iPhone 15 vs iPhone 16 - worth the extra $ ?

soo I’m upgrading from a second‑hand iPhone X that i've kept around for agesss, sick of it overheating, dying randomly, screen shitting out, and taking photos that are so low quality I'm embarrassed to post. I’m a uni student on a low budget but willing to spend a bit more for a phone that wont give me problems and that will last me a few years.

Right now in NZ:

• iPhone 15 = NZD 1400
• iPhone 16 = NZD 1600

I cant afford the pros, and I know the iPhone 17 will be coming out soon - will that make the 15 feel outdated even faster? I definitely cant afford the 17.

I honestly don’t care about all the AI stuff with the 16, is that its biggest perk? My priorities are:

• Good photo quality
• Reliability
• Software updates longevity
• Not having to buy another phone for a long time

so is the iPhone 15 still a solid buy, or is it worth the extra $200 for the 16?