Apple iPhone 15 Pro Max vs Apple iPhone 17 Pro Max
Compare Apple iPhone 15 Pro Max vs Apple iPhone 17 Pro Max side by side: Apple A17 Pro (3nm) vs Apple A19 Pro, 48MP vs 48MP camera, 4441mAh vs 4823mAh…
Apple
iPhone 15 Pro Max
$1,199
4categories won
Apple
iPhone 17 Pro Max
$699
12categories won
6 categories tied · 22 scored in total · add a third phone
Which one wins?
Apple iPhone 17 Pro Max takes the overall win
The Apple iPhone 17 Pro Max proves superior overall against the Apple iPhone 15 Pro Max, outperforming on battery endurance and daily usability. In camera testing, the iPhone 15 Pro Max leads with sharper imaging, while battery endurance leans towards the iPhone 17 Pro Max. Choose the iPhone 17 Pro Max if you want the highest performance ceiling, or opt for the iPhone 15 Pro Max if its specific hardware strengths better fit your budget.
iPhone 17 Pro Max takes battery honors offering 4,823 mAh alongside 42W charging.
iPhone 17 Pro Max provides greater sustained gaming output with its Apple A19 Pro and 12GB RAM.
iPhone 15 Pro Max wins photography with 48MP main imaging and 5x dedicated optical zoom.
iPhone 17 Pro Max wins on budget and value at $699 compared to $1199.
Category verdicts are computed algorithmically from verified technical specifications and hardware benchmarks. Rows where neither figure is objectively better — screen size preference, operating system choice, aesthetic build materials — are displayed for direct reference without scoring bias.
iPhone 15 Pro Max vs iPhone 17 Pro Max: specifications compared
Display
| Specification | iPhone 15 Pro Max | iPhone 17 Pro Max |
|---|---|---|
| Screen size | 6.7" | 6.9" |
| Resolution | 1290 x 2796 | 1320 x 2868Winner |
| Pixel density | 460 ppi | 458 ppi |
| Refresh rate | 120 Hz | 120 Hz |
| Peak brightness | 2000 nits | 3000 nitsWinner |
Performance
| Specification | iPhone 15 Pro Max | iPhone 17 Pro Max |
|---|---|---|
| Chipset | Apple A17 Pro (3nm) | Apple A19 Pro |
| Process node | 3 nm | 3 nm |
| AnTuTu score | 1,640,000 | 2,400,000Winner |
| Geekbench multi | 7420 | 8900Winner |
| Maximum RAM | 8 GB | 12 GBWinner |
| Maximum storage | 1TB | 2TBWinner |
Camera
| Specification | iPhone 15 Pro Max | iPhone 17 Pro Max |
|---|---|---|
| Main sensor | 48 MP | 48 MP |
| Rear cameras | 3 | 3 |
| Optical zoom | 5xWinner | 4x |
| Ultrawide | 12 MP | 48 MPWinner |
| Selfie camera | 12 MP | 18 MPWinner |
| Max video | 4K at 60fps ProRes Log / Dolby Vision | 8K at 30fps / 4K at 120fps |
Battery and charging
| Specification | iPhone 15 Pro Max | iPhone 17 Pro Max |
|---|---|---|
| Capacity | 4,441 mAh | 4,823 mAhWinner |
| Wired charging | 27 W | 42 WWinner |
| Wireless charging | 15 W | 25 WWinner |
Design
| Specification | iPhone 15 Pro Max | iPhone 17 Pro Max |
|---|---|---|
| Weight | 221 gWinner | 233 g |
| Thickness | 8.25 mmWinner | 8.75 mm |
| Water resistance | IP68 | IP68 |
| Build | Grade 5 Titanium frame with aluminum substructure, Ceramic Shield front, textured matte glass back | Aluminum unibody, Ceramic Shield 2 front |
Software and support
| Specification | iPhone 15 Pro Max | iPhone 17 Pro Max |
|---|---|---|
| Operating system | iOS 17 (upgradable to iOS 18 / iOS 19) | iOS iOS 26 |
| OS updates | 6 years | 6 years |
| Security updates | 7 yearsWinner | 6 years |
Connectivity and value
| Specification | iPhone 15 Pro Max | iPhone 17 Pro Max |
|---|---|---|
| 5G | Yes | Yes |
| Wi-Fi | Wi-Fi 6E (802.11ax with 2x2 MIMO, 160MHz channels) | Wi-Fi 7 (802.11be, tri-band 2.4/5/6GHz, 320MHz bandwidth) |
| Storage expansion | None | None |
| 3.5mm jack | No | No |
| Launch price | $1,199 | $699Winner |
Apple iPhone 15 Pro Max
The iPhone 15 Pro Max represents a major technological leap for Apple, introducing a lightweight Grade 5 Titanium chassis, the industry first 3nm A17 Pro silicon, 5x tetraprism periscope telephoto lens, and versatile 10Gbps USB-C connectivity.
- Display
- 6.7"
- Chipset
- Apple A17 Pro (3nm)
- Main camera
- 48MP
- Battery
- 4,441mAh
Apple iPhone 17 Pro Max
The Apple iPhone 17 Pro Max is a massive 6.9-inch flagship suited for power users and mobile videographers. With its new A19 Pro 3nm chipset, 12GB of RAM, and a complete triple 48MP camera system, it delivers top-tier performance, though its 233g aluminum build makes it exceptionally heavy.
- Display
- 6.9"
- Chipset
- Apple A19 Pro
- Main camera
- 48MP
- Battery
- 4,823mAh
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