Apple iPhone 17 Pro Max vs Apple iPhone 15
The Apple iPhone 17 Pro Max is the flagship option here, boasting a stunning 6.9" display versus the 6.1" of the iPhone 15. In real-world use, the Pro Max's 5088mAh battery lasts up to 39 hours of video playback, making it ideal for heavy users. On the flip side, the iPhone 15 is a budget-friendly alternative that still offers impressive features, including a bright OLED display and a solid 20 hours of video playback. Key specs: Display: 6.9" vs 6.1" and Refresh: 120 Hz vs 60 Hz.
Why compare these? The Apple iPhone 17 Pro Max (premium flagship) and Apple iPhone 15 (mid-range) 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 | 4.8★ (126 reviews) | 4.8★ (951 reviews) |
| Top Strength | Brightest iPhone display ever (3000 nits peak outdoor) | High-resolution 48MP main camera with useful 2x optical-quality crop |
| Main Drawback | Large and heavy form factor (233 g) | Display limited to 60 Hz (no ProMotion 120 Hz) |
| Market Position | ✓Flagship | Mid-range |
Apple iPhone 17 Pro Max
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; hardware-accelerated ray tracing)
Apple 6-core GPU with Neural Accelerators (A19 Pro)
Apple iPhone 15
iOS
Minimum 5 years from release date (guaranteed security updates); historically supports 6+ years of OS upgrades
Apple A16 Bionic chip (6-core CPU: 2 performance + 4 efficiency; 16-core Neural Engine)
Apple 5-core GPU (A16 Bionic)
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 Pro Max vs Apple iPhone 15
Apple iPhone 17 Pro Max
Apple iPhone 15
| Criterion | Apple iPhone 17 Pro Max | Apple iPhone 15 |
|---|---|---|
| Rating | ★4.8(126)Best Buy | ★4.8(951)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; hardware-accelerated ray tracing) | Apple A16 Bionic chip (6-core CPU: 2 performance + 4 efficiency; 16-core Neural Engine) |
Graphics | Apple 6-core GPU with Neural Accelerators (A19 Pro) | Apple 5-core GPU (A16 Bionic) |
RAM | 12 GB (LPDDR5X) | 6 GB (LPDDR5) |
Storage | 256GB / 512GB / 1TB / 2TB (NVMe) | 128GB / 256GB / 512GB (NVMe) |
Display Size | 6.9" (6.86" measured diagonally as a standard rectangle; actual viewable area is less) | 6.1" (6.12" measured diagonally as a standard rectangle; actual viewable area is less) |
Screen Type | Super Retina XDR OLED | Super Retina XDR OLED |
Resolution | 2868 x 1320 pixels (460 ppi) | 2556 x 1179 pixels (460 ppi) |
Refresh Rate | Up to 120 Hz (ProMotion adaptive 1-120Hz) | 60 Hz |
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 Main (24 mm, f/1.78), 2nd-gen sensor-shift optical image stabilization, 100% Focus Pixels, support for 24MP and 48MP super-high-resolution photos | 48MP Main (26 mm, f/1.6), sensor-shift optical image stabilization, 100% Focus Pixels, support for super-high-resolution photos (24MP and 48MP) |
Ultra-Wide Camera | 48MP Fusion Ultra Wide (13 mm, f/2.2, 120° field of view), Hybrid Focus Pixels, 48MP macro photography | 12MP Ultra Wide (13 mm, f/2.4, 120° field of view) |
Telephoto Camera | 48MP Fusion Telephoto (100 mm, f/2.8), tetraprism design, 3D sensor-shift OIS, autofocus; enables 12MP optical-quality 8x zoom (200 mm equivalent) | No dedicated telephoto lens; 12MP 2x Telephoto enabled by 48MP quad-pixel sensor (52 mm, f/1.6), sensor-shift OIS |
Optical Zoom | 0.5x, 1x, 2x, 4x, 8x optical-quality zoom steps (16x optical zoom range) | 0.5x, 1x, 2x optical-quality zoom steps (4x optical zoom range) |
Digital Zoom | Up to 40x | Up to 10x |
Video Recording | 4K Dolby Vision at 24/25/30/60/100/120 fps (Fusion Main); ProRes up to 4K at 120 fps with external recording; Cinematic mode up to 4K HDR at 30 fps | 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 |
Front Camera | 18MP 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 |
Battery | 5088 mAh (Li-ion, eSIM model); Up to 39 hours video playback (35 hours streamed) | 3349 mAh (Li-ion); Up to 20 hours video playback (16 hours streamed) |
Wired Charging | USB-C; Up to 50% charge in ~20 minutes with 40W adapter or higher | USB-C; Up to 50% charge in ~30 minutes with 20W adapter or higher |
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 and mmWave) with 4x4 MIMO; 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 6 (802.11ax) with 2x2 MIMO; Bluetooth 5.3; Ultra Wideband (Second-generation); NFC with reader mode |
