Apple iPhone 15 review: specs, battery & used prices

Summary

The Apple iPhone 15 is the phone that made the flagship formula affordable: a 6.1-inch OLED display that peaks at 2,000 nits, the A16 Bionic chip carried over from the previous Pro generation, and the 48 MP main camera that used to be Pro-only. Released in 2023 at $799 for the 128 GB variant, it has become one of the most sensible picks on the used market — median used prices now sit around $351 for a 128 GB unit, well under half of its launch price.

Display and design

At 171 g and 6.1 inches, the iPhone 15 is a genuinely compact phone by 2026 standards — our compactness score of 97/100 places it near the top of the entire catalog. The OLED panel is bright enough for direct sunlight, though the 60 Hz refresh rate is the one spec that shows its age: scrolling feels noticeably less fluid than on 120 Hz rivals. If smoothness matters more than ecosystem to you, consider the Galaxy S24 instead.

Performance

The A16 Bionic still handles everything the App Store can throw at it. Our gaming score of 45/100 reflects a chip that is comfortable for casual and mid-weight titles but is no longer in the front row for sustained 3D gaming — the thermal design of the non-Pro body keeps heavy sessions modest. Everyday performance, video editing in iMovie, and photo processing remain effortless, and the 7 years of iOS updates Apple commits to mean this phone will receive updates well past 2028.

Camera

The 48 MP main sensor with sensor-shift OIS is the headline upgrade over the iPhone 14: daylight shots have more crop room, and the 2x "optical-quality" zoom from the main sensor works well. The 12 MP ultrawide is unchanged and adequate. There is no telephoto lens — if you shoot concerts or sports, the Pro models or the Galaxy S24's dedicated 3x tele are better tools. Video tops out at 4K60 and remains the best in class at this price.

Battery and charging

The 3,349 mAh battery is the weakest point: our battery-life score of 6/100 is one of the lowest in the catalog. Expect a full day only with light use; heavy users will need a top-up. Charging is 20 W wired (about 50% in 30 minutes) and 15 W MagSafe wireless.

Verdict

For around $350 used, the iPhone 15 buys you a compact, long-supported, still-fast iPhone with an excellent main camera and best-in-class video. Accept the 60 Hz display and the mediocre battery, and it is hard to beat for the price. Compare it against the Galaxy S24 if you want 120 Hz and a bigger battery at the same money.