Complete iPhone Review 2025: Comparing iPhone 15, 16 & 17 Models

Apple’s iPhones remain among the world’s most popular smartphones, capturing about 26% of global market share in 2025gs.statcounter.com. Smartphone cameras now take trillions of photos every yearfreditech.com, so each new iPhone generation brings camera upgrades and new imaging features. This in-depth review covers Apple’s recent models – the iPhone 15 series (2023), iPhone 16 series (2024), and iPhone 17 series (2025) – comparing design, display, performance, cameras, battery life, software, and value. We cite official specs and expert reviews, and link to FrediTech’s related guides (e.g. [iPhone 16 Pro Max Guide] and [Smartphone Photography Guide]) for deeper dives. By the end, you’ll understand the strengths of each model and which one suits your needs.

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Overview of the Latest iPhone Lineup

Apple’s current iPhones come in multiple variants. The iPhone 15 series introduced in late 2023 includes the iPhone 15 and 15 Plus (dual-camera, 6.1″ and 6.7″ screens) and the 15 Pro and 15 Pro Max (triple-camera, 6.1″ and 6.7″)techradar.comtechradar.com. In 2024, the iPhone 16 series was launched with similar size variants (16, 16 Plus, 16 Pro, 16 Pro Max). The base iPhone 15 and 16 both have 6.1-inch OLED displays; the 15/16 Plus and Pro Max are 6.7-inch. By contrast, Apple’s iPhone 17 series (2025) uses 6.3″ (standard/Pro) and 6.9″ (Pro Max) screensapple.com.

Each generation brought hardware improvements. For example, the iPhone 16 added a new Camera Control button (a capacitive side button for shutter and zoom)techradar.com and moved to Apple’s A18 chip with more RAMtechradar.comtechradar.com. The iPhone 17 Pro models push this further: they include a new A19 Pro processor (40% better sustained performance than A18 Pro) and triple 48MP camerasapple.comapple.com. Despite these advances, all models continue to run iOS with multi-year support for updates.

Design and Build Quality

The iPhone 17 Pro series introduced a fresh look with vibrant new colors (deep blue, cosmic orange, and silver) and a vertical triple-camera layoutapple.comtechradar.com. Its aluminum unibody uses a “forged plateau” to allow a larger battery, while integrated antennas and a vapor chamber improve thermal performanceapple.com. The front and back glass are covered by Ceramic Shield 2, which Apple says has 3× better scratch resistanceapple.com. Water and dust resistance remain IP68 (up to 6m) on all recent modelsfreditech.com.

Previous models had slightly different materials: for instance, the iPhone 16 Pro Max used a Grade 5 titanium frame with a matte glass back, making it strong yet relatively lightfreditech.com. The standard 15/16 models use aerospace-grade aluminum rails and textured glass backs. In all cases Apple’s focus is on premium feel and durability. For example, the iPhone 16 Pro Max’s Ceramic Shield front is “2× tougher than any smartphone glass”freditech.com. Overall, the new iPhones balance sleek looks with practical strength; users can upgrade without worrying about fragile builds.

Display and Audio

All models use high-quality OLED “Super Retina XDR” displays. The base iPhone 15 and 16 have a 6.1-inch OLED panel (2556×1179 resolution, ~460 ppi) with a 60 Hz refresh ratet. These screens reach very high brightness: TechRadar measured up to 2,000 nits on the iPhone 15 in HDR modetechradar.com. However, unlike Pro models, they do not support adaptive refresh (ProMotion) or an always-on display. In 2025, the iPhone 17 Pro models step up to 6.3-inch and 6.9-inch OLED displays that do offer ProMotion (up to 120 Hz) and Always-On modesapple.com. Apple also claims these 17 Pro displays hit 3,000 nits peak brightness outdoors – the brightest ever on an iPhoneapple.com, ensuring excellent visibility even in sunlight.

Audio is handled via stereo speakers (bottom speaker plus earpiece), supporting Spatial Audio and Dolby Atmos. In tests, iPhone audio is clear and loud. For listening, all recent iPhones are limited to wireless earbuds or Lightning/USB-C headphones; none have a 3.5 mm jack. Overall the display and sound systems across these models are class-leading for smartphones, with the main differences being refresh rate and brightness in the newest Pro models.

