Image: AppleWhat it gets right
- Bright 6.1-inch screen with deep-looking blacks and comfortable size
- Reliable high-detail main camera and strong video
- modern charging socket charging and familiar iPhone experience
- A16 internal hardware remains fast for everyday apps
The compromises
- Does not support Apple's newer automatic tools
- standard movement screen and no dedicated zoom camera
- Older model with fewer future years ahead than newer iPhones
- No charging plug included
Buy it—or leave it?
- You want the lowest-priced modern iPhone with modern charging socket
- The deal is substantially cheaper than iPhone 16
- automatic tools features are not important to you
- The iPhone 16 costs only a little more
- You intend to keep the phone for as long as possible
- You specifically want Apple's newer automatic tools features
What would you like to do now?
Choose the route that matches how confident you feel. The free review stays free whichever route you choose.
Check today’s price
£599 for 128GB storage
Confirm the exact model and storage with the retailer before paying.
Retailer link last checked 17 August 2026These are Amazon affiliate links. UKTechExpert may earn from qualifying purchases at no extra cost to you. How this worksSee whether the newer iPhone 16 is worth more
Compare the newer iPhone's features and longer useful life before choosing the cheaper iPhone 15.
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Get my personal phone shortlist — £29Includes two follow-up repliesWhat it is actually like
Open any section for the detail behind our verdict.
01Daily experience
The 6.1-inch screen with deep-looking blacks is bright, sharp and comfortable to hold. the alert area at the top of the screen shows timers, calls and live information around the camera cut-out. The standard movement smoothness is dated beside many Android phones, but customers moving from another standard iPhone may not notice a problem.
02Camera
The high-detail main camera remains dependable and produces a useful 2x view from the sensor. The wide-view camera helps with groups and buildings. There is no dedicated optical zoom lens, and the older wide-view camera does not provide the same macro capability as iPhone 16.
03Performance and software
The A16 Bionic internal hardware remains comfortably fast for communication, navigation, shopping, photography and most games. The important limitation is software features rather than speed: Apple's newer automatic tools requires an iPhone 15 Pro or later compatible model, so the standard iPhone 15 is excluded.
04Value
An older phone is worthwhile when the discount reflects its age. Compare the complete iPhone 15 deal with iPhone 16 and 16e alternatives. If the saving is small, buying newer gives you more features and a longer useful horizon.
Price and value
The £599 buying-guide figure is for the 128GB iPhone 15 checked on 17 August 2026. Compare that exact capacity with 128GB rivals; a discounted price for a used, refurbished or different-capacity phone is not substituted into its value score.
Price last checked 17 August 2026This price check is more than two weeks old. Use the retailer link for the latest price; this review is temporarily excluded from the buying finder until the price is refreshed.
Who will notice the difference?
Moving from an older Lightning iPhone
modern charging socket, the brighter screen with deep-looking blacks and dependable high-detail camera make the upgrade easy to notice without changing ecosystems.
Buying the cheapest sensible modern iPhone
It works when the 128GB price is clearly below newer models and Apple's newer automatic tools is not important.
Keeping the phone for many more years
A newer iPhone is the safer investment when the price difference is small because it has a longer remaining support and feature horizon.
What else should you consider?
£599 · The iPhone 15 remains listed by major UK networks and can be attractive during clearance promotions. It competes most directly with the iPhone 16e: the 15 has magnetic charging, an wide-view camera and the alert area at the top of the screen, while the 16e offers newer performance, Apple's newer automatic tools support and stronger battery life.
Our review process
Research-based review using Apple listed features and independent hands-on testing. UKTechExpert has not tested this handset directly.
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