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Apple announced four new iPhones as part of its iPhone 15 series. Two vanilla models were announced next to the ‘Pro’ models. We’ve already compared the two ‘Pro’ models, and now it’s time to do the same with vanilla models. In this article, we’ll compare the Apple iPhone 15 vs iPhone 15 Plus.
Both of those models got a noticeable bump compared to last year’s models, so chances are that some of you are considering getting one. Well, they are very similar in many ways, but are different when it comes to size, mainly. So, be careful when making a purchase decision. We do hope that this article will help. We’ll first list their specifications, and then compare the two phones across a number of categories, as per usual.
Specs
Apple iPhone 15 vs iPhone 15 Plus, respectively
– Screen size:
6.1-inch Super Retina XDR display (60Hz, HDR, 2,000 nits)
6.7-inch Super Retina XDR display (60Hz, HDR, 2,000 nits)
– Display resolution:
2556 x 1179
2796 x 1290
– SoC:
Apple A16 Bionic
– RAM:
6GB
– Storage:
128GB/256GB/512GB
– Rear cameras:
48MP (f/1.6 aperture, sensor-shift OIS), 12MP (ultrawide, f/2.4 aperture)
– Front cameras:
12MP (f/1.9 aperture) + TrueDepth
– Battery:
3,349mAh
4,383mAh
– Charging:
20W wired, 15W wireless (charger not included)
– Dimensions (unfolded):
147.6 x 71.6 x 7.8mm
160.9 x 77.8 x 7.8mm
– Weight:
171 grams
201 grams
– Connectivity:
5G, LTE, NFC, Wi-Fi, USB Type-C, Bluetooth 5.3
– Security:
Advanced facial scanning
– OS:
iOS 17
– Price:
$799
$899
– Buy:
Apple
Apple iPhone 15 vs Apple iPhone 15 Plus: Design
The two phones look exactly the same, but are different in terms of size. They’re both made out of aluminum and glass. They do feature a Dynamic Island cutout on the front, unlike their predecessors. Apple made the jump this time around. They also come with a Type-C USB port at the bottom, which is the case with all iPhones this year. Both models retain a mute switch, but they are more comfortable to use this time around. Apple reworked the frame, so that the edges are more curved, which makes for a more comfortable experience overall.
Having said that, both the front and the back sides of both phones are flat still. The bezels are quite thin and uniform, but not as thin as on the iPhone 15 Pro and Pro Max. You’ll notice two cameras on the back, and while they may look the same as last year, they’ve been improved this time around. More on that later, in the camera section.
Now, their size is probably the main factor you’ll consider, well, size and weight. That’s the main difference between the two phones. The iPhone 15 Plus has a lot larger display, and it’s a lot larger in general. It’s a lot taller, and wider than the iPhone 15, while the two phones have the same thickness. The ‘Plus’ model is also a lot heavier, 30 grams heavier, to be precise, which is a difference you’ll feel in the hand. Both devices are IP68 certified for water and dust resistance, by the way.
Apple iPhone 15 vs Apple iPhone 15 Plus: Display
The iPhone 15 Pro comes with a 6.1-inch 2556 x 1179 Super Retina XDR OLED display. That panel supports HDR content, and has a 60Hz refresh rate. It also goes up to 2,000 nits of peak brightness, in case you were wondering. The display is also flat. The iPhone 15 Plus’ display is actually quite similar, with two differences worth noting. It is a bit sharper at 2796 x 1290 resolution, and it’s also larger at 6.7 inches. Other than that, the two panels are identical, they even have the same peak brightness. That has also been improved compared to the iPhone 14 and iPhone 14 Plus.
Having said that, both of these displays are really good. They are only 60Hz panels, though, so if you’re to higher refresh rates, you may miss that here. Other than that, there’s not much to complain about, to be quite honest. Both displays are plenty sharp, they have good viewing angles, and vivid colors, with deep blacks. The touch response is also quite good, and they do get immensely bright. The refresh rate is basically the only complaint here, especially considering the price tags of these two phones.
Apple iPhone 15 vs Apple iPhone 15 Plus: Performance
These two smartphones are fueled by the same processor that fueled the iPhone 14 Pro series. The Apple A16 Bionic is included here, a 4nm processor. That chip has proven to be excellent when it comes to performance, so chances are both devices will be on the same level as the iPhone 14 Pro and Pro Max. What will be more interesting to see is how will the battery life fare with this new chip.
Both of these phones come with 6GB of RAM and NVMe flash storage. That processor has 5-core graphics included, in case you were wondering, and it’s a hexa-core processor. Chances are you’ll be able to play any game on the App Store without a problem, even the most graphically-intensive ones. The Apple A16 Bionic is still one of the most powerful mobile chips on the market, even with the Apple A17 Pro in the picture now. Performance is not something you should worry about. It should also be exactly the same on these two phones.
Apple iPhone 15 vs Apple iPhone 15 Plus: Battery
Apple did not reveal the battery capacities of these two phones, but a Chinese regulatory agency did. The iPhone 15 includes a 3,349mAh battery, while the iPhone 15 Plus comes with a 4,383mAh unit. These battery capacities are ever so slightly larger than on the iPhone 14 and iPhone 14 Plus. That’s a good thing, of course, even though it would be nice to see an even bigger bump.
We’ll hold our judgment on the battery life until we get our hands on the phones, and properly test them. The iPhone 14 and iPhone 14 Plus had good battery life, but we’re expecting some improvements this time around.
The charging, on the other hand, remains unchanged. You’re still getting 20W wired, and 15W wireless charging here. Qi2 charging will be supported when the time comes, in case you were wondering. Also, do note that there is no charger in the box, only a Type-C cable, so you’ll need to get that separately. The phone goes up to 50% in half an hour, but getting from 50 to 100% charge will take a lot longer. All in all, neither phone supports particularly fast charging, especially considering the competition.
Apple iPhone 15 vs Apple iPhone 15 Plus: Cameras
Both the iPhone 15 and iPhone 15 Plus got a camera upgrade compared to last year. In fact, they both have the exact same camera setup. Both phones now have a 48-megapixel main camera taken from the iPhone 14 Pro and Pro Max. The iPhone 15 Pro models have an upgraded 48-megapixel camera, with a larger sensor. In any case, this is one of the most notable upgrades for the iPhone 15 series.
We presume that the images will be similar to what the iPhone 14 Pro series was able to produce. Those are good news, though we do hope that Apple managed to fix some white balance problems that were still present. We won’t be able to tell until we get a chance to test them, of course. Regardless, a 48-megapixel camera is a nice upgrade. The ultrawide camera basically remained the same as on the iPhone 14 and iPhone 14 Plus.
That 48-megapixel main camera should also enable better video recording, as it will be able to provide more details. Both phones also have the same portrait photo ability as the iPhone 15 Pro series. You can change the focus point after you take a picture, and also adjust the blur level. That’s a nice addition too.
Audio
Both of these smartphones have a set of stereo speakers. They both support Spatial Audio playback, and Dolby Atmos. They also enable an audio zoom feature, and stereo recording. The two speakers included here should offer similar performance to the ones on the iPhone 14 series. In other words, the sound output will be good, as long as you’re not expecting too much, of course.
Neither phone has an audio jack, so you’ll either have to use the Type-C port at the bottom, or use Bluetooth. Both smartphones are equipped with Bluetooth 5.3, by the way, which is a good thing.