The iPhone 14 was barely an upgrade, but the iPhone 15 comes with a much longer list of new features and potentially many more reasons for iPhone 13 users to upgrade.
A new 48 MP main camera improves low-light photo quality and brings much more detail to zoomed shots thanks to sensor cropping. The notch on the iPhone 13 is replaced with the Dynamic Island, you get a faster processor with more RAM, and our favorite tweak is the switch to the USB-C port on the iPhone 15.
But is all of that enough to convince you to upgrade?
iPhone 15 vs iPhone 13 Differences Compared:
iPhone 15
iPhone 13
Similar 6.1-inch form factor, but with rounded edges
Apple reaches the Dynamic Island and discovers USB-C
The family ties are definitely obvious for just about anyone who has ever laid eyes on a modern iPhone.
Apple has slowly been working towards removing the iconic notch from its phones, and it finally managed to do so with the iPhone 14 Pro and Pro Max. That change did not come to the regular models last year, but the iPhone 15 remedies that by adopting the Dynamic Island.
Something that no one expected with the iPhone 15 series was its new back panel, which now comes with a matte finish, so it should feel noticeably different in the hand compared to the iPhone 13. The other difference in design is the USB-C port that has been so hotly debated.
Speaking of the new USB-C connector, unlike the iPhone 13 which came with a USB-C to Lightning cable, iPhone 15 comes with a new USB-C to USB-C braided cable that should be more durable in comparison.
The rest of the iPhone 15 shares a lot of design cues with the iPhone 13, including the IP68 dust and water resistance rating. There is a minor distinction, however, namely the slightly curved edges at the intersection of the aluminum frame and the new matte back panel, which is expected to enhance the phone's ergonomics.
Display Differences
Two generations later, still no ProMotion
The iPhone 13 comes with a 6.1" OLED display, with a maximum refresh rate of 60Hz and a peak brightness of around 1200 nits. The iPhone 15 comes with a higher peak brightness of 2000 nits, but it keeps the same 60Hz refresh rate. A big disappointment for many.
Sadly, Apple is still staying away from adding a higher refresh rate screen to its non-Pro models even in 2023. It would have been a nice surprise, though, if we at least got to see a 90Hz panel added to this year's base iPhones.
Of course, we can't forget to mention the Dynamic Island, and therefore the official "death" of the notch that the iPhone 13 comes with.
The CIE 1931 xy color gamut chart represents the set(area)of colors that a display can reproduce,with the sRGB colorspace(the highlighted triangle)serving as reference.The chart also provides a visual representation of a display's color accuracy. The small squares across the boundaries of the triangle are the reference points for the various colors, while the small dots are the actual measurements. Ideally, each dot should be positioned on top of its respective square. The 'x:CIE31' and 'y:CIE31' values in the table below the chart indicate the position of each measurement on the chart. 'Y' shows the luminance (in nits) of each measured color, while 'Target Y' is the desired luminance level for that color. Finally, 'ΔE 2000' is the Delta E value of the measured color. Delta E values of below 2 are ideal.
The Color accuracy chart gives an idea of how close a display's measured colors are to their referential values. The first line holds the measured (actual) colors, while the second line holds the reference (target) colors. The closer the actual colors are to the target ones, the better.
The Grayscale accuracy chart shows whether a display has a correct white balance(balance between red,green and blue)across different levels of grey(from dark to bright).The closer the Actual colors are to the Target ones,the better.
Our tests show that the iPhone 13 can't quite hit the same maximum brightness levels as the iPhone 15, but on the other hand, the older phone has a more precise color temperature. The iPhone 13's display is slightly more color-accurate, but you definitely won't be able to notice this in real life, it only pops up in our benchmark tests.
Performance and Software
Faster processor and more RAM
Apple is known for not clearly stating how much RAM (memory) its phones have, but each year it gets revealed through released benchmark results. The iPhone 13 came with 4GB of RAM, but the iPhone 15 has 6GB, and it is the faster type called LPDDR5 memory. All of this means that, compared to the 2021 model, the iPhone 15 can handle more tasks simultaneously and feel overall faster.
As for the chipset, it is an upgrade from Apple's A15 Bionic to the A16 (also seen in the iPhone 14 Pro and 14 Pro Max), which has a 24-28% boost in graphics performance thanks to a new penta-core GPU. Here are the benchmark results we got during our synthetic benchmark testing, where we evaluated the two devices in the Geekbench 6 (for the CPU) and 3DMark Extreme tests (for the GPU).
As you can see, the A16 Bionic beats the A15 both in single and multi-core processing speed, as well as graphical performance, and it is in no small margin. All of this boost in power means that the iPhone 15 is more capable and faster, but given how good the A15 inside the iPhone 13 is, most people won't notice the difference unless they use apps that require that higher horsepower of the newer model.
Unfortunately, neither the iPhone 13, nor the iPhone 15 are getting Apple Intelligence. The minimum requirement for that is at least 8 GB of RAM and these two phones don't meet it. We don't think that's a dealbreaker, but it's still a disappointment.
