Apple iPhone 15 Pro or iPhone 16 Pro: Buy now or wait?

Key Takeaways

Apple’s iPhone 16 Pro is rumoured to offer new colors, a larger display, the A18 chip, 8GB RAM, and a dedicated capture button.
iPhone 15 Pro is still impressive and includes a 48-megapixel camera, a titanium enclosure, the A17 Pro chip, and more at $999.
Consider your needs, financing options and tech preferences before upgrading to iPhone 15 Pro now or waiting for iPhone 16.

If you’re anything like me, you’re always excited for September. It always comes with Apple’s annual release of new iPhones, which consistently stirs up excitement and conversation. The California tech giant is expected to release the iPhone 16, 16 Plus, 16 Pro, and 16 Pro Max this fall. There’s also been some mumbling about an Ultra model iPhone — whether that be a rebranded Pro Max or a new, even higher-end phone is currently impossible to say.

The challenge is that even with this excitement of new phones coming later this year, the best time to buy a new iPhone is when you’re ready. Of course, wise advice isn’t helpful when debating whether to buy the top-end iPhone now or wait a few more months and purchase whatever Apple releases next. Let’s break down what’s coming to the iPhone 16 Pro this fall, how the iPhone 15 Pro stacks up, and what you should generally consider when buying a new iPhone.

iPhone 15 Pro

Apple’s high-end smartphone features the A17 Pro chip, the Action Button, a 48-megapixel main camera and a titanium design.

SoC: A17 Pro
Display: 6.1in, OLED, 2556 x 1179, 460ppi, 2000 nits peak
Storage: 128GB, 256GB, 512GB, 1TB
Battery: 23 hours, fast charge 50% in 30 mins 20W wired, 15W MagSafe, 7.5W Qi wireless
Ports: USB-C
Camera (Rear, Front): 48-megapixel main, f/1.78; 12-megapixel ultrawide, f/2.2; 2x telephoto from main; 12-megapixel 3x telephoto f/2.8; 12-megapixel front, f/1.9
Dimensions: 146.6 x 70.6 x 8.25mm; 187g
Colors: Black Titanium, White Titanium, Blue Titanium, Natural Titanium
IP Rating: IP68
GPU: 6-core
Material: Titanium

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What’s coming to the iPhone 16?

More of the same, mostly

Admittedly, only so much can be changed from year to year regarding a rectangular sheet of metal and glass. Some years are more dramatic than others. 2024 is expected to introduce a new iPhone with a broadly similar design language. The changes we may see include new colors and a slightly larger display allowed by even thinner bezels. Rumor has it that we’ll witness the return of the vertical pill-shaped rear camera bump.

When it comes to the internals, we’ll almost certainly see a new A18 processor — and with the introduction of Apple Intelligence, we may even see 8GB of RAM offered across the board. There may be larger batteries across the lineup, too. In an attempt to further raise prices, we may see the 128GB storage tier drop from the Pro lineup and be replaced with a 256GB base storage option similar to the iPhone 15 Pro Max and the recently released iPad Pro.

It can also act as a dedicated shutter button when configured accordingly.

The final significant change we may see is a dedicated capture button for taking photos. It’s long been possible to take pictures using the volume buttons on your iPhone — and with the introduction of the Action button, it can also act as a dedicated shutter button when configured accordingly. This dedicated capture button would likely be positioned near the lower right corner of the device to mimic the positioning of a traditional camera, making it easier to take photos.

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How does the iPhone 15 Pro stack up?

Very well, actually

The iPhone 15 Pro continues to hold up as a very nice iPhone. Its 48-megapixel camera, combined with a titanium enclosure, continues to impress and feel good in the hand. The iPhone 15 Pro retails for $999 with 128GB of storage, while the iPhone 15 Pro Max starts at $1199 for 256GB.

The iPhone 15 Pro and Pro Max are the only two iPhones currently sold that can support Apple Intelligence coming this fall. The iPhone 15 Pro comes in four relatively muted colors: natural, blue, black, and white titanium. Hardware-wise, the iPhone 15 Pro features an A17 Pro chip, up to 29 hours of battery life for video playback, and a 6.1-inch or 6.7-inch OLED display.

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What should you consider?

Balancing needs, financing, and tech

Comparing the rumored iPhone 16 Pro’s specifications to the currently available iPhone 15 Pro is one thing, but there are several other factors you should weigh when making your decision.

How is your current iPhone holding up? Do you desperately need a new one? Evaluate your available storage, how well your battery is holding up, and the device’s overall physical condition. Suppose you’re running out of storage, or your device is in disrepair. In that case, upgrading now may be a better decision than waiting. If your battery is the only issue, then an inexpensive battery repair may be all you need.

What does financing look like?

iPhones are not cheap. Not by a long shot. Can you afford a new phone now, or do you need to save a little longer? Waiting for new iPhones to come out in the fall can have a double win; not only is the iPhone 16 Pro available if you want it, but if you want the iPhone 15 Pro, the price will likely drop after the iPhone 16 Pro comes out. However, if you do want the iPhone 15 Pro, you’ll need to be quick as Apple often doesn’t continue to carry its previous generation Pros online after release and only keep them in stores for about a week if you’re lucky.

Carriers can be a great resource for scoring a deal on older inventory if they have any in stock. Summers also tend to bring back-to-school deals on current-generation iPhones, where if you wait until the fall, you may not find a financing deal as good until the holidays.

Do you enjoy having the latest tech?

A blue iPhone 15 Pro held in a hand with closed AirPods Pro.

If you prefer the latest and greatest and don’t mind paying for it, then yes, wait for the iPhone 16 Pro. If that isn’t you, then upgrading now isn’t a bad idea. When you don’t particularly care about the tech, get a new phone whenever it is convenient for you — like right now. The iPhone 15 Pro is a fantastic device.

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Buying Advice

Advantages and disadvantages

To the Apple fan who ritually upgrades every year, buying a new phone during the summer can be blasphemy. Yet, there’s no better time to buy a new phone than when you need one. It also doesn’t hurt that the summers tend to bring with them great deals. Let’s round up why you might want to buy an iPhone 15 Pro now or wait for the iPhone 16 Pro in the fall.