Apple iPhone 15 Plus Review

Verdict

The iPhone 15 Plus has carved out its area of interest this yr, with a reduced value within the UK together with a number of beforehand Professional-exclusive options like Dynamic Island tech, a brand new 48MP digicam and impressively robust battery life that make it a tempting various to the top-end iPhone 15 Professional Max – it’s only a disgrace concerning the 60Hz refresh fee. 

Introduction

The iPhone 15 Plus is right here to repair the wrongs of final yr’s 14 Plus, a cellphone that didn’t actually sit comfortably in Apple’s line-up.

Nevertheless, with this yr’s iPhone 15 Plus getting severe upgrades within the type of Dynamic Island tech, a brand new 48MP snapper and a barely cheaper value level within the UK, it represents a extra tempting selection for anybody in search of a big-screen iPhone that doesn’t wish to pay prime greenback for the iPhone 15 Professional Max.

Certain, there are nonetheless compromises available – you miss out on a telephoto sensor, the A17 Professional chipset and a titanium chassis – however these aren’t monumental omissions for the on a regular basis iPhone person. 

The one huge criticism I’ve is that the display continues to be locked to a sluggish 60Hz when even sub-£200 Android smartphones supply a easy 120Hz refresh fee – one thing I hope Apple modifications with the iPhone 16 Plus subsequent yr.

Design

• Barely up to date design with softer edges
• New matte end on the rear
• Transfer from Lightning to USB-C

You is perhaps hard-pressed to inform the distinction between the iPhone 15 Plus and its predecessor, the iPhone 14 Plus. It’s nonetheless very a lot a particular iPhone with no large redesign on supply, although selecting up the newer mannequin, you’ll discover refined variations. 

That’s as a result of the aluminium body has completed away with the signature sharp edges of earlier iPhones, this time choosing a barely rounded affair that immediately makes the big 6.7-inch cellphone really feel extra comfy within the palm of the hand. I by no means actually minded the extra angular edges of older fashions on the time, however after dealing with the iPhone 15 Plus, I don’t actually wish to return. 

That’s accompanied by a pleasant new matte end on the glass rear that helps do away with these annoying fingerprints, and the satin-like really feel gives a beautiful sensation for the fingertips too. That’s accompanied by the twin digicam bump within the top-left, although just like the body, the corners of the cutout are considerably softer and extra sloped this time round. 

The iPhone 15 Plus is barely lighter than its predecessor at 201g, although solely by three grams. The larger weight distinction comes with the iPhone 15 Professional and iPhone 15 Professional Max, which swapped out the weighty chrome steel body for a extra light-weight titanium one.

Whereas with regards to Professional comparisons, the one immediately noticeable distinction between the iPhone 15 Plus and its Professional Max sibling is the shortage of an Motion Button. The brand new button replaces the amount change current on earlier fashions, however that is very a lot a Professional-level improve with each the iPhone 15 and 15 Plus providing the identical conventional change. 

It’ll doubtless trickle all the way down to the common iPhones sooner or later, as with Dynamic Island, however I think about it’ll be a few years away but. 

In the event you comply with that aluminium body to the underside of the iPhone, you’ll discover one other distinction: a USB-C port, rather than the Lightning port Apple has used since 2012. It’s doubtless a change that’ll cut up opinion, particularly if in case you have a big ecosystem of Lightning cables and equipment, however I cherished the power to make use of one USB-C cable to cost my MacBook, iPad Professional and iPhone. 

Elsewhere, the iPhone 15 Plus is IP68 dust- and waterproof to guard it from surprising dunks, and it is available in a variety of engaging – if barely muted – colors together with black, white, blue, inexperienced, yellow and pink. 

Apple must be applauded for its strategy to environmental practices too, with the iPhone 15 Plus’ chassis constituted of 75% recycled supplies, whereas the battery consists of 100% recycled cobalt. The packaging can also be fully recyclable, with no single-use plastics in sight. 

Apple additionally has plans to make its telephones carbon-neutral, but it surely hasn’t achieved that lofty goal simply but. 

Display

• 6.7-inch OLED show
• Dynamic Island know-how
• Capped at 60Hz

The big 6.7-inch OLED show is the principle motive to go for the iPhone 15 Plus over the cheaper iPhone 15. It’s a high-quality panel with a pixel-packed 1290 x 2796 decision that delivers oodles of element, whether or not you’re scrolling via Instagram or taking part in detailed 3D video games like Genshin Impression. 

Whereas it’s largely the identical as final yr’s iPhone 14 Plus, the addition of the beforehand Professional-exclusive Dynamic Island tech makes for an thrilling change. The pill-shaped cutout replaces the enduring notch cutout, hiding each the selfie digicam and Face ID tech inside, in addition to working with iOS to make it a core a part of the expertise.

That is completed in a number of methods, from offering a mini participant to regulate music playback to continually displaying a at present working timer, and a few third-party apps have constructed particular Dynamic Island performance into their apps, permitting you to get dwell supply updates or soccer scores with out delving into the app in query.  

