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Aside from the USB-C, the main camera is now a more advanced 48MP sensor with pixel binning, promising substantial improvement in image quality, with Apple promising great 2x zoom photos as well
Although screen size remains the same – 6.7″, the iPhone 15 Plus now boasts almost twice as bright an OLED panel and finally replaces the old notch with the pill-shaped Dynamic Island. Even if you are not a fan of the software features revolving around the Dynamic Island, you can still appreciate the more modern and Pro-like look of the homescreen now that the sightly notch is gone.
Under the hood is last year’s pro chipset – the A16 Bionic. The chipset is still a powerful and well-optimized piece of hardware, and it offers faster performance than what the 14 Plus had.
Besides these changes, you still get the same ultra-wide camera without autofocus, and the screen is still 60Hz without an Always-On Display, which is a feature reserved for the Pro models. Speaking of Pro-only features, the USB-C port here provides only USB 2.0 speeds, and we don’t get the new customizable Action key on the left side of the device.
Unboxing the iPhone 15 Plus
Just like the rest of the iPhones, the iPhone 15 Plus comes in a modest box containing just some user manuals, a SIM ejector tool and a USB-C to USB-C cable for charging. US buyers don’t even have the pin for the SIM card tray as these iterations rely only on eSIM.
Even though you have to buy a new charger if you don’t already have one, the good news is you are not obligated to buy an iPhone charger. Any PowerDelivery charger should do the job. The recommended power output is 20W, but a 30W charger should provide even faster charging in the first 40-50min.
Unlike the 15 Pro and 15 Pro Max, the 15 and 15 Plus haven’t gotten their bezels trimmed. The bezels are just like last year’s – no change. They are still pretty thin, though.Unlike the 15 Pro and 15 Pro Max, the 15 and 15 Plus haven’t gotten their bezels trimmed. The bezels are just like last year’s – no change. They are still pretty thin, though.
All in all, the iPhone 15 Plus offers an exceptional build with little to complain about. Sure, it’s not the grippiest phone out there, and the power button position is a bit high for a 6.7-inch device, but we are impressed with how light it feels and how much handling has improved thanks to the rounded edges. The handset tips the scale at just 201 grams, and the profile measures 7.8mm, so it’s a delight to hold. You can also have peace of mind, as like every iPhone for the last few generations, this one is also IP68-certified against water and dust.
Connectivity
The iPhone 15 Plus comes with a variety of network connectivity options depending on your region. The international version has a single Nano-SIM card slot and eSIM support for a second number. In the US, users get dual eSIM with multiple number support, whereas in China, the iPhone 15 has dual Nano-SIM slots. Regardless of region, you get dual standby and SA/NSA Sub6 connectivity. Certain models will also have mmWave.
In certain countries, Apple also offers satellite connectivity on the iPhone 15 for emergency pings outside of cell range and Roadside Assistance via satellite. The latter does require a subscription after an initial two-year grace period. Find My via satellite is also a thing, so you can update your location when outside of cell coverage and let your loved ones know you are safe. Emergency SOS and Find My via satellite do still have some regional limitations, though.
Apple promises clearer voice calls in this generation of iPhone. In fact, there is a new Voice Isolation toggle that you can manually enable during calls if your background is too noisy. We aren’t quite sure why this neat feature doesn’t get enabled automatically when needed, but we are still happy to see it present. In our testing, it works great to drown out surprisingly noisy environments.
For local connectivity, the iPhone 15 has dual-band Wi-Fi 6 (ax) as well as Bluetooth 5.3 with LE support. There is NFC on board for things like Apple Pay and Name Drop contact sharing.
The iPhone 15 also has a second-generation Apple Ultrawideband (UWB) chip. It enables precise Find My with directional arrows and has up to three times increased range compared to the original Apple U1 chip. You can also use precision finding in a crowd with Find My Friends. We should note that the UWB chip and its functionality are not available in every market and are disabled in some countries due to regulatory issues.
For local connectivity, the iPhone 15 has dual-band Wi-Fi 6 (ax) as well as Bluetooth 5.3 with LE support. There is NFC on board for things like Apple Pay and Name Drop contact sharing.
The iPhone 15 also has a second-generation Apple Ultrawideband (UWB) chip. It enables precise Find My with directional arrows and has up to three times increased range compared to the original Apple U1 chip. You can also use precision finding in a crowd with Find My Friends. We should note that the UWB chip and its functionality are not available in every market and are disabled in some countries due to regulatory issues.
Upgraded 6.7-inch OLED with Dynamic Island
Apple has upgraded the display on this year’s non-Pro iPhones, and this brings the iPhone 15 Plus’ panel closer to that of the 15 Pro Max in terms of overall feel and technical specifications. The 15 Plus retains the 6.7-inch diagonal, 1290 x 2796px resolution as well as the Super Retina XDR OLED part of the name, skipping the LTPO part. This leads us to the refresh rate – still 60Hz. Objectively speaking, that’s a serious lag behind the industry standard for the last couple of years. One would expect a 120Hz display, at the very least, the LTPO part is optional.
Battery life
The battery capacity of the iPhone 15 Plus is ever so slightly bigger than its predecessor. The cell is rated at 4,383 mAh, but due to the more efficient A16 Bionic SoC, the 15 Plus delivers considerably longer battery life. Especially in the screen-on tests, which are arguably the most important aspect of our battery endurance tests.
So much so that the iPhone 15 Plus appears to outperform the iPhone 15 Pro Max in the web browsing test by a small margin as well as in the gaming test. Even the Active Use Score is higher on the 15 Plus. And compared to other competitors in the segment, the iPhone 15 Plus stands out as a battery endurance champion, outperforming phones like the Samsung Galaxy S23 Ultra and the Xiaomi 13 Pro.
Here are the lowest prices for the Apple iPhone 15 Plus in USD, GBP, and INR:
United States:
- 128GB 6GB RAM: $747.99
- 256GB 6GB RAM: $824.99
- 512GB 6GB RAM: $955.00
United Kingdom:
- 128GB 6GB RAM: £711.77
- 256GB 6GB RAM: £518.00
- 512GB 6GB RAM: £1,099.00
India:
- 128GB 6GB RAM: ₹80,999
- 256GB 6GB RAM: ₹90,999
- 512GB 6GB RAM: ₹112,999
Please note that prices may vary and it’s always advisable to review the listing carefully before making a purchase. Additionally, check warranty coverage and be aware of any extra charges such as sales tax, shipping, or customs fees.