Last Updated: November 14, 2023, 14:49 IST
The iPhone 15 Plus gets a slew upgrades but does it make it flagship-worthy?
The new iPhone 15 Plus still has the bigger display but this year the upgrades are more noticeable and they make a difference but by how much?
Apple usually gives all the good stuff to the new iPhone Pro models but this year things have been different in a good way. The iPhone 15 Plus or the Plus variant was added at the expense of the Mini model which clearly didn’t do well for Apple to persevere with for a longer stretch. The iPhone 15 Plus this year is still the bigger regular iPhone that has a screen size comparable to the 15 Pro Max but the features are a match for the vanilla iPhone 15 model.
Many of you have said that the iPhone 15 is the ideal upgrade for many smartphone users but we decided to see what the Plus variant offers compared to the iPhone 14 Plus model from last year and see if the Rs 89,900 price tag is justified with not just one but multiple upgrades.
Design That Works
iPhone 15 Plus goes through minute changes that may not be evident until you use or even hold the device. The frosted matte glass body is a definite welcome move compared to the regular glass panel which can be less durable and break easily. The curves on the edges make the iPhone 15 Plus easier and comfortable to hold.
The form factor puts the 15 Plus in the Android territory which most people will find it easy to adapt to especially if they find the iPhone 15 relatively smaller. When you talk about pure numbers, the iPhone 14 Plus weighed 203 grams while the latest model weighs 201 grams which makes it marginally lighter. It still gets IP68 rating and has the same measure with its thickness.
Display Ticks For Most People
Apple doesn’t experiment much with the display and even this year’s Plus model features an OLED Super Retina panel with a higher resolution and a brighter display which makes it easy to read under the sunlight.
The screen in general offers excellent colours, crisp for reading content and definitely a solid device to watch your favourite shows. The bezels on the screen are no longer in your face thick which makes the symmetry of the display work better to the naked eye.
The other important point to mention is that you now get the Dynamic Island notch on the 15 and 15 Plus variants which may not look like a big deal but any premium option coming to these models is a welcome move.
Flagship-Level Chip For The Plus
Apple has offered the A16 chip on the iPhone 15 and 15 Plus this year. The same hardware powers the 2022 iPhone flagships which means it is no slouch and the results are evident when you use the new iPhones and compare it with the best in the Android world. We have seen benchmarks tests done on the iPhone 15 Plus and the scores clearly portray what it brings to the table.
The iPhone 15 Plus is a solid gaming device which doesn’t break a sweat in most cases and still handles the daily tasks aplomb. Having the iOS version tuned in to run with the A16 chip ensures you get excellent reliability and efficiency that means very little heating observed.
Cameras In The Upgrade Lane
Apple finally enters the megapixel battle and this year you have the iPhone 15 and 15 Plus move to the 48MP sensor for the primary rear camera.
You still have the 12MP ultrawide lens which clicks photos with details, sharp colours and the HDR quality has been improved. The OIS on the primary sensor allows you to shoot videos, and you quickly notice that its quality is a match for any flagship Android phone. It is good to see the regular iPhones finally get the upgrades they deserve.
Battery Workhorse
iPhone 15 Plus carries a bigger screen which is equally supported by a big capacity battery. However, you just get a feeling that the combo of the A16 chipset and the iOS optimisation does the heavy work for the battery which can easily last you for over a day and half and even more. We kept the iPhone charged to 100 percent and got it lasting for over 24 hours with 8 hours+ screen-on-time delivered without much effort.
But the biggest change for the iPhone 15 series is the USB C charging port which is such a big physical and mental relief for iPhone users. In fact, anybody using an Android phone can seamlessly switch platforms and not bother about buying separate charging cables for the new iPhones.
Final Take
Yes, the iPhone 15 Plus is a worthy upgrade on the previous Plus models by a long stretch. Does it justify the Rs 89,900 price tag, we can’t say that for certain but going by Apple’s usual history of long OS support and overall longevity of its devices, you can probably get 5-6 years out of your investment which does make it money well spent.