It’s a cool function that has been fairly underutilised by builders up till now, however with extra iPhones now utilizing the tech, we may see an explosion in Dynamic Island integration within the coming months. 

The panel can even attain a a lot increased peak brightness at a formidable 2000nits which makes watching HDR content material an actual deal with, particularly when mixed with the colourful colors and inky blacks of the OLED panel. 

There isn’t a lot to be upset about with the iPhone 15 Plus show, then – apart from the refresh fee. The iPhone 15 Plus continues Apple’s (fairly unbelievable) stance of holding the common fashions locked to a somewhat sluggish 60Hz, leaving the ProMotion 120Hz show tech unique to the iPhone 15 Professional and iPhone 15 Professional Max. 

In comparison with virtually each different Android smartphone, even finances choices just like the £349 Honor Magic 5 Lite that gives a 120Hz refresh fee, the iPhone feels comparatively sluggish and sluggish. Folks prefer to argue that no one even notices the distinction, and whereas that could be true for individuals who haven’t used a 120Hz show over a protracted interval, it’s definitely notable for these of us who’ve.

Moreover, the one motive most iPhone customers are but to expertise it’s that Apple has been gate-keeping the tech for its top-end smartphones for method too lengthy. It’s time to demand extra from what’s, by all means, a flagship smartphone, even with out the Professional moniker. 

Cameras

• New 48MP main sensor
• Succesful in well-lit and low-light circumstances
• Excessive-quality video seize

Whereas a look on the rear of the iPhone 15 Plus will reveal the identical dual-camera design as its predecessor, it holds a secret inside. That secret? A shiny new 48MP main snapper, changing the 12MP digicam Apple has used for fairly a while. 

After all, the megapixel rely doesn’t all the time have a direct impact on picture high quality – one thing Apple has proved time and time once more – but it surely does grant the common iPhone pixel-binning know-how that delivers an enormous enchancment in general mild and element, notably in low-light eventualities.

Low mild is one space the place the iPhone 15 Plus has seen a substantial enchancment year-on-year, delivering pictures not that far off what you’ll get from the iPhone 15 Professional. It was shortly in a position to seize photographs in even extraordinarily dim conditions, like a moonlit garden, although it could possibly generally look a bit of too orange. 

In additional basic use, the iPhone 15 Plus’ main sensor is an absolute deal with, able to capturing vibrant, detailed and vibrant photographs with a superbly balanced dynamic vary that’s excellent for sharing on social media. 

An replace to the digicam tech additionally means that you can remodel any picture right into a Portrait-style picture, with customers in a position to tweak each the main focus and the bokeh of the picture within the Photographs app at any level. You’re in a position to tweak focus and bokeh post-capture on some Android telephones, however not many (if any in any respect) can convert common photographs to Portrait pictures with such accuracy. 

The brand new 2x digital zoom choice offered by the high-res 48MP sensor can also be a useful addition, permitting you to get a bit of nearer to the topic (for Portrait pictures, for instance) with out having to get bodily nearer, and with none actual notable downgrade to general picture high quality. It additionally gives a barely narrower area of view than the first and ultra-wide lenses.

Talking of, there was little in the way in which of enhancements to the accompanying 12MP ultrawide lens. That’s to say that it nonetheless takes a terrific picture with loads of element and a constant color palette in comparison with the first lens, however you received’t discover any fancy pixel-binning tech right here to additional improve the extra minor particulars of photographs taken. 

It additionally means it’s nonetheless not the perfect in terms of evening mode, with notably darker, muddier pictures than the accompanying lens.  

Video stays one of many strongest factors for getting an iPhone over virtually any Android in the marketplace, with sweeping cinema-style stabilisation that appears nice. There’s additionally the power to report at as much as 4K@60fps with stabilisation, together with Cinematic Mode (that dynamically blurs the background) at 4K@30fps. 

The latter is a bit of slower than the 4K@60fps of the Professional fashions, and also you received’t discover ProRes or Log seize, however for all however pro-level video editors, that doesn’t matter an excessive amount of. 

Efficiency

• A16 Bionic chipset
• Can nonetheless outpace Android rivals
• eSIM continues to be solely a requirement within the US

On the coronary heart of the iPhone 15 Plus you’ll discover the 4nm A16 Bionic chipset – and if that chipset sounds acquainted, it’s as a result of it ought to. It’s the identical chipset that was beforehand unique to the iPhone 14 Professional, however don’t let that put you off.

Even when mixed with much less RAM (6GB) than the Professional fashions, the A16 Bionic is a performant chipset that may nonetheless deliver the battle to flagship Android competitors a yr after launch – one thing backed up by our suite of benchmark exams, showcasing simply how succesful the iPhone 15 Plus is.

Certain, it’s a method off the 3nm A17 Professional of this yr’s Professional assortment, however you received’t have the ability to inform a distinction in day-to-day duties. The iPhone 15 Plus feels simply as fast as every other flagship smartphone, dealing with each scrolling via media-heavy apps and high-end video games like Name of Obligation Cellular with excessive graphics enabled with out as a lot as a touch of stutter.

