Apple iPhone 15 Plus

Apple iPhone 15 Plus Review

Apple’s 2023 lineup introduced a range of impressive upgrades, but the iPhone 15 Plus stands out as the perfect balance between premium performance and practical pricing. Designed for users who want a large display, strong battery life, advanced camera improvements, and the latest Apple ecosystem features, without stepping into Pro-level pricing, the iPhone 15 Plus quickly became a favourite for many.

This review explores everything you need to know: design, performance, camera system, battery capacity, user experience, strengths, weaknesses, and the official launch prices in different currencies.

Design and Build Quality

The iPhone 15 Plus marks a subtle yet meaningful shift in Apple’s design direction. The device features rounded, contoured edges that feel more comfortable in the hand compared to previous generations. The back uses color-infused matte glass, giving the phone a smooth, premium finish that is less prone to fingerprints.

One of the biggest visual upgrades is the arrival of the Dynamic Island, previously exclusive to the Pro models. This feature replaces the traditional notch, offering a more modern, fluid interface for notifications, ongoing activities, music controls, navigation visuals, and more.

The phone retains its 6.7-inch body size, identical to the previous Plus model, making it ideal for content lovers who prefer larger screens. The build quality remains exceptional with an aluminium frame, and the device is IP68 rated for water and dust resistance.

Display: Big, Bright, and Beautiful

The iPhone 15 Plus features a 6.7-inch Super Retina XDR OLED display with roughly 460 pixels per inch. Its brightness receives a major upgrade, reaching peaks of up to 2,000 nits outdoors. This makes a noticeable difference when viewing the screen under harsh sunlight.

Colours are vivid, blacks are deep, and overall clarity is excellent for movies, gaming, and reading. The only drawback is the 60Hz refresh rate, which may feel outdated when compared to Android competitors offering 90Hz or 120Hz at similar price brackets.

Camera System: The 48MP Leap

Apple introduced a major boost to the standard iPhone models with a new 48MP main camera sensor, replacing the older 12MP unit. This upgrade significantly improves:

• Sharpness and clarity
• Low-light performance
• Colour accuracy
• Cropped “2x zoom” quality using sensor-based zoom

The camera system includes:

• 48MP main camera
• 12MP ultra-wide camera
• 12MP front-facing TrueDepth camera

Although the phone still lacks a dedicated telephoto lens, the 2x crop zoom performs surprisingly well thanks to the larger sensor.

Video quality remains class-leading, supporting up to 4K at 60fps, enhanced stabilization, smart HDR, cinematic mode, and improved night performance. For everyday users, vloggers, or casual photographers, the camera experience is smooth, consistent, and reliable.

Performance: Powered by the A16 Bionic

The iPhone 15 Plus runs on Apple’s A16 Bionic chip, previously used in the iPhone 14 Pro models. This ensures high-end performance without the Pro price tag.

What this means in real usage:

• Faster app launches
• Smooth multitasking
• Stable gaming performance
• Efficient power management
• Great long-term software support

Whether you’re editing photos, gaming, or streaming high-quality videos, the A16 Bionic handles all tasks effortlessly.

USB-C: A Long-Awaited Upgrade

One of the most notable changes is Apple’s shift from Lightning to USB-C. This brings:

• Universal charging
• Compatibility with more accessories
• Easier charging for users with multiple devices

However, the USB-C on the iPhone 15 Plus supports only USB 2.0 speeds, which limits data transfer rates compared to the faster USB-C implementation found in the iPhone 15 Pro models.

Battery Life: One of the Best in Any iPhone

Thanks to its large size and Apple’s efficient chipset, the iPhone 15 Plus offers exceptional battery life. It is rated for:

• Up to 26 hours of video playback
• Up to 100 hours of audio playback

In real-world usage, many users easily get a full day, and sometimes more, before needing to charge. Heavy users will still end the day with power to spare.

Charging options include standard USB-C wired charging and MagSafe wireless charging, although maximum speeds remain similar to previous generations.

Software: iOS 17 Out of the Box

The iPhone 15 Plus ships with iOS 17, bringing new features such as:

• Contact Posters
• StandBy Mode
• Improved AirDrop
• Live Voicemail
• Enhanced autocorrect
• Better FaceTime usability

Apple’s long-term update support means this phone will receive major updates for many years, making it a solid long-term investment.

Pricing at Launch

Here are the official launch prices for the 128GB model (without considering local taxes or import variations):

• United States: $899
• United Kingdom: £899
• India: ~₹74,700 (converted at 2023 rates)
• Nigeria: ~₦701,220 (converted at 2023 rates)

Actual prices in Nigeria vary due to exchange rate instability, import duties, local taxes, and retail markups.

Who Should Buy the iPhone 15 Plus?

The iPhone 15 Plus is an excellent choice for:

• Users who love big screens
• Heavy content consumers (movies, YouTube, gaming)
• People upgrading from older iPhones like the 11, 12, or 13 series
• Users who want long battery life
• Those seeking Pro-level power at a non-Pro price

Who Should Skip It?

You may want to consider alternatives if:

• You want a 120Hz refresh rate
• You want a telephoto lens for long-distance photography
• You prefer compact phones
• You need faster USB-C transfer speeds

Pros and Cons

Pros

• Large, stunning OLED display
• Exceptional battery life
• Strong performance from A16 Bionic
• 48MP camera upgrade significantly improves quality
• Dynamic Island elevates the user experience
• Smooth and premium build
• Improved brightness for outdoor visibility
• USB-C convenience

Cons

• 60Hz refresh rate feels outdated in 2023
• No dedicated telephoto lens
• USB-C port limited to USB 2.0 speeds
• May feel too large for small-handed users
• Slightly expensive in markets with high import tariffs

Conclusion

The iPhone 15 Plus is a near-perfect device for those who want a large screen, powerful performance, long-lasting battery life, and updated features, all without paying the premium of the Pro series. It balances value and performance extremely well. While it lacks some high-end features like a telephoto lens and 120Hz display, the core experience remains premium, smooth, and dependable.

If you’re upgrading from an older iPhone or looking for a large-screen Apple device that delivers modern features without pro-level pricing, the iPhone 15 Plus is an excellent choice.

Specs