Apple knows what people want when it comes to their devices, and it definitely does not disappoint with the iPhone 15 series. The gorgeous designs and eye-catching colors reel you in, while pro-style cameras and the on-board tech keeps you connected and engaged like never before. We'll take a deep dive into iPhone 15, iPhone15 Plus, iPhone 15 Pro and iPhone 15 Pro Max, exploring the powerful processors, displays, designs, batteries, storage, cameras and more.
While there are key differences between each device, they do share some common features. So, let's start there.
iPhone 15 vs. Plus vs. Pro vs. Pro Max
Shared Features
Dynamic Island. All four devices boast the magical Dynamic Island, a pill-shaped innovation that replaces the notch on previous phones and expands to offer a multitude of functionalities—from delivering notifications to providing real-time battery updates and granting quick access to your favorite apps. The biggest benefit? It keeps all your important stuff front-and-center, so you don’t miss a thing. It’s never been easier to do things like check scores, track your rideshare, get flight updates, see who’s calling, and so much more. And unlike previous iPhone generations, there's no need to upgrade to the Pro or the premium Pro Max model to get it.
Super Retina XDR displays. Another similarity is the display. While the sizes are different depending on the device you choose—each phone in the series features a Super Retina XDR OLED display, delivering precise color, incredible contrast and brightness, and an overall gorgeous viewing experience.
Safety/security features. iPhone 15, 15 Plus, 15 Pro and 15 Pro Max all come with Apple’s top safety features, like Emergency SOS, Roadside Assistance via satellite, Crash Detection and Face ID. Plus, all three boast super-tough designs with heavy-duty Ceramic Shield fronts (tougher than any smartphone glass) and an IP68 rating for dust, splashes and water resistance to a depth of 6 meters (about 19 ft.) for up-to 30 minutes.
USB-C charging. This is the first Apple iPhone series with USB-C charging, which is the universal standard. With USB-C on board, you can now charge all your devices, from your iPhone 15 to your Nintendo Switch, to your AirPods and Apple Watch, with the same cable.
Now that we've got your attention, let take a closer look at each individual iPhone 15-series device so you can find the right fit for you. We'll start with the premium device in the lineup: iPhone 15 Pro Max
iPhone 15 Pro Max
Key Features
- 6.7" Super Retina XDR OLED (2796x1290 resolution)
- ProMotion Technology with adaptive refresh rates up to 120Hz
- Always-on display
- Titanium design with textured matte-glass back
- Color options: titanium white, titanium blue, titanium black, titanium natural
- A17 Pro chip
- 4 Cameras: 3 Main and 1 Selfie
- Main
- 48MP Main
- Ultra Wide
- Telephoto with 5x Optical Zoom
- Selfie
- 12MP
- Main
- 4,422 mAh battery with MagSafe, Qi2, and Qi wireless charging
- Supports USB 3 for up to 20x faster transfers
- Up to 29 hours of video playback
- 256GB, 512GB and 1TB capacity
- Price: About $1,200
Who will love iPhone 15 Pro Max the most?
The Pro Max is a powerhouse when it comes to just about everything: looks, size, camera capabilities, storage, battery, and more. Whether you're a serious multitasker, photographer, gamer, content creator, or you just want the best of the best, you'll gravitate toward this phone for its big 6.7" display and amazing 5x telephoto camera with the longest optical zoom of any iPhone ever! That means you’ll get clear, vivid pictures, even from far away. This phone also has the most battery power of the three: 4,422mAh and it supports USB 3 for faster charging. As you probably gathered, iPhone 15 Pro Max will cost more than all of the other phones in the series. However, it may be more than worth it if you demand a huge screen and love snapping professional-looking photos. Now, let’s take a look at the Pro.
iPhone 15 Pro
Key Features
- 6.1" Super Retina XDR OLED display (2556x1179 resolution)
- ProMotion Technology with adaptive refresh rates up to 120Hz
- Always-on display
- Titanium design with textured matte-glass back
- Color options: titanium white, titanium blue, titanium black, titanium natural
- A17 Pro chip
- 4 Cameras: 3 Main and 1 Selfie
- Main
- 48MP Main
- Ultra Wide
- Telephoto with 3x Optical Zoom
- Selfie
- 12MP
- Main
- 3,274 mAh battery with MagSafe, Qi2, and Qi wireless charging
- Supports USB 3 for up to 20x faster transfers
- Up to 23 hours of video playback
- 128GB, 256GB, 512GB and 1TB capacity
- Price: About $1,000
Who will love iPhone 15 Pro the most?