USB | USB-C connector with USB 3 speeds (up to 10 Gb/s); Native DisplayPort output | USB-C connector with USB 2 speeds (up to 480 Mb/s); Native DisplayPort output |
Durability | IP68 (maximum depth of 6 meters up to 30 minutes); Ceramic Shield 2 front; Ceramic Shield back; Aerospace-grade aluminum unibody (with internal vapor chamber) | IP68 (maximum depth of 6 meters up to 30 minutes); Ceramic Shield front; Aerospace-grade aluminum; Color-infused glass back |
Dimensions | 6.43" x 3.07" x 0.34" (163.4 x 78.0 x 8.75 mm) | 5.81" x 2.82" x 0.31" (147.6 x 71.6 x 7.80 mm) |
Weight | 8.22 oz (233 g) | 6.02 oz (171 g) |
Biometrics | Face ID | Face ID |
Extras | Apple Intelligence support; Camera Control button; Action button; Dynamic Island; Always-On display; Dual eSIM (US models); Emergency SOS via satellite; Crash Detection; Roadside Assistance via satellite | Dynamic Island; Ring/Silent switch; Dual eSIM (US models); Emergency SOS via satellite; Crash Detection; Roadside Assistance via satellite |
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Apple iPhone 17 Pro Max
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; hardware-accelerated ray tracing)
Apple 6-core GPU with Neural Accelerators (A19 Pro)
12 GB (LPDDR5X)
256GB / 512GB / 1TB / 2TB (NVMe)
Pros
- Brightest iPhone display ever (3000 nits peak outdoor)
- Triple 48MP camera system with 8x optical-quality zoom
Cons
- Large and heavy form factor (233 g)
- Fastest charging speeds require purchasing a 40W+ adapter separately
Apple iPhone 15
iOS
Minimum 5 years from release date (guaranteed security updates); historically supports 6+ years of OS upgrades
Apple A16 Bionic chip (6-core CPU: 2 performance + 4 efficiency; 16-core Neural Engine)
Apple 5-core GPU (A16 Bionic)
6 GB (LPDDR5)
128GB / 256GB / 512GB (NVMe)
Pros
- High-resolution 48MP main camera with useful 2x optical-quality crop
- Bright, color-accurate OLED display (up to 2000 nits outdoor)
Cons
- Display limited to 60 Hz (no ProMotion 120 Hz)
- USB-C port limited to USB 2.0 data transfer speeds (480 Mb/s)
Which one is better?
The Apple iPhone 17 Pro Max is the better buy for most people - its massive 5088mAh battery crushes the 3349mAh of the iPhone 15. That said, grab the iPhone 15 if you want to save money and prefer a lighter phone at 6.02oz.
Who should buy each?
Choose the Apple iPhone 17 Pro Max if: you need a long-lasting 5088mAh battery, you shoot a lot of high-quality photos, or you want the largest and brightest display available.
Choose the Apple iPhone 15 if: you want to save money, prefer a lighter design for everyday carry, or need a solid phone for casual photography. (6.1" display, 60 Hz refresh)
Safe Choice Buyers
More widely tested with 951 reviews vs 126
→ 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
Brightest iPhone display Priority
Brightest iPhone display ever (3000 nits peak outdoor)
→ Choose Apple iPhone
Conclusion
Apple iPhone 17 Pro Max and Apple iPhone 15 are both solid choices. Match the strengths above to your budget and workflow to make the best call.
Bottom line: Both products share a 4.8★ rating, making this comparison particularly close. Your decision should come down to which specific features matter most to you.
Frequently Asked Questions
+Which is better: Apple iPhone 17 Pro Max or Apple iPhone 15?
Apple iPhone 17 Pro Max is the better choice if you prioritize brightest iphone display ever (3000 nits peak outdoor). Apple iPhone 15 wins if you value high-resolution 48mp main camera with useful 2x optical-quality crop. Both are rated highly (4.8★ vs 4.8★), so consider your specific needs and budget.
+What are the main differences between Apple iPhone 17 Pro Max and Apple iPhone 15?
Key differences: Apple iPhone 17 Pro Max offers brightest iphone display ever (3000 nits peak outdoor), while Apple iPhone 15 stands out with high-resolution 48mp main camera with useful 2x optical-quality crop. Consider that Apple iPhone 17 Pro Max large and heavy form factor (233 g). Meanwhile, Apple iPhone 15 display limited to 60 hz (no promotion 120 hz). 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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