iPhone 15/Plus Return IPhone 15?

[Laurene45]

Hi
Really need some advice.
I’m in South Africa and just purchased the iPhone 15 last week Friday. On Saturday my daughter told me that the iPhone 16 is being released this month…😓

I just called iStore and they said they will charge a 20% handling fee to refund me.
Should I refund my 2 day old device, lose the 20% and wait for the iPhone 16?
So confused and any advice is appreciated.

 

[canuckRus]

Hi
Really need some advice.
I’m in South Africa and just purchased the iPhone 15 last week Friday. On Saturday my daughter told me that the iPhone 16 is being released this month…😓

I just called iStore and they said they will charge a 20% handling fee to refund me.
Should I refund my 2 day old device, lose the 20% and wait for the iPhone 16?
So confused and any advice is appreciated.

May buy 15Pro today, myself. Only upgrade with a 16 might be the capture button for camera control. Big on photos? What is new price? Always something coming around the bend.

 

[Laurene45]

May buy 15Pro today, myself. Only upgrade with a 16 might be the capture button for camera control. Big on photos? What is new price? Always something coming around the bend.

Thanks so much for responding. I have the 15 standard. I just went into the iStore, they say they don’t know if the 16 is coming in, but they will charge me R4500 handling fee to refund or exchange…😓

 

[now i see it]

The standard 15 and 16 are virtually the same according to rumors. I’d just keep the 15.
You’ll always be behind the latest tech eventually. I’ve never purchased the most current iPhone

 

[BrightCanon]

The 15 will not run apples new AI. The phone will be announced on 9/9. I’d probably return it. I have a 15 plus and it’s great but disappointed my year old phone won’t run apples newest AI software.

 

[subjonas]

I assume the iStore is a third party seller? I don’t think the actual Apple store charges restocking/handling fee. 20% seems pretty high too.

Here is the comparison between regular iPhone 15 and 16, but remember these are rumors:

iPhone 15 vs. iPhone 16 Buyer's Guide: 30+ Upgrades Compared

The iPhone 16 and iPhone 16 Plus launch later this month, offering 35 changes and improvements over their predecessors. Here's everything...

www.macrumors.com

How long is the store return policy? If you can wait a week before returning (without any added penalty or anything), then I would wait for the release of the 16 next week to see the actual features, then decide. If you think the 16 is more than 20% better than the 15 (for you), then you should go ahead and return your 15 and buy the 16 at that point.

 

[BugeyeSTI]

I'd keep the 15. The new AI features won't be that great for at least a year. The 16 could also get a price increase which on top of the 20% restocking fee makes it not worth it IMO

 

[4sallypat]

I'd keep the 15. The new AI features won't be that great for at least a year. The 16 could also get a price increase which on top of the 20% restocking fee makes it not worth it IMO

Correct, the AI feature is lacking in the 15 Pro series as well as the 16 due to the 8GB RAM issue which means cloud server access slowing it way down.

Next year, the 17 will have 12GB RAM which will run AI natively onboard.

 

[BugeyeSTI]

Correct, the AI feature is lacking in the 15 Pro series as well as the 16 due to the 8GB RAM issue which means cloud server access slowing it way down.

Next year, the 17 will have 12GB RAM which will run AI natively onboard.

Depends which rumor you believe... 12gb could be model limited

https://forums.macrumors.com/threads/kuo-next-years-upgrade-to-12gb-ram-will-be-limited-to-iphone-17-pro-max.2434654/

https://forums.macrumors.com/threads/iphone-17-to-feature-12gb-ram-up-from-8gb-in-iphone-16-models.2434567/

 

[eyoungren]

Hi
Really need some advice.
I’m in South Africa and just purchased the iPhone 15 last week Friday. On Saturday my daughter told me that the iPhone 16 is being released this month…😓

Just for future reference, Apple has released a new iPhone every year in September for several years now. It's routine. I guess you didn't know that, but you do now.

 

[Reverend Benny]

Hi
Really need some advice.
I’m in South Africa and just purchased the iPhone 15 last week Friday. On Saturday my daughter told me that the iPhone 16 is being released this month…😓

I just called iStore and they said they will charge a 20% handling fee to refund me.
Should I refund my 2 day old device, lose the 20% and wait for the iPhone 16?
So confused and any advice is appreciated.

