Comparing iPhone 16 Plus and iPhone 15 Plus: what are the upgrades?

Published On: September 11, 2024

Apple has introduced the iPhone 16 Plus, continuing its commitment to the iPhone Plus series for another year. Naturally, this raises the question of how the new model compares to its predecessor, the iPhone 15 Plus.

In this article, we’ll take a detailed look at these two devices, closely checking their design, screen quality, battery life, camera systems, hardware performance, software features, and more to see what upgrades the all-new iPhone 16 Plus offers over the iPhone 15 Plus.

Table of Contents

iPhone 16 Plus vs 15 Plus: specs at a glance

Specs	iPhone 16 Plus	iPhone 15 Plus
Display	6.7-inch 1.2K Super Retina XDR, 60Hz refresh rate, 2796×1290 resolution, 460ppi, 2,000 nits peak brightness	6.7-inch 1.2K Super Retina XDR, 60Hz refresh rate, 2796×1290 resolution, 460ppi, 2,000 nits peak brightness
Dimensions	160.9 x 77.8 x 7.8 mm	160.9 x 77.8 x 7.8 mm
Weight	199g	201g
Software	iOS 18	iOS 17
Rear camera	48MP primary, 12MP ultrawide	48MP primary, 12MP ultrawide
Selfie camera	12MP shooter	12MP snapper
Video	4K at 60fps	4K at 60fps
SoC	A18	A16 Bionic
Battery & charging	Up to 27 hours battery backup, 20W wired, 25W wireless charging	Up to 26 hours battery backup, 20W wired, 15W wireless charging
Storage	8GB RAM, 128GB/256GB/512GB storage	6GB RAM, 128GB/256GB/512GB storage
Colours	Ultramarine, Teal, Pink, White, Black	Pink, Yellow, Green, Blue, Black

iPhone 16 Plus vs 15 Plus: price in India

iPhone 16 Plus	iPhone 15 Plus
Rs 89,900 for 8GB RAM and 128GB storage	Rs 79,900 for 6GB RAM and 128GB storage
Rs 99,900 for 8GB RAM and 256GB storage	Rs 89,900 for 6GB RAM and 256GB storage
Rs 1,19,900 for 8GB RAM and 512GB storage	Rs 1,09,900 for 6GB RAM and 512GB storage

iPhone 16 Plus vs 15 Plus: design

The iPhone 16 Plus and iPhone 15 Plus both have the same body size and shape. However, the iPhone 16 Plus features a redesigned vertical camera bump resembling the iPhone X but with larger cameras, while the iPhone 15 Plus has a square-shaped camera with diagonally placed lenses.

Both phones share the same glass-aluminum build. A notable design change in the iPhone 16 Plus is the addition of an Action Button and a capacitive Camera Control button, replacing the traditional mute switch found on the iPhone 15 Plus. The iPhone 16 Plus also introduces two new colour options: Ultramarine and Teal.

iPhone 16 Plus vs 15 Plus: display

The iPhone 16 Plus display is almost identical to the iPhone 15 Plus, featuring a 6.7-inch Super Retina XDR OLED panel with a 60Hz refresh rate and a resolution of 2796×1290 pixels. Thus, you can expect a similar viewing experience from both iPhones.

However, Apple claims the iPhone 16 Plus matches the Pro models in brightness, with 2,000 nits of peak HDR brightness, potentially surpassing the iPhone 15 Plus, which reached 1090 nits in real-world testing. Moreover, the iPhone 16 Plus minimum brightness can go to 1 nit, which can be useful for night-time use.

iPhone 16 Plus vs 15 Plus: performance

The iPhone 16 Plus features the new A18 chipset, built with 3nm technology, which is 20% more power-efficient than the A17. It also includes slightly more RAM to support on-device AI, the Apple Intelligence, which can result in better multitasking performance as well.

While the iPhone 15 Plus, with its A16 chip and 6GB of RAM, performs well for everyday tasks, expect slightly better performance from the A18 in benchmarks, with results pending until our in-house testing.

iPhone 16 Plus vs 15 Plus: cameras

The iPhone 16 Plus retains the same camera system as the iPhone 15 Plus, with a 48MP main camera and a 12MP ultrawide camera. A notable improvement is the iPhone 16 Plus’s ability to record spatial video in landscape mode. Additionally, the ultrawide camera on the new model has a slightly faster f/2.2 aperture compared to the iPhone 15 Plus’s f/2.4, though you should wait for our real-world testing to see the impact on image quality.

The iPhone 16 Plus also introduces a dedicated capacitive “Camera Control” button, which offers double-action focus and capture and swipe gestures for camera settings. Overall, while photo and video quality should be similar due to the identical hardware, the new control features and spatial video make the iPhone 16 Plus more versatile for photography.

iPhone 16 Plus vs 15 Plus: battery and charging

The iPhone 15 Plus features a 4,383mAh battery, though Apple did not disclose the battery capacity for the iPhone 16 Plus during its announcement, rumours suggest there’s a 4,006mAh cell under the hood.

With the more efficient A18 chip, Apple is likely aiming for a similar battery life to the iPhone 15 Plus. Wait for our review to learn about the real-life battery backup of the iPhone 16 Plus. Moreover, the charging remains the same, with both models supporting 25W max wired fast charging and MagSafe wireless charging, which Apple claims can charge the device up to 50 percent in 35 minutes.

iPhone 16 Plus vs 15 Plus: software

Apple is introducing several key features with iOS 18 on the iPhone 16 series. While the iPhone 15 runs on iOS 17, it will get the iOS 18 update in the near future. With iOS 18, Apple Intelligence integrates advanced editing tools into the Photos app, enhancing the photography experience.

It also adds some privacy features, allowing you to lock apps with Face ID and hide them in secure folders. Moreover, the home screen now supports dark mode for app icons and widgets, along with the ability to resize and rearrange them.

Other updates include RCS messaging support for smoother communication with Android devices, an updated Control Center for easier access to settings, and the addition of satellite messaging for better connectivity.

Verdict

Overall, the iPhone 16 Plus is a significant leap over the iPhone 15 Plus, both in software and hardware. It features a slightly distinct design with new shiny colourways to set it out from the previous-gen iPhone models. The iPhone 16 Plus also has longer battery life, features Apple Intelligence, and draws power from a new chip, a two-generation chipset update over the iPhone 15 Plus.

Furthermore, there are significant camera upgrades, particularly with the redesigned buttons that enhance the photographic experience. However, if you already own the iPhone 15 Plus, there are limited reasons to upgrade, but worth it if you want all the new features and Apple Intelligence tools.