Apple iPhone 17 Air vs Apple iPhone 15 Pro Max
The Apple iPhone 17 Air is the premium option here, boasting an ultra-thin design at just 5.6mm. However, the Apple iPhone 15 Pro Max, with its 5x optical zoom and superior battery life of up to 29 hours of video playback, appeals to those needing extra power and versatility in photography. Key specs: Display: 6.6" vs 6.7" and Battery: 3150 mAh vs 4422 mAh.
Why compare these? The Apple iPhone 17 Air (high-end) and Apple iPhone 15 Pro Max (premium flagship) represent different approaches to smartphones. While they may appeal to different budgets, many buyers consider both options. This 2026 comparison helps you decide if the differences justify the price gap.
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Key Differences at a Glance
| Aspect | Apple iPhone | Apple iPhone |
|---|---|---|
| User Rating | ✓4.9★ (13 reviews) | 4.8★ (895 reviews) |
| Top Strength | Thinnest iPhone ever (5.6mm) featuring a premium Titanium chassis | First iPhone to support Apple Intelligence features |
| Main Drawback | High price for a single-camera system (no Ultra Wide or Telephoto lenses) | Charging speed is capped at 27W wired and 15W wireless (slower than newer models) |
| Market Position | Premium | ✓Flagship |
Apple iPhone 17 Air
iOS
Minimum 5 years from release date (guaranteed security updates); historically supports 6+ years of OS upgrades
Apple A19 Pro chip (3nm; 6-core CPU: 2 performance + 4 efficiency; 16-core Neural Engine)
Apple 5-core GPU with Neural Accelerators (A19 Pro)
Apple iPhone 15 Pro Max
iOS
Minimum 5 years from release date (guaranteed security updates); historically supports 6+ years of OS upgrades
Apple A17 Pro chip (3nm; 6-core CPU: 2 performance + 4 efficiency; 16-core Neural Engine)
Apple 6-core GPU (A17 Pro)
Only the specs that differ are shown here. Winners are highlighted when the data is clear.
+Full specs, pros, and cons
Everything side-by-side with ratings and the full spec list.
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Full specs, pros, and cons
Everything side-by-side with ratings and the full spec list.
Comparison: Apple iPhone 17 Air vs Apple iPhone 15 Pro Max
Apple iPhone 17 Air
Apple iPhone 15 Pro Max
| Criterion | Apple iPhone 17 Air | Apple iPhone 15 Pro Max |
|---|---|---|
| Rating | ★4.9(13)Best Buy | ★4.8(895)Best Buy |
Operating System | iOS | iOS |
Software Support | Minimum 5 years from release date (guaranteed security updates); historically supports 6+ years of OS upgrades | Minimum 5 years from release date (guaranteed security updates); historically supports 6+ years of OS upgrades |
Processor | Apple A19 Pro chip (3nm; 6-core CPU: 2 performance + 4 efficiency; 16-core Neural Engine) | Apple A17 Pro chip (3nm; 6-core CPU: 2 performance + 4 efficiency; 16-core Neural Engine) |
Graphics | Apple 5-core GPU with Neural Accelerators (A19 Pro) | Apple 6-core GPU (A17 Pro) |
RAM | 12 GB (LPDDR5X) | 8 GB (LPDDR5) |
Storage | 256GB / 512GB / 1TB (NVMe) | 256GB / 512GB / 1TB (NVMe) |
Display Size | 6.6" (6.55" measured diagonally as a standard rectangle; actual viewable area is less) | 6.7" (6.69" measured diagonally as a standard rectangle; actual viewable area is less) |
Screen Type | Super Retina XDR OLED | Super Retina XDR OLED |
Resolution | 2736 x 1260 pixels (460 ppi) | 2796 x 1290 pixels (460 ppi) |
Refresh Rate | Up to 120 Hz (ProMotion adaptive 1-120Hz); Always-On display | Up to 120 Hz (ProMotion adaptive 1-120Hz) |
Peak Brightness | 1000 nits max (typical); 1600 nits peak (HDR); 3000 nits peak (outdoor); 1 nit minimum | 1000 nits max (typical); 1600 nits peak (HDR); 2000 nits peak (outdoor) |
