iPhone 13 Pro Max vs iPhone 15
The shared Apple logo is where the obvious similarity ends. The iPhone 13 Pro Max and the iPhone 15 come from different lines, and each line has its own idea of what matters. Trade-offs cut both ways here: pick the iPhone 13 Pro Max and you gain on memory & storage; pick the iPhone 15 and you gain on performance. The launch prices sit $300 apart, with the iPhone 15 on the more affordable side.
At a glance
- Display Trade-off
- Performance iPhone 15 wins
- Memory & Storage iPhone 13 Pro Max wins
- Camera iPhone 15 wins
- Battery & Charging iPhone 13 Pro Max wins
- Price iPhone 15 wins
- Display4.2
- Memory & Storage2.8
- Camera1.6
- Battery & Charging3.8
- Display2.6
- Memory & Storage1.8
- Camera1.7
- Battery & Charging1.9
Spec scores (0 to 10) are calculated from manufacturer specs against other models in the same class. See how the formula works. They are not reviews or user ratings.
Key Differences
-
The iPhone 13 Pro Max has a 120 Hz display instead of 60 Hz
The iPhone 13 Pro Max clearly leads on refresh rate, and 120 Hz versus 60 Hz is a difference that reaches well beyond the spec sheet. You notice refresh rate every time you scroll a feed or a web page, which is why the iPhone 13 Pro Max feels more fluid in everyday use.
-
The iPhone 13 Pro Max has 8 h more rated video playback
On rated video playback, the iPhone 13 Pro Max posts 28 h against 20 h for the iPhone 15, a gap big enough to feel in everyday use. Rated video playback is the manufacturer’s own endurance figure, so it reflects efficiency as well as battery size.
-
The iPhone 15 has a 2.43 oz lighter build
This is one of the widest gaps in the whole comparison: 6.03 oz for the iPhone 15 versus 8.47 oz for the iPhone 13 Pro Max. Weight shows up every time you hold the phone above your face in bed or type one-handed for a long stretch.
-
The iPhone 15 has a higher-resolution 48 MP main camera
The iPhone 13 Pro Max lists 12 MP; the iPhone 15 comes in at 48 MP. That’s not a rounding error. The iPhone 15’s higher-resolution main sensor gives you more room to crop, which helps when you can’t get closer.
-
The iPhone 15 has 67% higher peak brightness
At 2,000 nits versus 1,200 nits, this is a decisive lead for the iPhone 15, the kind of difference you notice without looking for it. Peak figures are usually reached only in short bursts or small areas of the screen, but a higher ceiling still helps outdoor visibility.
Design & Size
- iPhone 13 Pro Max 6.33 in × 3.07 in × 0.30 in
- iPhone 15 5.81 in × 2.82 in × 0.31 in
The iPhone 15 is the smaller phone here, which some buyers will see as a plus and others as a compromise. The iPhone 13 Pro Max carries an extra 2.43 oz.
Design & Build
| Spec | iPhone 13 Pro Max | iPhone 15 |
|---|---|---|
| Height | 6.33 in | 5.81 in |
| Width | 3.07 in | 2.82 in |
| Thickness | 0.30 in | 0.31 in |
| Weight | 8.47 oz | 6.03 oz (winner) |
| Water & dust rating | IP68 | IP68 |
| Frame | Stainless steel | Aluminum |
Display
Trade-off
No clean winner on display. The iPhone 13 Pro Max has a 120 Hz display instead of 60 Hz; the iPhone 15 has 67% higher peak brightness. So on display, match the strength to your needs and you’ll choose well.
Refresh rate
iPhone 13 Pro Max: 120 Hz iPhone 15: 60 Hz Smoother motion is one of the most visible display upgrades, and adaptive high-refresh panels can slow down on static content to save power.
Peak brightness
iPhone 13 Pro Max: 1,200 nits iPhone 15: 2,000 nits Peak brightness decides how readable the screen stays in direct sunlight and how punchy HDR content looks.
