Apple iPhone 15 Plus review: specs, battery & used prices

Summary

The iPhone 15 Plus is the big-screen iPhone without the Pro badge: an A16 Bionic, a 6.7-inch OLED at 2,000 nits peak, a 4,383 mAh battery and the same 48 MP main camera as its smaller sibling, in a 201 g IP68 body. Everyday 85/100, battery 28/100, compactness 79/100 — the core experience is flagship-grade, with the omissions (60 Hz display, no telephoto) doing the differentiation. New 6/128 units list at $899; used 6/128 units cluster around $399.

Display and design

The 6.7-inch OLED reaches 2,000 nits peak and covers the basics beautifully — color, contrast, HDR — but the 60 Hz refresh rate is the persistent asterisk at this price (screen 56/100). The colored-matte-glass back and contoured edges read modern, IP68 sealing is proper, and 201 g is average for the class. The Dynamic Island carries over from the Pro line.

Performance

The A16 Bionic remains more speed than most workflows can consume: gaming 45/100 with sustained thermals the larger chassis handles well. Apple's update runway is the longest in the industry — four more major versions await this model — and everyday responsiveness (85/100) will outlast the battery, not the reverse.

Camera

The 48 MP main sensor with OIS produces excellent photos and 4K60 video; the 12 MP ultrawide is competent, and there is no telephoto — 2x is a sensor crop. The camera score of 30/100 reflects a two-lens ceiling more than any quality complaint: what it shoots, it shoots very well.

Battery and charging

The 4,383 mAh cell is the largest non-Pro capacity of its generation, and the efficient chipset stretches it to a solid two days of moderate use (battery 28/100 for the catalog average, better in practice). Charging is 20 W wired — underwhelming on paper, an hour to 50 percent in reality.

Verdict

For buyers who want a large iPhone and nothing else — no telephoto, no 120 Hz — the 15 Plus at used prices near $399 is one of the strongest values in the catalog. The iPhone 15 Pro adds the telephoto, 120 Hz and titanium; the 15 Pro Max adds them plus a bigger battery.