iPhone 15 vs iPhone 15 Pro Max
Within this lineup, the iPhone 15 and the iPhone 15 Pro Max are the two models people most often weigh against each other. Of the 5 areas we compared, the iPhone 15 Pro Max wins 5. If one area explains the result, it’s display. Keep the price gap in mind throughout: $400 separates the iPhone 15 from the iPhone 15 Pro Max at launch.
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 wins
- Display2.6
- Memory & Storage1.8
- Camera1.7
- Battery & Charging1.9
- 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
At 120 Hz versus 60 Hz, this is a decisive lead for the iPhone 15 Pro Max, the kind of difference you notice without looking for it. 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.
-
The iPhone 15 Pro Max has 9 h more rated video playback
If rated video playback is one of your priorities, this settles it: the iPhone 15 Pro Max leads clearly with 29 h to the iPhone 15’s 20 h. Lab ratings rarely match real life exactly, but comparing them between two phones is still a useful endurance hint.
-
The iPhone 15 has a 1.76 oz lighter build
The numbers aren’t close. The iPhone 15 lists 6.03 oz for weight, while the iPhone 15 Pro Max lists 7.80 oz. 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 Pro Max has 256 GB of base storage instead of 128 GB
A clear win for the iPhone 15 Pro Max: 256 GB against 128 GB. Few specs in this matchup are as one-sided. 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 an extra rear camera
Here the iPhone 15 Pro Max pulls well ahead of the iPhone 15, with 3 compared to 2. An extra rear camera usually means another focal length (ultra-wide, telephoto or macro) and more freedom in framing.
Design & Size
- iPhone 15 5.81 in × 2.82 in × 0.31 in
- iPhone 15 Pro Max 6.30 in × 3.02 in × 0.32 in
Size is a trade-off, not a score: the iPhone 15 Pro Max is larger, the iPhone 15 more compact. By weight, the iPhone 15 has the edge: 1.76 oz less than the iPhone 15 Pro Max. The iPhone 15 trims 0.02 in off the thickness of the iPhone 15 Pro Max.
Design & Build
| Spec | iPhone 15 | iPhone 15 Pro Max |
|---|---|---|
| Height | 5.81 in | 6.30 in |
| Width | 2.82 in | 3.02 in |
| Thickness | 0.31 in (winner) | 0.32 in |
| Weight | 6.03 oz (winner) | 7.80 oz |
| Water & dust rating | IP68 | IP68 |
| Frame | Aluminum | Titanium |
Display
iPhone 15 Pro Max leads
This section belongs to the iPhone 15 Pro Max. In display, it leads the iPhone 15 by a margin that’s hard to ignore. Point to the iPhone 15 Pro Max for a 120 Hz display instead of 60 Hz. 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. If this section decides it for you, choose the iPhone 15 Pro Max.
Refresh rate
iPhone 15: 60 Hz iPhone 15 Pro Max: 120 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.
Screen size
iPhone 15: 6.1 in iPhone 15 Pro Max: 6.7 in A larger display also means a larger phone overall, so this is as much about your hands and pockets as it is about the picture.
Performance
iPhone 15 Pro Max leads
The iPhone 15 comes close on performance, but the iPhone 15 Pro Max does just enough to lead. The iPhone 15 Pro Max takes this one with 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. Weighing only performance, the iPhone 15 Pro Max comes out ahead.
Process node
iPhone 15: 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 numbers point firmly in one direction: toward the iPhone 15 Pro Max. Here the iPhone 15 Pro Max offers 256 GB of base storage instead of 128 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. The memory & storage verdict goes to the iPhone 15 Pro Max.
Base storage
iPhone 15: 128 GB iPhone 15 Pro Max: 256 GB The iPhone 15 Pro Max starts with more room, which means fewer “storage full” warnings and less time deleting old videos.
Max storage
iPhone 15: 512 GB iPhone 15 Pro Max: 1 TB 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 Pro Max leads
It’s a narrow one, but the camera round goes to the iPhone 15 Pro Max. Choose the iPhone 15 Pro Max and you get an extra rear camera. 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. That makes the iPhone 15 Pro Max the natural choice for buyers focused on camera.
Rear cameras
iPhone 15: 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
The iPhone 15 Pro Max wins the battery & charging section decisively. The iPhone 15 Pro Max has the edge with 9 h more rated video playback. More rated playback suggests the iPhone 15 Pro Max lasts longer on a long flight or an evening of streaming. Anyone shopping mainly on battery & charging should start with the iPhone 15 Pro Max.
