Which iPhone 15 should you get? Comparing price, specs, cameras

It's officially new iPhone season.

Apple gave us all the juicy details on the iPhone 15 lineup during a livestreamed event on Tuesday, revealing what these phones can do and, most importantly, how much they cost. There are four models in total: iPhone 15, iPhone 15 Plus, iPhone 15 Pro, and iPhone 15 Pro Max.

So, what makes these phones different? Let's dig in.

iPhone 15 and 15 Plus specs and cameras

Let's start with the basic iPhone 15 model. Important new features Apple bolted onto these phones this year include a USB-C charging port and the addition of last year's standout Dynamic Island feature, which was previously only available on Pro models. Aside from those two physical changes, most of the alterations you need to know about are internal.

Here's how the basic iPhone 15 and 15 Plus specs shake out:

• iPhone 15: 6.1-inch display

• iPhone 15 Plus: 6.7-inch display

• Refresh rate: 60Hz refresh rate on both phones

• Storage options: 128GB, 256GB, or 512GB storage options

• Chips: A16 Bionic chipset

• Cameras: 48MP main camera lens (iPhone 14 was only 12MP); 12MP Ultra Wide lens

Of course, there's a slew of software updates to check out, too. Apple says the cameras are better than ever, being able to capture more nuanced nighttime photography as one example. These phones will run the new iOS 17, as well. That includes features like FaceTime video voicemails, sharing contact info by holding two phones close to each other, and better autocorrect functionality.

You're probably wondering: What do I have to pay to get all of those fancy features? The iPhone 15 starts at $799 and the iPhone 15 Plus starts at $899, the same as last year's iPhone 14 models.

iPhone 15 Pro and Pro Max specs and cameras

As you might expect, the iPhone 15 Pro models are a good deal more advanced than the basic iPhone 15. However, both phones do share the new USB-C port and Dynamic Island, so there's no class stratification happening with those aspects of the iPhone 15 line.

But there is elsewhere. Let's take a look at the basic specs for iPhone 15 Pro:

• iPhone 15 Pro display: 6.1-inch display

• iPhone 15 Pro Max display: 6.7-inch display

• Refresh rate: 120Hz refresh rate on both phones

• iPhone 15 Pro storage: 128GB, 256GB, 512GB, 1TB storage options

• iPhone 15 Pro Max storage: 256GB, 512GB, 1TB storage options

• Chips: A17 Pro chipset

• Cameras: 48MP main camera lens; 12MP Ultra Wide lens; 12MP telephoto lens

A bullet-point list of specs doesn't really tell the whole story with iPhone 15 Pro. Both of the Pro models have seen significant physical changes from previous years. For example, the silencing switch that's been on every iPhone for a long time has been replaced by a customizable action button that can do pretty much whatever you want it to do. The camera also lets you record three-dimensional spatial videos for use with the Apple Vision Pro headset, whenever that comes out.

Apple also says the A17 Pro chip allows for high-level mobile gaming, announcing that console-quality games like Resident Evil Village and Assassin's Creed Mirage are coming to iOS in the near future. So, in essence, the iPhone 15 Pro stands apart from its entry-level counterpart by offering a new button, futuristic videos, and much better gaming capabilties.

Now for the bad news. The iPhone 15 Pro starts at $999 and the iPhone 15 Pro Max starts at $1,199. The old adage holds true: You get what you pay for.