The iPhone 16 is about to be announced, and you might be wondering: should you buy the iPhone 15 Plus now? Is it worth waiting for the new model, or would it be wiser to save some money by grabbing a deal on the iPhone 14 Plus? This article’ll help you decide which option is best for you.
Apple introduced the iPhone 14 Plus in 2022, the first “Plus” model since 2017, hoping to boost sales after the iPhone 13 mini didn’t perform as well as expected. However, it hasn’t been as successful as Apple had hoped.
That said, the iPhone 14 Plus could still be a good choice for those who want a phone with great battery life, excellent cameras, and a lower price than the Pro models—while keeping features like USB-C and a big screen.
Battery
The iPhone 15 Plus is still one of Apple’s top choices for anyone seeking excellent battery life.
It provides up to 26 hours of video playback, just 3 hours less than the iPhone 15 Pro Max, and matches the battery life of the iPhone 14 Plus from last year—making both models strong contenders in this area.
On top of that, the iPhone 15 Plus remains compatible with MagSafe, Apple’s wireless charging system that works seamlessly with magnetic cases, wallets, chargers, and other accessories.
Cameras
Even though the iPhone 15 Plus still has two diagonally aligned lenses, Apple has significantly upgraded the main camera, boosting its resolution from 12 MP to an impressive 48 MP.
This upgrade allows the phone to capture sharper, high-resolution images, even with digital zoom, ensuring more detail in your photos. Thanks to this enhancement, the iPhone 15 Plus now offers zoom options at 0.5x, 1x, and 2x without needing a separate telephoto lens, giving you more flexibility for both photos and videos.
The 12 MP ultrawide and 12 MP front cameras remain the same as those on the iPhone 14 Plus. Still, improvements in Smart HDR and other AI-based imaging technologies provide subtle yet meaningful enhancements to image quality.
Is the iPhone 15 Plus in 2024 still worth it?
The iPhone 14 Plus is currently available for around $800, while the iPhone 15 Plus is priced at approximately $899.
The $400 difference reflects the upgrades in the iPhone 15 Plus, including Dynamic Island, higher screen brightness, USB-C port, and a 48 MP camera.
If you’re on a budget, the 2022 iPhone 14 Plus might be the better option, offering good value for the next three years. Even if you can afford the iPhone 15 Plus, you might prefer saving $400, buying the iPhone 14 Plus, and using the savings for another product. Alternatively, you could wait for the iPhone 16’s release, expected to bring a 15% price drop for iPhone 15 models in the coming weeks.
However, if features like higher screen brightness, Dynamic Island, USB-C, or the 48 MP camera are essential for your daily use, the iPhone 15 Plus would be the better choice.
