iPhone 15 Price: Is It a Good Deal?

Every year, Apple unveils the latest version of the iPhone and the tech world buzzes with anticipation, while consumers eagerly await the chance to upgrade their trusty devices. We’ve dived into the details to determine whether the latest model, the iPhone 15, is worth your hard-earned cash.

iPhone 15: How much does it cost?

The price of the base-model iPhone 15 is currently £699 from a wide range of retailers in the UK.

Usually, Apple handsets don’t usually get discounted so soon after release, so the £100 reduction from the launch price is great to see! It brings the iPhone 15 closer in price to some equivalent premium handsets, including the Samsung Galaxy S24 (and also nearer to some powerful mid-range phones on the market).

The base model of the iPhone 15 Plus is £799, the iPhone 15 Pro is £899, and the iPhone 15 Pro Max is £1,099.

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What You Get

Apple knows how to build anticipation. Before the official release, they tease us with sleek promotional videos, showing tantalising glimpses of the new design and promises of groundbreaking features – but does the latest handset live up to the hype?

Well, the iPhone 15 is undoubtedly one of the best mobiles money can buy. It’s a responsive, lightweight, versatile and extremely powerful phone. On top of that, it’s extremely intuitive to use.

If you currently own anything below an iPhone 13 or 12, the step up in performance should be easily noticeable.

However, it’s fair to say that Apple has been more conservative with improvements with each new generation recently, so, people who already own the iPhone 14 or 13 might not be quite as awestruck as those coming from older devices.

So, what do you actually get for your pennies and pounds? Let’s break it down:

Design: Although the design hasn’t changed a huge amount from recent versions, the iPhone 15 is a stunner. It’s thinner, lighter, and more elegant than ever. The ceramic shield front delivers improved durability, and the colours it’s available in are all very easy on the eye.

Display: The Super Retina XDR display is a feast for the eyes. It’s brighter, crisper, and more vibrant than previous iterations. Whether you’re binge-watching your favourite series or editing photos, the screen won’t disappoint.

Performance: Apple’s A16 Bionic chip powers the iPhone 15. It’s faster, smoother and more efficient than almost any other handset on the market, meaning multi-tasking is a doddle and even extremely system-intensive tasks (like 3D gaming) run incredibly.

Camera: The triple-lens camera system is a photographer’s dream. Low-light shots? Check. Portrait mode? Double-check. Also, the cinematic mode (where you can apply a background blur behind your point of focus) is absolutely incredible for budding cinematographers (watch out, Chris Nolan!).

Battery Life: Apple claims all-day battery life, and subsequent third-party testing confirms that you’ll get around 20 hours out of the base model. Translation: you can binge-watch Netflix, scroll through TikTok, and FaceTime your nan without worrying about your phone cutting out mid-conversation.

What’s the difference between the iPhone 15, Plus, Pro and Pro Max?

The main differences between them are camera capabilities, battery life, and processing power. The standard iPhone 15 and 15 Plus have a dual-camera system and the A16 Bionic chip, while the Pro models boast an impressive triple-lens camera with telephoto zoom, a faster A17 Pro chip, and slightly better battery life. The Pro Max also has the biggest display and battery of the bunch and is generally considered to be the best version of the device. All models come in various storage capacities too.

The Catch

But - and there’s always a “but” - the iPhone 15’s price tag isn’t the only hurdle. There are some other omissions that are worth keeping in mind, particularly if you’re coming over from an older Android phone.

1. The Headphone Jack: Remember those quaint little holes where you plugged in your wired earbuds? Yeah, they’re gone. You’ll need to use a dongle or wireless headphones.

2. The Charger: All iPhones do come with a charging cable, but due to Apple’s commitment to environmental friendliness, there won’t be a charging brick/plug head in the box, so you’ll need to buy one of those separately. This is an additional cost that has to be taken into account when comparing it to many other devices. Also, bear in mind that the iPhone 15 is the first Apple phone in years that doesn’t use the Lightning charger (it uses USB-C), so your old Apple cables won’t work with it. A little inconvenient, that.

The Verdict: Should you buy an iPhone 15?

Is the iPhone 15 a good deal? Well, it depends. The discounted price for the base model does bring it closer in line with some less powerful, less refined devices, which means, in context, it looks like decent value.

If you’re a die-hard Apple fan, a status symbol aficionado, or a cutting-edge tech enthusiast with deep pockets, the premium models of the iPhone 15 will likely be good options for you too.

Also, if you’re considering an upgrade from an older iPhone (say, the iPhone 11 or before) then you’ll really notice a difference in the quality and performance of the device, regardless of which model you go for.

But if you’re budget-conscious and still looking for fantastic performance, it may be worth considering other options (including the - still excellent - ranges of the iPhone 14 or 13).

You might also like:

- Gadget insurance with Protect Your Bubble: get your devices covered now*.

- iPhone 15 vs 14 vs 13: Which version of the iPhone 15 should you go for?

- Phone theft hotspots: Is your city on the list?

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