In all the iPhone 15 excitement it can be easy to forget that alongside the standard model, the iPhone 15 Pro, and the iPhone 15 Pro Max, there will probably be an iPhone 15 Plus.
This supersized take on the standard model is only entering its second generation, and it might not see too many more, as reportedly the iPhone 14 Plus is the least popular model in the iPhone 14 line.
Still, for those who want a big screen without all the extras – and the massive price – of the iPhone 15 Pro Max, the iPhone 15 Plus could be a tempting choice. It might be a big upgrade on the iPhone 14 Plus too, with leaks pointing to a Dynamic Island, a USB-C port, a 48MP camera, and other substantial changes.
We’ve detailed everything we’ve heard so far about the iPhone 14 Plus below, and we’ll update this article whenever we hear more. So make sure to check back here frequently if you want to stay in the loop.
Latest leaks
Model comparison
While we’re focused on the iPhone 15 Plus in this article, it’s worth seeing how this phone might compare to the other upcoming models. So with that in mind the chart below contains the key expected specs for all four upcoming iPhones.
None of this is confirmed yet, rather it’s based on leaks, rumors, and in a few cases educated guesses, but we’d expect the details below will mostly be accurate.
| iPhone 15 (rumored) | iPhone 15 Plus (rumored) | iPhone 15 Pro (rumored) | iPhone 15 Pro Max (rumored) | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Display: | 6.1-inch OLED | 6.7-inch OLED | 6.1-inch OLED | 6.7-inch OLED |
| Resolution: | 2532 x 1170 pixels | 1284 x 2778 pixels | 1179 x 2556 pixels | 1290 x 2796 pixels |
| Refresh rate: | 60Hz | 60Hz | Adaptive 1-120Hz | Adaptive 1-120Hz |
| Chipset: | A16 Bionic | A16 Bionic | A17 Bionic | A17 Bionic |
| Rear cameras: | 48MP main, 12MP ultrawide | 48MP main, 12MP ultrawide | 48MP wide, 12MP ultra-wide, 12MP telephoto with 3x optical zoom | 48MP wide, 12MP ultra-wide, 12MP telephoto with 6x variable zoom |
| Front camera: | 12MP | 12MP | 12MP | 12MP dual-lens |
| RAM: | 6GB | 6GB | 8GB | 8GB |
| Storage: | 128GB, 256GB, 512GB | 128GB, 256GB, 512GB | 256GB, 512GB, 1TB | 256GB, 512GB, 1TB |
| Battery: | 3,877mAh | 4,912mAh | 3,650mAh | 4,852mAh |
iPhone 15 Plus release date
- Likely to land in September
- A delay until October is possible
New numbered iPhones almost always arrive in September, so we’re expecting the iPhone 15 Plus will land alongside its siblings in September this year.
More specifically, September 5, 6, 12, or 13 would be our best guesses for possible announcement dates. That’s based on Apple’s previous release timings, and you can check out our iPhone 15 release date predictions article for more details on how we got to those numbers.
The phones will then probably ship just over a week later, on either September 15 or September 22.
That said, one leak points to a release date delay for the iPhone 15 line, with the phones possibly not landing until October. This is apparently due to manufacturing problems, but we’d take this with a pinch of salt, since only one source has said as much.
iPhone 15 Plus price
- Expect a similar or slightly higher price to last year
The iPhone 15 Plus is sure to cost at least as much as the iPhone 14 Plus, but it might cost more. According to analyst Dan Ives, the average selling price of the iPhone 15 line will be higher than last year’s, and we’ve also heard that these phones are costing more to produce.
That said, most sources seem to think that price rises will be driven by the Pro and Pro Max models, so there’s still a fair chance that the iPhone 15 Plus will have the same price as its predecessor. In that case, you can expect the following prices:
- 128GB: $899 / £949 / AU$1,579
- 256GB: $999 / £1,059 / AU$1,749
- 512GB: $1,199 / £1,279 / AU$2,099
However, don’t be surprised if the price is actually a little higher than that, and it’s also possible that prices will rise in some regions but not in others.
For details on prices for the rest of the line, check out our iPhone 15 price predictions guide.
iPhone 15 Plus colors
We have a good idea of what iPhone 15 colors to expect, and the iPhone 15 Plus is sure to come in the same shades based on past form. It’s likely then that we’ll see some or all of the following colors offered:
- Cyan / Green
- Light blue
- Pink
- Midnight
- Starlight
- Product (RED)
Of those, we’ve specifically heard rumors of a green iPhone 15, a cyan iPhone 15, a blue iPhone 15, and a pink iPhone 15. The other shades are guesses based on the colors Apple usually chooses.
iPhone 15 Plus design
- A Dynamic Island instead of a notch
- Curvier edges
- A matte glass back
One big iPhone 15 design change we’re expecting is the presence of a Dynamic Island instead of a notch on all four models.