Main Camera | 48MP Fusion (26 mm, f/1.6), sensor-shift optical image stabilization, 100% Focus Pixels, support for super-high-resolution photos (24MP and 48MP) | 48MP Main (24 mm, f/1.78), 2nd-gen sensor-shift optical image stabilization, 100% Focus Pixels, support for super-high-resolution photos (24MP and 48MP) |
Ultra-Wide Camera | No dedicated Ultra Wide camera (functionality limited to panoramic stitching via software) | 12MP Ultra Wide (13 mm, f/2.2, 120° field of view), 100% Focus Pixels, Macro photography support |
Telephoto Camera | No dedicated telephoto lens; 12MP 2x Telephoto enabled by 48MP Fusion sensor (52 mm, f/1.6), sensor-shift OIS | 12MP 5x Telephoto (120 mm, f/2.8), tetraprism design, 3D sensor-shift OIS, autofocus |
Optical Zoom | 1x, 2x optical-quality zoom steps (2x optical zoom range) | 0.5x, 1x, 2x, 5x optical zoom steps (10x optical zoom range) |
Digital Zoom | Up to 10x | Up to 25x |
Video Recording | 4K Dolby Vision at 24/25/30/60 fps; Cinematic mode up to 4K HDR at 30 fps; Action mode up to 2.8K at 60 fps | 4K Dolby Vision at 24/25/30/60 fps; ProRes up to 4K at 60 fps with external recording; Log video recording (ACES compliant); Cinematic mode up to 4K HDR at 30 fps |
Front Camera | 24MP Center Stage (f/1.9), autofocus with Focus Pixels, 4K Dolby Vision at 24/25/30/60 fps | 12MP TrueDepth (f/1.9), autofocus with Focus Pixels, 4K Dolby Vision at 24/25/30/60 fps, ProRes support |
Battery | 3150 mAh (Li-ion); Up to 26 hours video playback (20 hours streamed) | 4422 mAh (Li-ion); Up to 29 hours video playback (25 hours streamed) |
Wired Charging | USB-C; Up to 50% charge in ~30 minutes with 20W adapter or higher | USB-C; Up to 50% charge in ~30 minutes with 20W adapter or higher; USB 3 speeds supported |
Wireless Charging | MagSafe up to 25W (with 30W+ adapter); Qi2 up to 25W; Qi up to 7.5W | MagSafe up to 15W; Qi2 up to 15W; Qi up to 7.5W |
Connectivity | 5G (sub-6 GHz only, no mmWave) using Apple-designed modem; Gigabit LTE; Wi-Fi 7 (802.11be) with 2x2 MIMO; Bluetooth 6.0; Ultra Wideband (Second-generation); Thread networking technology; NFC with reader mode | 5G (sub-6 GHz and mmWave) with 4x4 MIMO; Gigabit LTE; Wi-Fi 6E (802.11ax) with 2x2 MIMO; Bluetooth 5.3; Ultra Wideband (Second-generation); Thread networking technology; NFC with reader mode |
USB | USB-C connector with USB 2 speeds (up to 480 Mb/s); Native DisplayPort output | USB-C connector with USB 3 speeds (up to 10 Gb/s); Native DisplayPort output |
Durability | IP68 (maximum depth of 6 meters up to 30 minutes); Ceramic Shield 2 front; Grade 5 Titanium alloy frame (internal aluminum structure); Ceramic Shield back | IP68 (maximum depth of 6 meters up to 30 minutes); Ceramic Shield front; Aerospace-grade titanium design; Textured matte glass back |
Dimensions | 6.15" x 2.94" x 0.22" (156.2 x 74.7 x 5.6 mm) | 6.29" x 3.02" x 0.32" (159.9 x 76.7 x 8.25 mm) |
Weight | 5.82 oz (165 g) | 7.81 oz (221 g) |
Biometrics | Face ID | Face ID |
Extras | Apple Intelligence support; Camera Control button; Action button; Dynamic Island; Dual eSIM (US models); Emergency SOS via satellite; Crash Detection; Roadside Assistance via satellite | Apple Intelligence support; Action button; Dynamic Island; Always-On display; LiDAR Scanner; Dual eSIM (US models); Emergency SOS via satellite; Crash Detection; Roadside Assistance via satellite |
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Apple iPhone 17 Air
iOS
Minimum 5 years from release date (guaranteed security updates); historically supports 6+ years of OS upgrades
Apple A19 Pro chip (3nm; 6-core CPU: 2 performance + 4 efficiency; 16-core Neural Engine)
Apple 5-core GPU with Neural Accelerators (A19 Pro)
12 GB (LPDDR5X)
256GB / 512GB / 1TB (NVMe)
Pros
- Thinnest iPhone ever (5.6mm) featuring a premium Titanium chassis
