iPhone 15 Plus vs iPhone 15 Pro
Same family, two personalities: the iPhone 15 Plus and the iPhone 15 Pro start from common ground and then go their separate ways. Count the areas and a pattern appears. The iPhone 15 Pro is ahead in 4 of 5, led by a clear margin in display.
At a glance
- Display iPhone 15 Pro wins
- Performance iPhone 15 Pro wins
- Memory & Storage iPhone 15 Pro wins
- Camera iPhone 15 Pro wins
- Battery & Charging iPhone 15 Plus wins
- Price iPhone 15 Plus wins
- Display2.6
- Memory & Storage1.8
- Camera1.7
- Battery & Charging3.3
- Display6.0
- Memory & Storage2.8
- Camera2.3
- Battery & Charging2.6
Spec scores (0 to 10) are calculated from manufacturer specs against other models in the same class. See how the formula works. They are not reviews or user ratings.
Key Differences
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The iPhone 15 Pro has a 120 Hz display instead of 60 Hz
Of all the specs we compared, this is one where the iPhone 15 Pro makes its strongest case: 120 Hz against 60 Hz. You notice refresh rate every time you scroll a feed or a web page, which is why the iPhone 15 Pro feels more fluid in everyday use.
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The iPhone 15 Plus has 3 h more rated video playback
The iPhone 15 Pro comes close with 23 h; the iPhone 15 Plus does slightly better with 26 h. Rated video playback is the manufacturer’s own endurance figure, so it reflects efficiency as well as battery size.
-
The iPhone 15 Pro has an extra rear camera
The iPhone 15 Pro clearly leads on rear cameras, and 3 versus 2 is a difference that reaches well beyond the spec sheet. An extra rear camera usually means another focal length (ultra-wide, telephoto or macro) and more freedom in framing.
-
The iPhone 15 Pro has a 0.49 oz lighter build
Think of it as a tiebreaker rather than a deal-breaker: 6.60 oz for the iPhone 15 Pro, 7.09 oz for the iPhone 15 Plus. Weight shows up every time you hold the phone above your face in bed or type one-handed for a long stretch.
-
The iPhone 15 Plus has a 0.6-inch larger screen
The iPhone 15 Plus has the larger figure, 6.7 in to 6.1 in. Whether that helps depends entirely on you. A larger display also means a larger phone overall, so this is as much about your hands and pockets as it is about the picture.
Design & Size
- iPhone 15 Plus 6.33 in × 3.06 in × 0.31 in
- iPhone 15 Pro 5.77 in × 2.78 in × 0.32 in
Size is a trade-off, not a score: the iPhone 15 Plus is larger, the iPhone 15 Pro more compact. By weight, the iPhone 15 Pro has the edge: 0.49 oz less than the iPhone 15 Plus. The iPhone 15 Plus keeps a lower profile: 0.02 in thinner than the iPhone 15 Pro.
Design & Build
| Spec | iPhone 15 Plus | iPhone 15 Pro |
|---|---|---|
| Height | 6.33 in | 5.77 in |
| Width | 3.06 in | 2.78 in |
| Thickness | 0.31 in (winner) | 0.32 in |
| Weight | 7.09 oz | 6.60 oz (winner) |
| Water & dust rating | IP68 | IP68 |
| Frame | Aluminum | Titanium |
Display
iPhone 15 Pro leads
The iPhone 15 Pro is the clear pick if display is what you care about most. The iPhone 15 Pro comes with a 120 Hz display instead of 60 Hz. A higher refresh rate makes scrolling, animations and games look smoother. Once you’re used to it, a lower-rate screen can feel sluggish by comparison. If this section decides it for you, choose the iPhone 15 Pro.
Refresh rate
iPhone 15 Plus: 60 Hz iPhone 15 Pro: 120 Hz Smoother motion is one of the most visible display upgrades, and adaptive high-refresh panels can slow down on static content to save power.
Screen size
iPhone 15 Plus: 6.7 in iPhone 15 Pro: 6.1 in Screen size is personal. If you watch a lot on your phone, the extra area pays off; if you text one-handed on the go, compact is kinder.
