Apple introduced 4 new iPhones a few months in the past, together with the ‘Plus’ mannequin. On this article, we’ll examine that variant vs its predecessor. In different phrases, we’ll be comparing the Apple iPhone 16 Plus vs Apple iPhone 15 Plus. These two telephones should not essentially the most highly effective the corporate has to supply, however they’re compelling in their very own regard. They’re bigger variants of vanilla fashions, mainly.
Whereas the 2 telephones do look lots alike, Apple did change some issues from final 12 months’s mannequin to the brand new one, and it’s positively price noting these variations. We’ll first listing the specs of each smartphones, as we often do, and can then transfer to match them throughout plenty of classes. We’ll examine their designs, shows, efficiency, battery life, cameras, and audio output. So, let’s get to it.
Specs
Apple iPhone 16 Plus vs Apple iPhone 15 Plus, respectively
– Display dimension:
6.7-inch Tremendous Retina XDR OLED ( flat, 60Hz, HDR, 2,000 nits)
– Show decision:
2796 x 1290
– SoC:
Apple A18 (3nm)
Apple A16 Bionic
– RAM:
8GB
6GB
– Storage:
128GB/256GB/512GB (NVMe)
– Rear cameras:
48MP (large, f/1.6 aperture, 1/1.56-inch sensor, 1.0um pixel dimension, sensor-shift OIS), 12MP (ultrawide, f/2.2 aperture, 120-degree FoV, 0.7um pixel dimension, PDAF)
48MP (f/1.6 aperture, sensor-shift OIS), 12MP (ultrawide, f/2.4 aperture)
– Entrance cameras:
12MP (f/1.9 aperture, PDAF, 1/3.6-inch sensor dimension,)
12MP (f/1.9 aperture) + TrueDepth
– Battery:
4,674mAh
4,383mAh
– Charging:
30W wired, 25W MagSafe wi-fi, 15W Qi2 wi-fi, 7.5W Qi wi-fi, 4.5W reverse wired (charger not included)
20W wired, 15W wi-fi (charger not included)
– Dimensions:
160.9 x 77.8 x 7.8 mm
– Weight:
199 grams
201 grams
– Connectivity:
5G, LTE, NFC, Wi-Fi, USB Kind-C, Bluetooth 5.3
– Safety:
Face ID (3D facial scanning)
– OS:
iOS 18
iOS 17
– Value:
$899+
– Purchase:
Apple iPhone 16 Plus (Best Buy)
Apple iPhone 15 Plus (Best Buy)
Apple iPhone 16 Plus vs Apple iPhone 15 Plus: Design
Design-wise, these two smartphones are very comparable. There are two notable variations, although. The digicam islands are totally different, and the iPhone 16 Plus additionally has two additional buttons. We’ll get to that, nevertheless, let’s begin from the highest. Each smartphones are made out of aluminum and glass. They each have flat shows and flat backplates. Their body can also be flat throughout, although it does curve in the direction of the perimeters, just a bit bit, for consolation’s sake.
You’ll discover a pill-shaped cutout on the show, that’s there for the cameras and 3D facial scanning tech. The bezels across the shows are pretty skinny, and mainly the identical in that regard. They’re additionally uniform. On the again, the iPhone 16 Plus has vertically-aligned cameras within the top-left nook. Those on the iPhone 15 Plus have a special alignment, however the digicam island is within the top-left nook as effectively.
On the right-hand facet, the iPhone 16 Plus has an influence/lock button and a Digital camera Management key. The iPhone 15 Plus has solely an influence/lock button there. On the left, the iPhone 16 Plus consists of its quantity rocker buttons and an Motion Button. The iPhone 15 Plus has the quantity up and down buttons too, and along with them, you’ll discover an alert slider there. Each smartphones embody a Kind-C port on the backside.
The 2 telephones are equivalent when it comes to dimensions, utterly equivalent. The iPhone 16 Plus is 2 grams lighter compared, in order that’s mainly the identical too. Each of those smartphones are IP68 licensed for water and dirt resistance. They’re each additionally fairly slippery.
Apple iPhone 16 Plus vs Apple iPhone 15 Plus: Show
The shows are additionally equivalent right here. They’re precisely the identical, so we’ll discuss a single show, not two. You’ll discover a 6.7-inch 2796 x 1290 Tremendous Retina XDR OLED show on each of those smartphones. That show is flat, and it helps HDR10 content material. Dolby Imaginative and prescient can also be supported by this panel, whereas we’re a 60Hz refresh price right here. So neither telephone helps a excessive refresh price, sadly.
Moreover, the height brightness on the panel is 2,000 nits. Even the screen-to-body ratio is the very same on each, as they’ve the identical bezel thickness. We’re an 88% screen-to-body ratio right here. The show side ratio is nineteen.5:9, and the show is protected by the Ceramic Protect Glass. That’s one distinction right here, because the newer mannequin has a more recent model of Ceramic Protect glass.
