iPhone 15 vs iPhone 13: Should you upgrade? What to expect
07/12/2023
07/12/2023
Two years can be a long time in smartphone development, so is the iPhone 15 set to be a big improvement on the iPhone 13, or should you hold onto your current model a little longer? Let's dive into the differences and see if we can help you decide whether or not an upgrade is the right choice.
The release of a new iPhone always brings excitement and anticipation among tech enthusiasts. With the upcoming launch, you might be wondering if you should upgrade to the new iPhone 15. I have been wondering the same thing for myself, as I have an iPhone 13 Pro. Normally, I tend to upgrade my iPhone every year. However, the iPhone 14 didn't seem like the right upgrade at the time.
Photo: MacRumors
Finally, finally, finally, we will be getting an iPhone that is capable of USB-C charging. This will create a better ecosystem for Apple and allow users to charger their iPhones with the same charger that Macs use. Although it seems that Apple is technically being forced to do this, we're still so happy with the change! We're not completely sure whether or not this means faster charging, that aspect is still left unknown.
One of the significant improvements in the iPhone 15 is expected to be its camera system. Leaks suggest that the iPhone 15 will feature a much better camera with new features, better-quality images, and improved low-light capabilities. The standard iPhone 15 will now have a 48MP camera. This is huge for folks that don't want the Pro/Pro Max but still want the superb camera capabilities. According to Jeff Pu, an analyst at Haitong International Securities (via MacRumors), Apple’s iPhone 15 and iPhone 15 Plus models are set to receive a major upgrade to the rear camera system with “three stacked sensors” with improved light-capturing abilities. According to Apple analyst Ming-Chi Kuo, it's possible that the Pro Max will feature a periscope lens that will enable up to 5x-6x optical zoom when shooting photos. Optical zoom is the absolute best due to blurriness not being a factor. This would be a huge step up from the iPhone 13 Pro/Pro Max's camera system.
The iPhone 15 may come with advancements in display technology. While specific details are not available, it is anticipated that Apple will continue to enhance the display quality and possibly introduce new features like a higher refresh rate (although 120hz seems to be the likely choice). I should note, it's confirmed that the standard iPhone 15 will not have the 120hz refresh rate. Not only this, but we are seeing that there's a high possibility that the standard iPhone 15 will receive the Dynamic Island. It even gets better, Apple is introducing a new Integrated Proximity Sensor for the Dynamic Island. This proximity sensor will detect when the user holds the phone up to their ear and shuts off the screen. This isn't necessarily a huge improvement, but rather a way of saving costs. However, it's still worth noting.
With every phone upgrade, the most obvious upgrade would be the new phone being faster. It's quite simple when you think about it. The iPhone 15 Pro and Pro Max are rumored to be powered by the A17 Bionic chip, which is expected to offer improved performance compared to the A15 chip found in the iPhone 13. This is mainly why I was very disappointed with the iPhone 14. The standard iPhone 14 model came with the same A15 chip that is in my iPhone 13 Pro.
This year, Apple is sort of doing the same thing. The standard iPhone 15 will have the A16 chip that is found in the iPhone 14 Pro and Pro Max. This might be seen as a negative, but if you're upgrading from the iPhone 13 to the iPhone 15 Pro, that's two whole generations. That will be a huge upgrade for anyone that is taking that route. On the flip side, if you're upgrading from the iPhone 13 Pro to the standard iPhone 15, it's only a single generation which might not be as exciting for users.
While the overall design of the iPhone 15 is expected to be similar to its predecessor and the iPhone 13, there may be some subtle changes. As far as the physical display, the iPhone 15 Pro and Pro Max are rumored to have a very similar look to the iPhone 13 Pro and Pro Max. Both having a 6.1 and 6.7-inch OLED displays and a Dynamic Island cutout for the camera and Face ID hardware.
According to MacRumors, leaker ShrimpApplePro has said that the iPhone 15 Pro models are expected feature thinner, curved bezels compared to the iPhone 13 Pro models. The iPhone 15 Pro's bezels are expected to be around 1.55mm. The iPhone 13 Pro, for comparison, has 2.42mm bezels.
This is still a rumor and has not been officially confirmed from what I can see but the iPhone 15 Pro models might be coming with a customizable action button instead of the standard ring/silent buttons. This would be similar to the action button the the Apple Watch Ultra has. Since 2007, every single iPhone produced has had the standard ring/silent switch. This will be the first year that this changes and it would be a substantial difference in quality of life when using the phone. It looks like the action button will be able to have a variety of functions that the users can assign.
Along with the action button, another Apple Watch Ultra feature that the iPhone 15 Pro models will be taking is the titanium frame. The iPhone 13 Pro features stainless steel, the titanium frame is said to have more of a brushed finish which should look absolutely stunning in person.
Just to note, a lot of these features are rumors and aren't officially announced. However, the analysts and leakers have been relatively on point for the past few years. These upgrades will be huge for anyone that is coming from an iPhone 13.
If you have the iPhone 14 in any version, I would not upgrade to the iPhone 15. The features are relatively the same and they really aren't that different when it comes down to it. If you wanted to upgrade to the iPhone 14 from the iPhone 13, that wouldn't be a terrible idea given that the price point will drop come September. Personally, I plan on taking the leap and upgrading to the iPhone 15 Pro. The iPhone 13 Pro that I have is amazing, but I'm ready for something new and great. The improvements from the iPhone 13 are enough for me to want to upgrade.