Performance
iPhone 15 Pro leads
The iPhone 15 Plus comes close on performance, but the iPhone 15 Pro does just enough to lead. The iPhone 15 Pro wins here with a newer 3 nm chip process. A finer process node generally lets a chip do the same work with less power, which can mean cooler running and better battery life. Anyone shopping mainly on performance should start with the iPhone 15 Pro.
Process node
iPhone 15 Plus: 4 nm iPhone 15 Pro: 3 nm Process numbers are partly marketing labels these days, so read this as a hint about efficiency rather than a verdict.
Memory & Storage
iPhone 15 Pro leads
The iPhone 15 Pro does a little better in the memory & storage section, though nothing here is a deal-breaker for the iPhone 15 Plus. The iPhone 15 Pro stands out with a bigger top storage option. Most buyers are fine with a base or middle tier, so this is a niche advantage, but a real one if you need it. The memory & storage verdict goes to the iPhone 15 Pro.
Max storage
iPhone 15 Plus: 512 GB iPhone 15 Pro: 1 TB The top storage option only matters if you plan to buy a high-capacity version, but it caps how much you can ever keep on the phone.
Camera
iPhone 15 Pro leads
A modest lead on camera belongs to the iPhone 15 Pro. The iPhone 15 Pro gives you an extra rear camera. The count alone doesn’t guarantee quality, but the iPhone 15 Pro gives you more lenses to choose from. So if camera tops your list, lean toward the iPhone 15 Pro.
Rear cameras
iPhone 15 Plus: 2 iPhone 15 Pro: 3 More cameras help most when each covers a different view, so check the table to see what the iPhone 15 Pro’s extra lens adds.
Battery & Charging
iPhone 15 Plus leads
By a small margin, the iPhone 15 Plus is the stronger of the two in this area. The iPhone 15 Plus adds 3 h more rated video playback. More rated playback suggests the iPhone 15 Plus lasts longer on a long flight or an evening of streaming. If battery & charging is your priority, the iPhone 15 Plus is the phone to pick.
Rated video playback
iPhone 15 Plus: 26 h iPhone 15 Pro: 23 h Lab ratings rarely match real life exactly, but comparing them between two phones is still a useful endurance hint.
Software & Updates
There isn’t a number to compare on software & updates, just names. Look at the rows below to see how the iPhone 15 Plus and the iPhone 15 Pro differ.
Full Specifications
Display
| Spec | iPhone 15 Plus | iPhone 15 Pro |
|---|---|---|
| Screen size | 6.7 in | 6.1 in |
| Panel type | OLED (Super Retina XDR) | OLED, ProMotion 120 Hz (Super Retina XDR) |
| Resolution | 2796 x 1290 | 2556 x 1179 |
| Pixel density | 460 ppi | 460 ppi |
| Refresh rate | 60 Hz | 120 Hz (winner) |
| Peak brightness | 2,000 nits | 2,000 nits |
| Always-on display | No | Yes (winner) |
Performance
| Spec | iPhone 15 Plus | iPhone 15 Pro |
|---|---|---|
| Chipset | A16 Bionic | A17 Pro |
| CPU cores | 6 | 6 |
| Process node | 4 nm | 3 nm (winner) |
Memory & Storage
| Spec | iPhone 15 Plus | iPhone 15 Pro |
|---|---|---|
| Base storage | 128 GB | 128 GB |
| Max storage | 512 GB | 1 TB (winner) |
| microSD slot | No | No |
Camera
| Spec | iPhone 15 Plus | iPhone 15 Pro |
|---|---|---|
| Main camera | 48 MP | 48 MP |
| Ultra-wide camera | 12 MP | 12 MP |
| Telephoto camera | N/A (not specified) | 12 MP |
| Optical zoom | N/A (not specified) | 3× |
| Rear cameras | 2 | 3 (winner) |
| Front camera | 12 MP | 12 MP |
| Max video | 4K60 Dolby Vision | 4K60 Dolby Vision |
Battery & Charging
| Spec | iPhone 15 Plus | iPhone 15 Pro |
|---|---|---|
| Rated video playbackManufacturer rating | 26 h (winner) | 23 h |
| Wireless charging | 15 W | 15 W |
| Port | USB-C (USB 2) | USB-C (USB 3, 10 Gb/s) |
Software & Updates
| Spec | iPhone 15 Plus | iPhone 15 Pro |
|---|---|---|
| OS at launch | iOS 17 | iOS 17 |
Design & Build
| Spec | iPhone 15 Plus | iPhone 15 Pro |
|---|---|---|
| Height | 6.33 in | 5.77 in |
| Width | 3.06 in | 2.78 in |
| Thickness | 0.31 in (winner) | 0.32 in |
| Weight | 7.09 oz | 6.60 oz (winner) |
| Water & dust rating | IP68 | IP68 |
| Frame | Aluminum | Titanium |
Price
| Spec | iPhone 15 Plus | iPhone 15 Pro |
|---|---|---|
| Launch price | $899 (winner) | $999 |
“N/A” means the manufacturer does not specify the value or we could not confirm it. Figures marked “manufacturer rating” are the maker’s own claims, not our measurements.
