Apple iPhone Air vs Apple iPhone 15 Plus

Updated Jun 2026 · Scored by the Let’s Compare Data Engine · How we score

For most buyers the Apple iPhone Air is the better pick — it scores 74/100 to the Apple iPhone 15 Plus's 67, leading on Chip and Memory. Choose the Apple iPhone 15 Plus instead if rear camera and power & battery matter most to you, where it comes out ahead.

Verdict

Our overall take, at a glance

Key takeaways

  • Apple iPhone Air leads Apple iPhone 15 Plus overall by 7 points (74 vs 67 out of 100).
  • Key differences: refresh rate, where Apple iPhone Air has 120 vs 60 Hz; battery capacity, where Apple iPhone 15 Plus has 4,383 vs 3,149 mAh; geekbench single-core score, where Apple iPhone Air has 3,775 vs 2,627; RAM capacity, where Apple iPhone Air has 12 GB vs 6 GB; storage capacity, where Apple iPhone Air has 256 GB vs 128 GB.
  • Best value: Apple iPhone 15 Plus (from $899) — the strongest score-per-dollar of the two.
Apple iPhone Air leads overall
Apple iPhone Air
74
Apple iPhone 15 Plus
67
Key differences
  • Refresh rateApple iPhone Air 120 vs 60 Hz
  • Battery capacityApple iPhone 15 Plus 4,383 vs 3,149 mAh
  • Geekbench single-core scoreApple iPhone Air 3,775 vs 2,627
  • RAM capacityApple iPhone Air 12 GB vs 6 GB
  • Storage capacityApple iPhone Air 256 GB vs 128 GB

Battery capacity

Larger cell — a hardware spec, not battery life

Apple iPhone Air3,149 mAh
Apple iPhone 15 Plus4,383 mAh

Capacity is the raw battery size. Real-world battery life depends just as much on the processor, software and display.

Scores by Category

Head-to-head score per category, out of 100

Apple iPhone Air wins 8 of 14 categories · Apple iPhone 15 Plus wins 3

Apple iPhone AirApple iPhone 15 Plus
  • DisplayApple iPhone Air leads
    Apple iPhone Air
    68
    Apple iPhone 15 Plus
    54
  • Rear CameraApple iPhone 15 Plus leads
    Apple iPhone Air
    67
    Apple iPhone 15 Plus
    73
  • Power & BatteryApple iPhone 15 Plus leads
    Apple iPhone Air
    54
    Apple iPhone 15 Plus
    71
  • BenchmarkApple iPhone Air leads
    Apple iPhone Air
    90
    Apple iPhone 15 Plus
    70
  • ChipApple iPhone Air leads
    Apple iPhone Air
    87
    Apple iPhone 15 Plus
    73
  • MemoryApple iPhone Air leads
    Apple iPhone Air
    93
    Apple iPhone 15 Plus
    65

Physical Comparison

Weigh them up, then compare real dimensions in 3D

165 g201 g
Apple iPhone AirApple iPhone 15 Plus

Apple iPhone 15 Plus is 36 g (22%) heavier than Apple iPhone Air.

In-depth analysisAI

AI-generated from the cited sources — may be incomplete or inaccurate; verify important details before deciding · generated Jun 2026.

Apple iPhone Air

Pros
  • 120Hz Super Retina XDR display
  • 48MP rear camera with OIS
  • Apple A19 Pro processor
Cons
  • No expandable storage
  • No headphone jack
  • No fingerprint scanner

Apple iPhone 15 Plus

Pros
  • 6.7-inch Super Retina XDR OLED display
  • 4,383 mAh battery capacity
  • 48 MP main camera with OIS
Cons
  • 60 Hz screen refresh rate
  • No expandable storage
  • No headphone jack

Watch-outs

Compromises to know before you buy

Apple iPhone Air

No notable compromises found.

Apple iPhone 15 Plus

  • 60 Hz display — less smooth scrolling than 90/120 Hz rivals.

Value for Money

What the price difference buys you

Launch prices — enter today's prices (same currency for both).

Apple iPhone Air

Apple iPhone 15 Plus

Detailed Specifications

The specs that count most, side by side

Memory

Feature
Apple iPhone Air
Apple iPhone 15 Plus
RAM capacity
12 GB100% more
6 GB

Storage

Feature
Apple iPhone Air
Apple iPhone 15 Plus
Storage capacity
256 GB100% more
128 GB

Display

Feature
Apple iPhone Air
Apple iPhone 15 Plus
Resolution
1260 × 2736 px
1290 × 2796 px
Refresh rate
120 Hz100% more
60 Hz
Display technology
Protection

Rear Camera

Feature
Apple iPhone Air
Apple iPhone 15 Plus
Rear camera aperture
1.6
1.6
Optical zoom
0
1
Has High Dynamic Range (HDR)
Yes
Yes
Has Optical Image Stabilization (OIS)
Yes
Yes

Cellular

Feature
Apple iPhone Air
Apple iPhone 15 Plus
Cellular technology

Design & Weight

Feature
Apple iPhone Air
Apple iPhone 15 Plus
Weight
165 g18% less
201 g

Power & Battery

Feature
Apple iPhone Air
Apple iPhone 15 Plus
Battery capacity
3,149 mAh
4,383 mAh39% more
Has wireless charging support
Yes
Yes
Has fast charging support
Yes
Yes

Benchmark

Feature
Apple iPhone Air
Apple iPhone 15 Plus
Geekbench single-core score
3,77544% more
2,627

Miscellaneous

Feature
Apple iPhone Air
Apple iPhone 15 Plus
Dust & Water resistance

Security

Feature
Apple iPhone Air
Apple iPhone 15 Plus
Has a fingerprint scanner
No
No

Specification Note

Specifications are compiled from official manufacturer data and other reliable internet sources. Some features may vary by region or model configuration.

Review Videos

Hand-picked expert reviews for each product

Frequently Asked Questions

Common questions about Apple iPhone Air vs Apple iPhone 15 Plus comparison

Apple iPhone Air leads on display, scoring 68/100 vs 54/100 for Apple iPhone 15 Plus. The biggest gap is refresh rate, where Apple iPhone Air has 120 vs 60 Hz.
Apple iPhone 15 Plus has the bigger battery: 4,383 mAh vs 3,149 mAh for Apple iPhone Air (39% more). Real-world battery life also depends on the chip, display and software.
Apple iPhone Air launched in Sep 2025, 24 months after Apple iPhone 15 Plus. It scores 74/100 vs 67/100 head-to-head — a clear step up. Launch prices were $999 vs $899.

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