Should You Upgrade from the iPhone 15 Pro to the iPhone 16 Pro?
A spec-by-spec look at what actually changes when you move from the iPhone 15 Pro to the iPhone 16 Pro, 1 year apart.
Yes — the iPhone 16 Pro is a worthwhile upgrade
The iPhone 16 Pro is 1 year newer than the iPhone 15 Pro, and both phones land on almost the same BeastScore (76.0 vs 76.0). The biggest improvements: 308 mah bigger battery, 10w faster wireless charging, 0.2" larger screen. Trade-offs to know: 12 g heavier.
What you gain with the iPhone 16 Pro
- +308 mAh bigger battery
- +10W faster wireless charging
- +0.2" larger screen
- +Longer optical zoom (+2x)
What you give up
- −12 g heavier
| Spec | iPhone 15 Pro | iPhone 16 Pro | Change |
|---|---|---|---|
| BeastScore (overall) | 76.0 | 76.0 | No real change |
| Performance score | 80 | 80 | No real change |
| Camera score | 85 | 85 | No real change |
| Battery score | 58 | 58 | No real change |
| Display score | 88 | 88 | No real change |
| Battery capacity | 3,274 mAh | 3,582 mAh | +308 mAh (9%) |
| Wired charging | 27W | 27W | No real change |
| Wireless charging | 15W | 25W | +10W (67%) |
| Screen size | 6.1" | 6.3" | +0.2" (3%) |
| Refresh rate | 120Hz | 120Hz | No real change |
| Peak brightness | 2,000 nits | 2,000 nits | No real change |
| Main camera | 48 MP | 48 MP | No real change |
| Optical zoom | 3x | 5x | +2x (67%) |
| RAM | 8 GB | 8 GB | No real change |
| Weight | 187 g | 199 g | +12 g (6%) |
| Launch price | $999 | $999 | No real change |
Upgrade if…
- You regularly run out of battery before the end of the day
- You shoot a lot of zoom and telephoto photos
iPhone 15 Pro vs iPhone 16 Pro: Upgrade FAQ
Is it worth upgrading from the iPhone 15 Pro to the iPhone 16 Pro?
Yes — the iPhone 16 Pro is a worthwhile upgrade. The iPhone 16 Pro is 1 year newer than the iPhone 15 Pro, and both phones land on almost the same BeastScore (76.0 vs 76.0). The biggest improvements: 308 mah bigger battery, 10w faster wireless charging, 0.2" larger screen. Trade-offs to know: 12 g heavier.
What is the biggest difference between the iPhone 15 Pro and iPhone 16 Pro?
308 mAh bigger battery: 3,274 mAh on the iPhone 15 Pro vs 3,582 mAh on the iPhone 16 Pro.
Does the iPhone 16 Pro have a bigger battery than the iPhone 15 Pro?
The iPhone 16 Pro has a 3,582 mAh battery versus 3,274 mAh on the iPhone 15 Pro (+308 mAh (9%)).
Who should upgrade to the iPhone 16 Pro?
Upgrade if: You regularly run out of battery before the end of the day; You shoot a lot of zoom and telephoto photos.