iPhone 15 Plus vs iPhone 15 Pro Max
When a maker splits one phone into several versions, the job of picking falls to you. Here that means the iPhone 15 Plus or the iPhone 15 Pro Max. By our tally, the iPhone 15 Pro Max leads 5 of 5 areas. The display section is where it pulls furthest ahead of the iPhone 15 Plus. On top of that, the iPhone 15 Pro Max asked $300 more at launch. The rest of this page walks through each difference between the iPhone 15 Plus and the iPhone 15 Pro Max.
At a glance
- Display iPhone 15 Pro Max wins
- Performance iPhone 15 Pro Max wins
- Memory & Storage iPhone 15 Pro Max wins
- Camera iPhone 15 Pro Max wins
- Battery & Charging iPhone 15 Pro Max wins
- Price iPhone 15 Plus wins
- Display2.6
- Memory & Storage1.8
- Camera1.7
- Battery & Charging3.3
- Display6.0
- Memory & Storage4.5
- Camera2.3
- Battery & Charging4.0
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 15 Pro Max has a 120 Hz display instead of 60 Hz
On refresh rate, the iPhone 15 Pro Max posts 120 Hz against 60 Hz for the iPhone 15 Plus, a gap big enough to feel in everyday use. You notice refresh rate every time you scroll a feed or a web page, which is why the iPhone 15 Pro Max feels more fluid in everyday use.
-
The iPhone 15 Pro Max has 256 GB of base storage instead of 128 GB
This is one of the widest gaps in the whole comparison: 256 GB for the iPhone 15 Pro Max versus 128 GB for the iPhone 15 Plus. Base storage is what you get without paying extra. Photos, videos and apps add up quickly, so more space at the entry price is real value.
-
The iPhone 15 Pro Max has 3 h more rated video playback
Small gaps can still matter over time, and here the iPhone 15 Pro Max leads 29 h to 26 h. Rated video playback is the manufacturer’s own endurance figure, so it reflects efficiency as well as battery size.
-
The iPhone 15 Pro Max has an extra rear camera
The iPhone 15 Plus lists 2; the iPhone 15 Pro Max comes in at 3. That’s not a rounding error. More cameras help most when each covers a different view, so check the table to see what the iPhone 15 Pro Max’s extra lens adds.
-
The iPhone 15 Plus has a 0.71 oz lighter build
The difference is minor (7.09 oz against 7.80 oz), but if you’re splitting hairs, the iPhone 15 Plus wins it. A few grams won’t matter, but bigger gaps add up in a pocket or a small bag over a full day.
-
The iPhone 15 Pro Max has a bigger top storage option
At 1 TB versus 512 GB, this is a decisive lead for the iPhone 15 Pro Max, the kind of difference you notice without looking for it. Most buyers are fine with a base or middle tier, so this is a niche advantage, but a real one if you need it.
Design & Size
- iPhone 15 Plus 6.33 in × 3.06 in × 0.31 in
- iPhone 15 Pro Max 6.30 in × 3.02 in × 0.32 in
Their dimensions are close enough that size should be one of the last things you weigh. The iPhone 15 Pro Max carries an extra 0.71 oz. The iPhone 15 Pro Max adds 0.02 in of depth.
Design & Build
| Spec | iPhone 15 Plus | iPhone 15 Pro Max |
|---|---|---|
| Height | 6.33 in | 6.30 in |
| Width | 3.06 in | 3.02 in |
| Thickness | 0.31 in (winner) | 0.32 in |
| Weight | 7.09 oz (winner) | 7.80 oz |
| Water & dust rating | IP68 | IP68 |
| Frame | Aluminum | Titanium |
Display
iPhone 15 Pro Max leads
Look at the display table and one name keeps coming out on top: the iPhone 15 Pro Max. The iPhone 15 Pro Max steps ahead thanks to a 120 Hz display instead of 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. Anyone shopping mainly on display should start with the iPhone 15 Pro Max.
Refresh rate
iPhone 15 Plus: 60 Hz iPhone 15 Pro Max: 120 Hz A higher refresh rate makes scrolling, animations and games look smoother. Once you’re used to it, a lower-rate screen can feel sluggish by comparison.
Always-on display
iPhone 15 Plus: no iPhone 15 Pro Max: yes An always-on display shows the time and notifications without waking the phone, so you check it more and unlock it less.
