The iPhone doesn’t compete on a level playing field. As the only option for iOS users, it’s guaranteed a level of popularity for anyone worried about showing up as a blue bubble to their friends. Those features — ones like FaceTime and iMessage — are what keep an iPhone in people’s pockets because the spec sheet sure isn’t doing it. The iPhone 15, for instance, is loaded with outdated, underwhelming specs that no comparable Android phone could ever get away with.
For simplicity’s sake, I’m going to split the iPhone 15’s specs into two categories: ones that feel like the iPhone 14 Pro’s leftovers and ones that are just plain bad. Let’s look at what $799 (or more) gets you.