Its still a great phone.
I'd say keep it and focus on the iPhone 17 when its released

 

[sw1tcher]

I just called iStore and they said they will charge a 20% handling fee to refund me.

Thanks so much for responding. I have the 15 standard. I just went into the iStore, they say they don’t know if the 16 is coming in, but they will charge me R4500 handling fee to refund or exchange…😓

R4500 = approx. $252.00 USD

That means you paid approx. $1,260 USD for an iPhone 15. 256GB? Yikes!

Just keep it.

iPhone 15

Buy the new & latest iPhone 15 from the iStore. iStore - The dedicated hub for all Apple products alongside the best Apple experience & exclusive services.

www.istore.co.za

 

[kp98077]

the regular iPhone 15 won't change that much and screen will be the same size unlike the Pro models. I would just keep it and NOT loose the 20%

 

[JPack]

Eat the loss and get the 16. The 8GB RAM is important for longevity even if you don’t use AI. The iPhone 16 uses a new camera layout that makes it unique compared to iPhone 12 through 15. Apple always software-locks nearly all new camera and photo editing features even if the hardware remains unchanged.

September of every year is iPhone launch month. You really don’t want to buy an old iPhone so close to launch.

 

[shadowboi]

I just mean, they have always been unveiling new devices in September-October timeframe.

Regular 15 would likely not differ much from regular 16. What you should aim for are pro models. And well, design-wise reg 15>reg 16. Regular 16 will look like a kid’s toy

 

[Laurene45]

The standard 15 and 16 are virtually the same according to rumors. I’d just keep the 15.
You’ll always be behind the latest tech eventually. I’ve never purchased the most current iPhone

Thank you so much for the response. You are right, it's just very difficult to try to keep up to date with the latest.

 

[Laurene45]

Just for future reference, Apple has released a new iPhone every year in September for several years now. It's routine. I guess you didn't know that, but you do now.

Thank you, I will never forget this now... hahaha

 

[Laurene45]

Its still a great phone.
I'd say keep it and focus on the iPhone 17 when its released

I think you are correct, and I upgraded from my XS that lasted me a good 6/7 years, so i should just be happy... haha

 

[Laurene45]

R4500 = approx. $252.00 USD

That means you paid approx. $1,260 USD for an iPhone 15. 256GB? Yikes!

Just keep it.

iPhone 15

Buy the new & latest iPhone 15 from the iStore. iStore - The dedicated hub for all Apple products alongside the best Apple experience & exclusive services.

www.istore.co.za

I know right, it was A LOT of money, so i shouldn't just return and suffer a further loss of $252. And then I still may need to add in more money for the standard Iphone 16.
Plus it was a gift from my boyfriend... although i know he would not mind...

 

[Laurene45]

the regular iPhone 15 won't change that much and screen will be the same size unlike the Pro models. I would just keep it and NOT loose the 20%

Thank you so much for your advice... I'm leaning into just keeping it..

 

[Laurene45]

Eat the loss and get the 16. The 8GB RAM is important for longevity even if you don’t use AI. The iPhone 16 uses a new camera layout that makes it unique compared to iPhone 12 through 15. Apple always software-locks nearly all new camera and photo editing features even if the hardware remains unchanged.

September of every year is iPhone launch month. You really don’t want to buy an old iPhone so close to launch.

Thank you for the different perspective... I will have a think..

 

[Laurene45]

I just mean, they have always been unveiling new devices in September-October timeframe.

Regular 15 would likely not differ much from regular 16. What you should aim for are pro models. And well, design-wise reg 15>reg 16. Regular 16 will look like a kid’s toy

 

[Laurene45]

Yeah, i will never forget the September-October timeframe ever again.
And yes, i will definitley aim for the pro models next time... This is minor, but I really like the pink phones and I saw that the 15 pro doesn't really have colours that i like...
My daughter also said that the design of the 15 standard is much better than the 16 will be. Thank you, you are making me feel a bit better about missing out on the 16.