Apple iPhone 15 vs Apple iPhone 18 Air
Compare Apple iPhone 15 vs Apple iPhone 18 Air side by side: Apple A16 Bionic vs Apple A20 Pro (2nm TSMC), 48MP vs 48MP camera, 3349mAh vs 3400mAh battery…
Apple
iPhone 15
$799
2categories won
Apple
iPhone 18 Air
$1,199
15categories won
4 categories tied · 21 scored in total · add a third phone
Which one wins?
Apple iPhone 18 Air takes the overall win
The Apple iPhone 18 Air proves superior overall against the Apple iPhone 15, outperforming on gaming and photography. In camera testing, the iPhone 18 Air leads with superior optics, while battery endurance leans towards the iPhone 18 Air. Choose the iPhone 18 Air if you want the highest performance ceiling, or opt for the iPhone 15 if its lower retail price better fit your budget.
iPhone 18 Air takes battery honors offering 3,400 mAh alongside 35W charging.
iPhone 18 Air provides greater sustained gaming output with its Apple A20 Pro (2nm TSMC) and 12GB RAM.
iPhone 18 Air takes photography with 48MP optics.
iPhone 15 provides a sharper value proposition, coming in at $799 vs $1199.
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 18 Air: specifications compared
Display
| Specification | iPhone 15 | iPhone 18 Air |
|---|---|---|
| Screen size | 6.1" | 6.6" |
| Resolution | 1179 x 2556 | 1260 x 2740Winner |
| Pixel density | 461 ppi | 457 ppi |
| Refresh rate | 60 Hz | 120 HzWinner |
| Peak brightness | 2000 nits | 3000 nitsWinner |
Performance
| Specification | iPhone 15 | iPhone 18 Air |
|---|---|---|
| Chipset | Apple A16 Bionic | Apple A20 Pro (2nm TSMC) |
| Process node | 4 nm | 2 nmWinner |
| AnTuTu score | 1,380,000 | 3,200,000Winner |
| Geekbench multi | 6650 | 10800Winner |
| Maximum RAM | 6 GB | 12 GBWinner |
| Maximum storage | 512GB | 1TBWinner |
Camera
| Specification | iPhone 15 | iPhone 18 Air |
|---|---|---|
| Main sensor | 48 MP | 48 MP |
| Rear cameras | 2Winner | 1 |
| Ultrawide | 12 MP | 48 MPWinner |
| Selfie camera | 12 MP | 24 MPWinner |
| Max video | 4K at 60fps Dolby Vision HDR | 8K at 30fps / 4K at 120fps |
Battery and charging
| Specification | iPhone 15 | iPhone 18 Air |
|---|---|---|
| Capacity | 3,349 mAh | 3,400 mAh |
| Wired charging | 20 W | 35 WWinner |
| Wireless charging | 15 W | 20 WWinner |
Design
| Specification | iPhone 15 | iPhone 18 Air |
|---|---|---|
| Weight | 171 g | 148 gWinner |
| Thickness | 7.8 mm | 5.5 mmWinner |
| Water resistance | IP68 | IP68 |
| Build | Aluminum frame, Ceramic Shield front, color-infused matte glass back | Grade 5 Titanium frame, Ceramic Glass front and back |
Software and support
| Specification | iPhone 15 | iPhone 18 Air |
|---|---|---|
| Operating system | iOS 17 | iOS 20 |
| OS updates | 6 years | 7 yearsWinner |
| Security updates | 7 years | 7 years |
Connectivity and value
| Specification | iPhone 15 | iPhone 18 Air |
|---|---|---|
| 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 | $799Winner | $1,199 |
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 18 Air
The iPhone 18 Air is Apple’s thinnest, lightest smartphone ever made. Measuring just 5.5mm thin and weighing a feathery 148g, it integrates a full 6.6-inch 120Hz ProMotion panel, 2nm A20 Pro performance, and a single versatile 48MP Fusion camera.
- Display
- 6.6"
- Chipset
- Apple A20 Pro (2nm TSMC)
- Main camera
- 48MP
- Battery
- 3,400mAh