Rated video playback
iPhone 15: 20 h iPhone 15 Pro Max: 29 h Rated video playback is the manufacturer’s own endurance figure, so it reflects efficiency as well as battery size.
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 15 | iPhone 15 Pro Max |
|---|---|---|
| Screen size | 6.1 in | 6.7 in |
| Panel type | OLED (Super Retina XDR) | OLED, ProMotion 120 Hz (Super Retina XDR) |
| Resolution | 2556 x 1179 | 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 | 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 | 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 | 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 | iPhone 15 Pro Max |
|---|---|---|
| Rated video playbackManufacturer rating | 20 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 | iPhone 15 Pro Max |
|---|---|---|
| OS at launch | iOS 17 | iOS 17 |
Design & Build
| Spec | iPhone 15 | iPhone 15 Pro Max |
|---|---|---|
| Height | 5.81 in | 6.30 in |
| Width | 2.82 in | 3.02 in |
| Thickness | 0.31 in (winner) | 0.32 in |
| Weight | 6.03 oz (winner) | 7.80 oz |
| Water & dust rating | IP68 | IP68 |
| Frame | Aluminum | Titanium |
Price
| Spec | iPhone 15 | iPhone 15 Pro Max |
|---|---|---|
| Launch price | $799 (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
The iPhone 15 came in $400 lower than the iPhone 15 Pro Max, a sizable gap of 50%. The iPhone 15 Pro Max’s premium of $400 isn’t just for the name; it brings a 120 Hz display instead of 60 Hz and 9 h more rated video playback.
Launch prices (US) as of September 2023. Discounts and bundles come and go, so compare current prices before buying.
Which One Should You Buy?
Choose the iPhone 15 if…
- you notice every gram in your pocket (6.03 oz vs 7.80 oz)
- you care about a thin profile in your pocket (0.31 in vs 0.32 in)
- you don’t need the extras that cost $400 more
Choose the iPhone 15 Pro Max if…
- you want smoother scrolling (120 Hz vs 60 Hz)
- you stream a lot of video on the go (29 h vs 20 h rated playback)
- you want more storage without paying for an upgrade (256 GB vs 128 GB)
- you like switching between focal lengths (3 vs 2 cameras)
Also Compared
Frequently Asked Questions
Should I buy the iPhone 15 or the iPhone 15 Pro Max?
We’d point most buyers to the iPhone 15 Pro Max. The main exception is if you’d trade the rest for a 1.76 oz lighter build.
Does the iPhone 15 last longer on a charge than the iPhone 15 Pro Max?
On paper, the iPhone 15 Pro Max has the edge: 29 h of rated video playback against 20 h for the iPhone 15. Real-world results also depend on how you use it.
Is the iPhone 15 bigger than the iPhone 15 Pro Max?
The iPhone 15 Pro Max takes that one. With dimensions of 6.30 × 3.02 × 0.32 in, it is larger than the iPhone 15 (5.81 × 2.82 × 0.31 in).
Which is faster, the iPhone 15 or the iPhone 15 Pro Max?
Going by the specs, the iPhone 15 Pro Max comes out ahead: it offers a newer 3 nm chip process.
Which has the better camera, the iPhone 15 or the iPhone 15 Pro Max?
The iPhone 15 Pro Max has the edge for photography, offering an extra rear camera.
Which has the better screen, the iPhone 15 or the iPhone 15 Pro Max?
The iPhone 15 Pro Max has the stronger display on paper, with a 120 Hz display instead of 60 Hz and an always-on display.
Executive Summary
Here’s my take on the iPhone 15 versus the iPhone 15 Pro Max, two models from one lineup. In daily life, I think the first difference you’d notice is a 120 Hz display instead of 60 Hz, and that goes to the iPhone 15 Pro Max. The iPhone 15 Pro Max also scores with 9 h more rated video playback. Still, if you care most about a 1.76 oz lighter build, the iPhone 15 deserves a look.
Think about your week. Heavy on portability? The iPhone 15. More about display? The iPhone 15 Pro Max.
My pick: the iPhone 15 Pro Max. I’d only go for the iPhone 15 if you need a 1.76 oz lighter build, which only the iPhone 15 offers.
Personal opinion based on the data above. Your priorities may differ.