iPhone 15 & iPhone XR share many similarities, but there are also important differences, such as quality, performance, features, design, and connectivity. If you want the best one between them, I Would recommend the iPhone 15 rather than the iPhone XR.
Why Do I Recommend The iPhone 15?
- The iPhone 15 has the A16 Bionic chip built on a 4nm process for faster performance, smoother multitasking, and better power efficiency, whereas the iPhone XR uses the older A12 Bionic chip built on 7nm with significantly lower speed and efficiency.
- iPhone 15 features a Super Retina XDR OLED display with 2556 × 1179 resolution for sharper visuals, deeper blacks, and higher brightness outdoors, while the iPhone XR uses a Liquid Retina LCD with 1792 × 828 resolution.
- It includes a 48MP main camera with 2x telephoto cropping and Night Mode for high-quality low-light photography and versatile zoom, whereas the iPhone XR has only a single 12MP wide camera without Night Mode or optical zoom options.
- The iPhone 15 has a 12MP front camera with autofocus and Night Mode for clearer selfies and sharper video calls, while the iPhone XR uses a 7MP fixed-focus front camera without Night Mode.
- iPhone 15 supports 5G connectivity for faster downloads, smoother streaming, and better network performance in modern coverage areas, whereas the iPhone XR is limited to 4G LTE with slower speeds.
- It comes with MagSafe wireless charging and magnetic accessory support for faster wireless charging and convenient accessory attachment, while the iPhone XR does not support MagSafe and only uses standard Qi wireless charging.
- The iPhone 15 has Ceramic Shield glass and IP68 water resistance for stronger durability and better protection against drops and immersion, whereas the iPhone XR uses standard glass with IP67 water resistance and weaker protection.
- iPhone 15 includes a lighter 171 g body with a Dynamic Island cutout that improves usability by integrating alerts and multitasking tools, while the iPhone XR weighs 194 g and uses a larger notch that only displays static information.
Maybe the iPhone XR price can make you comfortable because it’s a little bit cheaper than the iPhone 15. But you have to compromise all the above-mentioned features. Now the Decision is Yours. I hope it was helpful to choose the right one.
Side By Side Comparison
| Feature | iPhone 15 | iPhone XR |
| Chipset | A16 Bionic, 4nm | A12 Bionic, 7nm |
| GPU | 5-core Apple GPU | 4-core Apple GPU |
| Display Type | Super Retina XDR OLED | Liquid Retina IPS LCD |
| Display Resolution | 2556 × 1179 pixels | 1792 × 828 pixels |
| Pixel Density | ~460 ppi | ~326 ppi |
| Brightness Peak | 2000 nits | 625 nits |
| Camera System | Dual | Single 12MP wide |
| Zoom Options | 2x telephoto | Digital zoom only |
| Night Mode | Available | Not available |
| Front Camera | 12MP with autofocus | 7MP fixed focus |
| Video Features | Cinematic Mode, Action Mode, HDR video | Standard 4K HDR video |
| Battery Playback | Up to 20 hours video | Up to 16 hours video |
| Charging Port | USB-C | Lightning |
| MagSafe | Supported | Not supported |
| 5G Support | Yes | No |
| Wi-Fi Standard | Wi-Fi 6 | Wi-Fi 5 |
| Bluetooth Version | 5.3 | 5.0 |
| Face ID Cutout | Dynamic Island | Larger notch |
| Build Glass | Ceramic Shield front | Standard glass |
| Water Resistance | IP68 | IP67 |
| Weight | 171 g | 194 g |
| Storage Options | 128GB, 256GB, 512GB | 64GB, 128GB, 256GB |
| Operating System at Launch | iOS 17 | iOS 12 |
| Price | Check iPhone 15 Price | Check iPhone XR Price |
What Common Both Can Do?
- Display Size: Both iPhone 15 and iPhone XR feature a 6.1-inch screen, giving users a familiar balance between portability and immersive viewing.
- Refresh Rate: Each model uses a 60Hz refresh rate, ensuring smooth everyday interactions even though neither includes high-refresh technology.
- Touchscreen Controls: Both phones have multi-touch capacitive displays, allowing precise taps, swipes, and gestures for seamless navigation.
