iPhone 15 Pro Max
A17 Pro · 6.7″ LTPO · Titanium
iPhone 16 Pro Max 128GB (Japan)
A18 Pro · iOS · 128GB · Japan
iPhone 16 Pro Max 128GB (Japan) takes it — here’s why.
In our weighted Specdex score, iPhone 15 Pro Max lands at 92 and iPhone 16 Pro Max 128GB (Japan) at 96. That puts iPhone 16 Pro Max 128GB (Japan) ahead by 4 points — a narrow margin driven mostly by its strengths in the categories below.
Pick iPhone 15 Pro Max if…
- ✓Titanium chassis debut
- ✓Action Button replaces ring/silent
- ✓USB-C with Thunderbolt
Pick iPhone 16 Pro Max 128GB (Japan) if…
- ✓iOS ecosystem
- ✓Long update support
- ✓Polished hardware
Winner by scenario
Derived from the sub-score breakdown · not a separate testPhotography
TieStills and video quality across lenses
Effectively tied — neither pulls a 2-point weighted lead.
Battery life
iPhone 16 Pro Max 128GB (Japan)Screen-on time and charging
iPhone 16 Pro Max 128GB (Japan) leads on battery (90 vs 86).
Performance
iPhone 16 Pro Max 128GB (Japan)Chipset speed for gaming and heavy apps
iPhone 16 Pro Max 128GB (Japan) leads on cpu (96 vs 92).
Display
TiePanel quality, brightness, refresh rate
Effectively tied — neither pulls a 2-point weighted lead.
Value for money
TieSpecdex score per dollar at MSRP
Effectively tied — similar score-per-dollar at MSRP.
Score breakdown
Specs side-by-side
| Spec | iPhone 15 Pro Max | iPhone 16 Pro Max 128GB (Japan) |
|---|---|---|
| Display | 6.7″ LTPO OLED, 120Hz, 2796×1290 | — |
| Chipset | Apple A17 Pro (3 nm) | A18 Pro |
| RAM | 8 GB | — |
| Storage | ▲ 256 / 512 GB / 1 TB | 128GB |
| Rear camera | 48 MP + 12 MP UW + 12 MP 5× tele | — |
| Battery | 4422 mAh | — |
| Charging | 27W wired, 25W MagSafe | — |
| OS | iOS 17 | iOS 18 |
| Weight | 221 g | — |
| IP rating | IP68 | — |
| Release year | — | 2024 |
iPhone 15 Pro Max
- +Titanium chassis debut
- +Action Button replaces ring/silent
- +USB-C with Thunderbolt
- −A17 Pro thermals warm
- −Charging speed unchanged
- −Battery life behind newer Pro Max
iPhone 16 Pro Max 128GB (Japan)
- +iOS ecosystem
- +Long update support
- +Polished hardware
- −Premium pricing
- −Limited customization
- −Lightning/USB-C split across generations
FAQ: iPhone 15 Pro Max vs iPhone 16 Pro Max 128GB (Japan)
Which is better, iPhone 15 Pro Max or iPhone 16 Pro Max 128GB (Japan)? +
iPhone 16 Pro Max 128GB (Japan) scores 96 on our weighted rubric — ahead by 4. Your best pick depends on the sub-scores above.
Is iPhone 15 Pro Max worth the price? +
At $1,199, iPhone 15 Pro Max delivers a Specdex score of 92 — strongest in camera.
Is iPhone 16 Pro Max 128GB (Japan) worth the price? +
At $1,199, iPhone 16 Pro Max 128GB (Japan) delivers a Specdex score of 96 — strongest in cpu.
Does iPhone 15 Pro Max or iPhone 16 Pro Max 128GB (Japan) 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.
Which is better for battery life, iPhone 15 Pro Max or iPhone 16 Pro Max 128GB (Japan)? +
iPhone 16 Pro Max 128GB (Japan) — leads on battery (90 vs 86). Screen-on time and charging.
Which is better for performance, iPhone 15 Pro Max or iPhone 16 Pro Max 128GB (Japan)? +
iPhone 16 Pro Max 128GB (Japan) — leads on cpu (96 vs 92). Chipset speed for gaming and heavy apps.