- 120Hz ProMotion display finally arrives on non-Pro tier
Cons
- High price for a single-camera system (no Ultra Wide or Telephoto lenses)
- Battery life is shorter than the 'Plus' model it replaces due to thinness
Apple iPhone 15 Pro Max
iOS
Minimum 5 years from release date (guaranteed security updates); historically supports 6+ years of OS upgrades
Apple A17 Pro chip (3nm; 6-core CPU: 2 performance + 4 efficiency; 16-core Neural Engine)
Apple 6-core GPU (A17 Pro)
8 GB (LPDDR5)
256GB / 512GB / 1TB (NVMe)
Pros
- First iPhone to support Apple Intelligence features
- 5x optical zoom tetraprism lens significantly improves long-range photography
Cons
- Charging speed is capped at 27W wired and 15W wireless (slower than newer models)
- Base model starts at a higher price point (no 128GB option)
Which one is better?
The Apple iPhone 15 Pro Max is the better buy for most people - its 5x optical zoom crushes the iPhone 17 Air's 2x. That said, grab the iPhone 17 Air if you prefer a lighter phone at 5.82oz versus 7.81oz, making it easier to carry around.
Who should buy each?
Choose the Apple iPhone 17 Air if: you want the thinnest iPhone ever, enjoy gaming with a 120Hz display, or prefer a lighter design at 5.82oz.
Choose the Apple iPhone 15 Pro Max if: you shoot a lot of photos with 5x optical zoom, need longer battery life with 4422mAh, or want faster data transfer with USB 3.0.
Quality Seekers
Higher user rating (4.9★ vs 4.8★) indicates better overall satisfaction
→ Choose Apple iPhone
Safe Choice Buyers
More widely tested with 895 reviews vs 13
→ Choose Apple iPhone
Premium Buyers
Higher-tier option with more premium features and build quality
→ Choose Apple iPhone
Value Seekers
Better value proposition for buyers who don't need top-tier features
→ Choose Apple iPhone
Conclusion
With the key differences outlined, the decision should be clearer. Both options deliver quality—choose the one that fits your priorities.
Bottom line: The Apple iPhone 17 Air edges ahead with a 4.9★ rating compared to 4.8★. However, Apple iPhone 15 Pro Max remains a strong contender if its strengths align better with your needs.
Frequently Asked Questions
+Which is better: Apple iPhone 17 Air or Apple iPhone 15 Pro Max?
Apple iPhone 17 Air is the better choice if you prioritize thinnest iphone ever (5.6mm) featuring a premium titanium chassis. Apple iPhone 15 Pro Max wins if you value first iphone to support apple intelligence features. Both are rated highly (4.9★ vs 4.8★), so consider your specific needs and budget.
+What are the main differences between Apple iPhone 17 Air and Apple iPhone 15 Pro Max?
Key differences: Apple iPhone 17 Air offers thinnest iphone ever (5.6mm) featuring a premium titanium chassis, while Apple iPhone 15 Pro Max stands out with first iphone to support apple intelligence features. Consider that Apple iPhone 17 Air high price for a single-camera system (no ultra wide or telephoto lenses). Meanwhile, Apple iPhone 15 Pro Max charging speed is capped at 27w wired and 15w wireless (slower than newer models). Check the detailed specs table above for a complete comparison.
+Where can US buyers get the best price?
For US buyers, Amazon typically offers competitive pricing with Prime shipping, easy returns, and reliable warranty support. We recommend comparing prices on both products using our affiliate links above—prices fluctuate regularly, and you may find sales or deals.
+Is this comparison up to date?
Yes, this comparison is current for 2026. We regularly verify specs, ratings, and availability. Last verified: January 27, 2026. PageBen uses affiliate links for monetization, but our recommendations are research-driven and independent.
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