Is the iPhone 15 Still Worth It in 2026?

Key Points:

• The iPhone 15 is a capable smartphone that will be supported for another two years.
• It can be found significantly cheaper than the iPhone 16 and iPhone 17.
• To save money, you will be better off buying an iPhone 16e or iPhone 17e instead.

If you’re considering an older iPhone 15 for your Talkmobile SIM Only plan there are a few things that you need to know. While still more-than-capable for everyday phone calls, texts, light gaming, and mobile data use, it lacks a major component of the company's modern ecosystem, Apple Intelligence. The A16 chip is solid, however, you'll be locked out of the full experience with the this handset, if you don't want an iPhone 16 and iPhone 17.

Despite having been released nearly three years ago, Apple has no plans to retire support for the iPhoine 15 anytime soon. It's guaranteed to receive security updates for at least the next two years, for five years total, taking us up to 2028 at the earliest. Apple smartphones tend to receive support through to six or seven years after they release, so it's expected that the handset will be capable until 2030, even if the technology would have moved on significantly by this point.

Apple Intelligence is being pushed incredibly hard by the hardware and software company, billed as "AI for the rest of us", which is said to help you "write, express yourself and get things done effortlessly". It's built into iOS 26 as standard, using the 16-core Neural Engine (NPU) onboard the A19 chip to do things such as translating content in real-time, useful writing tools, summaries of voicemails, smart replies, a priority notification system, and image generation.

Siri also sees a major overhaul backed by Apple Intelligence which is bolstered by OpenAI's ChatGPT for the knowledge bank, as shortcuts for productivity tasks, particularly for studying and working. It's seamlessly integrated into the OS, which also folds in Image Playground, without requiring a Premium ChatGPT subscription. Think of it as an assistant baked into the phone that's billed to make your day-to-day quicker and easier.

The catch here, however, is that the standard iPhone 15 cannot utilise Apple Intelligence, even though the iPhone 15 Pro and iPhone 15 Pro Max can. If this functionality is something that you want to use in 2026 going forward, and you can get a good deal on an older Apple handset, then strongly consider either the Pro or Pro Max variant, or, alternatively, opt for the previous-generation iPhone 16 instead.

Despite AI being the in thing right now, the stock iPhone 15 remains a capable device even without Apple Intelligence inside. It has a powerful processor for playing games, enough storage for all your media, and a decent dual-camera system for creating and capturing new memories, if the price is right. You can find an iPhone 15 in used or professionally refurbished condition for between £330 and £500 depending on the seller, giving you a much cheaper way of having a fully-featured iPhone without breaking the bank in 2026.

However, with all said, you're likely going to be better suited by opting for an iPhone 16e or an iPhone 17e. Despite being billed as the entry-level models, both the mainstream offerings from the current and previous generations have Apple Intelligence built in, superior batteries, and comparable features. There's not really a good reason to go back as far as the iPhone 15 unless you've got a great deal on a used version in 2026.