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Apple iPhone 15 Plus
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Apple iPhone 15 Plus Audio test

September 29, 2023
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OTHER AVAILABLE TESTS FOR THIS DEVICE

We put the Apple iPhone 15 Plus through our rigorous DXOMARK Audio test suite to measure its performance both at recording sound using its built-in microphones, and at playing audio back through its speakers.
In this review, we will break down how it fared in a variety of tests and several common use cases.

Overview


Key audio specifications include:

  • Two speakers, (One top front firing, one side bottom firing)
  • No jack audio output
  • Dolby Atmos technology
  • Spatial Audio playback

Scoring

Sub-scores and attributes included in the calculations of the global score.

Apple iPhone 15 Plus
Apple iPhone 15 Plus
141
audio
143
Playback
Timbre
139

158

Dynamics
138

149

Spatial
148

162

Volume
138

162

Artifacts
91

157

136
Recording
Timbre
135

147

Dynamics
121

146

Spatial
107

159

Volume
132

170

Artifacts
137

145

Background
148

166

AUDIO
Position in Global Ranking
18th
1. Black Shark 5 Pro
161
2. Asus ROG Phone 6
155
2. Honor Magic6 Pro
155
4. Asus ROG Phone 5
151
5. Asus Smartphone for Snapdragon Insiders
149
5. Black Shark 4S Pro
149
5. Black Shark 4 Pro
149
5. Honor Magic3 Pro+
149
9. Asus ROG Phone 7
148
10. Xiaomi Mi 10 S
147
11. Huawei Mate 50 Pro
144
11. Xiaomi Mi 10 Pro
144
13. Apple iPhone 15 Pro Max
143
14. Apple iPhone 15 Pro
142
14. Apple iPhone 14 Pro Max
142
14. Apple iPhone 14 Pro
142
14. Google Pixel 8 Pro
142
18. Apple iPhone 15 Plus
141
18. Apple iPhone 15
141
18. Apple iPhone 14 Plus
141
18. Apple iPhone 14
141
18. Huawei P60 Pro
141
23. Apple iPhone 12
140
23. Apple iPhone 12 Pro Max
140
23. Google Pixel 8
140
23. Xiaomi 13 Ultra
140
23. Xiaomi 13 Pro
140
28. Apple iPhone 13 Pro Max
139
28. Apple iPhone 13 Pro
139
28. Apple iPhone 12 mini
139
28. Samsung Galaxy S24+ (Exynos)
139
28. Samsung Galaxy S24 Ultra
139
28. Samsung Galaxy S23 Ultra
139
34. Apple iPhone 13
138
34. Asus ROG Phone 3
138
34. Google Pixel 6 Pro
138
34. Honor Magic5 Pro
138
34. Huawei Mate 60 Pro+
138
34. Samsung Galaxy S23 FE
138
40. Apple iPhone 13 mini
137
40. Google Pixel 7 Pro
137
40. Google Pixel 6
137
40. Honor Magic Vs
137
40. Honor Magic4 Pro
137
40. Samsung Galaxy S23+
137
46. Google Pixel 6a
135
46. OnePlus Open
135
46. Oppo Find N2
135
46. Xiaomi 14
135
50. Samsung Galaxy Z Fold4
134
50. Samsung Galaxy S24 (Exynos)
134
50. Vivo X100 Pro
134
50. Xiaomi 13
134
54. Google Pixel Fold
133
54. Huawei Mate 20 X
133
54. Lenovo Legion Y90
133
54. Samsung Galaxy Z Fold5
133
54. Samsung Galaxy S23
133
54. Samsung Galaxy S22 Ultra (Snapdragon)
133
54. Samsung Galaxy S22 Ultra (Exynos)
133
54. Samsung Galaxy A54 5G
133
54. Vivo X90 Pro
133
63. Google Pixel 7a
132
63. Vivo X Fold
132
63. Vivo X90 Pro+
132
66. Apple iPhone XS Max
131
66. Asus Zenfone 10
131
66. Oppo Find X2 Pro
131
66. Oppo Find N2 Flip
131
70. Samsung Galaxy Z Flip4
130
70. Xiaomi Mix Fold 3
130
72. Samsung Galaxy Z Flip5
129
72. Vivo X80 Pro (Snapdragon)
129
72. Xiaomi 12S Ultra
129
