Apple iPhone 15 vs Apple iPhone 17
Compare Apple iPhone 15 vs Apple iPhone 17 side by side: Apple A16 Bionic vs Apple A19, 48MP vs 50MP camera, 3349mAh vs 3650mAh battery, $799 vs $799. Full…
Apple
iPhone 15
$799
1categories won
Apple
iPhone 17
$799
12categories won
8 categories tied · 21 scored in total · add a third phone
Which one wins?
Apple iPhone 17 takes the overall win
The Apple iPhone 17 proves superior overall against the Apple iPhone 15, outperforming on battery endurance and daily usability. In camera testing, the iPhone 15 leads with sharper imaging, while battery endurance leans towards the iPhone 17. Choose the iPhone 17 if you want the highest performance ceiling, or opt for the iPhone 15 if its specific hardware strengths better fit your budget.
iPhone 17 takes battery honors offering 3,650 mAh alongside 45W charging.
iPhone 17 provides greater sustained gaming output with its Apple A19 and 8GB RAM.
iPhone 15 wins photography with 48MP main imaging.
Both handsets sit in the exact same pricing bracket around $799.
Category verdicts are computed algorithmically from verified technical specifications and hardware benchmarks. Rows where neither figure is objectively better — screen size preference, operating system choice, aesthetic build materials — are displayed for direct reference without scoring bias.
iPhone 15 vs iPhone 17: specifications compared
Display
| Specification | iPhone 15 | iPhone 17 |
|---|---|---|
| Screen size | 6.1" | 6.27" |
| Resolution | 1179 x 2556 | 1179 x 2556 |
| Pixel density | 461 ppiWinner | 449 ppi |
| Refresh rate | 60 Hz | 120 HzWinner |
| Peak brightness | 2000 nits | 2500 nitsWinner |
Performance
| Specification | iPhone 15 | iPhone 17 |
|---|---|---|
| Chipset | Apple A16 Bionic | Apple A19 |
| Process node | 4 nm | 3 nmWinner |
| AnTuTu score | 1,380,000 | 2,400,000Winner |
| Geekbench multi | 6650 | 8900Winner |
| Maximum RAM | 6 GB | 8 GBWinner |
| Maximum storage | 512GB | 512GB |
Camera
| Specification | iPhone 15 | iPhone 17 |
|---|---|---|
| Main sensor | 48 MP | 50 MPWinner |
| Rear cameras | 2 | 2 |
| Ultrawide | 12 MP | 12 MP |
| Selfie camera | 12 MP | 16 MPWinner |
| Max video | 4K at 60fps Dolby Vision HDR | 8K at 30fps / 4K at 120fps |
Battery and charging
| Specification | iPhone 15 | iPhone 17 |
|---|---|---|
| Capacity | 3,349 mAh | 3,650 mAhWinner |
| Wired charging | 20 W | 45 WWinner |
| Wireless charging | 15 W | 25 WWinner |
Design
| Specification | iPhone 15 | iPhone 17 |
|---|---|---|
| Weight | 171 g | 171 g |
| Thickness | 7.8 mm | 7.8 mm |
| Water resistance | IP68 | IP68 |
| Build | Aluminum frame, Ceramic Shield front, color-infused matte glass back | Aerospace-grade aluminum frame, color-infused matte glass back |
Software and support
| Specification | iPhone 15 | iPhone 17 |
|---|---|---|
| Operating system | iOS 17 | iOS 19 |
| OS updates | 6 years | 7 yearsWinner |
| Security updates | 7 years | 7 years |
Connectivity and value
| Specification | iPhone 15 | iPhone 17 |
|---|---|---|
| 5G | Yes | Yes |
| Wi-Fi | Wi-Fi 6 (802.11ax) | Wi-Fi 7 (802.11be, tri-band 2.4/5/6GHz, 320MHz bandwidth) |
| Storage expansion | None | None |
| 3.5mm jack | No | No |
| Launch price | $799 | $799 |
Apple iPhone 15
The iPhone 15 gains the interactive Dynamic Island, a 48MP dual camera capturing 24MP default snaps with 2x lossless digital cropping, 2000-nit outdoor brightness, USB-C convenience, and pastel matte glass styling.
- Display
- 6.1"
- Chipset
- Apple A16 Bionic
- Main camera
- 48MP
- Battery
- 3,349mAh
Apple iPhone 17
The standard iPhone 17 represents the biggest upgrade to the base iPhone in years: 120Hz ProMotion is finally standard, accompanied by the 3nm A19 chip and 25W MagSafe fast charging.
- Display
- 6.27"
- Chipset
- Apple A19
- Main camera
- 50MP
- Battery
- 3,650mAh