Performance
iPhone 15 Pro Max leads
Slight edge to the iPhone 15 Pro Max on performance. Most buyers could live happily with either. On the iPhone 15 Pro Max, you get a newer 3 nm chip process. Process numbers are partly marketing labels these days, so read this as a hint about efficiency rather than a verdict. That makes the iPhone 15 Pro Max the natural choice for buyers focused on performance.
Process node
iPhone 15 Plus: 4 nm iPhone 15 Pro Max: 3 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 15 Pro Max leads
The memory & storage comparison is one-sided. The iPhone 15 Pro Max leads where it counts. The iPhone 15 Pro Max gives you 256 GB of base storage instead of 128 GB. The iPhone 15 Pro Max starts with more room, which means fewer “storage full” warnings and less time deleting old videos. Weighing only memory & storage, the iPhone 15 Pro Max comes out ahead.
Base storage
iPhone 15 Plus: 128 GB iPhone 15 Pro Max: 256 GB If you shoot a lot of video or keep music and maps offline, base storage is one of the specs you’ll feel most over the years.
Max storage
iPhone 15 Plus: 512 GB iPhone 15 Pro Max: 1 TB The top storage option only matters if you plan to buy a high-capacity version, but it caps how much you can ever keep on the phone.
Camera
iPhone 15 Pro Max leads
On camera, the difference is modest, and it favors the iPhone 15 Pro Max. Choose the iPhone 15 Pro Max and you get an extra rear camera. An extra rear camera usually means another focal length (ultra-wide, telephoto or macro) and more freedom in framing. So if camera tops your list, lean toward the iPhone 15 Pro Max.
Rear cameras
iPhone 15 Plus: 2 iPhone 15 Pro Max: 3 The count alone doesn’t guarantee quality, but the iPhone 15 Pro Max gives you more lenses to choose from.
Battery & Charging
iPhone 15 Pro Max leads
In the battery & charging category, the iPhone 15 Pro Max is a step ahead rather than a leap ahead. The iPhone 15 Pro Max answers with 3 h more rated video playback. Lab ratings rarely match real life exactly, but comparing them between two phones is still a useful endurance hint. On battery & charging alone, the iPhone 15 Pro Max gets the nod.
Rated video playback
iPhone 15 Plus: 26 h iPhone 15 Pro Max: 29 h More rated playback suggests the iPhone 15 Pro Max lasts longer on a long flight or an evening of streaming.
Software & Updates
The software & updates entries below are descriptive rather than numeric. Read them side by side to see where the iPhone 15 Plus and the iPhone 15 Pro Max part ways.
Full Specifications
Display
| Spec | iPhone 15 Plus | iPhone 15 Pro Max |
|---|---|---|
| Screen size | 6.7 in | 6.7 in |
| Panel type | OLED (Super Retina XDR) | OLED, ProMotion 120 Hz (Super Retina XDR) |
| Resolution | 2796 x 1290 | 2796 x 1290 |
| Pixel density | 460 ppi | 460 ppi |
| Refresh rate | 60 Hz | 120 Hz (winner) |
| Peak brightness | 2,000 nits | 2,000 nits |
| Always-on display | No | Yes (winner) |
Performance
| Spec | iPhone 15 Plus | iPhone 15 Pro Max |
|---|---|---|
| Chipset | A16 Bionic | A17 Pro |
| CPU cores | 6 | 6 |
| Process node | 4 nm | 3 nm (winner) |
Memory & Storage
| Spec | iPhone 15 Plus | iPhone 15 Pro Max |
|---|---|---|
| Base storage | 128 GB | 256 GB (winner) |
| Max storage | 512 GB | 1 TB (winner) |
| microSD slot | No | No |
Camera
| Spec | iPhone 15 Plus | iPhone 15 Pro Max |
|---|---|---|
| Main camera | 48 MP | 48 MP |
| Ultra-wide camera | 12 MP | 12 MP |
| Telephoto camera | N/A (not specified) | 12 MP |
| Optical zoom | N/A (not specified) | 5× |
| Rear cameras | 2 | 3 (winner) |
| Front camera | 12 MP | 12 MP |
| Max video | 4K60 Dolby Vision | 4K60 Dolby Vision |
Battery & Charging
| Spec | iPhone 15 Plus | iPhone 15 Pro Max |
|---|---|---|
| Rated video playbackManufacturer rating | 26 h | 29 h (winner) |
| Wireless charging | 15 W | 15 W |
| Port | USB-C (USB 2) | USB-C (USB 3, 10 Gb/s) |
Software & Updates
| Spec | iPhone 15 Plus | iPhone 15 Pro Max |
|---|---|---|
| OS at launch | iOS 17 | iOS 17 |
Design & Build
| Spec | iPhone 15 Plus | iPhone 15 Pro Max |
|---|---|---|
| Height | 6.33 in | 6.30 in |
| Width | 3.06 in | 3.02 in |
| Thickness | 0.31 in (winner) | 0.32 in |
| Weight | 7.09 oz (winner) | 7.80 oz |
| Water & dust rating | IP68 | IP68 |
| Frame | Aluminum | Titanium |
Price
| Spec | iPhone 15 Plus | iPhone 15 Pro Max |
|---|---|---|
| Launch price | $899 (winner) | $1,199 |
“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
Money is a real factor here: the launch prices are 33% apart, a difference of $300. What does the iPhone 15 Pro Max’s extra $300 actually get you? Mainly a 120 Hz display instead of 60 Hz and 256 GB of base storage instead of 128 GB.
