For the past two years I’ve been using an iPhone 12 and last week I switched to an iPhone 15 Plus. In this article you can read what I noticed about switching to the iPhone 15.
Overview
Switching from the iPhone 12 to the 15 (Plus)
The very first thing you notice when switching from an iPhone 12 to an iPhone 15 Plus is the size and weight. The iPhone 12 is not exactly small at 146.7 x 71.5 x 7.4 mm, but the iPhone 15 Plus is a lot larger at 160.9 x 77.8 x 7.8 mm. The weight gain is also significant (from 164 g to 201 g).
If you choose a Plus model, the above findings are quite logical. A Plus model also has a larger screen, a larger battery and therefore a longer battery life. For the rest, the regular iPhone 15 is the same as the iPhone 15 Plus. I’ll give you an overview of the things that struck me.
A larger screen with higher resolution
With this switch you go from 6.1 inches to 6.7 inches, and the resolution increases from 1170 x 2532 pixels to 1290 x 2796 pixels. If you switch to a regular iPhone 15, the screen will remain 6.1 inches, but the resolution will be 1179 x 2556 pixels. The iPhone 15 (Plus) has a brightness of 1000 nits, the iPhone 12 is stuck at 625 nits. The latter is certainly noticeable, if you look closely you can even see it in the photo below. The iPhone 15 Plus (right) is brighter.
A camera with 48 megapixels instead of 12
One of the most noticeable differences between the iPhone 12 and the iPhone 15 (Plus) that you immediately see is the camera. This is mainly because the 15 (Plus) has a 48 megapixel camera and the iPhone 12 has a 12 megapixel camera. Moreover, with the iPhone 15 it is now possible to optically zoom in and out 2x. That’s just enough for better portrait photos or if you have to stand a little further away to take the right photo.
The camera of the 15 (Plus) has Smart HDR 5 for bright and vibrant colors. In addition, the device has an automatic portrait mode (people are recognized, just like dogs and cats). It is now also possible to subsequently move the focus on a photo from one subject to another (focus and depth control).
The iPhone 15 (Plus) also has the Film Mode feature (Cinematic Mode). In that mode you can make beautiful cinematic video recordings because you can change the depth of field while filming. This can be done in a maximum of 4K 30 fps and you do need sufficient light, but the results are impressive. You can also use Movie mode with the selfie camera.
Do you use your older iPhone a lot for taking photos and videos? Then switching to an iPhone 15 is definitely worth considering!
Much longer battery life
As mentioned, the iPhone 15 Plus has a longer battery life because the battery is simply larger. But the battery life of the regular iPhone 15 is also longer than that of the iPhone 12. This means you can watch video for up to 17 hours with the iPhone 12. With the iPhone 15 you can do this for up to 20 hours and with the iPhone 15 Plus up to 26 hours. With average use, you will clearly notice that the iPhone 15 Plus lasts much longer with a full battery than the iPhone 12.
With the iPhone 12 you can choose ‘Optimized charging’. This is also possible with the iPhone 15 (Plus), but there you also have the option to set the ‘80% limit’. That should extend the battery life a bit further.
Dynamic Island looks slick
The iPhone 12 obviously does not have a Dynamic Island. The iPhone 15 (Plus) does have that. And while it’s not a feature you absolutely can’t live without, it’s useful and looks pretty slick, too. When you enable a timer, you will see it in the Dynamic Island. And even when you play music, it is visible there and you can return to Apple Music with a single tap.
Clearly more speed
I never experienced the iPhone 12 as slow, but the 15 Plus is noticeably faster. Actually, it’s just lightning fast. You certainly don’t necessarily need that, the iPhone 12 is definitely fast enough. But once you’ve experienced how smoothly everything works, you probably wouldn’t want anything else.
This extra speed is due to the faster processor (A14 Bionic in the iPhone 12, A16 Bionic in the iPhone 15 (Plus)) and because the iPhone 15 has more RAM (at least 6 GB compared to 4 GB). There is also a difference in storage space. With the iPhone 12 you can choose from 64 GB, 128 GB and 256 GB, with the iPhone 15 Plus 128 GB, 256 GB and 512 GB.
Conclusion: switch from iPhone 12 to iPhone 15 Plus
While it’s still not a bad idea to purchase an iPhone 12, the iPhone 15 (Plus) is a lot better in many ways. You will notice the biggest differences in the brightness of the screen, the longer battery life, the better camera with Focus and depth control, Cinematic mode, the Dynamic Island and the higher speed that ensures a very smooth experience. Are you planning to purchase an iPhone 15 or iPhone 15 Plus? Then be sure to take a look at the deals below for the best prices!
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