72. Xiaomi 12 Pro
129
76. OnePlus 11
128
76. Oppo Find X6 Pro
128
76. Oppo Find X5 Pro
128
76. POCO F4 GT
128
76. Realme GT Neo 5 (240W)
128
76. Xiaomi Redmi K50 Gaming
128
76. Xiaomi 13T
128
76. Xiaomi 11T Pro
128
84. Oppo Find X6
127
84. Samsung Galaxy A52s 5G
127
84. Samsung Galaxy A52 5G
127
84. Xiaomi 12T Pro
127
88. Apple iPhone 11
126
88. Motorola Razr 40 Ultra
126
88. OnePlus 10T 5G
126
88. Samsung Galaxy A53 5G
126
88. Samsung Galaxy A34 5G
126
88. Xiaomi 12T
126
88. Xiaomi 11T
126
95. Apple iPhone 11 Pro Max
125
95. Samsung Galaxy A33 5G
125
95. Vivo X80 Pro (MediaTek)
125
98. Lenovo Legion Phone 2 Pro
124
99. Google Pixel 7
123
99. Oppo Reno8 Pro 5G
123
101. Apple iPhone SE (2022)
122
101. Apple iPhone SE (2020)
122
101. Xiaomi 13T Pro
122
101. Xiaomi 12
122
105. OnePlus 9 Pro
121
105. Samsung Galaxy S22+ (Exynos)
121
105. Sony Xperia 1 IV
121
105. Xiaomi Mix Fold 2
121
109. Samsung Galaxy Z Fold3 5G
120
109. Samsung Galaxy S22 (Snapdragon)
120
109. Samsung Galaxy S22 (Exynos)
120
112. Asus ROG Phone 2
119
112. Huawei P50 Pro
119
112. OnePlus 9
119
112. OnePlus 8
119
112. POCO F5 Pro
119
112. Xiaomi Redmi K40 Gaming
119
112. Xiaomi Mi 11 Ultra
119
119. Realme GT Neo 3
118
119. Samsung Galaxy S21 Ultra 5G (Snapdragon)
118
119. Samsung Galaxy S21 Ultra 5G (Exynos)
118
119. Samsung Galaxy S21 FE 5G (Snapdragon)
118
119. Samsung Galaxy S21 5G (Snapdragon)
118
119. Samsung Galaxy S21 5G (Exynos)
118
125. Asus Zenfone 8
117
125. Google Pixel 4
117
125. OnePlus 10 Pro
117
125. OnePlus 8 Pro
117
125. Vivo iQOO 9 Pro
117
130. Motorola Edge 40 Pro
116
130. Motorola Edge+
116
130. Realme GT Neo 2 5G
116
130. Samsung Galaxy S20 Ultra 5G (Exynos)
116
130. Samsung Galaxy Note20 Ultra 5G (Exynos)
116
130. Xiaomi Redmi K40 Pro+
116
130. Xiaomi Mi 11
116
137. Motorola Edge 30 Pro
115
137. OnePlus Nord 2T 5G
115
137. Samsung Galaxy Note20 Ultra 5G (Snapdragon)
115
137. Xiaomi Mi 11i
115
141. Samsung Galaxy Z Fold2 5G
114
141. Vivo iQOO 7 Legend
114
143. Google Pixel 5
113
143. LG V60 ThinQ 5G
113
143. OnePlus 7 Pro
113
143. Samsung Galaxy S20+
113
143. Samsung Galaxy S10+
113
143. Samsung Galaxy Note 10+ 5G (Exynos)
113
143. Samsung Galaxy Note 10+ (Exynos)
113
143. Sony Xperia 1 III
113
151. Nubia RedMagic 6 Pro
112
151. Nubia Red Magic 5S
112
151. Realme GT 5G
112
151. Xiaomi 12 Lite 5G
112
155. Oppo A78 5G
111
155. Sony Xperia 5 IV
111
157. Oppo Find X3 Pro
110
158. Honor 70
109
158. Huawei Mate 30 Pro 5G
109
158. Oppo Find X5
109
158. POCO X3 NFC
109
158. Realme GT 2 Pro
109
158. Vivo X70 Pro+
109
158. ZTE Axon 30 Ultra
109
165. Huawei Mate 30 Pro
108
165. Oppo Reno6 Pro 5G (Snapdragon)
108
165. Oppo Find X3 Neo
108
165. Realme X2 Pro
108
169. Sony Xperia 5 V
107
170. Honor 90
106
170. Nothing Phone(1)
106
170. Oppo Reno8 Lite 5G
106
170. Oppo A77 5G
106
174. Lenovo Legion Phone Pro
105
174. Nothing Phone (2)
105
174. Nubia RedMagic 7 Pro
105
174. Samsung Galaxy A23 5G
105
178. Honor V30 Pro
104
178. Oppo Reno8 5G
104
178. Oppo Reno5 Pro+ 5G
104
181. Black Shark 3 Pro
103
181. Nubia RedMagic 8 Pro
103
181. Oppo Find X5 Lite
103
181. Sony Xperia 1 II
103
185. Huawei P40 Pro
102
185. Motorola Edge 20 Pro
102
185. Oppo Reno6 5G
102
188. Motorola Razr