Performance
iPhone 15 leads
Slight edge to the iPhone 15 on performance. Most buyers could live happily with either. The iPhone 15 takes this one with a newer 4 nm chip process. Process numbers are partly marketing labels these days, so read this as a hint about efficiency rather than a verdict. In short, the iPhone 15 is the better-equipped phone for performance.
Process node
iPhone 13 Pro Max: 5 nm iPhone 15: 4 nm A finer process node generally lets a chip do the same work with less power, which can mean cooler running and better battery life.
Memory & Storage
iPhone 13 Pro Max leads
The iPhone 13 Pro Max takes memory & storage by a nose. On the iPhone 13 Pro Max, you get a bigger top storage option. Heavy video shooters and people with large offline libraries benefit from the iPhone 13 Pro Max’s bigger maximum. Weighing only memory & storage, the iPhone 13 Pro Max comes out ahead.
Max storage
iPhone 13 Pro Max: 1 TB iPhone 15: 512 GB Most buyers are fine with a base or middle tier, so this is a niche advantage, but a real one if you need it.
Camera
iPhone 15 leads
The iPhone 13 Pro Max is outclassed on camera; the iPhone 15 leads by a clear margin. The iPhone 15 comes with a higher-resolution 48 MP main camera. Megapixels are only one part of image quality, so treat this as a sign of detail potential, not a verdict on photos. The iPhone 13 Pro Max has the edge with an extra rear camera. Net result: the iPhone 15 leads this part of the comparison.
Main camera
iPhone 13 Pro Max: 12 MP iPhone 15: 48 MP More megapixels on the main camera allow bigger crops and more detail in good light, but sensor size and processing matter just as much.
Rear cameras
iPhone 13 Pro Max: 3 iPhone 15: 2 An extra rear camera usually means another focal length (ultra-wide, telephoto or macro) and more freedom in framing.
Battery & Charging
iPhone 13 Pro Max leads
This is one of the iPhone 13 Pro Max’s strongest areas. On battery & charging, the iPhone 15 falls well short. The iPhone 13 Pro Max wins here with 8 h more rated video playback. Lab ratings rarely match real life exactly, but comparing them between two phones is still a useful endurance hint. For battery & charging, the iPhone 13 Pro Max is the one to beat.
Rated video playback
iPhone 13 Pro Max: 28 h iPhone 15: 20 h More rated playback suggests the iPhone 13 Pro Max lasts longer on a long flight or an evening of streaming.
Software & Updates
For software & updates, the differences are in the specifics (component names and types), so the table is the place to look.
Full Specifications
Display
| Spec | iPhone 13 Pro Max | iPhone 15 |
|---|---|---|
| Screen size | 6.7 in | 6.1 in |
| Panel type | OLED, ProMotion 120 Hz (Super Retina XDR) | OLED (Super Retina XDR) |
| Resolution | 2778 x 1284 | 2556 x 1179 |
| Pixel density | 458 ppi | 460 ppi |
| Refresh rate | 120 Hz (winner) | 60 Hz |
| Peak brightness | 1,200 nits | 2,000 nits (winner) |
| Always-on display | No | No |
Performance
| Spec | iPhone 13 Pro Max | iPhone 15 |
|---|---|---|
| Chipset | A15 Bionic | A16 Bionic |
| CPU cores | 6 | 6 |
| Process node | 5 nm | 4 nm (winner) |
Memory & Storage
| Spec | iPhone 13 Pro Max | iPhone 15 |
|---|---|---|
| Base storage | 128 GB | 128 GB |
| Max storage | 1 TB (winner) | 512 GB |
| microSD slot | No | No |
Camera
| Spec | iPhone 13 Pro Max | iPhone 15 |
|---|---|---|
| Main camera | 12 MP | 48 MP (winner) |
| Ultra-wide camera | 12 MP | 12 MP |
| Telephoto camera | 12 MP | N/A (not specified) |
| Optical zoom | 3× | N/A (not specified) |
| Rear cameras | 3 (winner) | 2 |
| Front camera | 12 MP | 12 MP |
| Max video | 4K60 Dolby Vision | 4K60 Dolby Vision |
Battery & Charging
| Spec | iPhone 13 Pro Max | iPhone 15 |
|---|---|---|
| Rated video playbackManufacturer rating | 28 h (winner) | 20 h |
| Wireless charging | 15 W | 15 W |
| Port | Lightning | USB-C (USB 2) |
Software & Updates
| Spec | iPhone 13 Pro Max | iPhone 15 |
|---|---|---|
| OS at launch | iOS 15 | iOS 17 |
Design & Build
| Spec | iPhone 13 Pro Max | iPhone 15 |
|---|---|---|
| Height | 6.33 in | 5.81 in |
| Width | 3.07 in | 2.82 in |
| Thickness | 0.30 in | 0.31 in |
| Weight | 8.47 oz | 6.03 oz (winner) |
| Water & dust rating | IP68 | IP68 |
| Frame | Stainless steel | Aluminum |
Price
| Spec | iPhone 13 Pro Max | iPhone 15 |
|---|---|---|
| Launch price | $1,099 | $799 (winner) |
“N/A” means the manufacturer does not specify the value or we could not confirm it. Figures marked “manufacturer rating” are the maker’s own claims, not our measurements.