- Face ID: Each model relies on Apple’s Face ID for secure authentication, letting users unlock their phones and authorize payments with facial recognition.
- Front Design: Both feature an all-screen edge-to-edge design without a home button, delivering a modern, minimalist look.
- Rear Material: Each phone uses a glass back, enabling wireless charging while maintaining a sleek and premium aesthetic.
- Frame Material: Both models use an aluminum frame, offering durability with a lightweight build.
- Wireless Charging: Each device supports Qi wireless charging, allowing convenient cable-free power with compatible chargers.
- SIM Options: Both include Nano-SIM and eSIM support, giving flexibility for carriers and international use.
- Stereo Speakers: Each phone has stereo speaker output, providing louder and more immersive sound for media and calls.
- Microphones: Both feature multiple microphones with noise reduction, ensuring clear voice capture during calls and recordings.
- Location Services: Each device supports GPS, GLONASS, Galileo, and QZSS, offering accurate navigation and mapping worldwide.
- Sensors: Both phones are equipped with accelerometer, gyroscope, proximity sensor, ambient light sensor, and barometer for smooth app functionality and health features.
- iOS Ecosystem: Each runs iOS, providing regular updates, security features, and integration with other Apple products.
- Apple Services: Both support iCloud, Apple Music, Apple Pay, and Apple TV+, keeping users connected to Apple’s ecosystem of apps and services.
- Dolby Atmos: Each model supports Dolby Atmos playback, delivering a richer, more spatial audio experience.
- NFC: Both include NFC with Apple Pay, enabling secure and quick contactless transactions.
Common Features
| Feature | iPhone 15 | iPhone XR |
| Display Size | 6.1-inch diagonal display | 6.1-inch diagonal display |
| Screen Refresh Rate | Standard 60Hz refresh | Standard 60Hz refresh |
| Touch Controls | Multi-touch capacitive touchscreen | Multi-touch capacitive touchscreen |
| Biometric Security | Face ID facial recognition | Face ID facial recognition |
| Front Design | Edge-to-edge all-screen design | Edge-to-edge all-screen design |
| Rear Material | Glass back | Glass back |
| Frame Material | Aluminum frame | Aluminum frame |
| Wireless Charging | Qi wireless charging supported | Qi wireless charging supported |
| SIM Options | Nano-SIM and eSIM support | Nano-SIM and eSIM support |
| Speakers | Stereo speakers with spatial audio playback | Stereo speakers with spatial audio playback |
| Microphones | Multiple microphones for noise reduction | Multiple microphones for noise reduction |
| Location Services | GPS, GLONASS, Galileo, QZSS support | GPS, GLONASS, Galileo, QZSS support |
| Sensors | Accelerometer, gyroscope, proximity, ambient light, barometer | Accelerometer, gyroscope, proximity, ambient light, barometer |
| Operating System Ecosystem | Runs iOS with regular updates | Runs iOS with regular updates |
| App Store | Full access to Apple App Store | Full access to Apple App Store |
| Apple Services | Compatible with iCloud, Apple Music, Apple Pay, Apple TV+ | Compatible with iCloud, Apple Music, Apple Pay, Apple TV+ |
| Audio | Supports Dolby Atmos playback | Supports Dolby Atmos playback |
| NFC | NFC with Apple Pay support | NFC with Apple Pay support |
| Price | Check iPhone 15 Price | Check iPhone XR Price |
FAQ
Do both iPhone 15 and iPhone XR have the same screen size? How do the cameras compare between iPhone 15 and iPhone XR? Does the iPhone XR support Night Mode like the iPhone 15? Is there a difference in front camera quality between the two models? Do both phones support Face ID? What are the differences in battery life? What charging ports are available on iPhone 15 and iPhone XR? Does the iPhone 15 have MagSafe while the iPhone XR does not? Is there a difference in connectivity between the two models? Which phone is lighter to hold, the iPhone 15 or the iPhone XR? How do the durability levels compare? Are the storage options different between iPhone 15 and iPhone XR? Do both phones run the same version of iOS? Which device is better for long-term use? |
