Should You Upgrade from the iPhone 15 Plus to the iPhone 16 Plus?
A spec-by-spec look at what actually changes when you move from the iPhone 15 Plus to the iPhone 16 Plus, 1 year apart.
Yes — the iPhone 16 Plus is a worthwhile upgrade
The iPhone 16 Plus is 1 year newer than the iPhone 15 Plus, and the BeastScore rises from 72.1 to 75.7. The biggest improvements: performance rated 8 points higher, battery rated 8 points higher, 291 mah bigger battery.
What you gain with the iPhone 16 Plus
- +Performance rated 8 points higher
- +Battery rated 8 points higher
- +291 mAh bigger battery
- +10W faster wireless charging
- +2 GB more RAM
| Spec | iPhone 15 Plus | iPhone 16 Plus | Change |
|---|---|---|---|
| BeastScore (overall) | 72.1 | 75.7 | +3.6 (5%) |
| Performance score | 72 | 80 | +8 (11%) |
| Camera score | 82 | 82 | No real change |
| Battery score | 70 | 78 | +8 (11%) |
| Display score | 64 | 64 | No real change |
| Battery capacity | 4,383 mAh | 4,674 mAh | +291 mAh (7%) |
| Wired charging | 27W | 27W | No real change |
| Wireless charging | 15W | 25W | +10W (67%) |
| Screen size | 6.7" | 6.7" | No real change |
| Refresh rate | 60Hz | 60Hz | No real change |
| Peak brightness | 2,000 nits | 2,000 nits | No real change |
| Main camera | 48 MP | 48 MP | No real change |
| RAM | 6 GB | 8 GB | +2 GB (33%) |
| Weight | 201 g | 199 g | No real change |
| Launch price | $899 | $899 | No real change |
Upgrade if…
- You regularly run out of battery before the end of the day
- You play demanding games or want the newest on-device AI features
iPhone 15 Plus vs iPhone 16 Plus: Upgrade FAQ
Is it worth upgrading from the iPhone 15 Plus to the iPhone 16 Plus?
Yes — the iPhone 16 Plus is a worthwhile upgrade. The iPhone 16 Plus is 1 year newer than the iPhone 15 Plus, and the BeastScore rises from 72.1 to 75.7. The biggest improvements: performance rated 8 points higher, battery rated 8 points higher, 291 mah bigger battery.
What is the biggest difference between the iPhone 15 Plus and iPhone 16 Plus?
Performance rated 8 points higher: 72 on the iPhone 15 Plus vs 80 on the iPhone 16 Plus.
Does the iPhone 16 Plus have a bigger battery than the iPhone 15 Plus?
The iPhone 16 Plus has a 4,674 mAh battery versus 4,383 mAh on the iPhone 15 Plus (+291 mAh (7%)).
Who should upgrade to the iPhone 16 Plus?
Upgrade if: You regularly run out of battery before the end of the day; You play demanding games or want the newest on-device AI features.