Performance and Hardware

Under the hood, Apple’s custom silicon provides top-tier performance. The iPhone 15 lineup is powered by the A16 Bionic chip (5‑core GPU, 6‑core CPU, 16‑core Neural Engine). The iPhone 16 jumped to a new A18 chip: still 6‑core CPU, but with a 5‑core GPU and 16‑core Neural Enginetechradar.com. According to Apple, the A18 is roughly 30% faster GPU and 40% faster CPU than the A16, which translates to much smoother gaming and processing. The iPhone 17 Pro ups the ante with the A19 Pro, which Apple says yields 40% better sustained performance than A18 Pro thanks to an improved thermal design. The A19 Pro has a 6‑core CPU, a 6‑core GPU (with built-in Neural Accelerators), and a 16‑core Neural Engine, enabling advanced on-device AI and graphics (e.g. ray tracing in games)apple.com.

Memory also increased: the iPhone 16 and later models come with 8 GB RAM in the base/non-Pro versions, versus 6 GB in the iPhone 15. This extra RAM helps with multitasking and is required for Apple’s new on-device AI features (dubbed Apple Intelligence)techradar.com. In practical terms, all these phones feel very fast in everyday use – loading apps, browsing, or editing photos is smooth. Apple’s official benchmarks suggest multi-core CPU performance is substantially higher each year.

Connectivity-wise, all models use USB-C ports (introduced with iPhone 15) for charging and data. Note that Apple limits these to USB 2.0 speeds (~480 Mb/s, or ~60 MB/s file transfer)techradar.com. Wireless features are state-of-the-art: every model supports 5G (sub-6 GHz in all regions, and mmWave in the U.S.), as well as Wi-Fi 6/7, Bluetooth 6, and Thread (for smart home devices) via Apple’s new N1 wireless chipapple.com. In summary, each new iPhone generation delivers a healthy bump in raw power, so whether you game or just browse, these phones stay fast for years.

Camera System

Apple significantly upgraded cameras over the past three generations. The iPhone 15 (base) has a dual-camera rear system: a 48 MP main (wide) lens and a 12 MP ultra-wide lenstechradar.com. The 48 MP sensor (same one from last year’s Pro) shoots 24 MP photos by default using pixel-binning and Apple’s Photonic Engine for better detail and low-light performance. It also provides a 2× optical-equivalent zoom by cropping the center of the sensor (yielding a 12 MP image) – effectively an “optical-quality” zoom without a separate telephoto lenstechradar.com. The front TrueDepth (selfie) camera is 12 MP on the 15/16 base models.

The iPhone 16 (base) keeps essentially the same camera hardware as the 15 (48 MP + 12 MP). The main change is the new Camera Control side button (on iPhone 16) for quick shooting gesturestechradar.com, and software tweaks. Apple confusingly labeled the 16’s sensor the “Fusion Camera,” but it is the same 48 MP main cameratechradar.com. Portrait, Night, and Cinematic modes work similarly on both.

On the high end, the iPhone 17 Pro/Pro Max have Apple’s most advanced camera system. All three rear lenses are now 48 MP Fusion sensorsapple.com. The new telephoto lens is 4× optical (100 mm) and allows an 8× “optical-quality” zoom (a 200 mm cropped view) thanks to a 56% larger sensor and a tetraprism design. This setup yields brighter, sharper long-range shots than any prior iPhone. Apple says its updated Photonic Engine (image pipeline) uses more ML to preserve detail and color accuracy. The ultra-wide is 48 MP as well, and all Pro models still support LiDAR for depth and AR. The front camera jumps to 18 MP with autofocus and center-stage framing, a big jump for selfies and video callsapple.com.

In practice, the base iPhone 15/16 already beat previous models in quality, delivering natural colors and detailtechradar.com. The iPhone 17 Pro cameras go further: reviewers note far better low-light and zoom performance than on iPhone 16 Pro. Apple also added pro-grade video features (ProRes RAW, Apple Log 2) and increased video zoom up to 40×apple.com. Overall, if photography is a priority, the iPhone 17 Pro/Max are the best iPhones yet. For general users, the iPhone 16 offers nearly the same base camera experience as the 15 (4K60 recording, Portrait mode, etc.), but the 17’s new hardware is unmatched.

Battery Life and Charging

Each iPhone generation has modest battery gains. Officially, Apple rates the iPhone 15 as up to ~20 hours of continuous video playback. The iPhone 16 extends that to ~22 hours (according to Apple’s own tests)techradar.com. Leaked capacity data (unverified) suggest the iPhone 16’s battery is ~3,561 mAh vs ~3,349 mAh in the 15techradar.com – a small increase. In real-world mixed-use tests, both easily lasted a full day, with the 16 holding a few extra hours in video or gaming. The iPhone 17 Pro Max, with its larger body, reportedly includes an even bigger battery; Apple claims the iPhone 17 series now has the best battery life ever on an iPhoneapple.com.

