Intro
Last year, Apple introduced the “Plus” model once again, this time in the shape of a big-screen, cheaper alternative to the iPhone Pro Max. With the iPhone 15 series, the company is keeping the “new” model, adding a touch of refinement here and there. But what will the differences be with the regular iPhone 15 this year?Based on the information we have so far, it looks like Apple will keep the iPhone 15 Plus close to the vanilla model, with just minor differences, mainly concerning the screen size and battery.
Of course, both new models will come with last year’s A16 Bionic chipset and also sport a camera upgrade, another feature coming from the Pro lineup of last year, as well as the pill-shaped cutout and Dynamic Island functionality.
But let’s not get ahead of ourselves. Read our detailed iPhone 15 Plus vs. iPhone 15 comparison to learn every small difference you should expect when the new iPhone 15 series debuts in mid-September.
iPhone 15 Plus vs. iPhone 15 expectations:
- A16 Bionic chip
- Same 6GB RAM
- Bigger screen on the Plus
- Dynamic Island on both phones
- Same storage options
- 48MP main camera
- Better battery life on the Plus
- Same charging speeds
- USB-C on both phones
Table of Contents:
Read more:
iPhone 15 series: all you need to know
Design and Size
Honey, I enlarged the iPhone 15
We don’t expect major differences in design this year. Apple hasn’t made a radical change in the past couple of generations, so we expect the same glass-aluminum design with a square camera bump on the back.
Now, obviously, the iPhone 15 Plus can be viewed as a bigger version of the iPhone 15, and we expect both phones to be nearly identical. The biggest difference is the size, the iPhone 15 Plus is expected to sport a 6.7-inch screen, while the vanilla iPhone 15 will have a smaller, 6.1-inch display.
This preserves the status quo between the Plus models and the regular iPhone, so the plus-sized iPhone seems to be a well-performing concept for Apple. Not much else can be said here, the expected colors for the non-Pro models in the iPhone 15 series should be the same, based on the latest leaks and rumors.
iPhone 15 Plus and iPhone 15 expected color options:
- midnight
- starlight
- (PRODUCT)RED
- dark pink
- light blue
- yellow
The big change this year is the transition from Lightning to USB-C, so don’t be surprised when you see that port on the bottom of the iPhone 15 series. Both the iPhone 15 Plus and iPhone 15 will sport this feature.
The other design difference is the retirement of the notch, all iPhone 15 series models will come with a pill-shaped cutout in the display to accommodate the front camera and hardware, and this will come with the Dynamic Island software feature as well.
Display Differences
It’s all about that size, size, size
We expect the display size to be one of the biggest (if not THE biggest) differences between the iPhone 15 Plus and the iPhone 15.
According to industry insiders, the iPhone 15 will come with the same 6.1-inch OLED screen with a 60Hz display refresh rate and 800 nits of brightness (1,200 HDR peak brightness), and the same goes for the iPhone 15 Plus, with the only difference being the size—we’re taking about a 6.7-inch OLED with the same 60Hz display refresh rate.
The lack of ProMotion might be a downer for some, as might be the omission of an Always On mode, but these two are tied together, and you can’t have one without the other, so to speak. The good news is that the notch is no longer present, and the Dynamic Island feature will support a pill-shaped cutout on both the iPhone 15 Plus and the standard iPhone 15.
Performance
Last year’s grace
The hardware situation around the iPhone 15 Plus and the iPhone 15 is pretty clear. We’re pretty sure that both phones will inherit the A16 Bionic chip from last year’s Pro models, and this silicon is a known entity, so we know what to expect.
The performance between the two models will most likely be identical, with small fluctuations depending on the specific test and conditions. The A16 chip is made using a 4nm process, so the efficiency is quite good, and we expect good results on that front from both models.
As for the RAM, we believe that both the iPhone 15 Plus and the iPhone 15 will sport 6 GB of RAM, just like their predecessors, but this time it will be a faster version, LPDDR5. Thus, there shouldn’t be any difference in performance between the Plus and the vanilla.
The storage options are also identical for both phones, starting at 128GB and moving through 256GB to land at the largest 512GB option. As for software, we expect the iPhone 15 Plus and the iPhone 15 to run iOS 17 out of the box, this next-gen version of Apple’s mobile OS is expected to debut with the new iPhone 15 series in mid-September.
Camera
Twin brothers
The camera configuration is believed to be identical on both the iPhone 15 Plus and the iPhone 15. However, we’re looking at a new main camera, some industry insiders have shared hints that both phones will inherit the main 48MP camera from the Pros of last year.
The ultrawide and selfie cameras will also be identical on both phones, and not only that, but most likely the same cameras we’ve already seen on the iPhone 14 series entry level models. Which is not a bad thing per se, as these cameras produce very pleasing shots. The bigger upgrades, of course, are reserved for the Pro models in the iPhone 15 lineup.
All in all, you shouldn’t take the camera into consideration if you’re trying to decide between the iPhone 15 Plus and the iPhone 15, both of which will have the exact same camera systems.
Audio Quality
Boom, boom, boom
The loudspeakers Apple uses in its iPhone models are generally of very high quality and produce a nice, balanced, and rich sound. We expect the same quality to be preserved in this year’s iPhone 15 Plus and iPhone 15 models, alongside the stereo setup, which uses the speakerphone as a second, well, speaker.The bigger body of the iPhone 15 Plus could give that model a slight advantage when it comes to bass and resonance, giving it more oomph in the low frequencies (they need more space to travel and resonate properly).
The Taptic Engine is another strong point on most iPhones of late, and we don’t expect that to change with the new lineup. Again, the bigger iPhone 15 Plus could result in subjectively more prominent vibrations, mainly due to the size, but overall, the difference won’t be night and day.
Battery and Charging
Welcome, USB-C
The big change (and a needed one) in the iPhone 15 lineup is the switch to USB-C. This will theoretically allow for faster charging speeds, and the other good news is that both the iPhone 15 Plus and the iPhone 15 are getting the new port.
Here we have the other big difference between the iPhone 15 Plus and the iPhone 15 – the battery size. The bigger body of the Plus model allows for a larger battery. We believe that the Plus will sport the same 4,325mAh battery as its predecessor, while the vanilla iPhone 15 will inherit roughly the same 3,279mAh battery from the iPhone 14.
Specs
| iPhone 15 Plus | iPhone 15 | |
|---|---|---|
| Size, weight | ||
| Screen | 6.7″ OLED 60Hz |
6.1″ OLED 60Hz |
| Processor | A16 Bionic 4nm |
A16 Bionic 4nm |
| RAM, Storage | 6/128GB 6/256GB 6/512GB – LPDDR5* |
6/128GB 6/256GB 6/512GB – LPDDR5* |
| Cameras | 48MP main 12MP ultra – 12MP front |
48MP main 12MP ultra – 12MP front |
| Battery | 4325 mAh* | 3279 mAh* |
| Charging | USB-C 20W wired MagSafe |
USB-C 20W wired MagSafe |
Summary
Which one should you choose, then? It’s a very straightforward question, given that these two phones are almost identical. It’s pretty much down to screen size and battery life. If you like big phones, then the iPhone 15 Plus is the right one for you. If you prefer a more compact form factor, then get the iPhone 15.
Things are not so simple if you’re upgrading from a previous generation iPhone or an Android device. Again, the same basic rules apply here, but if you already have the iPhone 14 or the iPhone 14 Plus, there’s little to no reason to get the new models.
