iPhone 16 vs iPhone 15 Pro Max: Which Is Better?
The iPhone 16 and the iPhone 15 Pro Max are close relatives, and close relatives are exactly the ones that are hard to choose between. On balance, the iPhone 15 Pro Max is the stronger package: it leads in 4 out of 5 areas, most clearly in display. The iPhone 16 launched $400 lower than the iPhone 15 Pro Max, so every advantage on the pricier side has to earn its keep.
At a glance
- Display iPhone 15 Pro Max wins
- Performance Tie
- Memory & Storage iPhone 15 Pro Max wins
- Camera iPhone 15 Pro Max wins
- Battery & Charging iPhone 15 Pro Max wins
- Price iPhone 16 wins
- Display2.6
- Memory & Storage1.8
- Camera1.7
- Battery & Charging2.7
- 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
The iPhone 15 Pro Max clearly leads on refresh rate, and 120 Hz versus 60 Hz is a difference that reaches well beyond the spec sheet. Smoother motion is one of the most visible display upgrades, and adaptive high-refresh panels can slow down on static content to save power.
-
The iPhone 15 Pro Max has 7 h more rated video playback
On rated video playback, the iPhone 15 Pro Max posts 29 h against 22 h for the iPhone 16, a gap big enough to feel in everyday use. Lab ratings rarely match real life exactly, but comparing them between two phones is still a useful endurance hint.
-
The iPhone 16 has a 1.80 oz lighter build
This is one of the widest gaps in the whole comparison: 6 oz for the iPhone 16 versus 7.80 oz for the iPhone 15 Pro Max. The iPhone 16 is easier on your wrist during long reading or gaming sessions.
-
The iPhone 15 Pro Max has 256 GB of base storage instead of 128 GB
The iPhone 16 lists 128 GB; the iPhone 15 Pro Max comes in at 256 GB. That’s not a rounding error. 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
At 3 versus 2, this is a decisive lead for the iPhone 15 Pro Max, the kind of difference you notice without looking for it. 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.
Design & Size
- iPhone 16 5.81 in × 2.82 in × 0.31 in
- iPhone 15 Pro Max 6.30 in × 3.02 in × 0.32 in
Physically, these two aren’t the same size: the iPhone 15 Pro Max is larger in overall dimensions. Weight goes to the iPhone 16, which sheds 1.80 oz compared with the iPhone 15 Pro Max. A thickness gap of 0.02 in separates them, with the iPhone 16 on the thin side.
Design & Build
| Spec | iPhone 16 | 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 oz (winner) | 7.80 oz |
| Water & dust rating | IP68 | IP68 |
| Frame | Aluminum | Titanium |
Display
iPhone 15 Pro Max leads
For display, the verdict is easy: the iPhone 15 Pro Max leads, and not by a little. In its favor, the iPhone 15 Pro Max has a 120 Hz display instead of 60 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. Weighing only display, the iPhone 15 Pro Max comes out ahead.
Refresh rate
iPhone 16: 60 Hz iPhone 15 Pro Max: 120 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.
Screen size
iPhone 16: 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
Too close to call
If performance matters most to you, this section won’t make the decision for you: they’re level. Don’t let performance decide this one; look at the other sections instead.
Memory & Storage
iPhone 15 Pro Max leads
In this area the iPhone 15 Pro Max has a lead the iPhone 16 can’t close. The iPhone 15 Pro Max stands out with 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. For memory & storage, the iPhone 15 Pro Max is the one to beat.
Base storage
iPhone 16: 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 16: 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
The iPhone 16 keeps it close on camera, yet the iPhone 15 Pro Max holds a small lead. The iPhone 15 Pro Max makes its case with an extra rear camera. The count alone doesn’t guarantee quality, but the iPhone 15 Pro Max gives you more lenses to choose from. If this section decides it for you, choose the iPhone 15 Pro Max.
Rear cameras
iPhone 16: 2 iPhone 15 Pro Max: 3 An extra rear camera usually means another focal length (ultra-wide, telephoto or macro) and more freedom in framing.
Battery & Charging
iPhone 15 Pro Max leads
The iPhone 15 Pro Max clearly takes the battery & charging round. The iPhone 15 Pro Max steps ahead thanks to 7 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. Here the iPhone 16 offers faster 25 W wireless charging. In short, the iPhone 15 Pro Max is the better-equipped phone for battery & charging.
Rated video playback
iPhone 16: 22 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.
