iPhone 14 vs 15 buying guide

iPhone 14 vs 15 Buying Guide

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If you’re planning on buying a new iPhone, it can be hard to decide which iPhone is going to be best for you. Do you go with the latest phone, or do you go with a slightly older phone to save on the cost of these expensive handsets?

In this guide, we break down the big differences between the iPhone 14 vs iPhone 15, and which phone’s features and price will be best for your needs.

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iPhone 15 vs 14 features and specs: Quick comparison

Green iPhone 15
iPhone 15, Source: Apple
iPhone 15 iPhone 14
Price From $1,499 From $1,399
Display 6.1-inch Super Retina XDR display with up to 60Hz refresh rate 6.1-inch Super Retina XDR display with up to 60Hz refresh rate
Battery MagSafe and QI wireless charging, up to 20 hours video playback MagSafe and QI wireless charging, up to 20 hours video playback
Chipset A16 Bionic Chip A15 Bionic Chip
Storage 128GB, 256GB, 512GB 128GB, 256GB, 512GB
Rear camera Dual 48MP wide angle and 12MP Ultra-Wide cameras Dual 12MP wide angle and 12MP Ultra-Wide cameras
Front camera 12MP TrueDepth camera 12MP TrueDepth camera
Material Aluminium with colour-infused
glass back, Ceramic Shield front
Aluminium with glass back, Ceramic Shield front
Extras Dynamic Island, USB C charging, 5G connectivity, IP68 water and dust resistance 5G connectivity, IP68 water and dust resistance
Colours Black, Blue, Green, Yellow, Pink Midnight, Starlight, Blue,  Purple, (PRODUCT) Red, Yellow

iPhone 14 vs iPhone 15 design and colours

Both phones feature an almost identical design, as Apple tends to keep the look of its iPhones the same each year. The colour options are the biggest differences and you’ll also find the iPhone 15’s colour choices tend to be paler than the iPhone 14 colours. The iPhone 15 uses aluminium with a colour-infused glass back, whereas the iPhone 14 has aluminium with a glass back.

The iPhone 14 is available in Blue, Purple, Midnight, Starlight, [PRODUCT] Red and Yellow colour options, while the iPhone 15 is available in Pink, Yellow, Green, Blue and Black colour options.

iPhone 14 vs 15 price and storage

At launch, the iPhone 14 started at $1,399 AUD and comes in three storage sizes:

  • 128GB: $1,399 AUD
  • 256GB: $1,579 AUD
  • 512GB: $1,899 AUD

As the iPhone 14 is now an older model, prices for the above devices may be reduced.

The iPhone 15 price starts at $1,499 AUD and comes in three storage sizes:

  • 128GB: $1,499 AUD
  • 256GB: $1,699 AUD
  • 512GB: $2,049 AUD

iPhone 14 vs 15 display and size

The iPhone 14 features a 6.1 inch Super Retina XDR display, with a height of 146.7mm, width of 71.5mm, depth of 7.80mm and it weighs 172 grams.

The iPhone 15 also features a 6.1 inch Super Retina XDR display and is slightly larger than the iPhone 14, but slightly lighter, with a height of 147.6mm, width of 71.6mm, depth of 7.80mm and weighs 171 grams. Both phones include up to 60Hz refresh rate.

iPhone 14 vs 15 battery and charging

On paper, the battery for the iPhone 15 vs 14 hasn’t changed much. Both devices have up to 80 hours of audio playback, up to 20 hours of video playback and up to 16 hours of streamed video playback. Both phones are MagSafe, Qi2 and Qi wireless charging and are fast-charge capable of up to 50% charge in 30 minutes using a 20W charger or higher.

iPhone 14 vs 15 cameras

The iPhone 15 has some serious camera upgrades when comparing the iPhone 14 vs iPhone 15.

The iPhone 14 has a dual 12MP camera system with 12MP main and 12MP ultra-wide cameras with a 12MP front-facing TrueDepth camera. You’ll also get .5x and 1x optical zoom and a range of other features.

Meanwhile, the iPhone 15 saw some big camera upgrades with an advanced dual-camera system with 48MP main camera and 12MP ultra-wide camera, plus a 12MP front-facing TrueDepth camera. You’ll also get .5x, 1x and 2x optical zoom, along with a range of other features including improved portrait shots with focus and depth control and super-high resolution photos.

iPhone 14 vs 15 processor and features

iPhone 14 in pruple
iPhone 14, Source: Apple

While Apple didn’t upgrade the iPhone 15 to the latest processor (included in the iPhone 15 Pro and Pro Max), it was still an upgrade compared to the iPhone 14. The iPhone 14 includes Apple’s A15 Bionic chip with 6-core CPU, 5-core GPU and 16-core Neural Engine. The iPhone 15 includes the A16 Bionic chip with 6-core CPU, 5-core GPU and 16-core Neural Engine.

Apple introduced the Dynamic Island feature for the iPhone 15 (which was launched with the iPhone 14 Pro but not included on the iPhone 14). The iPhone 15 also includes USB-C instead of Apple’s Lightning connection. Both phones are IP68 water and dust resistant and includes 5G connectivity, emergency SOS via satellite and Crash Detection.

iPhone 15 vs 14 — the verdict

The iPhone 15 carries some incremental upgrades to the iPhone 14, but it does include a couple features the iPhone 14 doesn’t — most notably the addition of Dynamic Island and USB C charging. You’ll also get the improved camera upgrade and processor, although that is where the most notable upgrades end.