All prices are official US launch prices, last checked September 2023. Actual prices at stores may differ.
Which One Should You Buy?
Choose the iPhone 15 Plus if…
- you notice every gram in your pocket (7.09 oz vs 7.80 oz)
- you want the slimmer phone (0.31 in vs 0.32 in)
- you want the lower price and can live with the trade-offs ($300 less)
Choose the iPhone 15 Pro Max if…
- you want smoother scrolling (120 Hz vs 60 Hz)
- you want more storage without paying for an upgrade (256 GB vs 128 GB)
- you stream a lot of video on the go (29 h vs 26 h rated playback)
- you like switching between focal lengths (3 vs 2 cameras)
Also Compared
Frequently Asked Questions
Should I buy the iPhone 15 Plus or the iPhone 15 Pro Max?
The iPhone 15 Pro Max wins more of the areas we compared, so it’s the safer pick unless you’d trade the rest for a 0.71 oz lighter build.
Does the iPhone 15 Plus last longer on a charge than the iPhone 15 Pro Max?
The iPhone 15 Pro Max does better here. It lists 29 h for rated video playback, while the iPhone 15 Plus lists 26 h.
Is the iPhone 15 Plus bigger than the iPhone 15 Pro Max?
Neither by much. The iPhone 15 Plus and the iPhone 15 Pro Max have nearly identical dimensions.
Does the iPhone 15 Plus perform better than the iPhone 15 Pro Max?
The iPhone 15 Pro Max should be the quicker of the two, with a newer 3 nm chip process on its side.
Which has the better camera, the iPhone 15 Plus or the iPhone 15 Pro Max?
Going by the hardware, the iPhone 15 Pro Max comes out ahead: an extra rear camera.
Which has the better screen, the iPhone 15 Plus or the iPhone 15 Pro Max?
The iPhone 15 Pro Max has the edge here, offering a 120 Hz display instead of 60 Hz and an always-on display.
Which costs less, the iPhone 15 Plus or the iPhone 15 Pro Max?
Going by launch prices, the iPhone 15 Plus costs $300 less than the iPhone 15 Pro Max. Prices as of September 2023; current offers may differ.
Is the iPhone 15 Plus lighter than the iPhone 15 Pro Max?
The iPhone 15 Plus is lighter, by 0.71 oz.
Executive Summary
The iPhone 15 Plus and the iPhone 15 Pro Max share a family name, so let me focus on what doesn’t match. The single spec I’d point a friend to is this: the iPhone 15 Pro Max has a 120 Hz display instead of 60 Hz. There’s more, too: the iPhone 15 Pro Max offers 256 GB of base storage instead of 128 GB. That said, the iPhone 15 Plus answers with a 0.71 oz lighter build, which some people will value more.
Think about your week. Heavy on portability? The iPhone 15 Plus. More about display? The iPhone 15 Pro Max.
My pick: the iPhone 15 Pro Max, unless you need a 0.71 oz lighter build, which only the iPhone 15 Plus offers, in which case the iPhone 15 Plus earns its place.
Personal opinion based on the data above. Your priorities may differ.