Apple iPhone 13 vs Apple iPhone 15

Our Verdict: iPhone 13 is the more compelling option for contract value, especially with the lower contract price from £12.99/mo and the cheaper SIM-free price from £199.95. iPhone 15 has a real advantage for rear-camera resolution, led by a higher-resolution 48MP rear camera and far broader live deal availability (5,045 active deals). If you can use those extras, iPhone 15 is easy to justify; otherwise iPhone 13 is the more targeted choice.

The 13 is the cheaper one to own: around £433 over a typical contract, £114 less than the 15 5G.

Expert Rating
4.6
10 reviews
4.2
12 reviews
Screen
6.1" 6.1"
Display
OLED Super Retina XDR OLED
Resolution
2532 x 1170 1179 x 2556
Pixels Per Inch
457 461
Rear Camera
12 Megapixels 48 Megapixels
Front Camera
12 Megapixels 12 Megapixels
Chipset
Apple A15 Bionic Apple A16 Bionic (4 nm)
Battery
3,227 mAh 3,349 mAh
Storage
128GB, 256GB, 512GB 128GB, 256GB, 512GB
OS
Apple iOS Apple iOS
SIM Type
nano-SIM and e- SIM nano-SIM and e-SIM
Connectivity
Up to 5G Up to 5G
Wi-Fi
802.11 a/b/g/n/ac/6 802.11 a/b/g/n/ac/6
Bluetooth
5.0 with A2DP, LE 5.3 with A2DP, LE
Dimensions
146.7 x 71.5 x 7.65 mm 147.6 x 71.6 x 7.8 mm
Weight
173 grams 171 grams
Water Resistance
IP68 dust/water resistant (up to 6m for 30 mins) IP68 dust/water resistant (up to 6m for 30 mins)
Contracts
£12.99/mo (£99.00 upfront) £20.50/mo (£10.00 upfront)
SIM-free
£199.95 £334.99

Prices updated 19 July 2026

Apple iPhone 13 Apple iPhone 13 Apple iPhone 15 Apple iPhone 15
Expert Rating 4.6
10 reviews
4.2
12 reviews
Screen 6.1" 6.1"
Display OLED Super Retina XDR OLED
Resolution 2532 x 1170 1179 x 2556
Pixels Per Inch 457 461
Rear Camera 12 Megapixels 48 Megapixels
Front Camera 12 Megapixels 12 Megapixels
Chipset Apple A15 Bionic Apple A16 Bionic (4 nm)
Battery 3,227 mAh 3,349 mAh
Storage 128GB, 256GB, 512GB 128GB, 256GB, 512GB
OS Apple iOS Apple iOS
SIM Type nano-SIM and e- SIM nano-SIM and e-SIM
Connectivity Up to 5G Up to 5G
Wi-Fi 802.11 a/b/g/n/ac/6 802.11 a/b/g/n/ac/6
Bluetooth 5.0 with A2DP, LE 5.3 with A2DP, LE
Dimensions 146.7 x 71.5 x 7.65 mm 147.6 x 71.6 x 7.8 mm
Weight 173 grams 171 grams
Water Resistance IP68 dust/water resistant (up to 6m for 30 mins) IP68 dust/water resistant (up to 6m for 30 mins)
Contracts £12.99/mo
£99.00 upfront
£20.50/mo
£10.00 upfront
SIM-free £199.95 £334.99
Prices updated 19 July 2026
Deals Deals

Cheapest Deals

Apple iPhone 13
Apple iPhone 13

24 Months

128GB

Green

Refurbished

10GB

Data

£12.99 per month, £99 upfront.

Use code: IDM10OFF (£10)

Apple iPhone 15
Apple iPhone 15

24 Months

128GB

Black

Refurbished

1GB

Data

£20.50 per month, £10 upfront.

Related Comparisons

Frequently Asked Questions

Is the Apple iPhone 13 or Apple iPhone 15 cheaper on contract?

Based on total cost of ownership, the Apple iPhone 13 is cheaper on contract at £433.16 over the life of the deal from £12.99 per month with £99.00 upfront.

Which has the better screen, the Apple iPhone 13 or Apple iPhone 15?

Both phones have a similar screen size at around 6.1", both screens are similarly sharp at around 457 pixels per inch, and the Apple iPhone 13 uses a OLED panel while the Apple iPhone 15 has a Super Retina XDR OLED.

Which has the better camera, the Apple iPhone 13 or Apple iPhone 15?

The Apple iPhone 13 features a 12 Megapixels rear camera, while the Apple iPhone 15 has a 48 Megapixels rear camera. Both devices also have front-facing cameras for selfies and video calls.

Which is cheaper to buy SIM-free, the Apple iPhone 13 or Apple iPhone 15?

The Apple iPhone 13 is cheaper SIM-free, starting from £199.95.

What storage options are available for the Apple iPhone 13 and Apple iPhone 15?

The Apple iPhone 13 is available in 128GB, 256GB, 512GB, while the Apple iPhone 15 comes in 128GB, 256GB, 512GB.

What processors do the Apple iPhone 13 and Apple iPhone 15 use?

The Apple iPhone 13 is powered by the Apple A15 Bionic, while the Apple iPhone 15 uses the Apple A16 Bionic (4 nm).

Which is easier to carry and hold, the Apple iPhone 13 or Apple iPhone 15?

They weigh about the same (173 grams vs 171 grams), both are similar in overall footprint.

Which is more water resistant, the Apple iPhone 13 or Apple iPhone 15?

Both phones share the same water resistance rating of IP68 dust/water resistant (up to 6m for 30 mins).

What operating system do the Apple iPhone 13 and Apple iPhone 15 run?

Both phones run Apple iOS.