Price & Value
This is not a small price difference: $300, or 38%, separates the two launch prices. Value here is a judgment call. Is what the iPhone 13 Pro Max does better worth $300 to you?
These are US launch prices, recorded September 2023; what you pay today may be higher or lower.
Which One Should You Buy?
Choose the iPhone 13 Pro Max if…
- you game or scroll a lot and like motion to look fluid (120 Hz vs 60 Hz)
- you want the longer rated endurance (28 h vs 20 h)
- you want more lenses to choose from (3 vs 2 rear cameras)
- you need as much on-device space as you can get (1 TB vs 512 GB top option)
Choose the iPhone 15 if…
- you notice every gram in your pocket (6.03 oz vs 8.47 oz)
- you want the higher-resolution main camera (48 MP vs 12 MP)
- you want the screen that stays readable on sunny days (2,000 nits vs 1,200 nits)
- you want a chip built on a finer process (4 nm vs 5 nm)
- you’re working to a firm budget and $300 matters
Also Compared
Frequently Asked Questions
Should I buy the iPhone 13 Pro Max or the iPhone 15?
The iPhone 15 offers better value, saving $300 compared with the iPhone 13 Pro Max.
Should I upgrade from the iPhone 13 Pro Max to the iPhone 15?
The iPhone 15 makes a solid case for upgrading, with a 2.43 oz lighter build, a higher-resolution 48 MP main camera and 67% higher peak brightness over the iPhone 13 Pro Max.
Does the iPhone 13 Pro Max last longer on a charge than the iPhone 15?
Going by the official figures, the iPhone 13 Pro Max leads: 28 h versus 20 h for rated video playback. Screen use, settings and efficiency will shape your own results.
Is the iPhone 13 Pro Max bigger than the iPhone 15?
The larger model here is the iPhone 13 Pro Max (6.33 × 3.07 × 0.30 in); the iPhone 15 is more compact at 5.81 × 2.82 × 0.31 in.
Which is faster, the iPhone 13 Pro Max or the iPhone 15?
The iPhone 15 should be the quicker of the two, with a newer 4 nm chip process on its side.
Which has the better camera, the iPhone 13 Pro Max or the iPhone 15?
Going by the hardware, the iPhone 15 comes out ahead: a higher-resolution 48 MP main camera.
Executive Summary
I’ll admit the iPhone 13 Pro Max versus the iPhone 15 is the kind of question I enjoy: same maker, same family, and still a real choice to make. The single spec I’d point a friend to is this: the iPhone 15 has a 2.43 oz lighter build. Plus, the iPhone 15 gets a higher-resolution 48 MP main camera, which I wouldn’t overlook. Where the iPhone 13 Pro Max fights back is a 120 Hz display instead of 60 Hz.
Fit matters more than scores here. The iPhone 13 Pro Max suits buyers focused on memory & storage; the iPhone 15 suits those focused on performance.
My pick: the iPhone 15. I’d rather keep $300 than pay for extras I might not use.
Personal opinion based on the data above. Your priorities may differ.