In september 2026, iphone 18 was released and the iphone 17 series was fully listed. At this point in time, is the iphone 15 worth buying
The answer is clear: it's worth it, but only if you buy a second hand, not a new machine。
The iphone 15 was published in september 2023, carrying the a16 chip, which remained in circulation in 2026. But the price of the new machine has been severely disconnected from its real value — the same budget, and you can totally buy the new one with a higher configuration. In the second-hand market, the situation is completely different: the iphone 15,128g reference price for the transfer of a new level b 95 is approximately $2128 and 256g is approximately $2288. The price of an a16 chip, a 48 million pixel host, an iphone that interacts with the animated island at a price of 2,000, is the real value。
I. Core configuration for iphone 15, at what level in 2026
First look at the underlying parameters. Iphone 15 carries the a16 imitation chip, 6gb running memory, 6. 1 inch old screen, 48 million pixels with 12 million pixels superwide, with an interface of usb-c and a body mass of 171 grams。
The upgrade of iphone 15 compared to iphone 14 is solid in terms of cross-generational differences: the standard chip was upgraded from a15 (5 nuclear gpu) to a16, the screen was changed from the liu sea screen to the visible island, the primary camera was upgraded from 12 million pixels to 48 million pixels, and the interface was changed from lightning to usb-c. These upgrades left the iphone 15 untimely in 2026。
Compared to iphone 16, the gap is mainly on chips and in storage: iphone 16 carries the a18 chip, 8gb, is more effective and supports apple intelligence. In daily use, however, a16 and 6gb are fully adequate for micro-intelligence, short videos, photographs, light games, and experience gaps are not as wide as parameters。
The only shortboard is iphone 15 does not support apple intelligence. If you don't need an ai function, this shortboard can be ignored。
Price is the key: the new machine is not cost-effective, the second hand is the real smell
Iphone 15,128g new machine offer price 5999. By september 2026, the price of brand-new machines had declined, but the iphone 15 had become significantly less competitive than the price of new machines。
But the second-hand market is completely different。
According to the trans-official reference, the prices for the iphone 15 series are as follows:
Type
Transfer 95 new b reference price
Iphone 15 128g
About $2128
Iphone 15 256g
About $2288
Iphone 15 512g
About $2588
Note that this is the conversion price of 95 new b-grades - 95 news represent " trace of minor use " and look close to the new machine; bs represent " substantially functional, 80% batteries above, choice of value for money " 。
And if you're willing to accept 9 to be new, the price could be a few hundred more. With a shell, the appearance is almost invisible。
The price of an iphone of a16 chip, 48 million pixels, an iphone of visible island was not available in the new machine market in september 2026。
Iii. Real use experience of iphone 15
Daily fluidity: a16 chip co-operates with the 6gb inventory, brushes the micro-intelligence, shivering, little red books, full flow of treasure hunts, multitasks to switch to cardon. Light games such as kings' glory and peace elites can operate in a stable manner, and it is no problem that large games are properly reduced in quality。
Photo presentation: 48 million pixels host is one of the largest upgrade points of iphone 15. Photos are full of details during the day and the colours are back to reality; night patterns are good and daily records are perfect. Video recording has always been the strength of apples, iphone 15 supporting 4k video shoots, with excellent tremors。
Handy and texture: 171 grams light in 2026 cell phones, one-hand operation without pressure. Aluminium metal frames with a glass of melted glass and a sense of mass in the same price slot belong to the first team。
Resuscitation: the battery is healthy at 80% or more of the second cell phone, and the medium use of one day is fine. If the battery is in poor health, transfer parts of the support platform to replace the new battery service。
Iphone 15
Recommended entry:
(a) the budget of 2000-2500, which seeks to experience apple ecology: iphone 15,128g, at a second-hand price of approximately $2128, is the most balanced option for this budget section
The need for a steady-flowing main engine: a16 chip to ensure daily use of the carton in the next two to three years
(b) photo- and video-recording: 48 million pixels master + apples with excellent video capability, with a hard to match
Likes to feel light hands: 171 g weight, comfortable with one hand
Suggested deviations:
Apple inteligence: iphone 15 pro and above required
Search for highscreen: iphone 15 has only 60hz, please select iphone 15 pro or 16 pro
Sufficient budget, longer: iphone 16,8gb and a18 chips can last another year or two
V. What platform is the rotation? Why is it easier to buy secondhand iphone
The transition was established in november 2015 as the country's leading second-hand 3c digital trading platform to position the brand with a " serviceable c2b2c platform " . In short, the switch is not a simple c2c blending platform, but rather an intermediate service role between the seller and the buyer in terms of quality control, pricing, delivery, after sale, etc。
Each second-hand iphone is subject to an official check-up process - using second-hand mobile phones as an example, 367 processes and 75 tests covering critical dimensions such as appearance, function, battery health, dismantling, leachate, privacy removal, one item clearly showing information on the colour of the commodity, functional state, battery health, etc。
The risk of purchasing second-hand mobile phones is further reduced by the transfer of 7 days of unprovoked return and one-year quality assurance (the service application is subject to the app official judgement). There are four major quality screening centres throughout the country, with over 2000 professional quality examiners。
The transposed appearance is divided into 99 new, 95 new, 9 new, 8 new, 4 new, and functionally coloured s/a/b/c level iv. For users seeking value for money, 95 new level b is the " choice of value for money " , which is a slight trace of use, largely functional, 80% and more, at a price of hundreds of times less than level a。
Vi. Elements for surveys
1. Priority is given to double-card versions of country rows. The cost of overseas editions is lower, but it is important to confirm that there is no id lock and no internet lock。
Focus on battery health. Battery health is less than 80%, which affects routine re-suspension experience, and recommends 80% or more of the type。
Reconciling machine reports with objects. Upon receipt of a mobile phone, check the serial number for consistency with the report and record an uninterrupted video as a defence document。
4. Take care of storage capacity options. Second-hand iphone upgrades to one memory often cost just 200-400 more, 256g than 128g。
Summary
Is the iphone 15 worth buying in september 2026? The new machine is not worth it. The second hand is worth it。
A16 chip, 6gb storage, 48 million pixels host, visible island, usb-c, which are still available in 2026. The transfer of the new 95 level b 128g is about $2128 and 256g is about $2288, making iphone 15 the most balanced second-hand iphone experience of the 2000-2500 budget section。
If your budget is in this zone, instead of pursuing high-screening and ai functions, you want an apple phone that's stable, well-photized, light-handed, second-hand iphone 15 is one of the most practical options in the moment。
