iPhone 15 vs iPhone 13 – how do they compare? 

Compared to the relatively minimal differences and upgrades between iPhone 14 and iPhone 13, the release of iPhone 15 series offers significant modifications compared to iPhone’s slightly older (but arguably still very appealing) models.

As ever, cost is always a consideration when deciding to upgrade. However, with major upgrades in performance, camera quality and beyond, now could be the time to bite the bullet and get your hands on iPhone’s newest model.

Still not sure if you’re ready to move on from your iPhone 13 or not sure which iPhone model to go for next? We’ve put together a comparison between iPhone 15 and iPhone 13 to make the decision a little easier.

Here are the answers to the main questions on peoples’ lips...

• A16 Bionic chip in iPhone 15 vs A15 in iPhone 13
• Brighter display in iPhone 15 screen
• Dynamic Island in iPhone 15 replaces the notch in iPhone 13
• Same storage options
• 48MP main camera in iPhone 15 vs 12MP in iPhone 13
• Similar battery life between iPhone 15 and iPhone 13
• Same charging speeds
• USB-C available in iPhone 15 vs Lightning cable in iPhone 13

This is one of the biggest differences between iPhone 15 and iPhone 13 specs. The new iPhone 15 comes with 48MP main camera with 2X Telephoto vs the 12MP cameras on iPhone 13. Quite a leap.

iPhone 15’s 48MP Main camera shoots in super high resolution. So, it’s easier than ever to take standout photos with amazing detail. The 2x optical-quality Telephoto lets you frame the perfect close-up.

So, if it’s the best photo quality you’re looking for, iPhone 15 is, without doubt, the iPhone model for you. 

iPhone 15 is available in black, blue, pink, green and yellow. iPhone 13 is available in pink, blue, midnight, starlight and product red. Whichever model you choose, there’s still a lot of variety on offer to suit your style. 

In short, iPhone 15 offers around an hour more battery life than iPhone 13. iPhone 13 has a 3,240mAh battery, which is marginally smaller than the 3,349mAh battery in iPhone 15. ²

Apple claims that iPhone 15 can last for an extra hour of video playback or 5 hours of audio playback². In terms of charging, iPhone 15 uses USB-C charging technology whereas iPhone 13 has a lightening port. Both phones offer 20W charging speed.  

The older iPhone 13 comes with a 6.1-inch (diagonally) OLED, Super Retina XDR display, with a maximum refresh rate of 60Hz and a peak brightness of around 1200 nits. It offers a 2532 by 1170-pixel resolution at 460 ppi.

iPhone 15 comes with a higher peak brightness of 2000 nits but maintains the same 60Hz refresh rate. The screen size on iPhone 15 stays the same with a 6.1-inch all-screen OLED, Super Retina XDR display¹. The resolution on this model is very slightly better though, with a 2556 by 1179-pixel resolution at 460 ppi.

Size wise both iPhone 15 and iPhone 13 boast a 6.1-inch screen size. Both models are available with varying memory sizes to suit your needs. 

Size wise both iPhone 15 and iPhone 13 boast a 6.1-inch screen size. Both models are available with varying memory sizes to suit your needs. 

Compared to the 2021 iPhone 13 model, iPhone 15 will be able to handle more tasks simultaneously and feel overall faster. The chipset on iPhone 15 is Apple’s A16 Bionic chip - an upgrade from Apple's A15 Bionic chip present in iPhone 13 and iPhone 14. This doesn’t make a huge difference when it comes to processing power, but it does mean a 24-28% boost in graphics performance in iPhone 15 versus iPhone 13 and iPhone 14.

As mentioned above, iPhone 15 uses USB-C charging technology whereas iPhone 13 has a lightening port. Both phones offer 20W charging speed, though in theory USB-C offers a higher power delivery rate than Lightning and delivers a faster charge under the same voltage. ³

If you’re looking for a charging point that will be compatible with other newer Apple products, and you’re not keen on buying adapters for the Lighting cable, USB-C (available with iPhone 15) is the one to opt for. 

If you already own an iPhone 13 and are looking to upgrade, then iPhone 15 is probably your best choice (over an upgrade to iPhone 14) as it offers significant improvements in multiple areas. You’ll get a far better camera system with new features and improved low-light capabilities for better quality photos around the clock.  The A16 Bionic chip in iPhone 15 offers higher performance in graphic-intensive scenarios.

Design-wise, iPhone 15 features Dynamic Island - offering new functionality and interaction with the phone's User Interface. iPhone 15’s USB-C port can also save you that hassle swapping between different cables if you have other, more recent Apple devices.

If you’re using another handset currently or older iPhone model, making the jump to iPhone 15 now could save you wanting to upgrade to a more sophisticated model further down the line. That said, cost is always a consideration, so if you’re not quite ready to make the jump to iPhone 15, iPhone 13 still has lots of brilliant features that’ll be more than adequate for a lot of users. Or if you want to explore our whole range, check out all our iPhone deals we have on offer today.

¹The display has rounded corners. When measured as a standard rectangle, the screen is 6.12 inches (iPhone 15 Pro, iPhone 15) or 6.69 inches (iPhone 15 Pro Max, iPhone 15 Plus) diagonally. Actual viewable area is less.

²Battery life varies by use and configuration; see apple.com/uk/batteries for more information.