This change has been extensively rumored, and you can even see how the Dynamic Island might look on the iPhone 15 Plus, in the unofficial render below, and in some iPhone 15 Plus dummy units that have leaked.
Other changes that have been rumored include a USB-C port rather than a Lightning port, and more rounded edges on the iPhone 15 Plus than on the current model.
One leak suggests that the iPhone 15 Plus will also have a textured matte rear, rather than the glossy one of its predecessor. This is a change that would bring it more in line with the Pro models.
One vague leak has also suggested the design of the iPhone 15 Plus’s camera bump will be changing, though they didn’t specify in what ways.
Finally, there’s talk that Apple could make the iPhone 15 line eSIM only in some countries beyond the US (which has already made that change). So that would mean the removal of the SIM card slot.
The actual dimensions – and probably also weight – of the iPhone 15 Plus isn’t expected to change much though, meaning it will likely be around 160.8 x 78.1 x 7.8mm and 203g.
iPhone 15 Plus display
- Expect a Dynamic Island
- The screen size and specs could be the same as last year
We’re expecting iPhone 15 screen sizes to be much the same as they were with the iPhone 14 line, which means the iPhone 15 Plus will probably have a 6.7-inch display.
It will probably also be a 1284 x 2778 Super Retina XDR OLED display with around 458 pixel per inch – again, just like last year. Sadly the similarities also reportedly extend to the iPhone 15 Plus having just a 60Hz refresh rate, and not supporting Apple’s always-on display feature.
The only significant screen upgrade we’re expecting then is the aforementioned addition of a Dynamic Island, which means there will be a big cut-out in the screen rather than a notch at the top. You can see this in an image above, and in the tweet below, showing iPhone 15 line glass panels.
iPhone 15 Plus cameras
- A new 48MP main sensor is rumored
- The other snappers might stay at 12MP
The iPhone 15 Plus and iPhone 15 cameras could be getting a substantial upgrade, with reports suggesting they’ll get a new primary sensor. Specifically, the iPhone 15 Plus might have a 48MP sensor, just like the iPhone 14 Pro.
However, interestingly this might be a different 48MP sensor to what the iPhone 14 Pro has, as it reportedly has a smaller sensor, which is likely to translate to inferior performance. Still, it will probably be an improvement on the 12MP snapper that the iPhone 14 Plus has.
We’ve not heard about any improvements coming to the other lenses though, meaning you can probably expect a 12MP ultra-wide camera, a 12MP selfie camera, and no telephoto lens.
iPhone 15 Plus features
- The A16 Bionic chipset from the iPhone 14 Pro is likely
- A bigger 4,912mAh battery is rumored
A new iPhone means a new chipset – although in this case possibly not that new, with the iPhone 15 Plus and iPhone 15 specs expected to include an A16 Bionic chipset.
It’s been widely rumored that the iPhone 15 Plus will use the A16 Bionic, and while that’s an upgrade on the A15 Bionic in the iPhone 14 Plus, it’s not as good as the A17 Bionic we’re expecting in the new Pro models. In fact, it’s already available in the current Pro models. Apple did a similar chipset split with the iPhone 14 line though, so this isn’t surprising.
The A16 Bionic is still an extremely powerful chipset though, and it could be joined here by a Snapdragon X70 modem, which should also improve its 5G capabilities.
However, reports suggest that it will stick with 6GB of RAM, along with 128GB, 256GB, and 512GB storage configurations, just like the current model.
One other thing that will likely be improved though is the battery, with a leak suggesting the iPhone 15 Plus will have a 4,912mAh battery. That’s up from 4,325mAh in the iPhone 14 Plus, so it’s a significant upgrade of around 14%.
This size increase might be achieved through a new stacked battery design that’s been rumored for the iPhone 15 Plus, and it will also probably charge via USB-C rather than Lightning, as noted above.
Apple is also rumored to be working on reverse wireless charging, which would allow you to use the phone as a charging mat for other devices. Though it’s not clear whether this will be ready in time for the iPhone 15 line.
Finally, the iPhone 15 Plus might have a new UWB (Ultra Wideband) chip, which could help it better support the pricey Apple Vision Pro.
This post originally appeared on TechToday.