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iPhone 15 Plus: release date, price, features, and everything you need to know

August 4, 2023
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The iPhone 15 Plus has been unveiled alongside the iPhone 15 at the Apple September event, and this is the iPhone to buy if you want a big screen without a Pro price tag.

It’s also a handset that has a lot of upgrades compared to the iPhone 14 Plus, including a Dynamic Island rather than a notch, and significantly more megapixels in its main camera – not to mention a more powerful chipset.

Those are the headlines, but for the full rundown on the iPhone 15 Plus – including its release date and how much it costs – read on. And for everything else Apple is showing off, head to our Apple September event live blog.

Here are some key points:

  • Now has a Dynamic Island
  • New 48MP main camera
  • A bigger battery and a faster chipset

At the time of writing Apple is still unveiling the iPhone 15 Plus, so refresh this page for additional updates.

Developing...

iPhone 15 Plus design

The iPhone 15 Plus doesn’t look too dissimilar to the iPhone 14 Plus from the back, with a glass rear, an aluminum frame, and a dual-lens camera block. Though the colors differ, with the iPhone 15 Plus available in pink, yellow, green, blue, and black shades.

The creation of the glass on the back is a bit different too, as it uses color-infused glass with a textured matte finish, but the main change is up front, as there’s no notch this year – instead, the iPhone 15 Plus has a Dynamic Island.

Beyond that, it’s IP68 rated like its predecessor, meaning it’s dust and water-resistant.

iPhone 15 Plus display

The iPhone 15 Plus has a 6.7-inch OLED display with peak brightness of 2,000 nits, which is up from 1,200 nits on the iPhone 14 Plus. So it’s big, hence the Plus in the name, and it's bright.

It also of course has a Dynamic Island rather than a notch, which is the big change here, and the screen is protected by Ceramic Shield, as usual.

iPhone 15 Plus cameras

There are just two cameras on the back of the iPhone 15 Plus, but they’ve had some attention, with the main sensor being a new 48MP one, in place of the 12MP camera of its predecessor.

It has an f/1.6 aperture and sensor-shift optical image stabilization (OIS), and it can also work as a 2x telephoto camera taking 12MP shots.

iPhone 15 Plus performance

The iPhone 15 Plus should have a performance boost compared to last year’s model, because it’s powered by an A16 Bionic chipset. This isn’t new, as the iPhone 14 Pro and iPhone 14 Pro Max already use it, but it is an improvement on the A15 Bionic used by the iPhone 14 Plus.

Apple hasn’t said how much RAM the iPhone 15 Plus has, so we’ll have to wait until someone has done a teardown of the phone to learn that, but for what it’s worth, leaks consistently suggested it would have 6GB, just like its predecessor.

Latest leaks, rumors and news (Updated September 12)

Model comparison

A suggested iPhone 15, iPhone 15 Pro and iPhone 15 Ultra in darkness with a question mark across each one

(Image credit: Future | Apple)

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 to be accurate, for the most part. It's also worth noting that an iPhone 15 Ultra could arrive in place of the iPhone 15 Pro Max this year, but if it does, many of the Pro Max specs listed below will likely remain accurate for that phone.

iPhone 15 Plus release date rumors

Apple logo turning into dust

(Image credit: Apple)
  • Likely to launch today, September 12, at the next Apple event
  • A delay until October was rumored, but now looks unlikely

The iPhone 15 Plus is expected to launch today - that's Tuesday, September 12 - at the Apple September event, which has the name "Wonderlust". Given September is the traditional launch month for new iPhones, we'd place a huge bet that we'll see the entire iPhone range revealed today, with pre-orders likely to go live soon afterwards.

If you'd like to tune in to the launch, here's how to watch the Apple event online.

The phones will then probably ship in just over a week's time, on, say, September 22. Judging by reports from leakers including Bloomberg's Mark Gurman, that iPhone 15 shipping date seems likely.

That said, one leak points to a release date delay for the iPhone 15 line, with the iPhone 15 Pro Max, specifically, possibly not landing until October. This is apparently due to manufacturing problems, but we’d take this with a pinch of salt, as the rumors appear to be inconsistent; in fact, we have a rundown on whether we think the iPhone 15 Pro Max will be delayed or not. 

As such, we don't think you should buy a new iPhone until the iPhone 15 range arrives, even if the new phone won't appeal to you. 

iPhone 15 Plus price predictions

Apple iPhone 14 Plus front screen

The iPhone 15 Plus will likely cost at least as much as the iPhone 14 Plus (Image credit: Future / Lance Ulanoff)
  • 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, with one report specifically saying pricing won't change with the iPhone 15 Plus, 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

The iPhone 14 Plus

The iPhone 14 Plus in five shades (Image credit: Apple)

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 options, 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.

Reports also suggest that every iPhone 15 model will come with a color-matched braided USB-C cable. The use of braiding should make these cables more durable to the rigors of long-term use, as well as better retain their colors. You can read more about the potential benefits of Apple's transition to USB-C, specifically, elsewhere in this article.

iPhone 15 Plus design

Unofficial renders showing the front and back of the iPhone 15 Plus

How the iPhone 15 Plus might look (Image credit: 9to5Mac)
  • 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 renders, 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. This is something Phones Editor Alex Walker-Todd thinks could be a boon for the iPhone 15, including the iPhone 15 Plus, making it more comfortable to hold larger-screened iPhones. 

The switch to USB-C could also mean that at least some of Apple’s upcoming iPhone 15 devices will support charging up to 35W. At present, the standard iPhone 14 is limited to 20W charging, while the iPhone 14 Pro Max is capped at 27W. However, a lot of people are likely to be left with Lightning-based accessories, so US Editor-in-Chief Lance Ulanoff reckons Apple has to make the transition to USC-C with the iPhone 15 Pro as painless as possible.

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.

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 aren’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

Apple iPhone 14 Pro Max full home screen

The iPhone 15 Plus could look a lot like the 14 Pro Max from the front (Image credit: Future / Lance Ulanoff)
  • 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

Apple iPhone 14 Plus camera array

The iPhone 14 Plus's camera array (Image credit: Future / Lance Ulanoff)
  • A new 48MP main sensor is rumored
  • The other cameras 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 but an improvement on the 12MP main camera on the current model. 

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

Apple iPhone 14 Plus base

The iPhone 15 Plus likely won't have a Lightning port (Image credit: Future / Lance Ulanoff)
  • 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. However, 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.

iPhone 15 Plus outlook

If the rumors come to fruition, in terms of a 48MP main camera, tweaked design, Dynamic Island and USB-C connectivity, then the iPhone 15 Plus could be a phone worth upgrading to, especially if you have an older iPhone and don't want to spend a wad of cash on an Pro Max iPhone. 

However, if the iPhone 15 Plus is but an iterative upgrade on its predecessor, especially if it lacks a new look and the Dynamic Island, then it could be a bit of a dud given the iPhone 14 Plus hasn't been a massive success compared to other Apple phones. 

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