QUOTE(piscesguy @ Sep 30 2024, 01:58 PM)
16 CPU is faster than 15 Pro, so either the 16 or 16 pro, don't waste money on anything below that.
16 series has better cooling than 15 series which is known to have thermal issues, so basically 16 series battery life is much better.

16 pro is significantly more expensive than his requirement, so not relevant in the comparison.
His only option is either the 16 or 15 pro, the 15 pro has a few advantages - ProMotion, 3x optical camera, ProRes/Log video, still get some AI support
The 16 has WiFi 7, better audio recording, slightly faster main camera and CPU, Full AI support
Battery life 15 Pro is still rated slightly higher than 16 on paper in Apple comparison page for video playback, real world usage maybe different. The thermal issue doesn't affect all 15 pro, I see many who also do not have this issue.