While the screen isn’t as large on iPhone 15 Pro, coming in at 6.1" compared to the 6.7" offered by iPhone Pro Max, it’s still packed with a lot of the same features. In fact, those who prefer a smaller, lighter phone with similar features may choose this one over the Pro Max. The cameras setup is similar, although it only offers 3x optical zoom compared to 5x offered on the Pro Max, so if you’re looking for laser-sharp closeups, you may want to stick with the premium phone in the bunch. The Pro offers the same sleek titanium design with matte-glass back and the same gorgeous color options. It also supports USB 3 charging, although the battery is a tad less powerful, offering a 23 hours of video playback compared to 29 hours. The Pro also only comes standard with 128GB of capacity—but you can opt for more if you want to pay extra. Now, let's move on to the Plus.
iPhone 15 Plus
Key Features
- 6.7" Super Retina XDR OLED display (2796x1290 resolution)
- Aluminum design with color-infused glass back
- Color options: pink, yellow, green, blue or basic black
- A16 Bionic chip
- Dual-camera system
- Main
- 48MP Main
- Ultra Wide
- Selfie
- 12MP
- Main
- 4,383 mAh battery with MagSafe, Qi2, and Qi wireless charging
- Supports USB 2
- Up to 26 hours of video playback
- 128GB, 256GB, 512GB
- Price: About $930
Who will love iPhone 15 Plus the most?
For those who love a huge 6.7” screen with amazing resolution (just like on the premium Pro Max), you can still get it on this model for a lower price. However, an aluminum shell replaces the titanium design of the Pro Max, but the stunning color-infused back glass offered on the Plus may just be worth it for some. It’s also the first iPhone in a while to come with a gorgeous pink color option. If you don't need a ton of extra storage, you may be fine with the fact that the Plus comes with 128GB standard and maxes out a 512GB, compared to the highest 1TB option on both of the previous phones. Not a photographer? Then the dual camera setup on the Plus versus the pro-camera setup that the Pro Max and Pro may not be an issue either. While the Plus has a nice sized battery, it doesn’t offer USB 3 support for superfast charging. It also has a slightly older generation chipset than both the Pro and Pro Max. But at just over $900, that massive high-resolution screen and pretty-in-pink design option may be well worth it for some.
iPhone 15
Key Features
- 6.1" Super Retina XDR OLED display (2556x1179 resolution)
- Aluminum design with color-infused glass back
- Color options: pink, yellow, green, blue or basic black
- A16 Bionic chip
- Dual-camera system
- Main
- 48MP Main
- Ultra Wide
- Selfie
- 12MP
- Main
- 3,349 mAh battery with MagSafe, Qi2, and Qi wireless charging
- Supports USB 2
- Up to 20 hours of video playback
- 128GB, 256GB, 512GB
- Price: About $830
Who will love iPhone 15 the most?
iPhone 15 is the most entry-level of the pack. It shares the same aluminum/glass design and colors as the Plus, but with the same small screen size (6.1”) and resolution as iPhone 15 Pro. It also keeps things simple with a dual camera system, rather than a sophisticated pro-camera setup with telephoto lens. You’ll get less storage out of the gate than with the two most expensive models and the battery is the smallest of the pack, with up to 20 hours of playback and no support for superfast USB 3 charging. But if you’re on a budget, prefer a smaller phone, and you're not a serious photographer or influencer, this one will more-than do the trick. The best part? It's the least pricey of the three at just over $800.
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