101
189. Honor Magic5 Lite 5G
97
189. Xiaomi Mi CC9 Pro Premium Edition
97
191. Black Shark 2 Pro
96
191. Honor 20 Pro
96
191. Oppo Find X3 Lite
96
191. Vivo X51 5G
96
195. LG G8 ThinQ
95
195. Sony Xperia 10 IV
95
197. Nubia Red Magic 3S
94
198. Fairphone 4
93
198. Sony Xperia 1
93
198. Vivo X70 Pro (MediaTek)
93
201. Fairphone 5
92
202. Vivo X60 Pro+
91
203. Nokia 7.2
87
204. Vivo X60 Pro 5G (Snapdragon)
86
AUDIO
Position in Ultra-Premium Ranking
13th
1. Asus ROG Phone 6
155
1. Honor Magic6 Pro
155
3. Asus Smartphone for Snapdragon Insiders
149
3. Honor Magic3 Pro+
149
5. Asus ROG Phone 7
148
6. Huawei Mate 50 Pro
144
6. Xiaomi Mi 10 Pro
144
8. Apple iPhone 15 Pro Max
143
9. Apple iPhone 15 Pro
142
9. Apple iPhone 14 Pro Max
142
9. Apple iPhone 14 Pro
142
9. Google Pixel 8 Pro
142
13. Apple iPhone 15 Plus
141
13. Apple iPhone 14 Plus
141
13. Huawei P60 Pro
141
16. Apple iPhone 12 Pro Max
140
16. Xiaomi 13 Ultra
140
16. Xiaomi 13 Pro
140
19. Apple iPhone 13 Pro Max
139
19. Apple iPhone 13 Pro
139
19. Samsung Galaxy S24+ (Exynos)
139
19. Samsung Galaxy S24 Ultra
139
19. Samsung Galaxy S23 Ultra
139
24. Asus ROG Phone 3
138
24. Google Pixel 6 Pro
138
24. Honor Magic5 Pro
138
24. Huawei Mate 60 Pro+
138
28. Google Pixel 7 Pro
137
28. Honor Magic Vs
137
28. Honor Magic4 Pro
137
28. Samsung Galaxy S23+
137
32. OnePlus Open
135
32. Oppo Find N2
135
34. Samsung Galaxy Z Fold4
134
34. Vivo X100 Pro
134
36. Google Pixel Fold
133
36. Huawei Mate 20 X
133
36. Samsung Galaxy Z Fold5
133
36. Samsung Galaxy S22 Ultra (Snapdragon)
133
36. Samsung Galaxy S22 Ultra (Exynos)
133
36. Vivo X90 Pro
133
42. Vivo X Fold
132
42. Vivo X90 Pro+
132
44. Apple iPhone XS Max
131
44. Oppo Find X2 Pro
131
44. Oppo Find N2 Flip
131
47. Samsung Galaxy Z Flip4
130
47. Xiaomi Mix Fold 3
130
49. Samsung Galaxy Z Flip5
129
49. Vivo X80 Pro (Snapdragon)
129
49. Xiaomi 12S Ultra
129
49. Xiaomi 12 Pro
129
53. Oppo Find X6 Pro
128
53. Oppo Find X5 Pro
128
55. Oppo Find X6
127
56. Motorola Razr 40 Ultra
126
57. Apple iPhone 11 Pro Max
125
57. Vivo X80 Pro (MediaTek)
125
59. OnePlus 9 Pro
121
59. Samsung Galaxy S22+ (Exynos)
121
59. Sony Xperia 1 IV
121
59. Xiaomi Mix Fold 2
121
63. Samsung Galaxy Z Fold3 5G
120
64. Asus ROG Phone 2
119
64. Huawei P50 Pro
119
64. Xiaomi Mi 11 Ultra
119
67. Samsung Galaxy S21 Ultra 5G (Snapdragon)
118
67. Samsung Galaxy S21 Ultra 5G (Exynos)
118
69. OnePlus 10 Pro
117
69. OnePlus 8 Pro
117
71. Motorola Edge 40 Pro
116
71. Motorola Edge+
116
71. Samsung Galaxy S20 Ultra 5G (Exynos)
116
71. Samsung Galaxy Note20 Ultra 5G (Exynos)
116
75. Samsung Galaxy Note20 Ultra 5G (Snapdragon)
115
76. Samsung Galaxy Z Fold2 5G
114
77. Samsung Galaxy S20+
113
77. Samsung Galaxy S10+
113
77. Samsung Galaxy Note 10+ 5G (Exynos)
113
77. Samsung Galaxy Note 10+ (Exynos)
113
77. Sony Xperia 1 III
113
82. Sony Xperia 5 IV
111
83. Oppo Find X3 Pro
110
84. Huawei Mate 30 Pro 5G
109
84. Oppo Find X5
109
84. Vivo X70 Pro+
109
87. Huawei Mate 30 Pro
108
88. Sony Xperia 5 V
107
89. Lenovo Legion Phone Pro
105
90. Black Shark 3 Pro
103
90. Sony Xperia 1 II
103
92. Huawei P40 Pro
102
93. Motorola Razr
101
94. LG G8 ThinQ
95
95. Sony Xperia 1
93
96. Vivo X60 Pro+
91

