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To see how much better the iPhone 15 Plus is than the iPhone 14 Plus, take a look at the changes it made.
Although the older iPhone 14 models are technically replaced by the newer iPhone 15 models, it’s not quite that easy. The iPhone 14 Plus, which is still a fantastic phone in and of itself, is currently available for $800, a $100 discount for a high-end phone that is just a generation older than the iPhone 15 Plus, which launched at $900. Here’s everything you need to know about how these two iPhones compare in case you’re debating whether upgrading to the newer iPhone 15 Plus is preferable to purchasing the older iPhone 14 Plus (or sticking with it if you already have one).
iPhone 15 Plus | iPhone 15 Plus | |
SoC | Apple A16 Bionic | Apple A15 Bionic |
Display | 6.7-inch OLED Super Retina XDR | 6.7-inch OLED, 60Hz, HDR 10, 1200nits |
Storage | 128GB, 256GB, 512GB | 128GB/256GB/512GB |
Battery | 4,383mAh | 4,323mAh |
Ports | USB-C | Lightning (USB 2.0) |
Operating System | iOS 17 | iOS 16 |
Front camera | 12MP TrueDepth camera | 12MP, F/1.9, PDAF |
Colors | Blue, pink, yellow, green, black | Midnight, Purple, Starlight, blue, red |
Weight | 7.09 ounces (201 g) | 7.16 ounces (203g) |
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iPhone 15 Plus vs. iPhone 14 Plus: Cost, Features, and Availability
The iPhone 15 Plus is now available for purchase from Apple directly, retailers like Amazon and Best Buy, as well as cellular carriers, with shipping beginning on September 1. 22. The iPhone 15 Plus’ base model costs $900 and has 128GB of storage; you can upgrade to 256GB or 512GB for an additional $100 or $300, making the lower-capacity models the most cost-effective option.
The price of the iPhone 14 Plus, which launched in 2022 and is now available for $800, is $100 less than the price of the iPhone 15+. In contrast to earlier iPhone models, you should be able to purchase the 14 Plus for a while; given Apple’s past performance, the company will likely stop selling it directly with the introduction of the iPhone 17. Similar to the 15 Plus, the 14 Plus also comes with 128GB of storage space, but you can upgrade to 256GB or 512GB for an additional $100 or $300.
iPhone 15 Plus vs. iPhone 14 Plus: Design and display
The iPhone 15 Plus and 14 Plus are nearly identical in terms of size and weight. They are both about 7 ounces in weight, 6.7 inches wide, and 7.8 millimeters thick. The components are still made of glass with a metallic band around the outside (though you should still use a good case just to be safe), with the exception that the back glass on the iPhone 15 is stronger and more uniformly colored. You will have a hard time telling these two iPhones apart at first glance or even side by side.
Because of its brighter Super Retina XDR display, the iPhone 15 Plus does offer a fairly significant improvement. The Super Retina XDR screen on the 14 Plus also has a peak brightness of 1200 nits as opposed to 2000 nits on the iPhone 15. Both for more accurate color reproduction and for using your phone outside in the sun, all that additional brightness will be useful. These displays are essentially identical, though, in every other respect. Considering that both have roughly the same resolution and screen size, you get 460 pixels per inch (or PPI) on both.
In the grand scheme of things, the iPhone 15 Plus is essentially an iPhone 14 Plus with a brighter display and USB Type-C. In the end, it does mean the 15 Plus isn’t really moving the needle, though that isn’t entirely unexpected given that these models are only separated by a year. You’ll need to determine whether these issues are important to you personally.
iPhone 15 Plus vs iPhone 14 Plus: Power and performance
The processor on the iPhone 15 Plus and the iPhone 14 Plus is one of the most significant differences. When compared to the 14 Plus, the 15 Plus uses Apple’s A16 Bionic, which debuted in 2022. Even though there is only a small generational gap here, that gap is technically one. Both chips are constructed using largely comparable techniques and have an identical number of CPU and GPU cores as well as a comparable amount of total cache. This indicates that the two models’ performance and power efficiency will be fairly comparable.
The A16 has a slightly higher clock speed, and even though it has slightly less total cache space than the A15, its cache configuration is probably better. This does not mean, however, that the two chips are completely identical. However, except in highly demanding circumstances, you should only anticipate a 10%–20% improvement in performance on the iPhone 15 Plus. There won’t be much of a performance difference in routine, everyday tasks. The A16 is essentially just an A15 that has been slightly improved.
iPhone 15 Plus vs. iPhone 14 Plus: Cameras
The primary camera on the iPhone 15 Plus over the iPhone 14 Plus is the only real next-generation upgrade. The main camera on the iPhone 15 Plus is essentially an improved version of the one on the iPhone 14 Pro and 14 Pro Max, which was already one of the best phone cameras. The 48MP lens on the 15 Plus has significantly more raw power than the 12MP lens on the 14 Plus. Although the aperture of the iPhone 15 Plus’s main camera is a little bit smaller than that of the iPhone 15 (which results in higher resolution), this is probably not a big deal.
The differences end there, though. The selfie cameras on both iPhones have the exact same 12MP lens and aperture size. The selfie camera is still functional, but it is yet another feature on the spec sheet that is the same for both iPhones.
iPhone 15 Plus vs. iPhone 14 Plus: The 14 Plus is probably worth saving $100
Given how similar the iPhone 15 Plus and iPhone 14 Plus are, the $100 price increase doesn’t seem to be justified. Although $100 on top of $800 isn’t a huge sum of money, you simply aren’t getting much in return. The iPhone 15 Plus is the best option if you care about having a super bright display, USB Type-C, and a better main camera, but the 14 Plus will give you at least 90% of what the 15 Plus has for $100 less. The 256GB iPhone 14 Plus would be a noticeably better option for anyone who frequently needs a lot of storage while on the go if you spent that extra $100 on it.