Price & Value
A price gap of $100 at launch won’t make or break this decision. The iPhone 15 Pro justifies part of its $100 premium with a 120 Hz display instead of 60 Hz and an extra rear camera.
Based on US launch pricing as of September 2023. Deals and regional pricing can change the picture.
Which One Should You Buy?
Choose the iPhone 15 Plus if…
- you stream a lot of video on the go (26 h vs 23 h rated playback)
- you care about a thin profile in your pocket (0.31 in vs 0.32 in)
- you want more value for your money ($100 less at launch)
Choose the iPhone 15 Pro if…
- you game or scroll a lot and like motion to look fluid (120 Hz vs 60 Hz)
- you want more lenses to choose from (3 vs 2 rear cameras)
- you notice every gram in your pocket (6.60 oz vs 7.09 oz)
- you need as much on-device space as you can get (1 TB vs 512 GB top option)
Also Compared
Frequently Asked Questions
Which is better for most people, the iPhone 15 Plus or the iPhone 15 Pro?
We’d point most buyers to the iPhone 15 Pro. The main exception is if you need 3 h more rated video playback, which only the iPhone 15 Plus offers.
Does the iPhone 15 Plus last longer on a charge than the iPhone 15 Pro?
On paper, the iPhone 15 Plus has the edge: 26 h of rated video playback against 23 h for the iPhone 15 Pro. Real-world results also depend on how you use it.
Is the iPhone 15 Plus bigger than the iPhone 15 Pro?
The larger model here is the iPhone 15 Plus (6.33 × 3.06 × 0.31 in); the iPhone 15 Pro is more compact at 5.77 × 2.78 × 0.32 in.
Which is faster, the iPhone 15 Plus or the iPhone 15 Pro?
Going by the specs, the iPhone 15 Pro comes out ahead: it offers a newer 3 nm chip process.
Which has the better camera, the iPhone 15 Plus or the iPhone 15 Pro?
The iPhone 15 Pro has the edge for photography, offering an extra rear camera.
Which has the better screen, the iPhone 15 Plus or the iPhone 15 Pro?
The iPhone 15 Pro has the stronger display on paper, with a 120 Hz display instead of 60 Hz and an always-on display.
Executive Summary
I spent more time than I’d like to admit on the spec sheets of the iPhone 15 Plus and the iPhone 15 Pro. Start with the headline difference (the iPhone 15 Pro has a 120 Hz display instead of 60 Hz), and a lot of the decision falls into place. A second point goes to the iPhone 15 Pro for an extra rear camera. To be fair, the iPhone 15 Plus has 3 h more rated video playback, and that’s not nothing.
I’d steer battery & charging fans toward the iPhone 15 Plus and display fans toward the iPhone 15 Pro.
My pick: I think most people will be happier with the iPhone 15 Pro, unless you value 3 h more rated video playback above everything else.
Personal opinion based on the data above. Your priorities may differ.