Playback

Pros

  • Good performance in all attributes, with great consistency across them
  • Great timbre performance overall, enriched by a deep low-end extension
  • Great dynamics performance overall
  • Very good spatial performance

Cons

  • Distortion and compression at maximum volume and when watching movies
  • Stereo is still inverted in music app, as in all iPhones

Recording

Pros

  • Good timbre performance overall
  • Good performance when recording loud content such as  concerts
  • Good dynamics performance
  • Good handling of artifacts overall. Wind noise reduction needs some fine-tuning but it works decently

Cons

  • Midrange rendition is too dependent on the use case, and can sound either canny or nasal depending on the app and use case
  • SNR could be greater, as main vocal content is often a bit masked by the ambient noise
  • Poor audio zoom performance

The differences between the iPhone models when it comes to audio playback and recording have usually been minimal. The same holds true now with the release of the iPhone 15 series.

The iPhone 15 Plus, which has the same  A16 Bionic chipset as the iPhone 15, shares many of the hardware specs as the 15 Pro and 15 Pro Max, which both operate on the latest A17 Pro chip.

The iPhone 15 Plus’s Playback and Recording scores were  identical to the iPhone 15’s results.

Given all the similarities among the iPhone 15-series models, we direct you to the full test results of the iPhone 15 Pro Max.

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