Phone vs phone
iPhone 16 vs iPhone 15
Same question, two phones: which costs less over a 24-month contract, which is cheaper to buy outright, and what you actually get for the difference.
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Which is cheaper over 24 months?
iPhone 15 — its best deal costs £541.96 including April rises, £168 less than the iPhone 16.
Which has the bigger screen and battery?
Screen: iPhone 16 6.1″, iPhone 15 6.1″. Battery: iPhone 16 3,561 mAh, iPhone 15 3,877 mAh.
Is it cheaper to buy either one outright?
iPhone 16: £943 SIM-free plus SIM only. iPhone 15: £673. Compare with the contract totals above.
iPhone 16£709.96
iPhone 15£541.96True total of the cheapest deal, April rises included
Live from retailers, rises estimated for a contract starting this month.
The iPhone 15 is the cheaper of the two today: its best contract costs £541.96 over 24 months with April rises, against £709.96 for the iPhone 16 — a gap of £168, or about £7 a month.
Prices checked 27 October 2026 · How we compare
iPhone 16 vs iPhone 15, side by side
| iPhone 16 | iPhone 15 | |
|---|---|---|
| True total (24 months) | £709.96 | £541.96 |
| Cheapest network | iD Mobile | iD Mobile |
| Upfront on that deal | £19 | £139 |
| Monthly on that deal | £26.99 | £14.99 |
| Lowest monthly anywhere | £11.95 | £11.95 |
| SIM-free price from | £799 | £529 |
| SIM-free + SIM only, 24 months | £943 | £673 |
| Contract deals tracked | 2,064 | 807 |
| Screen | 6.1 inches | 6.1 inches |
| Battery | 3,561 mAh | 3,877 mAh |
| Storage | 128GB | 128GB |
| Weight | 170 g | 171 g |
| Released | September 2024 | September 2023 |
| Colours on sale | 5 | 4 |
Highlighted = better on that line. Prices live from retailers; specifications from our data partner’s catalogue.
Network by network
If you already know which network you want, here is the cheapest deal for each phone on it, April rises included.
| Network | iPhone 16 | iPhone 15 | Difference |
|---|---|---|---|
| iD Mobile | £709.96 | £541.96 | £168 |
| Talkmobile | £745.80 | £641.80 | £104 |
| Vodafone | £829 | £649 | £180 |
| Three | £872.20 | £732.20 | £140 |
| O2 | £991 | £639 | £352 |
Our verdict
On price, the iPhone 15 wins: £168 less over two years once each network’s April rises are counted. That is £7 a month — enough to matter unless the iPhone 16 does something you need.
On the spec sheet, the iPhone 15 has the larger battery (3,877 mAh), the iPhone 16 is the newer phone (September 2024).
Buying outright: iPhone 16 SIM-free plus SIM only costs £943, more than its cheapest contract; the iPhone 15 costs £673, more than its contract.
Pick the iPhone 16 if…
- You prefer a lighter phone
- You want the newer model with longer support ahead
Pick the iPhone 15 if…
- You want to pay less on the day — from £0 upfront vs £9
- You want the lower total — £168 less over 24 months
- Battery size matters most to you
FAQ
iPhone 16 vs iPhone 15 questions
Which is cheaper, the iPhone 16 or the iPhone 15?
The iPhone 15. Its cheapest contract costs £541.96 over 24 months including April rises, £168 less than the iPhone 16 (£709.96).
What is the cheapest network for each?
For the iPhone 16 it is iD Mobile (£19 upfront, £26.99 a month); for the iPhone 15 it is iD Mobile (£139 upfront, £14.99 a month).
Is the iPhone 16 bigger than the iPhone 15?
The iPhone 16 has a 6.1-inch screen and the iPhone 15 a 6.1-inch screen; they weigh 170 g and 171 g.
How much are they to buy outright?
SIM-free, the iPhone 16 starts at £799 and the iPhone 15 at £529, from retailers we track.