.
There’s additionally a stereo-quality four-mic array within the 16 Professional, with assist for wind noise discount and the brand new Audio Combine that allows you to spotlight sure components of the soundtrack to movies.
The entrance going through digicam stays the identical 12Mp f/1.9 TrueDepth module as earlier than, though the video now consists of 4K Dolby Imaginative and prescient, which might counsel that the A18 Professional chip is making that doable.
iPhone 16 Professional vs iPhone 15 Professional: Worth
The iPhone 16 Professional is on the market from Apple and different tech retailers within the following configurations and costs:
- iPhone 16 Professional (128GB) – $999/£999
- iPhone 16 Professional (256GB) – $1,099/£1,099
- iPhone 16 Professional (512GB) – $1,299/£1,299
- iPhone 16 Professional (1TB) – $1,499/£1,499
Right here’s some one of the best offers we’ve discovered accessible in the intervening time. You will discover one of the best contract offers in our Greatest iPhone 16 offers (US) and Greatest iPhone 16 offers (UK) round-ups.
When you needed the bigger show on the iPhone 16 Professional Max, then right here’s the choices:
- iPhone 16 Professional Max (256GB) – $1,199/£1,199
- iPhone 16 Professional Max (512GB) – $1,399/£1,399
- iPhone 16 Professional Max (1TB) – $1,599/£1,599
Once more, right here’s one of the best offers on the iPhone 16 Professional Mac on the market in the intervening time:
£1199
£1199
With the introduction of the iPhone 16 Professional fashions, Apple has now discontinued the 15 Professional fashions however you need to nonetheless be capable of discover inventory promoting although in third-party retailers. Check out one of the best offers and contract offers in our Greatest iPhone 15 offers (US) and Greatest iPhone 15 offers (UK) round-ups.
iPhone 16 Professional vs iPhone 15 Professional: Must you purchase the iPhone 16 Professional?
The iPhone 15 Professional is a good gadget with loads of energy, photographic capabilities, and delivers an exemplary iPhone expertise. Whereas the iPhone 16 Professional ups the stakes with enhancements to processing, camera-tech and battery life, all of it feels marginally slightly than groundbreaking. It’s additionally bigger, heavier and has a design that’s already wanting just a little boring in comparison with some Android units on the market. In order for you one of the best iPhone, then it’s the 16 Professional. In order for you one of the best worth for cash, then we’d counsel searching down any respectable offers you could find on the iPhone 15 Professional.