That will change considerably in future, with console-level video games like Resident Evil Village and Loss of life Stranding coming to the extra highly effective iPhone 15 Professional, however for all however probably the most power-hungry customers and top-end avid gamers, you aren’t lacking out on a lot. 

One of many solely parts holding issues again is the aforementioned 60Hz refresh fee, which isn’t fairly as easy because the 120Hz panel present in a lot of the competitors. It’s simply as quick, however smoother shows can really feel extra responsive in on a regular basis use. 

In terms of connectivity, count on the usual slate together with Bluetooth 5.3, NFC for Apple Pay and Wi-Fi 6 (6E is unique to the Professional fashions). It’s additionally eSIM solely within the US, as with final yr’s assortment, although that hasn’t grow to be extra widespread with the discharge of the iPhone 15 as some had anticipated.

Software program

• Runs iOS 17
• Works properly with different Apple gadgets
• Lengthy OS improve promise

One of many greatest causes to get an iPhone is to get entry to iOS, Apple’s home-grown working system for its cell assortment. Extra particularly, the iPhone 15 Plus sports activities the most recent iteration within the type of iOS 17, bringing with it a swathe of latest options that enhance the iPhone expertise on supply.

That features huge headline new options like Standby Mode which primarily turns the iPhone 15 Plus’ sizeable 6.7-inch show into a sensible show when both related by MagSafe or USB-C in a panorama orientation, to extra minor, but nonetheless very important, additions like interactive widgets on the house display and lock display.

There’s additionally new Contact Poster performance, in addition to an improved format within the Messages app, new FaceTime performance and an upgraded method to make use of AirDrop between iPhones, all of which change the way in which you work together along with your iPhone every day. 

New options apart, the iOS expertise is a clear and polished one which’s additional improved by how properly Apple tech like AirPods and Apple Watch work along with the iPhone. 

After all, it’s not simply the iPhone 15 vary that will get entry to iOS 17. All of the options a part of iOS 17 talked about listed here are additionally accessible on each iPhone again to the iPhone Xr, a cellphone first launched in 2018. 

By that metric, I count on the iPhone 15 Plus to proceed to get software program updates till iOS 23, which means the main software program expertise will proceed to enhance over time with new options and performance, very like a advantageous wine. 

Battery life

• Extremely robust battery life
• Might make it right into a second day of use
• USB-C doesn’t make charging sooner

Battery life is one space the place the iPhone 15 Plus excels in comparison with a lot of the iPhone 15 vary, and that features the top-end Professional Max. That’s largely all the way down to the mixture of a static 60Hz show and a really huge battery, each of which equate to wonderful battery life that, relying on utilization, may see you properly right into a second day of use.

Apple doesn’t prefer to touch upon battery specifics however third-party teardowns have revealed using a 4,383mAh cell, a meagre enchancment on final yr’s 4,325mAh cell. Nevertheless, mixed with the 4nm A16 Bionic, I discovered the iPhone 15 Plus would merely carry on going – and that’s even throughout 18+ hour days at a latest smartphone convention I used to be attending.

In actual fact, on someday of the convention, the iPhone was used for round 18 hours with a mix of 6 and a half hours of screen-on time and one other 2 hours of screen-off utilization listening to music, and I nonetheless had 34% left within the tank after I went to plug it in at round midnight. 

Contemplating loads of Android telephones falter at across the 5-hour mark, it definitely alleviated my battery nervousness and allowed me to depart my chunky energy financial institution in my resort room. 

Nevertheless, regardless of the transfer to USB-C, the iPhone 15 Plus expenses on the identical charges as its Lightning-enabled counterparts from 2022, and it’s an analogous story with information switch too. 

Meaning the iPhone 15 Plus took 27 minutes to hit the 50% mark and 93 minutes to achieve a full cost by way of the (properly braided and colour-matching) USB-C cable offered within the field – although as with all different latest iPhone releases, you’ll should supply your individual charging brick to juice it up. 

Qi and MagSafe additionally make a return on the identical 7.5W and 15W respectively, providing a extra handy, if not barely slower, approach to cost your iPhone.

Newest offers

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UK RRP

USA RRP

EU RRP

Producer

Display Dimension

Storage Capability

Rear Digital camera

Entrance Digital camera

Video Recording

IP score

Battery

Wi-fi charging

Quick Charging

Dimension (Dimensions)

Weight

ASIN

Working System

Launch Date

First Reviewed Date

Decision

HDR

Refresh Charge

Ports

Chipset

RAM

Colors

Apple iPhone 15 Plus

£849

$899

€969

Apple

6.7 mm

128GB, 256GB, 512GB

48MP + 12MP

12MP

Sure

IP68

4383 mAh

Sure

Sure

77.8 x 7.8 x 160.9 MM

201 G

B0CHX3ZTJQ

iOS 17

2023

06/11/2023

2796 x 1290

Sure

60 Hz

USB-C

Apple A16 Bionic

6GB

White, Black, Inexperienced, Pink, Blue

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