All models support fast charging via USB-C. The iPhone 15/16 can charge at up to ~20–30 W (Apple recommends ≥20 W adapters), and 17 supports ~40 W charging (50% in 20 minutes with a 40 W adapter)apple.com. They also offer MagSafe wireless charging (up to 15–25 W) and Qi charging. Notably, the iPhone 17 introduced an optional 40 W “Dynamic Power Adapter” for faster chargingapple.com. However, unlike some Android phones, none of these iPhones support reverse charging. In daily use, an iPhone 15/16 will get most users through 16–20 hours of use, while the iPhone 17 Pro Max should run even longer. Battery life varies by usage (video, gaming, 5G, etc.), but all recent iPhones are optimized well enough that battery drain is minimal for average tasks.

Software, AI, and Ecosystem

All iPhones run Apple’s iOS operating system. The iPhone 15 shipped with iOS 17, the 16 with iOS 18, and the 17 series debuted with iOS (likely iOS 19 or Apple’s new numbering) in 2025. Users can expect roughly 5–6 years of OS updates. iOS 18/19 introduced new AI-powered features (Apple Intelligence) like on-device Siri improvements and generative AI tools. Critically, these require the extra RAM/Neural hardware in the iPhone 16/17 – the iPhone 15 does not support these AI featurestechradar.com.

On the ecosystem side, iPhones excel at services integration: seamless iCloud backups, FaceTime, iMessage, Apple Pay (with FaceID security), Fitness tracking, and more. All recent models have Face ID facial recognition, emergency features like Crash Detection, and Emergency SOS via satellite (in supported regions)apple.com. The iPhone 17 went fully digital SIM: it uses dual eSIMs (no physical SIM slot) for cellular, which is more secure and convenient for travelingapple.com. Accessories work across models: e.g., MagSafe chargers, AirPods, and Apple Watch. Overall, Apple’s tightly integrated software/hardware creates a polished user experience. For example, new iPhones can automatically unlock Macs or sync with CarPlay without manual setup.

Pricing and Value

iPhones are premium-priced devices. At launch, the iPhone 15 base model (128 GB) started at $799techradar.com. The iPhone 16 also launched at $799 for 128 GBtechradar.com (with $899 for 256 GB, $1099 for 512 GB). The iPhone 17 base model is expected around the same entry price (reports suggest ~$799), with Pro models adding $200 or more. Keep in mind storage increases cost significantly. Apple and carriers often offer trade-in credits and payment plans, which can lower net cost. Moreover, iPhones tend to have strong resale value – a 1‑year‑old iPhone often fetches 50–70% of its original price.

In terms of value, the iPhone 16 (especially on sale) now undercuts some flagship Androids while offering similar speed and cameras. The 17 Pro, however, is at the very top end of pricing. Whether it’s “worth it” depends on usage: for top-notch camera, battery, and future-proofing, the latest Pro models justify their cost for enthusiasts. For casual users or those upgrading from an older iPhone, the iPhone 15 or 16 still deliver excellent performance and features (similar to the iPhone 14 Pro in many respects) at a lower price point.

Conclusion

The iPhone 15, 16, and 17 series each represent iterative improvements in Apple’s flagship lineup. The iPhone 16 was hailed as “elevating the base to new heights”, bringing the Pro’s power to the standard modelstechradar.com. It narrowed the gap so much that reviewers noted the 16 felt very close to the Pro versions. The iPhone 17 Pro and Pro Max take the crown for the absolute highest performance and camera capability: triple 48 MP lenses, 4×–8× optical zoom, and Apple’s fastest-ever A19 Pro chip. Battery life on the 17 Pro Max is also the best ever in an iPhoneapple.com.

For most users, any of these iPhones will feel fast and capable. If camera quality and future AI features are a priority, the iPhone 17 Pro/Max (or 16 Pro/Max) are the best choices; the iPhone 17 Pro offers the most advanced photography toolsapple.com. If you value price and size, the standard iPhone 15 or 16 still deliver a superb all-around experience (great camera, display, and performance) at a more affordable cost. In any case, Apple’s ecosystem, long-term software support, and build quality make even the older models feel “premium.”

Frequently Asked Questions

What are the main differences between iPhone 15, 16, and 17?

