Apple iPhone 15 vs Apple iPhone 16 Plus
Compare Apple iPhone 15 vs Apple iPhone 16 Plus side by side: Apple A16 Bionic vs Apple A18, 48MP vs 48MP camera, 3349mAh vs 4674mAh battery, $799 vs $899…
Apple
iPhone 15
$799
2categories won
Apple
iPhone 16 Plus
$899
8categories won
11 categories tied · 21 scored in total · add a third phone
Which one wins?
Apple iPhone 16 Plus takes the overall win
The Apple iPhone 16 Plus proves superior overall against the Apple iPhone 15, outperforming on battery endurance and daily usability. In camera testing, the two devices offer similar flexibility, while battery endurance leans towards the iPhone 16 Plus. Choose the iPhone 16 Plus if you want the highest performance ceiling, or opt for the iPhone 15 if its lower retail price better fit your budget.
iPhone 16 Plus takes battery honors offering 4,674 mAh alongside 27W charging.
iPhone 16 Plus provides greater sustained gaming output with its Apple A18 and 8GB RAM.
Both camera setups are closely matched for daily street photography and low-light shooting.
iPhone 15 provides a sharper value proposition, coming in at $799 vs $899.
Category verdicts are computed algorithmically from verified technical specifications and hardware benchmarks. Rows where neither figure is objectively better — screen size preference, operating system choice, aesthetic build materials — are displayed for direct reference without scoring bias.
iPhone 15 vs iPhone 16 Plus: specifications compared
Display
| Specification | iPhone 15 | iPhone 16 Plus |
|---|---|---|
| Screen size | 6.1" | 6.7" |
| Resolution | 1179 x 2556 | 1290 x 2796Winner |
| Pixel density | 461 ppi | 460 ppi |
| Refresh rate | 60 Hz | 60 Hz |
| Peak brightness | 2000 nits | 2000 nits |
Performance
| Specification | iPhone 15 | iPhone 16 Plus |
|---|---|---|
| Chipset | Apple A16 Bionic | Apple A18 |
| Process node | 4 nm | 3 nmWinner |
| AnTuTu score | 1,380,000 | 1,720,000Winner |
| Geekbench multi | 6650 | 8200Winner |
| Maximum RAM | 6 GB | 8 GBWinner |
| Maximum storage | 512GB | 512GB |
Camera
| Specification | iPhone 15 | iPhone 16 Plus |
|---|---|---|
| Main sensor | 48 MP | 48 MP |
| Rear cameras | 2 | 2 |
| Ultrawide | 12 MP | 12 MP |
| Selfie camera | 12 MP | 12 MP |
| Max video | 4K at 60fps Dolby Vision HDR | 4K at 60fps Dolby Vision |
Battery and charging
| Specification | iPhone 15 | iPhone 16 Plus |
|---|---|---|
| Capacity | 3,349 mAh | 4,674 mAhWinner |
| Wired charging | 20 W | 27 WWinner |
| Wireless charging | 15 W | 25 WWinner |
Design
| Specification | iPhone 15 | iPhone 16 Plus |
|---|---|---|
| Weight | 171 gWinner | 199 g |
| Thickness | 7.8 mm | 7.8 mm |
| Water resistance | IP68 | IP68 |
| Build | Aluminum frame, Ceramic Shield front, color-infused matte glass back | Aerospace-grade aluminum frame, color-infused glass back |
Software and support
| Specification | iPhone 15 | iPhone 16 Plus |
|---|---|---|
| Operating system | iOS 17 | iOS 18 |
| OS updates | 6 years | 6 years |
| Security updates | 7 years | 7 years |
Connectivity and value
| Specification | iPhone 15 | iPhone 16 Plus |
|---|---|---|
| 5G | Yes | Yes |
| Wi-Fi | Wi-Fi 6 (802.11ax) | Wi-Fi 7 (802.11be) |
| Storage expansion | None | None |
| 3.5mm jack | No | No |
| Launch price | $799Winner | $899 |
Apple iPhone 15
The iPhone 15 gains the interactive Dynamic Island, a 48MP dual camera capturing 24MP default snaps with 2x lossless digital cropping, 2000-nit outdoor brightness, USB-C convenience, and pastel matte glass styling.
- Display
- 6.1"
- Chipset
- Apple A16 Bionic
- Main camera
- 48MP
- Battery
- 3,349mAh
Apple iPhone 16 Plus
With Apple 3nm A18 silicon, an upgraded 4674mAh battery cell, and an efficient 60Hz display, the iPhone 16 Plus consistently outlasts nearly every other phone on the market in real-world screen-on time.
- Display
- 6.7"
- Chipset
- Apple A18
- Main camera
- 48MP
- Battery
- 4,674mAh