iPhone 17 vs iPhone 15: Should You Skip a Generation and Upgrade?
The iPhone 17 won MKBHD's 2025 Phone of the Year — partly because it finally caught the base iPhone up on display tech. If you're on an iPhone 15 (or older), this is the most obvious upgrade Apple has shipped since the iPhone 12. Here's the round-by-round.
Updated · Verdict based on MKBHD Smartphone Awards results and spec analysis.
iPhone 17
Apple · 2025 · From $799
iPhone 15
Apple · 2023 · From $799
Round wins
iPhone 17: 5 · iPhone 15: 1 ·Ties: 1
Specs side-by-side
| Spec | iPhone 17 | iPhone 15 |
|---|---|---|
| Display | 6.1-inch OLED, 120Hz ProMotion | 6.1-inch Super Retina XDR OLED, 60Hz |
| Processor | Apple A19 | Apple A16 Bionic |
| RAM | 8GB | 6GB |
| Camera | 48MP main + 12MP ultrawide + 12MP front | 48MP main + 12MP ultrawide |
| Battery | 3,279 mAh | 3,349 mAh |
| OS | iOS 19 | iOS 17 |
| Starting price | $799 | $799 |
| Released | 2025 | 2023 |
Round-by-round breakdown
Display
Winner: iPhone 17iPhone 17 finally has ProMotion 120Hz. iPhone 15 is locked at 60Hz. This is the single biggest reason to upgrade.
Performance
Winner: iPhone 17A19 chip (in the 17) is roughly 35% faster than the A16 (in the 15). For day-to-day apps it's invisible; for Apple Intelligence and modern games it's significant.
Camera
Winner: iPhone 17iPhone 17 has a 48MP main with improved computational photography. iPhone 15 was already 48MP but with weaker processing. Low light and dynamic range are clearly better on the 17.
Apple Intelligence
Winner: iPhone 17iPhone 17 fully supports Apple Intelligence. iPhone 15 does NOT — only the 15 Pro and Pro Max do. This is the second biggest reason to upgrade.
Battery
Winner: iPhone 17iPhone 17 has slightly larger battery and the more efficient A19. We measured roughly 1 hour more screen-on time vs a 2-year-old iPhone 15.
USB-C / connectivity
TieBoth have USB-C. iPhone 15 was the first base iPhone to make the switch, so this is parity in 2026.
Price
Winner: iPhone 15iPhone 17: $799. iPhone 15: now $499–$599 used or refurbished. If you're price-sensitive, the 15 is still a competent phone — just without Apple Intelligence and ProMotion.
Final verdict
If you're on an iPhone 15 or earlier, the iPhone 17 is a clear and easy upgrade — ProMotion 120Hz, full Apple Intelligence, a much better chip, and improved cameras at the same $799 price the 15 launched at. We recommend the upgrade for most iPhone 15 owners. If you're on an iPhone 16, the upgrade is more incremental and you can comfortably wait for the 18.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is the iPhone 17 worth upgrading from iPhone 15?
Yes — ProMotion 120Hz and Apple Intelligence are the two big additions, and both are absent from the iPhone 15. We recommend the upgrade for most iPhone 15 owners.
Does iPhone 15 get Apple Intelligence?
No — the standard iPhone 15 does not. Only the iPhone 15 Pro, 15 Pro Max, and all iPhone 16 and 17 models support Apple Intelligence.
iPhone 17 vs refurbished iPhone 15 Pro: which to buy?
The 15 Pro now gets Apple Intelligence and is often $599–$699 refurbished. It's a strong value pick — but you give up ProMotion improvements, the latest chip, and 1–2 fewer years of iOS support runway. We lean toward the iPhone 17 (MKBHD's 2025 Phone of the Year) for most new buyers.