This show is superb. It’s greater than sharp sufficient, whereas it’s additionally vivid, and provides deep blacks. The viewing angles are good, and the contact response is strong too. The show additionally will get vibrant sufficient whenever you want it, although not almost as some flagship-grade ones do. It’s additionally unhappy that Apple didn’t embody a excessive refresh price right here, as far more inexpensive smartphones have double the refresh price of those two smartphones. Common customers largely don’t care about that, although, so there you’ve it.
Apple iPhone 16 Plus vs Apple iPhone 15 Plus: Efficiency
The iPhone 16 Plus is fueled by the Apple A18 processor. That’s the firm’s 3nm chip. The iPhone 15 Plus, on the flip facet, is fueled by the Apple A16 Bionic chip, a 4nm processor. The iPhone 16 Plus does include extra RAM too, it consists of 8GB of RAM in comparison with 6GB of RAM on the iPhone 15 Plus. Do word that each smartphones provide NVMe flash storage, and neither helps storage enlargement.
The efficiency these two smartphones provide on a day-to-day foundation is nice. They’re very constant when it comes to efficiency, and really fluid too. Sure, the iPhone 16 Plus is extra highly effective, technically, however that’s not one thing you’d discover in day-to-day use. The iPhone 15 Plus continues to be greater than highly effective sufficient. Properly, it’s possible you’ll discover it throughout app launches, when you actually search for it, however typically, each smartphones provide nice efficiency.
They will each run really demanding video games too. The iPhone 16 Plus is technically extra future-proof in that regard, however there’s loads of energy contained in the Apple A16 Bionic, so that you shouldn’t be apprehensive when the video games are involved. You could discover a distinction with essentially the most demanding titles, although. They each get fairly heat throughout extended gaming classes, however neither one has points with overheating or something of the kind.
Apple iPhone 16 Plus vs Apple iPhone 15 Plus: Battery
The iPhone 16 Plus features a 4,674mAh battery on the within, whereas its predecessor has a 4,383mAh battery. Contemplating how comparable they’re in any other case, and the truth that the iPhone 16 Plus has a extra power-efficient SoC, you’d anticipate that the iPhone 16 Plus has notably higher battery life. Properly, it does, it truly has excellent battery life, and the iPhone 15 Plus is just not that far behind.
Should you’re searching for an iPhone with really excellent battery life, getting both of these is an efficient name, although the iPhone 16 Plus does win in that class. The screen-on-time numbers these two smartphones can present are very excessive, and for some individuals they’ll simply be capable of maintain a cost for 2 days, because the standby time can also be excellent on each. The iPhone 16 Plus does provide round 15% higher battery life, although, from what we’ve seen.
Relating to charging, the brand new mannequin does have the sting. It helps 30W wired, 25W MagSafe wi-fi, 15W Qi2 wi-fi, 7.5W Qi wi-fi, and 4.5W reverse wired charging. The iPhone 15 Plus helps 20W wired, 15W MagSafe and Qi2 wi-fi, 7.5W Qi wi-fi, and 4.5W reverse wired charging. The brand new mannequin does cost sooner each by way of a wire and wirelessly. Do word that neither telephone comes with a charger, although.
Apple iPhone 16 Plus vs Apple iPhone 15 Plus: Cameras
Every of those two telephones has two cameras on the again. The principle digicam is strictly the identical, however there are some variations within the ultrawide division. The iPhone 16 Plus has a bigger aperture on the ultrawide digicam (f/2.2 vs f/2.4 that was used final 12 months) and likewise helps autofocus, which ends up in higher close-up pictures. The distinction is definitely fairly noticeable. It additionally makes a distinction for low-light pictures.
Each smartphones embody a 48-megapixel primary digicam (f/1.6 aperture, 1/1.56-inch sensor dimension, sensor-shift OIS). That digicam is strictly the identical on each, and the outcomes are mainly the identical too. Each units are fairly able to taking good photos in all eventualities, although do word that this telephone received’t do nearly as good of a job because the ‘Professional’ fashions in low mild. It does job, however when you’re searching for one of the best on the market, there are various higher choices for low mild.
The ultrawide digicam on the iPhone 16 Plus actually does a greater job in low mild. The pictures find yourself being extra detailed, whereas it seemingly takes a photograph sooner too. Macro pictures are higher from the iPhone 16 Plus, whereas common photos through the day are comparable, although the iPhone 16 Plus does pull forward in some eventualities. Video recording is de facto good on each smartphones, as are selfie pictures.
Audio
Each of those telephones embody stereo audio system, however not, they’re not the identical. The audio system on the iPhone 16 Plus are notably louder, although the sound high quality coming from each is de facto good, on par.
There isn’t a audio jack on both of those two smartphones. You should use their Kind-C ports in an effort to join your wired headphones, although. Alternatively, Bluetooth 5.3 is supported by each telephones.
