The Best Plans For The New iPhone 15 And 15 Pro Max
Pair your iPhone with a plan that gives you the best value, data and coverage.
- Choose from SIM and eSIM plans
- Pay for your phone over time or buy it outright
- Compare plans to give you the best value
FAQs about the new iPhone 15 lineup
What are the star features of the iPhone 15 range?
The new iPhone 15 range has been officially released, ready for shipment starting on 22 September 2023 for Aussies.
The newest flagship iPhone range have some very cool upgrades:
- A switch to USB-C rather than the Lightnight port
- Introduction of Dynamic Island on all iPhone 15 devices
- Upgraded camera features including 2x Telephoto on standard models (5x on iPhone 15 Pro Max)
- Slim, rounded contour design with colour-infused glass backing
- A new action button that replaces the old mute switch and can be used to stop and start several functions (iPhone 15 Pro and iPhone 15 Pro Max only)
What are my options for buying an iPhone 15?
If you’re an early adopter, you can preorder your iPhone after the official release. iPhones can be bought directly from Apple, or resellers such as JB Hi-Fi and Harvey Norman. If you don’t want to buy your phone outright, you can do a 12, 24 or 36-month payment plan through Optus, Telstra or Vodafone. Just remember, you’ll be required to use one of their phone plans until the phone is paid off in full.
Should I choose an eSIM or stick with a physical one?
eSIMs are essentially downloadable software SIM’s rather than a physical card you install in your handset. All new iPhones include a physical SIM card slot and eSIM compatibility, but you can choose which you’d prefer to use (or use both).
When you purchase a new plan and choose eSIM, you’ll be sent a text or a QR code from your new phone company. Follow the prompts to set up your eSIM and you can start using your plan immediately without waiting for a SIM card to show up in the mail.
Using an eSIM also means you can have more than one SIM operating on your phone, and switch between plans on your Settings to use the service you want (for instance, if you have a plan for international calls).
Which plan is best for the iPhone 15?
First, you need to decide if you’re going to buy your phone outright or repay it over time. You can purchase the iPhone 15 handsets upfront from major retailers (which is the most economical way to do it because you can have the freedom to choose any phone plan you like).
Or, you can buy a handset through Telstra, Optus or Vodafone and pay it off via a 12- to 36-month repayment contract. If you choose a contract, you’ll also need to choose one of the provider’s phone plans too; it’s not optional, and in many instances, the big telcos don’t offer the value or discounts of smaller providers.
There are some tips for comparing plans further on in this guide.
Can I get 5G on the iPhone 15?
Yes, the iPhone 15 is fully compatible with 3G, 4G and 5G.
What's good
- Universal USB-C
- 5 new phone colours
- iPhone 15 Pro and Pro Max are the lightest high-tier iPhones to date
- Dynamic Island
- High-resolution 48MP main camera
What's bad
- $100 more compared to the iPhone last year
How to find the best plan for the iPhone 15
When you’re choosing a phone plan, you need to think about how you use your phone. Almost all plans these days come with unlimited calls and texting, so your decision will likely hinge on the amount of data and what extras the plan includes.
Here’s a summary of how to compare phone plans :
1. Figure out your data usage.
Many people buy way more data than they really need, which means they’re throwing money away. Figure out what you’ve been using each month, and stick as close to that as possible. If you’re not sure, choose a mid-range plan and switch it to one with a little more or less data the following month depending on what you used.
2. Are you paying for the phone outright or on a repayment plan?
The most cost-effective way to buy a new phone is actually to buy it outright if you can. That way, you could choose a cheaper phone plan rather than being bundled into one with Telstra, Optus or Vodafone.
Other smaller providers (called MVNOs) often have discounts as big as 50%, which can add up over the course of a year or two of repayments with a more expensive telco.
3. Do you need international calls and texts?
Only some plans will include international minutes and texts, and some will offer it as an optional add-on for a few dollars. Similarly, many plans won’t include international roaming, so you’ll need to look for a plan that does if you’re a frequent traveller.
iPhone 15 design and special features
Apple introduced some very interesting features in its newest generation of iPhones. In particular, the biggest change (and the most welcome for Mac users) was the switch to the more universal USB-C. That means fewer random cords lying around the house with only one purpose.
After several generations of squared edges, the iPhone has also returned to a more contoured look and a new matte finish on the back. In a first for smartphones, Apple says it’s introduced colour-infused glass to create 5 new phone colours.
The iPhone 15 Pro and Pro Max are the lightest high-tier iPhones to date, with a new titanium case (which Apple likes to point out is the same alloy used in spacecraft).
One of the major upgrades for the standard iPhone 15 and iPhone 15 Plus models is the implementation of Dynamic Island. Dynamic Island is a pill-shaped element at the top of the screen that displays alerts and current activities you have running. For example, it will show music playing, timers and navigation cues.
Let’s look at a few of the new features in more detail.
The iPhone 15 5G capability
The iPhone 15 range has 5G connectivity. 5G is still rolling out across Australia and you’ll find your phone switching between 5G and 4G as the connection changes.
Telstra has stated its 5G now covers 85% of the population. If you’re after a phone plan with the best 4G and 5G coverage, you can also look at Boost Mobile, which is the only other telco to use the entirety of Telstra’s network.
The iPhone 15 camera
The camera is always one of Apple’s biggest back-pats, and the 2023 upgrade is pretty nifty. The iPhone 15 and 15 Plus still only have two rear cameras, but have adopted the super-high-resolution 48MP main camera that was featured on the iPhone 14 Pro and 14 Pro Max devices.
Apple has included an additional 2x Telephoto option to give 3 zoom levels for the first time in a dual-camera system. You’ll be able to use 0.5x, 1x and 2x zoom.
For the iPhone 15 Pro and iPhone 15 Pro Max, you’ll get the equivalent of 7 pro lenses. The Pro Max also has a 5x Telephoto camera for ultra-professional photos.
One other nice change is that all photos are now taken with depth detail, so you can turn any photo into a portrait after you’ve taken it. That means you no longer have to select ‘portrait mode’ to use the feature.
The iPhone 15 processor
Apple has introduced a new A17 Pro processor in its iPhone 15 Pro and iPhone 15 Pro Max devices which promises unparalleled gaming and overall performance. The standard iPhone 15 and iPhone 15 Plus will use the same A16 processor as the iPhone 14, but as someone with an iPhone 14 I can tell you it’s still plenty fast enough for most people.
How much does the iPhone 15 cost in Australia?
As with everything lately, the cost of iPhones has increased. You can expect to pay around $100 more for the 2023 model compared to the previous release.
| iPhone | RRP |
|---|---|
| iPhone 15 (128GB) | $1,499 |
| iPhone 15 (256GB) | $1,699 |
| iPhone 15 (512GB) | $2,049 |
| iPhone 15 Plus (128GB) | $1,649 |
| iPhone 15 Plus (256GB) | $1,849 |
| iPhone 15 Plus (512GB) | $2,199 |
| iPhone 15 Pro (128GB) | $1,849 |
| iPhone 15 Pro (256GB) | $2,049 |
| iPhone 15 Pro (512GB) | $2,399 |
| iPhone 15 Pro (1TB) | $2,749 |
| iPhone 15 Pro Max (256GB) | $2,199 |
| iPhone 15 Pro Max (512GB) | $2,549 |
| iPhone 15 Pro Max (1TB) | $2,899 |
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