Which iPhone 15 should you buy in 2026? If you can stretch the budget, the iPhone 15 Pro: along with the Pro Max, it’s the only model in the family with Apple Intelligence, a 120Hz screen and a telephoto lens. If you just want to spend as little as possible, a refurbished standard iPhone 15 runs around $365. Almost everything you’ll find from this generation is refurbished, so battery condition matters as much as the model.
The ranking at a glance
| # | Model | Approx. price (refurbished) | Best for |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | iPhone 15 Pro | ~$550 (256 GB) | The best of the generation without paying for a 16 |
| 2 | iPhone 15 Pro Max | ~$630 (256 GB) | 5x zoom and a big screen |
| 3 | iPhone 15 Plus | ~$600 | Battery and screen size without going Pro |
| 4 | iPhone 15 | ~$365 (128 GB) | Spending little and staying on iOS |
| 5 | Refurbished iPhone 16 | ~$380–$600, depending on seller | Apple Intelligence and more years of support |
Prices move daily and vary with condition: treat them as a ballpark, not a quote.
iPhone 15 models by price (the 16 is new)
The chart mixes refurbished prices with the list price of a new iPhone 16, and that’s the useful part: a used 15 Pro Max costs less than a new 16, while the base 15 isn’t as far from a refurbished 16 as it looks.
1. iPhone 15 Pro — the most balanced buy
Why it’s the best: the A17 Pro chip (Apple’s first 3nm), a titanium frame, a 120Hz ProMotion display and a 3x telephoto. That’s what sets this generation apart: the Pro models age far better than the standard ones.
Features: 6.1” OLED at 120Hz, USB-C with USB 3 speeds (the standard model stays on USB 2), a 48MP main camera, and Apple Intelligence.
Why people buy it: a manageable size with flagship features at a price that no longer hurts.
Why we recommend it: if you plan to keep the phone for years, this is the one you’ll miss the least.
🛒 See the refurbished iPhone 15 Pro2. iPhone 15 Pro Max — for camera-heavy use
Why it’s the best: same chip and display as the Pro, plus a 5x optical zoom and a 6.7” screen.
Features: 5x telephoto, ~4,441 mAh battery and the same 120Hz as the Pro.
Why people buy it: distant shots, concerts, travel and long video without charging mid-afternoon.
Why we recommend it: the price gap over the Pro is about $80 refurbished, and the 5x zoom is a real difference.
🛒 See the refurbished iPhone 15 Pro MaxWe also have a guide to the 15 Pro Max alone with the configuration worth buying.
3. iPhone 15 Plus — big battery without paying for Pro
Why it’s the best: a 6.7” screen and ~4,383 mAh battery with the A16 Bionic chip, priced below the Pro Max.
Features: dual 48MP camera, USB-C, Dynamic Island, 60Hz display.
Why people buy it: big screen and endurance, no telephoto needed.
Why we recommend it: with one condition: it has no Apple Intelligence and no 120Hz. If that doesn’t matter to you, it’s comfortable; if it does, step up to the 15 Pro.
🛒 See the refurbished iPhone 15 Plus4. iPhone 15 — the cheapest in the family
Why it’s the best: at about $365 refurbished (128 GB, unlocked) it’s one of the cheapest USB-C iPhones. It launched at $799.
Features: A16 Bionic chip, 48MP main camera (a 12MP 2x crop from the sensor), Dynamic Island, 60Hz, no telephoto.
Why people buy it: a first iPhone, a gift, or a second phone.
Why we recommend it: it handles daily use fine. Two limits: no Apple Intelligence, and a used battery is a gamble, so insist on a listed battery-health figure.
🛒 See the refurbished iPhone 155. Refurbished iPhone 16 — the pick if you want more runway
Why it’s the best: it has Apple Intelligence, Wi-Fi 7 and a newer chip. Refurbishers estimate about six years of support left for the 16 versus about four for the 15; those are third-party estimates, since Apple doesn’t publish dates.
Features: A18 chip, Action button and Camera Control.
Why people buy it: paying a bit more to avoid replacing the phone soon.
Why we recommend it: listings start around $378, but $550–$600 is typical; if the gap to a 15 is about $150, the 16 is usually worth it.
🛒 See the refurbished iPhone 16If you’d rather decide with the iPhone 16 guide open, it compares the 16 and 17.
Quick verdict
- Best balance: iPhone 15 Pro.
- Best for zoom photos: iPhone 15 Pro Max.
- Best price: the standard iPhone 15, with battery health confirmed.
- If you want to avoid upgrading soon: a refurbished 16.
For the full picture, see the Top 10 iPhones or the comparison page.
FAQ
Does the iPhone 15 have Apple Intelligence? Only the 15 Pro and 15 Pro Max. The 15 and 15 Plus don’t.
How much iOS support does it have left? Apple doesn’t publish it in advance. It runs iOS 26 today and, if the iPhone 13 is still supported on iOS 27, as noted in our iPhone 13 guide, the 15 is too. Confirm on Apple’s page before buying.
What battery health should a used one have? A common rule of thumb is above 90%; it’s a guideline, not a standard.
Sources: Back Market, RefurbMe, Tom’s Guide, Cult of Mac, BGR.
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