Wireless charging
iPhone 16: 25 W iPhone 15 Pro Max: 15 W Faster wireless charging makes a pad or stand more practical as your main way to top up.
Software & Updates
For software & updates, the spec sheet lists components and formats rather than figures we can rank. The table shows what the iPhone 16 and the iPhone 15 Pro Max each bring.
Full Specifications
Display
| Spec | iPhone 16 | 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 16 | iPhone 15 Pro Max |
|---|---|---|
| Chipset | A18 | A17 Pro |
| CPU cores | 6 | 6 |
| Process node | 3 nm | 3 nm |
Memory & Storage
| Spec | iPhone 16 | 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 16 | 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 16 | iPhone 15 Pro Max |
|---|---|---|
| Rated video playbackManufacturer rating | 22 h | 29 h (winner) |
| Wireless charging | 25 W (winner) | 15 W |
| Port | USB-C (USB 2) | USB-C (USB 3, 10 Gb/s) |
Software & Updates
| Spec | iPhone 16 | iPhone 15 Pro Max |
|---|---|---|
| OS at launch | iOS 18 | iOS 17 |
Design & Build
| Spec | iPhone 16 | 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 oz (winner) | 7.80 oz |
| Water & dust rating | IP68 | IP68 |
| Frame | Aluminum | Titanium |
Price
| Spec | iPhone 16 | 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
That’s $400 between the two launch prices, a spread of 50% that makes the iPhone 16 the value-minded choice. Spending the extra $400 on the iPhone 15 Pro Max gets you a 120 Hz display instead of 60 Hz and 7 h more rated video playback over the iPhone 16.
Launch prices (US) as of September 2024. Discounts and bundles come and go, so compare current prices before buying.
Which One Should You Buy?
Choose the iPhone 16 if…
- you want the lighter phone (6 oz vs 7.80 oz)
- you use a wireless charging pad every day (25 W vs 15 W)
- you want the slimmer phone (0.31 in vs 0.32 in)
- you’d put the $400 saving toward something else
- you find that the improvements in the iPhone 16 match what you need
Choose the iPhone 15 Pro Max if…
- you game or scroll a lot and like motion to look fluid (120 Hz vs 60 Hz)
- you stream a lot of video on the go (29 h vs 22 h rated playback)
- you shoot a lot of photos and video (256 GB vs 128 GB base storage)
- you want more lenses to choose from (3 vs 2 rear cameras)
Also Compared
Frequently Asked Questions
Should I buy the iPhone 16 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 having a 1.80 oz lighter build matters more to you than the rest.
Is the iPhone 16 worth it over the iPhone 15 Pro Max?
It’s one of the more worthwhile generational jumps: the iPhone 16 offers a 1.80 oz lighter build, faster 25 W wireless charging and a 0.02 in slimmer body compared with the iPhone 15 Pro Max.
Which has better battery life, the iPhone 16 or the iPhone 15 Pro Max?
The iPhone 15 Pro Max does better here. It lists 29 h for rated video playback, while the iPhone 16 lists 22 h.
Which is larger, the iPhone 16 or the iPhone 15 Pro Max?
It’s the iPhone 15 Pro Max that is larger: 6.30 × 3.02 × 0.32 in, versus 5.81 × 2.82 × 0.31 in for the iPhone 16.
Does the iPhone 16 have a stronger camera setup than the iPhone 15 Pro Max?
Going by the hardware, the iPhone 15 Pro Max comes out ahead: an extra rear camera.
Is the iPhone 16’s display better than the iPhone 15 Pro Max’s?
The iPhone 15 Pro Max has the edge here, offering a 120 Hz display instead of 60 Hz and an always-on display.
Executive Summary
A lineup gives you options, and options give you headaches. Let me try to cure this one: the iPhone 16 or the iPhone 15 Pro Max. What I like most about the iPhone 15 Pro Max here is a 120 Hz display instead of 60 Hz. Less flashy, but still real: the iPhone 15 Pro Max brings 7 h more rated video playback. Credit where it’s due: the iPhone 16 offers a 1.80 oz lighter build.
If portability is your thing, the iPhone 16 fits. If display matters more, the iPhone 15 Pro Max makes more sense.
My pick: the iPhone 15 Pro Max, though I’d happily point you to the iPhone 16 if you care more about a 1.80 oz lighter build than anything else.
Personal opinion based on the data above. Your priorities may differ.