Xiaomi 15 Ultra
Snapdragon 8 Elite · Leica · 1-inch sensor
iPhone 15 Pro Max 256GB
A17 Pro · iOS · 256GB
Dead heat — it comes down to priorities.
In our weighted Specdex score, Xiaomi 15 Ultra lands at 92 and iPhone 15 Pro Max 256GB at 92. With scores tied, the decision hinges on which sub-scores matter most to you.
Pick Xiaomi 15 Ultra if…
- ✓1-inch LYT-900 main sensor
- ✓Leica tuning on every camera
- ✓90W + 80W wireless charging
Pick iPhone 15 Pro Max 256GB if…
- ✓iOS ecosystem
- ✓Long update support
- ✓Polished hardware
Winner by scenario
Derived from the sub-score breakdown · not a separate testPhotography
Xiaomi 15 UltraStills and video quality across lenses
Xiaomi 15 Ultra leads on camera (98 vs 91).
Battery life
Xiaomi 15 UltraScreen-on time and charging
Xiaomi 15 Ultra leads on battery (92 vs 86).
Performance
Xiaomi 15 UltraChipset speed for gaming and heavy apps
Xiaomi 15 Ultra leads on gpu (96 vs 90).
Display
Xiaomi 15 UltraPanel quality, brightness, refresh rate
Xiaomi 15 Ultra leads on display (94 vs 89).
Value for money
iPhone 15 Pro Max 256GBSpecdex score per dollar at MSRP
iPhone 15 Pro Max 256GB more score per dollar ($1,299 vs $1,499).
Score breakdown
Specs side-by-side
| Spec | Xiaomi 15 Ultra | iPhone 15 Pro Max 256GB |
|---|---|---|
| Display | 6.73″ LTPO AMOLED, 120Hz, 3200×1440 | — |
| Chipset | Snapdragon 8 Elite | A17 Pro |
| RAM | 12/16 GB | — |
| Storage | 256 GB – 1 TB | 256GB |
| Rear camera | 50 MP 1″ + 50 MP 3× + 50 MP 4.3× periscope + 50 MP UW | — |
| Battery | 6000 mAh | — |
| Charging | 90W wired, 80W wireless | — |
| OS | HyperOS 2 / Android 15 | iOS 17 |
| Release year | — | 2023 |
Xiaomi 15 Ultra
- +1-inch LYT-900 main sensor
- +Leica tuning on every camera
- +90W + 80W wireless charging
- −Limited US availability
- −HyperOS still maturing
- −Large and heavy
iPhone 15 Pro Max 256GB
- +iOS ecosystem
- +Long update support
- +Polished hardware
- −Premium pricing
- −Limited customization
- −Lightning/USB-C split across generations
FAQ: Xiaomi 15 Ultra vs iPhone 15 Pro Max 256GB
Which is better, Xiaomi 15 Ultra or iPhone 15 Pro Max 256GB? +
Both score 92 on our weighted rubric — tied. Your best pick depends on the sub-scores above.
Is Xiaomi 15 Ultra worth the price? +
At $1,499, Xiaomi 15 Ultra delivers a Specdex score of 92 — strongest in camera.
Is iPhone 15 Pro Max 256GB worth the price? +
At $1,299, iPhone 15 Pro Max 256GB delivers a Specdex score of 92 — strongest in cpu.
Does Xiaomi 15 Ultra or iPhone 15 Pro Max 256GB 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 photography, Xiaomi 15 Ultra or iPhone 15 Pro Max 256GB? +
Xiaomi 15 Ultra — leads on camera (98 vs 91). Stills and video quality across lenses.
Which is better for battery life, Xiaomi 15 Ultra or iPhone 15 Pro Max 256GB? +
Xiaomi 15 Ultra — leads on battery (92 vs 86). Screen-on time and charging.