Now that the iPhone 14 is a slightly older phone, you might be able to pick it up for a cheaper price than its original launch price. If you’re not too fussed about the latest upgraded features and you’re happy with Apple tech that is now a couple years old, the iPhone 14 could offer a better value for money proposition.

However, if you’re really looking at future-proofing your phone, the iPhone 15 might include the upgrades and bonus features that could make it worth the higher price.

Ultimately, cost and features will determine whether the iPhone 14 or the iPhone 15 is the best phone for your needs.


Related: iPhone 15 Plus review: Tougher, brighter, and better on battery life


iPhone 14 vs iPhone 15 phone plans

The following table compares a selection of 24-month 128GB iPhone 15 plans as published on Canstar Blue’s database, listed in order of their standard monthly cost, from the lowest to highest and then by data allowance, largest to smallest. Use our phone plan comparison tool to compare plans from a range of providers. This is a selection of products with links to a referral partner.

iPhone 14 Pro vs 15 Pro features and specs: Quick comparison

iPhone 15 Pro being held
iPhone 15 Pro, Source: Emma Bradstock/Canstar Blue

Want to go Pro? Compare the iPhone 14 Pro vs 15 Pro specs and features in the below table.

iPhone 15 Pro iPhone 14 Pro
Price From $1,849 From $1,749
Display 6.1-inch Super Retina XDR, ProMotion (120HZ refresh rate), Always-On display 6.1-inch Super Retina XDR, ProMotion (120HZ refresh rate), Always-On display
Battery MagSafe and QI wireless charging, up to 23 hours video playback MagSafe and QI wireless charging, up to 23 hours video playback
Chipset A17 Pro Chip A16 Bionic Chip
Storage 128GB, 256GB, 512GB, 1TB 128GB, 256GB, 512GB, 1TB
Rear camera Triple 48MP main, 12MP Ultra-Wide and 12MP Telephoto cameras Triple 48MP main, 12MP Ultra-Wide and 12MP Telephoto cameras
Front camera 12MP TrueDepth camera 12MP TrueDepth camera
Material Titanium with textured
matte glass back,  Ceramic Shield front
Stainless steel with textured matte glass back, Ceramic Shield front
Extras Action button, Dynamic Island, USB C charging connectivity, 5G connectivity, IP68 water and dust resistance Dynamic Island, 5G connectivity, IP68 water and dust resistance
Colours Black Titanium, Blue Titanium, White Titanium, Natural Titanium Gold, Silver, Deep Purple, Space Black

The following table compares a selection of 24-month 128GB iPhone 15 Pro plans as published on Canstar Blue’s database, listed in order of their standard monthly cost, from the lowest to highest and then by data allowance, largest to smallest. Use our phone plan comparison tool to compare plans from a range of providers. This is a selection of products with links to a referral partner.


Related: iPhone 15 Pro review: Is it worth the upgrade?


iPhone 14 Pro Max vs 15 Pro Max features and specs: Quick comparison

Back of iPhone 14 Pro max in Space Black
iPhone 14 Pro Max, Source: Emma Bradstock/Canstar Blue

Want a Pro experience but with a bigger screen? Compare the iPhone 14 Pro Max vs 15 Pro Max specs and features in the below table.

iPhone 15 Pro Max iPhone 14 Pro Max
Price From $2,199 From $1,899
Display 6.7-inch Super Retina XDR, ProMotion (120HZ refresh rate), Always-On display 6.7-inch Super Retina XDR, ProMotion (120HZ refresh rate), Always-On display
Battery MagSafe and QI wireless charging, up to 29 hours video playback MagSafe and QI wireless charging, up to 29 hours video playback
Chipset A17 Pro Chip A16 Bionic Chip
Storage 256GB, 512GB, 1TB 128GB, 256GB, 512GB, 1TB
Rear camera Triple 48MP main, 12MP Ultra-Wide and 12MP Telephoto cameras Triple 48MP main, 12MP Ultra-Wide and 12MP Telephoto cameras
Front camera 12MP TrueDepth camera 12MP TrueDepth camera
Material Titanium with textured
matte glass back,  Ceramic Shield front
Stainless steel with textured matte glass back, Ceramic Shield front
Extras Action button, Dynamic Island, USB C charging connectivity, 5G connectivity, IP68 water and dust resistance Dynamic Island, 5G connectivity, IP68 water and dust resistance
Colours Black Titanium, Blue Titanium, White Titanium, Natural Titanium Gold, Silver, Deep Purple, Space Black

The following table compares a selection of 24-month 256GB iPhone 15 Pro Max plans as published on Canstar Blue’s database, listed in order of their standard monthly cost, from the lowest to highest and then by data allowance, largest to smallest. Use our phone plan comparison tool to compare plans from a range of providers. This is a selection of products with links to a referral partner.

Emma Bradstock
Telco Specialist
Emma Bradstock has been an authority on consumer phone, internet, technology and streaming markets in Australia for the last 5 years. She holds a Bachelor of Arts in Communications and Media from Macquarie University and has a decade of professional writing experience in print and digital media.

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