iPhone 15 Review: Is It Worth Buying in 2026?

✨ Quick takeaways on the iPhone 15 series

The base model iPhone 15 and the iPhone 15 Plus are a little dated by now due to their lack of Apple Intelligence. However, they are still very capable phones for everyday use like email, web browsing, watching videos, playing games and messaging. Both have batteries that will last most of the day under continuous use.

The iPhone 15 Pro and Pro Max benefit from both Apple Intelligence and a much better 120 Hz ProMotion display. They're also made from lighter, stronger titanium. The battery life of the Pro is admittedly disappointing, but there's plenty of juice in the Pro Max. The bottom line? Right now, there's no need to go rushing out to get the latest model. The iPhone 15 range can still provide all but the very best performance and features. This makes them the smart, value-for-money options.

Why you can trust this review

We appraise smartphones every day and have done so for many years. This hands-on experience is combined with the expertise of our third-party refurbishers to give us deep insights into every model on the market. We know how they compare with each other and what our customers are really looking for. Whether it's an in-depth iPhone 15 camera review, a guide to iPhone 15 storage options or an honest, realistic iPhone 15 battery life review, we always provide the most objective opinions possible to help you decide which iPhone is right for you.

What are the iPhone 15 series highlights?

Let’s first list some of the standout features across the whole iPhone 15 series before we look at each model in depth:

• Dynamic Island for alerts and in-progress background activity

• Haptic Touch to get things done faster

• Wide colour (P3)

• 2000 nits peak brightness

• Support for multiple characters and languages on the display simultaneously

• Advanced dual camera system

• 2x optical zoom

• 4K video recording

• Face ID

• Emergency SOS via satellite

Why is the iPhone 15 base model the sensible value play?

Expect more additional features than the last Apple series upgrade, and the iPhone 15 camera is seriously better. While the price can be a little high compared to Androids, this is true for all iPhones, not just the 15 series, and Apple users are typically happy to pay a little extra for a brand that delivers what they want. Compared to the iPhone 14 series, this strikes a neat balance between enough innovation to make the upgrade worthwhile and enough familiarity to make using it comfortable. An independent iPhone 15 battery review also gives it high marks for all-day life. This remains one of the best value iPhones, as one Reddit reviewer enthused: "I’ve had it for a little over a month now, coming from a 13PM and don’t regret it at all… the size is perfect, cameras are amazing…" An honest iPhone 15 review should highlight that the base and Plus models lack Apple Intelligence. This matters if you use Siri a lot, because Apple Intelligence has a better understanding of language and context. It's also integrated into several productivity apps. This enhances your ability to generate your own text, summarise emails and other everyday skills that students and many professions now rely on. However, if you don't do any of this, you won't miss it, as you don’t need it for browsing, texting friends or social media.

✨ The iPhone 15 standard is still very good value for money.

Apple Store price (new): From £699.00

Back Market price (refurbished): From £339*

iPhone 15 pros and cons

✨ The iPhone 15 base model remains a solid entry-level iPhone.

iPhone 15 technical specifications

• Storage: 128 GB / 256 GB / 512 GB

• Memory: 6 GB

• Screen size: 6.1”

• Display: OLED

• Resolution: 2556 x 1179 pixels

• Screen type: Super Retina XDR

• Weight: 171g

• Network: 5G

• Battery life: Around 11 hours of continuous web browsing in real-world testing

• Main camera: 48MP

• Ultra-wide camera: 12MP

• Apple Intelligence: No

• ProMotion technology: No

• MagSafe wireless charging: Yes

• Colours: Pink / Yellow / Green / Blue / Black

✨ The iPhone 15 has impressive specs for a base model.

What makes the iPhone 15 Plus slightly better?

iPhone 15 Plus pros and cons

✨ The iPhone 15 Plus has a larger display than the base model.

iPhone 15 Plus technical specifications

• Storage: 128 GB / 256 GB / 512 GB

• Memory: 6 GB

• Screen size: 6.7”

• Display: OLED

• Resolution: 2796 x 1290 pixels

• Screen type: Super Retina XDR

• Weight: 201g

• Network: 5G

• Battery life: 13 hours 19 minutes of mixed workload in real-world testing

• Main camera: 48MP

• Ultra-wide camera: 12MP

• Apple Intelligence: No

• ProMotion technology: No

• MagSafe wireless charging: Yes

• Colours: Pink / Yellow / Green / Blue / Black

✨ The slightly increased weight is worth the enlarged display.

Why is the iPhone 15 Pro the ideal sweet spot?

iPhone 15 Pro pros and cons

✨ The iPhone 15 Pro has an excellent camera suite.

iPhone 15 Pro technical specifications

• Storage: 128 GB / 256 GB / 512 GB / 1 TB

• Memory: 8 GB

• Screen size: 6.1”

• Display: OLED

• Resolution: 2556 x 1179 pixels

• Screen type: Super Retina XDR

• Weight: 187g

• Network: 5G

• Battery life: About 9 hours 20 minutes of mixed use in real-world testing

• Main camera: 48MP

• Ultra-wide camera: 12MP

• Apple Intelligence: Yes

• ProMotion technology: Yes

• MagSafe wireless charging: Yes

• Colours: Natural Titanium / White Titanium / Blue Titanium / Black Titanium

✨ The iPhone 15 Pro has flagship features without the premium price.

