Apple iPhone 16 Plus vs iPhone 15 Plus Design
Form-factor of iPhone 16 Plus remains the same as the predecessor – iPhone 15 Plus. It features the same aluminium frame design with matte glass back. The camera module, however, has changed. Apple has brought back the vertical camera setup with iPhone 16 Plus.
Big addition this year is the Action Button on the left side which works as a customizable shutter key and trackpad for various camera functions. The button replaces the ring/Silent switch. Also, the iPhone 16 Plus has an upgraded Ceramic Shield cover glass, which Apple claims is 50% tougher than the first generation and twice as tough as any other smartphone glass.
In addition to the new Ultramarine and Teal colour options, Apple offers iPhone 16 Plus in Pink, White, and Black. The phone is IP68 water/dust resistant.
Apple iPhone 16 Plus vs iPhone 15 Plus Display
iPhone 16 Plus has the same 6.7-inch Super Retina XDR OLED with a Full-HD+ resolution and 2,000 nits peak brightness as its predecessor. However, the minimum brightness has been reduced to 1 nit (down from 2 nits), which further improves the low-light usage of the phone.
Apple iPhone 16 Plus vs iPhone 15 Plus Performance
The iPhone 16 Plus sees a significant upgrade in its processing power. It is now equipped with the latest Apple A18 chip. It is built on second-generation 3nm technology and is equipped with a 6-core CPU that is said to be 30% faster than A16 Bionis Then there is a 5-core GPU that is up to 40% faster and 35% more efficient than A16 Bionic. The chipset also comes with an upgraded 16-core Neural Engine that is optimised for AI tasks.
The A18 is specifically designed with AI optimizations for the support of Apple Intelligence. Storage options remain the same at 128GB, 256GB, and 512GB.
Apple iPhone 16 Plus vs iPhone 15 Plus Camera
Compared to the predecessor, the iPhone 16 Plus camera upgrade is less dramatic. But there are several improvements like support for macro photography, previously exclusive to Pro models. There is a 48MP main sensor with f/1.6 aperture and 2x zoom via sensor crop. The ultra-wide camera keeps the 12MP sensor but now has an improved f/2.2 aperture (vs f/2.4 on iPhone 15).
A notable addition is the new Camera Control button which allows users to quickly access and control various camera functions. The iPhone 16 Plus also supports Spatial Video and Spatial Photos, designed for immersive viewing on AR/VR headsets like Apple Vision Pro.
Apple iPhone 16 Plus vs iPhone 15 Plus Battery and charging
Apple claims 22 hours of video playback with iPhone 16 Plus, up from 20 hours on the iPhone 15 Plus. The battery capacity is rumoured to be 3,561mAh, a 6% increase from the predecessor.
Further, the wireless charging has also been upgraded to 25W MagSafe charging, up from 15W on the previous model. However, wired charging remains at 20W, unchanged from the iPhone 15 Plus.
Apple iPhone 16 Plus vs iPhone 15 Plus Price in India
In terms of pricing, the iPhone 16 Plus starts at Rs 99,900 for the 128GB model, Rs 99,900 for 256GB, and Rs 1,19,900 for 512GB in India.
Apple iPhone 16 Plus vs iPhone 15 Plus: A spec-by-spec comparison
| Feature | iPhone 16 Plus | iPhone 15 Plus |
| Chip | A18 (3nm) | A16 Bionic |
| CPU | 6-core (30% faster than A16) | 6-core |
| GPU | 5-core (40% faster than A16) | 5-core |
| RAM | 8GB | 6GB |
| Storage Options | 128GB, 256GB, 512GB | 128GB, 256GB, 512GB |
| Display | 6.7″ Super Retina XDR OLED | 6.7″ Super Retina XDR OLED |
| Display Resolution | 2796 x 1290 pixels | 2556 x 1179 pixels |
| Refresh Rate | 60Hz | 60Hz |
| Peak Brightness | 2000 nits | 2000 nits |
| Minimum Brightness | 1 nit | 2 nits |
| Main Camera | 48MP, f/1.6 | 48MP, f/1.6 |
| Ultra-wide Camera | 12MP, f/2.2 | 12MP, f/2.4 |
| Macro Photography | Yes | No |
| Front Camera | 12MP, f/1.9 | 12MP, f/1.9 |
| Buttons | Action Button, Camera Control | Ring/Silent switch |
| Battery Life (Video Playback) | 22 hours | 20 hours |
| Wired Charging | 20W | 20W |
| MagSafe Charging | 25W | 15W |
| Wireless Charging Standard | Qi2 | Qi |
| Water Resistance | IP68 | IP68 |
| Ceramic Shield | Next-gen (50% tougher) | Previous-gen |
| Colors | Ultramarine, Teal, Pink, White, Black | Pink, Yellow, Green, Blue, Black |
| Starting Price (128GB) | Rs. 89,900 | Rs. 79,900 |
| Operating System | iOS 18 | iOS 17 (upgradable to iOS 18) |