• Chips & performance: iPhone 15 uses A16 (or A17 Pro on 15 Pro), iPhone 16 moves to A18 on standard models, and iPhone 17 Pro models jump to A19 Pro. Expect step-ups in CPU/GPU and Apple-Intelligence features with each generation. :contentReference[oaicite:0]{index=0}
• New controls: iPhone 16 adds the two-stage Camera Control hardware button to all models for half-press focus / full-press shutter and gesture zoom. :contentReference[oaicite:1]{index=1}
• Cameras: iPhone 15/16 non-Pro have dual cameras; iPhone 17 Pro models have three 48 MP rear sensors (Main, Ultra-Wide, Telephoto). The 17 Pro’s tele is 100 mm (4×) with “8× optical-quality” from the 48 MP sensor crop. :contentReference[oaicite:2]{index=2}
• Design: iPhone 16 standard models switch to a vertical dual-camera layout (15 was diagonal); iPhone 17 Pro series introduces a refreshed chassis and larger batteries. :contentReference[oaicite:3]{index=3}
• Battery & charging: Apple rates iPhone 15 at up to 20 hrs video playback (15 Plus 26), iPhone 16 at 22 hrs (16 Plus 27), and iPhone 17 Pro/Pro Max at 33/39 hrs. iPhone 17 supports up to ~40 W for 50% in ~20 min (USB-C). :contentReference[oaicite:4]{index=4}
• Software & AI: All run current iOS, but many Apple Intelligence features require 15 Pro, 16/16 Pro, or 17 hardware; broader AI set on 16/17. :contentReference[oaicite:5]{index=5}
• SIM: iPhone 15/16 support nano-SIM + eSIM (and dual eSIM on later models). iPhone 17 and 17 Pro lines have eSIM-only variants in many countries; dual eSIM is supported where eSIM-only. Availability varies by region. :contentReference[oaicite:6]{index=6}
• Durability: Ceramic Shield front on 15/16; iPhone 17 adds Ceramic Shield 2 with Apple claiming up to 3× more scratch resistance, plus IP68 across the range. :contentReference[oaicite:7]{index=7}

Which iPhone has the best camera?

iPhone 17 Pro / Pro Max. All three rear lenses are 48 MP (Main, Ultra-Wide, Telephoto). The new 100 mm (4×) telephoto can deliver an 8× optical-quality view by cropping the 48 MP sensor (and up to 40× digital), improving detail over the 16 Pro’s 5× 12 MP tele in many scenes. Reviews and Apple specs both highlight the leap. :contentReference[oaicite:8]{index=8}

How long do the batteries last?

• iPhone 15: up to 20 hrs video (29 hrs on 15 Pro Max). :contentReference[oaicite:9]{index=9}
• iPhone 16: up to 22 hrs (27 hrs on 16 Plus). :contentReference[oaicite:10]{index=10}
• iPhone 17: up to 30 hrs (standard); 33/39 hrs on 17 Pro/Pro Max — Apple’s longest yet. :contentReference[oaicite:11]{index=11}

Charging: 15/16 fast-charge to ~50% in ~30 min with a 20–30 W adapter; 17 supports up to ~40 W for ~50% in ~20 min (USB-C). :contentReference[oaicite:12]{index=12}

Does the new iPhone have a SIM card or eSIM?

iPhone 15/16: nano-SIM + eSIM (or dual eSIM). iPhone 17 family: Apple sells eSIM-only variants in many countries (two active eSIMs, stores multiple profiles). In some regions, models with a physical tray may still be offered—check your country’s Apple store or carrier. :contentReference[oaicite:13]{index=13}

Is iOS on the latest iPhones more secure or feature-rich?

Yes. Each release adds privacy and safety features system-wide. Many new Apple Intelligence capabilities (on-device generative tools, upgraded Siri, Live Translation) require iPhone 15 Pro or any iPhone 16/17, while the baseline iPhone 15 doesn’t get the full AI set. Security updates (Face ID, anti-phishing, SOS/Crash Detection) continue across supported models. :contentReference[oaicite:14]{index=14}

Are the latest iPhones durable?

All recent models use Ceramic Shield glass and have IP68 water/dust resistance. iPhone 17 adds Ceramic Shield 2, with Apple claiming up to 3× better scratch resistance, plus a sturdier refreshed chassis on Pro models. A case is still smart for drop protection. :contentReference[oaicite:15]{index=15}

Author: Wiredu Fred, Senior Technology Editor with 8+ years of experience reviewing smartphones and consumer gadgets.