Apple iPhone 15 Plus vs. Apple iPhone 15 Pro Max
Apple revealed the iPhone 15 Pro Max and iPhone 15 Pro, in September 2023, succeeding the iPhone 14 Pro and iPhone 14 Pro Max. These new models boast a sleek titanium design, an Action button, a USB-C port, and the powerful A17 Pro chip. As Apple’s top-tier flagship devices. In our iPhone 15 Pro Max vs iPhone 15 Plus comparison, we will explore the differences between these two models and help you decide which one is right for you.
More Versus:
- iPhone 15 Pro Max vs iPhone 14 Pro Max: Review
- iPhone 15 Pro vs. iPhone 14 Pro: Is It Worth the Upgrade?
- iPhone 15 Pro vs. iPhone 15 Pro Max: Specifications, Features, Price
iPhone 15 Pro Max vs iPhone 15 Plus: Key differences
- The Pro Max boasts a 6.7-inch ProMotion display, but the Plus settles for a 6.7-inch 60Hz screen.
- The Pro Max runs on the advanced A17 Pro processor, while the Plus uses the older A16 chip.
- Both have USB-C ports.
- The Pro Max has 8GB of RAM, while the Plus has 6GB.
- Both have similar battery capacities.
- The Pro Max features a 5X zoom camera, but the Plus only has wide and ultrawide lenses.
- The Pro Max introduces the Action Button, but the Plus keeps the Mute Switch.
- Both sport pill-shaped selfie cameras with Dynamic Island.
iPhone 15 Pro Max vs iPhone 15 Plus: Spec
| Item | iPhone 15 Pro Max | iPhone 15 Plus |
|---|---|---|
| Price at launch | $1,199 | $899 |
| Display size | 6.7 inches | 6.7 inches |
| Size | 6.29 x 3.02 x 0.32 inches (159.9 x 76.7 x 8.25 mm)) | 6.33 x 3.06 x 0.31 inches (160.9 x 77.8 x 7.80 mm) |
| Weight | 7.81 ounces (221 grams) | 7.09 ounces (201 grams) |
| Colors | Black titanium, white titanium, blue titanium and raw titanium | Pink, yellow, blue, black, green |
| Rear cameras | 48MP main, 12MP ultrawide, 12MP 5x telephoto | 48MP main, 12MP ultrawide |
| Front camera | 12MP | 12MP |
| Base storage | 256GB | 128GB |
| Refresh rate | 120Hz | 60Hz |
| CPU | A17 Pro | A16 Bionic |
| Battery life | 4,422mAh, 29 hours video playback | 4,383mAh, 26 hours video playback |
| Charging port | USB-C | USB-C |
| Fast data transfer? | Yes | No |
iPhone 15 Pro Max vs iPhone 15 Plus: Price and availability
For a great value, choose the iPhone 15 Plus. It has 128GB of storage for $899, 256GB for $999, or 512GB for $1,199. If you want the ultimate flagship, go for the iPhone 15 Pro Max. It offers 256GB of storage for $1,199, 512GB for $1,399, or 1TB for $1,599. However, be prepared to wait, as it’s in high demand.
iPhone 15 Pro Max vs iPhone 15 Plus: Design
The iPhone 15 Pro Max stands out with its titanium design, which is stronger and lighter than the stainless steel band on the iPhone 14 Pro Max. You can feel the difference.
The iPhone 15 Pro Max also has the slimmest bezels on an iPhone, making the screen more immersive and the handset smaller than the iPhone 15 Plus. The new Pro Max is shorter, narrower, and easier to use with one hand. The iPhone 15 Plus is lighter, but it has one less camera.
Both phones have contoured designs with rounded edges for a comfortable feel. But only the iPhone 15 Pro Max has an Action button that lets you mute and launch shortcuts. The iPhone 15 Plus has a ringer switch instead.
The iPhone 15 Plus has more colorful options, such as Blue, Pink, Yellow, Green, and Black. The back has a frosted look like the Pro lineup. The iPhone 15 Pro Max has more subtle options, such as Black Titanium, White Titanium, Blue Titanium, and Natural Titanium.
Both phones have USB-C ports instead of Lightning ports. That’s a win for charging all your Apple devices with one cable. You can even charge your AirPods Pro and Apple Watch with your iPhone. But only the iPhone 15 Pro Max has USB 3 speeds of 10Gbps. The iPhone 15 Plus is much slower at 480Mbps.
How does this compare to the iPhone 15 Pro or the Samsung Galaxy S23 Ultra? You’ll have to see.
iPhone 15 Pro Max vs iPhone 15 Plus: Display
The iPhone 15 Plus has a great display, but the iPhone 15 Pro Max has a better one. Both have 6.7-inch OLED panels with 1,600 nits of peak brightness and 2,000 nits outdoors. They can also display HDR content. Both phones have the Dynamic Island instead of the notch. It shows live updates and activities, like timers, music, ride sharing, and flight info. But the iPhone 15 Pro Max has two extra features. It has a ProMotion display with a 120Hz refresh rate for smoother scrolling and gaming. The Plus only has 60Hz. It also has an always-on display that shows the time, battery, and notifications. You don’t have to unlock your phone. And you can use the new StandBy Mode in iOS 17.
iPhone 15 Pro Max vs iPhone 15 Plus: Performance
With the Apple A17 Pro chipset, the iPhone 15 Pro Max delivers cutting-edge performance and efficiency. This six-core chip, based on a 3nm technology node, is 20% faster than the previous generation, according to Apple and our tests. The iPhone 15 Pro Max also has 8GB of RAM, while the Plus model has 6GB. However, this doesn’t affect the daily performance of the two phones, which are both smooth and fast.
Both phones run on iOS 17, which brings new features and updates to the Phone, Messages, and FaceTime apps. You can also use NameDrop to share your contact details easily and enjoy better autocorrect functionality. Apple has also released iOS 17.1 with bug fixes and improvements to AirDrop and StandBy. Now you can resume your AirDrop transfers via the cloud, even if the devices are not nearby.
iPhone 15 Pro Max vs iPhone 15 Plus: Camera
The iPhone 15 Plus offers a 2x optical zoom. It doesn’t have a telephoto lens, but it crops the image in real time using the pixels at hand, mimicking a true optical zoom. The digital zoom, however, tops out at 10x.
On the other hand, the iPhone 15 Pro Max boasts a 48MP main sensor, exclusively shooting ProRAW images. It also features a larger 5x dedicated telephoto lens, reaching up to 25x digital zoom.
Both models benefit from enhanced Smart HDR for vibrant images, improved Night mode performance, and better portraits. Interestingly, these phones allow portrait capture without the need for a dedicated mode, thanks to their ability to sense depth info during shooting. Plus, the focus point can be selected post-shot.
iPhone 15 Pro Max vs iPhone 15 Plus: Battery and charging
Apple doesn’t officially disclose phone battery capacities, but regulatory listings often spill the beans. The iPhone 14 Plus packs a 4,383 mAh battery, while the iPhone 15 Pro Max boasts a slightly larger 4,422 mAh battery.
For video streaming, the iPhone 15 Plus offers 20 hours of playback, compared to 25 hours for the iPhone 15 Pro Max. Our battery tests will reveal if these handsets make our top battery life list.
Both phones can hit 50% charge in just 30 minutes via USB-C using a 20W charger, although it’s not lightning-fast.
