iPhone 15 vs iPhone 15 Plus
Short answer: the iPhone 15 and iPhone 15 Plus are the same phone in two sizes. Both have the A16 Bionic, a 48MP main camera, Dynamic Island, USB-C and IP68. Buy the iPhone 15 Plus if you want a bigger 6.7 inch screen and clearly longer battery life. Buy the iPhone 15 if you want a lighter phone that is easy to use with one hand.
Updated 11 November 2026
Design and build
Both phones have an aluminium frame, a colour-infused matte glass back, Ceramic Shield on the front and IP68 water resistance. They keep the Ring/Silent switch rather than the Action Button found on the Pro models.
The only real design difference is size. The iPhone 15 weighs about 171 g and fits easily in one hand and in a shirt pocket. The iPhone 15 Plus weighs about 201 g and is much wider, so most people use it with two hands.
Display
The iPhone 15 has a 6.1 inch Super Retina XDR OLED at 1179 x 2556. The iPhone 15 Plus has a 6.7 inch panel at 1290 x 2796. Both have Dynamic Island, a 60Hz refresh rate and up to 2000 nits outdoors.
Sharpness and colours are the same. The Plus simply shows more on screen, which is nicer for YouTube, Netflix, reading and typing. Neither has 120Hz ProMotion or an Always-On display; for that you need the 15 Pro or a newer model like the iPhone 17.
Performance and chipset
Both use the Apple A16 Bionic (4 nm) with a 6-core CPU, so speed is identical. Apps, games and the camera run the same on both. The A16 handles WhatsApp, banking apps, TikTok and games like PUBG Mobile without trouble.
The larger body of the Plus can spread heat a little better in long gaming sessions, but the difference is small. Note that neither model supports Apple Intelligence; that needs an iPhone 15 Pro or newer.
Cameras
The cameras are the same: a 48MP main camera and a 12MP ultra-wide on the back, and a 12MP front camera. The 48MP sensor gives a good 2x crop that looks close to an optical zoom shot. Video goes up to 4K 60fps with Dolby Vision.
Photo and video quality are identical, so you should decide on screen size and battery, not cameras. Neither has a telephoto lens.
Battery and charging
This is the biggest difference. The iPhone 15 has a 3349 mAh battery and the iPhone 15 Plus has a 4383 mAh battery. Apple rates the 15 at up to 20 hours of video playback and the 15 Plus at up to 26 hours, so the Plus easily lasts a long day, which helps during load shedding and travel.
Charging is the same: fast wired charging (about 50% in 30 minutes with a 20W or higher adapter), 15W MagSafe and Qi2. No charger comes in the box.
Specs side by side
- Chipset: A16 Bionic (4 nm) vs A16 Bionic (4 nm)
- Display: 6.1 inch 60Hz OLED vs 6.7 inch 60Hz OLED
- Resolution: 1179 x 2556 vs 1290 x 2796
- Main camera: 48MP vs 48MP
- Ultra-wide: 12MP vs 12MP
- Front camera: 12MP vs 12MP
- Battery: 3349 mAh vs 4383 mAh
- Charging: fast wired, 15W MagSafe on both
- Weight: 171 g vs 201 g
- Port: USB-C (USB 2) on both
- Launch software: iOS 17 vs iOS 17
Software and updates
Both launched in September 2023 with iOS 17 and will get updates for the same number of years. Apple usually supports iPhones for six years or more, so both still have plenty of life. Features are identical apart from screen size.
Non PTA and SIM notes in Pakistan
Our iPhone 15 and iPhone 15 Plus units are slightly used Non PTA phones with 100% battery health and original IMEIs. A Non PTA iPhone is not registered with PTA's DIRBS, so a local SIM works only for a limited time unless you register it and pay the PTA tax. Wi-Fi and every other feature work normally. Read the full explanation in our Non PTA guide (What Is a Non PTA Mobile? Everything You Should Know).
International models of both phones have a nano-SIM plus eSIM, while US units are eSIM only. Check which variant you are getting before you order.
Who should buy which
Buy the iPhone 15 Plus if you watch a lot of video, want the longest battery life in the standard iPhone 15 range, or simply like big screens.
Buy the iPhone 15 if you want a compact, lighter phone with the same speed and cameras. The current price of each model is shown on its page.
