iPhone 17e vs. 16e vs. 15: Is the iPhone 15 Still Worth Buying in 2026?

Is the iPhone 15 still worth buying in 2026? In this article, even though it feels like it could still be bought, I wanted to explain my own thoughts by examining it technically and from different perspectives. Along with the iPhone 15, we will have the relatively newer 16e and our newest product, the 17e. As you know, the “e” series has become something like the old “se” series; even if its name back then was “special edition,” we can call it the “economic” model now.

So, is it still logical to buy the iPhone 15 in 2026, which still holds its place on the shelves globally and whose price is becoming increasingly attractive? Or is it more logical to stretch your budget a bit and join the “e” series? Let’s compare them(apple website) immediately.

Which One in Terms of Processing and Brainpower?

We can say that the most important part of a phone is the processor. We can say that RAM stays a bit more in the background. The iPhone 15, introduced in September 2023, has 6GB of RAM; these figures were seriously good values for those times. It is famous that Apple always does better things with less RAM than its competitors. However, today, with the spread of AI and different technologies in phones, this business moved away from RAM and processor and came to the modernity part.

The iPhone 16e raised the bar with its A18 chip and 3nm production technology, and most importantly, it increased the RAM to 8GB. However, the real showstopper undoubtedly came with the iPhone 17e. The A19 processor comes with a special Neural Accelerator integrated into each core. If you ask what this means, it means your phone doesn’t just think fast; it doesn’t get tired while thinking.

Hardware and Performance Report Card

Looking at the table, the reality is clear: the iPhone 15 is now a respectable retiree. With the newly arriving technologies, even the non-high-end “economic” models can easily surpass a phone that cannot even be considered old.

Apple Intelligence: The Club’s Entry Requirement

If you are buying an iPhone in 2026, you probably want to use Apple Intelligence. This is exactly where the iPhone 15 throws in the towel. For Apple’s AI features, and even with the iOS 27 expected to be introduced in the coming days (June), it absolutely demands a minimum of 8 GB RAM.

While the iPhone 15 stays out of this AI revolution, the 16e and 17e succeed in maintaining their existence in this regard as the “economic class.” Especially the iPhone 17e, thanks to the memory bandwidth advantage of the A19 chip, will be able to handle complex AI tasks much faster and entirely on-device.

The Design Paradox: The Notch Returns, But With a Twist

Things have taken an ironic turn in Apple’s design department. The iPhone 15 has the famous Dynamic Island design, which makes the screen look undeniably modern. Conversely, the iPhone 16e and 17e models returned to the old-school Notch design to keep costs low.

So, how do the new models think they compensate for this visual step back? With the Action Button; however, to me, Dynamic Island was offering a much more stylish look. As someone who gives serious importance to design in a phone, I think this will be a reason for me to prefer the iPhone 15. As for the 16e and 17e, the Action Button on them allows you to trigger AI, open the camera, or start your smart coffee maker with a single long press. But I don’t know how much you would use this.

Newly, the iPhone 17e offers 3 times more scratch resistance with Ceramic Shield 2. If you are someone who uses your phone a bit roughly, it might be useful; however, if you are using a case, decide for yourself if this is a reason to choose a 17e.

Cameras: Two Eyes or One Super-Smart Eye?

On the camera side, things depend entirely on your photography habits.

iPhone 15: The Ultra-Wide Traditionalist

It has a dual-camera setup consisting of a 48 MP main camera and a 12 MP ultra-wide lens. If you frequently find yourself trying to fit a large group of friends into the frame in a tiny room, this dual-lens setup is still quite practical. And I also have a psychological desire to prefer a phone with 2 cameras.

iPhone 16e and 17e: Fusion Masters

These devices also house a single and giant 48 MP Fusion camera on the back. There is no ultra-wide angle lens. However, thanks to clever in-sensor cropping, they can perform lossless 2x optical-quality zoom. Moreover, the 17e is a good helper for turning night into day in low-light environments, thanks to the advanced image signal processor inside the A19 chip.

Battery Life, Modems, and the Return of MagSafe

The iPhone 16e carried the battery life far beyond the limits of the iPhone 15 (from 20 hours to a massive 26 hours of video playback). However, Apple made a controversial move by removing MagSafe support, condemning wireless charging to the turtle speed of 7.5W. This was one of the most surprising compromises in recent Apple history.

Fortunately, the iPhone 17e corrected this mistake successfully. Not only did the 15W MagSafe return, but Apple’s new, custom-built C1X cellular modem was also integrated into the device. Compared to the C1 modem in the iPhone 16e, the C1X transfers data twice as fast while consuming 30% less energy. This means that even if you are downloading heavy files over 5G while walking on the street, your phone stays cool and your battery stays green. Using a phone while walking might not be a good idea, of course, pay attention to that.

The Moment of Truth: Is the iPhone 15 Still Worth Buying in 2026?

In the global market, the iPhone 17e was launched with a standard 256 GB storage space and a very aggressive starting price of 599 dollars. Frankly, the fact that Apple gives this phone at a good price according to its features makes me think that it is a phone that can be given a chance, even if it doesn’t appeal to me personally.

iPhone 16e (Discounted or Refurbished Market)

I think it will be a perfect budget-friendly option for those who say, “Just let it run AI, let it have a camera and battery life, I can survive without MagSafe too.”

iPhone 15

Now let’s come to the main question. Buying an iPhone 15 in 2026 is only logical if you catch a massive, undeniable discount (for example, if you find it brand new in the 350-400$ range). Otherwise, the lack of AI support, the risk of 6 GB RAM creating a bottleneck in future iOS updates, and its old 60 Hz screen will not be a good option for someone who wants current technologies.

But of course, they are not very important things for me :d