The short answer
Yes, if you want the most future-proof option in the current refurbished lineup — the 16 is the newest of the group covered in this series, and that matters more than it might seem for anyone planning to keep their phone a long time.
What the iPhone 16 genuinely adds
The A18 chip. A real step up from the 15's A16, with more headroom for demanding apps and on-device AI features — the kind of advantage that compounds the longer you keep the phone, rather than something you'll necessarily notice on day one. This matters more the longer your typical upgrade cycle is.
Camera Control. A new dedicated physical button for the camera, genuinely new hardware rather than a software tweak — built for faster, more deliberate one-handed shooting. It's a small addition on paper that makes a real, noticeable difference if you're someone who reaches for the camera often and quickly.
Action Button across the entire line. Previously exclusive to Pro models starting with the 15 Pro, the 16 brings this customisable button to the standard model for the first time — configurable for a range of shortcuts once you find one that fits how you actually use your phone.
A larger battery and modestly bigger screen on the standard model. Real, if incremental, improvements to everyday battery life — not the headline feature, but a genuine quality-of-life upgrade for anyone who's found previous generations falling short by evening.
What's carried over from the 15
USB-C, Dynamic Island, and a 48MP main camera are all already standard as of the 15 — the 16 doesn't reinvent these, it refines the chip and adds the two new physical controls. This is genuinely important context for the decision: if you're choosing between a 15 and 16, you're not choosing between "modern" and "outdated" — you're choosing between the current baseline and its refinement.
Who it's genuinely right for
Anyone who keeps phones a long time. The extra chip headroom is worth more spread across four or five years of ownership than it is in year one — if you're not an annual upgrader, this is where the 16's premium earns itself back most clearly.
Anyone who uses their camera seriously. Camera Control is a real, tangible addition if photography or video is a regular part of how you use your phone, genuinely changing how quickly and naturally you can capture a moment.
Anyone buying as a genuine long-term investment. If you're specifically trying to buy the phone that'll need replacing last, the newest chip in this refurbished lineup is the more defensible choice, even at a premium.
Who might not need to pay the premium
If you're mainly using your phone for calls, browsing, and social media, the practical gap between the 15 and 16 in daily use is smaller than the spec sheet suggests — the 15 already has USB-C, Dynamic Island and a capable 48MP camera at a typically lower refurbished price. The honest test: if you can't articulate a specific reason you'd use the A18's extra headroom or Camera Control, you likely won't miss either.
Compare live refurbished iPhone prices, 13 through 16 →
Is buying the newest available generation always the safest bet?
It's worth addressing this assumption directly, since "buy the newest one" feels like an intuitively safe default. It's not always the most efficient choice — a newer chip only pays for itself if you actually keep the phone long enough to benefit from the extra headroom, and a feature like Camera Control only has value if you'd genuinely use it. The 16 is the right pick for specific, real reasons, not simply because it's the newest option in this particular lineup.
Software support
As the newest generation in this series, the iPhone 16 carries the longest expected software support runway of the group — a genuine consideration if you plan to hold onto your next phone for several years, and arguably the single strongest reason to choose it over the 15 for a long-term purchase.
GadgetRank verdict
Buy it if: you keep phones for years and want the extra chip headroom, or the camera is a real priority for how you use your phone.
Buy the 15 instead if: you want the same core modern experience — USB-C, Dynamic Island, 48MP camera — for a lower refurbished price, and don't specifically need the newest chip or Camera Control.
Frequently asked questions
Is the iPhone 16 a significant upgrade over the 15?
Not dramatically — the core experience (USB-C, Dynamic Island, 48MP camera) is shared. The 16's real advantages are a newer chip with more long-term headroom, and Camera Control as a genuinely new physical feature.
How long will the iPhone 16 receive software updates?
As the newest generation in this comparison, it carries the longest expected support window — likely into the mid-2030s based on Apple's typical support pattern.
Is Camera Control worth learning to use?
Most users who try it find it becomes natural within days, particularly for quick, one-handed photo or video capture — a genuinely useful addition rather than a gimmick, once you've used it a few times.
Should I buy the 16 or save money with an older generation?
This depends entirely on how long you plan to keep the phone and whether the specific new features (chip headroom, Camera Control) matter to your actual use — for shorter ownership cycles or casual use, older generations in this series remain genuinely sensible buys.
Related reading: Refurbished iPhone 15 vs iPhone 16 · Should I buy an iPhone 14 in 2026? · Should I buy an iPhone 13 in 2026? · Refurbished iPhone 15 UK 2026 · Best Phone Under £500 UK 2026 · Compare live iPhone prices · Condition grades explained
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