Camera
Better in all regards
The iPhone 13 had great cameras when it was released, and they still offer stellar performance two years later. That being said, the iPhone 15 has a new 48MP main camera, matching the megapixel count on the Pro models.
The iPhone 15 can utilize each one of these 48 megapixels to create highly detailed images. Even with the 24MP default mode that the new base model shoots in, the images still look extremely sharp, with more vivid colors, striking a nice balance between quality and file size.
Lastly, there are also some camera software improvements that are worth mentioning. For example, the Smart HDR mode now offers more true-to-life colors with brighter highlights and darker shadows. Night mode is improved too, now delivering low-light photos with more vibrant colors and higher detail.
The new 48MP camera also allows for a 2X sensor crop, so images taken at 2X zoom come out as though they are shot by a dedicated telephoto camera, essentially making the iPhone 15 feel like it has not 2 but 3 cameras on its back. The iPhone 13, on the other hand, has to resort to a digital zoom which takes away from the image quality by a significant margin.
Portrait mode has seen a glow up too, helping the iPhone 15 create what Apple calls 'next-generation portraits.' Thanks to this upgrade a regular photo can be transformed to a Portrait after it has been taken. What's more, you can also switch the focus of a portrait photo to a different person after the capture.
Do you see a major difference in video quality between these two?
Audio Quality and Haptics
Both the speakers and haptics on the iPhone 13 are already great, to begin with. The iPhone 15 doesn't have anything new to add and make them better. Suffice it to say, the audio profile continues to be a well-balanced one, with good amounts of bass from the bottom and earpiece speaker duo.
Haptic feedback is also unchanged between these two generations, albeit that is not much of a disappointment given how tight and strong it feels anyways.
Battery Life and Charging
Slightly better battery life in some cases
One of the things that made the iPhone 13 popular in 2021 was its outstanding battery life. While the iPhone 14 series improved on that end ever so slightly (minus the battery life issues of the iPhone 14 Pro), the iPhone 15 doesn't seem to offer anything more.
As you can see from the results of our custom battery tests, which are all conducted with the displays set at 200 nits of brightness, the iPhone 13 in fact beats what is supposed to be its improved version in two of the three battery life categories. It is only in the gaming test that the iPhone 15 manages to come on top, most likely because the new A16 chipset is better at handling graphic-intensive tasks.
As for charging, there is the new USB-C port, but the change simply affects the type of cable you can plug in. The charging speeds remain as those on the iPhone 13, i.e. 20W wired and 15W wireless with MagSafe.
Specs Comparison
Check out a summary of both the iPhone 15 and iPhone 13's specs below. Please note that we also have an in-depth iPhone 15 vs iPhone 13 specs comparison table here where you can learn more about all the smaller details:
If you own an iPhone 13 and you feel like you need to upgrade, the iPhone 15 is a big jump in multiple areas.
You get an improved camera system with improved low-light capabilities and more detailed zoom shots. There is also the A16 Bionic with higher performance in graphic-intensive scenarios.
As for the design, there is the Dynamic Island, which offers new functionality. Additionally, the USB-C port can save you that hassle of having to swap between different cables for all of your devices.
That being said, the iPhone 15 is not exactly a game-changer either. Yes, it has some significant perks that make it very appealing, but the 2021 iPhone 13 is still a great phone even a few years after its launch.
Create a free account and join our vibrant community
Register to enjoy the full PhoneArena experience. Here’s what you get with your PhoneArena account:
Aleksandar is a tech enthusiast with a broad range of interests, from smartphones to space exploration. His curiosity extends to hands-on DIY experiments with his gadgets, and he enjoys switching between different brands to experience the latest innovations. Prior to joining PhoneArena, Aleksandar worked on the Google Art Project, digitizing valuable artworks and gaining diverse perspectives on technology. When he's not immersed in tech, Aleksandar is an outdoorsman who enjoys mountain hikes, wildlife photography, and nature conservation. His interests also extend to martial arts, running, and snowboarding, reflecting his dynamic approach to life and technology.
Recommended Stories
Loading Comments...
COMMENT
All comments need to comply with our
Community Guidelines
Phonearena comments rules
A discussion is a place, where people can voice their opinion, no matter if it
is positive, neutral or negative. However, when posting, one must stay true to the topic, and not just share some
random thoughts, which are not directly related to the matter.
Things that are NOT allowed:
Off-topic talk - you must stick to the subject of discussion
Offensive, hate speech - if you want to say something, say it politely
Spam/Advertisements - these posts are deleted
Multiple accounts - one person can have only one account
Impersonations and offensive nicknames - these accounts get banned
Moderation is done by humans. We try to be as objective as possible and moderate with zero bias. If you think a
post should be moderated - please, report it.
Have a question about the rules or why you have been moderated/limited/banned? Please,
contact us.
FCC OKs Cingular\'s purchase of AT&T Wireless
Things that are NOT allowed: