Apple iPhone 15vsVivo V40
SETTLEDUpdated September 8, 2026
Vivo V40 wins
Verdict
Vivo V40 wins 4 of 5 categories — our overall pick
Vivo V40 is the overall winner, 4 / 5 — display is its standout. At USD 449, it's also the most affordable of this group.
- Apple iPhone 15 takes Performance — led by performance score (1,300,000 pts).
- Vivo V40 takes Display — led by refresh rate (120 Hz).
- Vivo V40 takes Camera — led by selfie camera (50 MP).
- Vivo V40 takes Battery — led by battery (5,500 mAh).
- Vivo V40 takes Price — led by price (449 USD).
Scores follow our published methodology · v2026.09
In plain English
Choose Apple iPhone 15 if you want…
- Choose Apple iPhone 15 if you want a faster phone for apps and games — 1,300,000 pts vs 700,000 pts.
- Choose Apple iPhone 15 if you want a sharper screen — 460 ppi vs 450 ppi.
- Choose Apple iPhone 15 if you want better video quality — 93 pts vs 89 pts.
- Choose Apple iPhone 15 if you want a better camera — 141 pts vs 133 pts.
- Choose Apple iPhone 15 if you want the convenience of wireless charging — Yes vs No.
Choose Vivo V40 if you want…
- Choose Vivo V40 if you want more apps open at once — 8 GB vs 6 GB.
- Choose Vivo V40 if you want more room for photos and apps — 256 GB vs 128 GB.
- Choose Vivo V40 if you want a bigger screen — 6.78 in vs 6.1 in.
- Choose Vivo V40 if you want smoother scrolling — 120 Hz vs 60 Hz.
- Choose Vivo V40 if you want a screen you can read in sunlight — 4,500 nits vs 2,000 nits.
- Choose Vivo V40 if you want sharper selfies — 50 MP vs 12 MP.
- Choose Vivo V40 if you want longer battery life — 5,500 mAh vs 3,349 mAh.
- Choose Vivo V40 if you want faster charging — 80 W vs 20 W.
- Choose Vivo V40 if you want a lower price — 449 USD vs 699 USD.
At a glance
- Apple iPhone 15
- Vivo V40
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Best price now
The cheap alternative
Full record
Every spec, side by side — winners get a check and a proportional bar. Ties share the badge.
Performance score
Approximate benchmark score of the chipset — higher is faster for apps, games and AI.
Chipset
The processor inside — shown for reference, never decides a winner.
RAM
More RAM keeps more apps alive in the background.
Storage
Base onboard storage for photos, apps and media.
Screen size
Diagonal screen size — bigger is better for media, smaller is easier to hold.
Pixel density
Sharpness of the screen — above ~400 ppi looks crisp.
Refresh rate
How smooth scrolling and motion feel. 120 Hz is the modern standard.
Peak brightness
Peak brightness in sunlight — higher stays readable outdoors.
Main camera
Resolution of the primary rear camera — photo quality is judged by the Camera quality score, not megapixels.
Selfie camera
Resolution of the front camera.
Telephoto
A dedicated zoom lens for distant subjects without quality loss.
Video score
Composite video rating — stabilisation, 4K/8K support and colour.
Camera score
Composite camera quality from independent testing — how good the photos actually are.
Battery
Battery capacity — higher generally lasts longer.
Charging speed
Wired charging speed — higher refills faster.
Wireless charging
Whether the phone charges wirelessly.
Price
Typical MSRP in US dollars — lower is better value.
Which one should you buy?
Apple iPhone 15
Choose Apple iPhone 15 if performance matters most. It costs USD 699.
Vivo V40
Choose Vivo V40 if display matters most — it wins the most categories overall. It costs USD 449, the lowest price in this group.
Pros & cons
Apple iPhone 15
- Cheapest modern iPhone
- Dynamic Island + USB-C
- Solid 48 MP camera
- 60 Hz display
- A16 chip is aging
- Slow 20 W charging
Vivo V40
- Zeiss-tuned cameras
- 5,500 mAh battery
- 4,500-nit display
- Mid-range chipset
- Software bloat
- No wireless charging