Apple
iPhone 15 128GB
A16 · iOS · 128GB
86
/ 100
From $799
VS
iPhone 17 Pro Max wins by 12
Apple
iPhone 17 Pro Max
A19 Pro · 6.9″ LTPO · Titanium
98
/ 100
From $1,199
Specdex verdict
iPhone 17 Pro Max takes it — here’s why.
In our weighted Specdex score, iPhone 15 128GB lands at 86 and iPhone 17 Pro Max at 98. That puts iPhone 17 Pro Max ahead by 12 points — a decisive margin driven mostly by its strengths in the categories below.
Pick iPhone 15 128GB if…
- ✓iOS ecosystem
- ✓Long update support
- ✓Polished hardware
Pick iPhone 17 Pro Max if…
- ✓Industry-leading A19 Pro silicon
- ✓New vapor-chamber cooling
- ✓Apple Intelligence Gen 2
iPhone 15 128GB 86
vs 98 iPhone 17 Pro Max
Score breakdown
iPhone 15 128GB
86 cpu 86
gpu 84
camera 85
battery 80
display 83
design 86
iPhone 17 Pro Max
98 cpu 100
gpu 98
camera 98
battery 90
display 95
design 96
Specs side-by-side
| Spec | iPhone 15 128GB | iPhone 17 Pro Max |
|---|---|---|
| Chipset | A16 | Apple A19 Pro (3 nm) |
| Storage | 128GB | ▲ 256 / 512 GB / 1 TB / 2 TB |
| OS | iOS 17 | iOS 19 |
| Release year | 2023 | — |
| Display | — | 6.9″ LTPO OLED, 120Hz, 2868×1320 |
| RAM | — | 12 GB |
| Rear camera | — | 48 MP + 48 MP UW + 48 MP 6× tele |
| Battery | — | 4800 mAh |
| Charging | — | 45W wired, 30W MagSafe |
| Weight | — | 232 g |
| IP rating | — | IP68 |
iPhone 15 128GB
Pros
- +iOS ecosystem
- +Long update support
- +Polished hardware
Cons
- −Premium pricing
- −Limited customization
- −Lightning/USB-C split across generations
iPhone 17 Pro Max
Pros
- +Industry-leading A19 Pro silicon
- +New vapor-chamber cooling
- +Apple Intelligence Gen 2
Cons
- −Premium price
- −Weight crept up with titanium chassis
- −Still 45 W charging ceiling
FAQ: iPhone 15 128GB vs iPhone 17 Pro Max
Which is better, iPhone 15 128GB or iPhone 17 Pro Max? +
iPhone 17 Pro Max scores 98 on our weighted rubric — ahead by 12. Your best pick depends on the sub-scores above.
Is iPhone 15 128GB worth the price? +
At $799, iPhone 15 128GB delivers a Specdex score of 86 — strongest in cpu.
Is iPhone 17 Pro Max worth the price? +
At $1,199, iPhone 17 Pro Max delivers a Specdex score of 98 — strongest in cpu.
Does iPhone 15 128GB or iPhone 17 Pro Max last longer? +
Based on our long-term update and support ratings, both ship with multi-year support. Battery and reliability scores are visible in the breakdown above.