iPhone 15 Pro Max
A17 Pro · 6.7″ LTPO · Titanium
iPhone 17 Pro Max
A19 Pro · 6.9″ OLED · IP68
iPhone 17 Pro Max takes it — here’s why.
In our weighted Specdex score, iPhone 15 Pro Max lands at 92 and iPhone 17 Pro Max at 96. That puts iPhone 17 Pro Max 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 17 Pro Max if…
- ✓A19 Pro chip
- ✓Up to 39 hours video playback
- ✓Up to 2 TB storage
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 17 Pro MaxScreen-on time and charging
iPhone 17 Pro Max leads on battery (92 vs 86).
Performance
iPhone 17 Pro MaxChipset speed for gaming and heavy apps
iPhone 17 Pro Max leads on cpu (98 vs 92).
Display
iPhone 17 Pro MaxPanel quality, brightness, refresh rate
iPhone 17 Pro Max leads on display (95 vs 92).
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 17 Pro Max |
|---|---|---|
| Display | 6.7″ LTPO OLED, 120Hz, 2796×1290 | ▲ 6.9″ OLED, 2868×1320 at 460 ppi |
| Chipset | Apple A17 Pro (3 nm) | Apple A19 Pro chip |
| RAM | 8 GB | — |
| Storage | 256 / 512 GB / 1 TB | 256 / 512 GB / 1 / 2 TB |
| Rear camera | 48 MP + 12 MP UW + 12 MP 5× tele | — |
| Battery | 4422 mAh | — |
| Charging | 27W wired, 25W MagSafe | ▲ 50% in 20 min with 40W adapter; MagSafe up to 25W |
| OS | iOS 17 | iOS 26 |
| Weight | ▲ 221 g | 233 g |
| IP rating | IP68 | IP68 (6 m, 30 min) |
| Battery (video) | — | Up to 39 hours |
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 17 Pro Max
- +A19 Pro chip
- +Up to 39 hours video playback
- +Up to 2 TB storage
- −Premium price
- −Weighs 233 g
- −Wired charging requires 40W+ adapter
FAQ: iPhone 15 Pro Max vs iPhone 17 Pro Max
Which is better, iPhone 15 Pro Max or iPhone 17 Pro Max? +
iPhone 17 Pro Max 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 17 Pro Max worth the price? +
At $1,199, iPhone 17 Pro Max delivers a Specdex score of 96 — strongest in cpu.
Does iPhone 15 Pro Max 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.
Which is better for battery life, iPhone 15 Pro Max or iPhone 17 Pro Max? +
iPhone 17 Pro Max — leads on battery (92 vs 86). Screen-on time and charging.
Which is better for performance, iPhone 15 Pro Max or iPhone 17 Pro Max? +
iPhone 17 Pro Max — leads on cpu (98 vs 92). Chipset speed for gaming and heavy apps.