What makes the iPhone 15 Pro Max the aspirational but justifiable stretch?

iPhone 15 Pro Max pros and cons

✨ If you're looking for premium features, try the iPhone 15 Pro Max.

iPhone 15 Pro Max technical specifications

• Storage: 256 GB / 512 GB / 1 TB

• Memory: 8 GB

• Screen size: 6.7”

• Display: OLED

• Resolution: 2796 x 1290 pixels

• Screen type: Super Retina XDR

• Weight: 221g

• Network: 5G

• Battery life: About 11 hours 40 minutes of mixed use in real-world testing

• Main camera: 48MP

• Ultra-wide camera: 12MP

• Apple Intelligence: Yes

• ProMotion technology: Yes

• MagSafe wireless charging: Yes

• Colours: Natural Titanium / White Titanium / Blue Titanium / Black Titanium

✨ The iPhone 15 Pro Max has the most impressive specs of the range.

What’s the difference between the iPhone 15 and the iPhone 16 or 16e?

Compared to the iPhone 15 base model, you can expect improved battery life, a faster chip and additional camera control features, plus Apple Intelligence in the iPhone 16.

If you shop at Back Market, you can save more on a refurbished iPhone 15, with prices starting at just £343.00 for the 128 GB model. This comes complete with a 30-day returns and commercial warranty for a year, giving you complete peace of mind as well as saving you money.

What about the iPhone 16e? Business users and others who want a cheaper iPhone with a more powerful A18 chip can consider this model. It offers very good value for money while sporting features that have near-flagship-level performance, along with a host of Apple Intelligence tools.

The iPhone 16e is a better buy than the iPhone base or Plus models for those who prioritise battery life, Apple Intelligence and performance over extras like Dynamic Island, MagSafe and multiple cameras.

For buyers comparing the iPhone 16e with the iPhone 15 Pro, the choice largely comes down to what you value most from your phone. The 16e is better suited to people who want a newer, faster and more efficient iPhone, particularly if they don't need advanced photography features or premium extras. Its A18 chip also gives it plenty of performance, making it a sensible option for business users and anyone who expects to keep their phone for several years.

The iPhone 15 Pro, however, remains the better choice for buyers who want a more premium smartphone experience. Its ProMotion display, Dynamic Island, titanium design and more versatile camera system give it advantages that the 16e cannot match, particularly for photography, video and users who appreciate a more sophisticated display. If those features matter more to you than having the latest chip, a refurbished iPhone 15 Pro can offer better overall value.

Which iPhone 15 should I buy?

Here's a quick-glance overview of the iPhone 15 models and who they're most suited to.

Shopping tips to get value for money

Frankly, the best shopping tip we can give you to get the best value for your dosh is to buy refurbished rather than new. Don't think that you're getting an inferior product. High-quality refurbished iPhones perform every bit as well as brand-new ones, because they've been meticulously restored to their original specifications. To back this up, you get a 1-year commercial warranty when you buy on Back Market, along with an optional protection plan that entitles you to two free repairs, if necessary. ✨ Go refurbished to get top quality at lower prices.

Why buy a refurbished iPhone 15?

The first benefit is the amount of money you'll save. You'll find refurbished iPhone 15s on Back Market at up to 50% less than buying new. And that's without compromising on performance or quality. All our phones have been meticulously restored inside and out by refurbishment experts. New parts are inserted to replace those that are damaged or worn. After this thorough restoration, each one is tested to ensure that it performs up to the originally specified benchmarks, so that you get a top-quality device.

As one of our customers attests: "Got my iPhone 15 Plus delivered within a few days of ordering. I ordered a refurbished one in very good condition. It was! It was in excellent condition. The battery life is amazing! Around 24 hours. Charging back up is quick." - Deolinda C (verified buyer). We are also completely committed to breaking the cycle of fast tech. By buying refurbished, you'll be playing your own small but invaluable part in this.

Extra cash for your trade-in

If you have old electronic devices lying around in a drawer, turn them into spare money by trading them in. All you have to do is fill in a short spec form and you'll get an instant offer from one of our third-party refurbishers. Like what you see? Then simply ship your device to us for free and the money will arrive in your account within five working days.

*Prices displayed are based on date of publication - prices are subject to change.

*Prices are set by seller and subject to change. The above are taken at time of publication

Final thoughts

This updated iPhone 15 review shows that this series remains an excellent buy in 2026, especially if you choose a refurbished model. All four phones still offer modern essentials like USB-C, Dynamic Island, advanced cameras and years of software support while costing significantly less than new ones. Real-world battery life is still very good, with the iPhone 15 Plus and Pro Max comfortably lasting a full day or more for most users, and the standard iPhone 15 offers dependable all-day performance. The two top models also come with Apple Intelligence.

*Prices displayed are based on date of publication - prices are subject to change.