iPhone 15 vs iPhone 13: is the upgrade worth it?
Two generations apart — but is the jump worth the money? We compare chip, camera, USB-C and price between the refurbished iPhone 15 and iPhone 13.
Door The Phone Shopper
Gepubliceerd: 2026-07-18
The iPhone 15 and iPhone 13 are two generations apart, yet both remain firmly in our refurbished catalogue — and for good reason. The iPhone 13 is now one of the best-selling iPhones of all time and is exceptionally well-priced refurbished. The iPhone 15 introduced a number of changes that go beyond cosmetics at launch, most notably the switch to USB-C. Is that jump worth the upgrade, or does buying a iPhone 13 simply make more sense? We lay out the differences honestly.
Chip: A16 Bionic vs A15 Bionic
The iPhone 15 runs on the A16 Bionic, while the iPhone 13 uses the A15 Bionic — two chip generations apart. In practice, you'll notice the difference mainly with demanding tasks: graphically intensive games, editing longer 4K videos, or keeping multiple apps running at once. For everyday use — messaging, browsing, social media, taking photos — the A15 still performs smoothly and doesn't feel dated at all. That said, the A16 gives you more headroom for the years ahead, which is worth considering if you plan to keep your phone for a long time.
USB-C vs Lightning
This is the difference you'll notice most in day-to-day life. The iPhone 15 was the first iPhone to feature USB-C, while the iPhone 13 still uses Lightning. With USB-C, you can charge your iPhone with the same cable as your MacBook, iPad, Android phone or headphones — one cable for almost everything. Lightning cables are still widely available, but Apple is moving to USB-C across its entire lineup, which means Lightning will gradually become less convenient over time. If future-proofing matters to you, this is a genuine argument in favour of the 15.
Dynamic Island vs notch
The iPhone 15 features the Dynamic Island: a functional, pill-shaped cutout at the top of the display that interacts with notifications, timers and music. The iPhone 13 has the traditional notch. In purely practical terms, neither makes much difference to how you use your phone — but the Dynamic Island looks more modern and adds a little extra interactivity with live processes on your screen.
Camera: 48MP vs 12MP
The iPhone 15 sports a 48MP main camera compared to 12MP on the iPhone 13. In good lighting, this delivers sharper images with more detail, and the 48MP sensor also enables a kind of optical 2x zoom without any loss in quality. The iPhone 13 still takes excellent photos for social media and everyday use, but if you like to zoom in or crop your shots, the difference in sharpness will be noticeable.
Display and battery
Both phones feature a 6.1-inch Super Retina XDR display with comparable brightness for everyday use. The iPhone 15 benefits from a slightly more efficient battery thanks to its newer chip, translating into a little extra screen time per day. The difference is noticeable but not dramatic — both phones will comfortably get you through a full day of normal use.
iPhone 15 vs iPhone 13 at a glance
| Feature | iPhone 15 | iPhone 13 |
|---|
| Chip | A16 Bionic | A15 Bionic |
| Charging port | USB-C | Lightning |
| Front design | Dynamic Island | Notch |
| Main camera | 48MP | 12MP |
| Battery life | Slightly better | Good |
| Refurbished price | Higher | Very competitive |
Refurbished price
The iPhone 13 is now one of the most competitively priced refurbished iPhones we carry. Because the device has been on the market for several years, supply is plentiful and prices reflect that — without you having to compromise on what actually matters in daily use. The iPhone 15 requires a higher investment, but in return you get more recent technology and better resale value if you decide to sell it on later.
Which one should you choose?
Looking for the best value for money and mainly use your phone for calls, messaging, browsing and sharing photos on social media? Then the iPhone 13 is an excellent, smart choice. Want USB-C, the latest camera technology and a device that will still support modern features three to four years from now? Then the iPhone 15 is the better investment. Both phones only enter our stock after a thorough 50-point quality inspection and come with a 2-year warranty, so whichever you choose, you can switch with complete peace of mind. Still unsure? Browse all refurbished models and see for yourself which phone suits the way you use it.
Refurbished iPhones, Samsung en iPads
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