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Apple introduced four new smartphones quite recently. We’ve already compared the smaller vanilla iPhone 15 with its ‘Pro’ counterpart, and the same goes for the larger models. Well, in this article, we’ll compare the Apple iPhone 15 Pro vs iPhone 15 Pro Max. In other words, we’re comparing two ‘Pro’ iPhones.
We’ll first list their specifications, and will then compare them across a number of categories. Do note that this is based on what Apple shared, and the information that we have available. Nobody got a chance to review either of the two phones at this point, that includes us, of course. Having said that, we do hope that this comparison will help you reach a purchasing decision, as we’ll do our best to present the differences between the two models.
Specs
Apple iPhone 15 Plus vs iPhone 15 Pro Max, respectively
– Screen size:
6.1-inch Super Retina XDR display with ProMotion (120Hz, HDR, 2,000 nits)
6.7-inch Super Retina XDR display with ProMotion (120Hz, HDR, 2,000 nits)
– Display resolution:
2796 x 1290
– SoC:
Apple A17 Pro
– RAM:
8GB
– Storage:
128GB/256GB/512GB/1TB
256GB/512GB/1TB
– Rear cameras:
48MP (f/1.78 aperture, second-gen sensor-shift OIS), 12MP (ultrawide, f/2.2 aperture, macro photography), 12MP (telephoto, f/2.8 aperture, 3x optical zoom)
48MP (f/1.78 aperture, second-gen sensor-shift OIS), 12MP (ultrawide, f/2.2 aperture, macro photography), 12MP (telephoto, f/2.8 aperture, 5x optical zoom)
– Front cameras:
12MP (f/1.9 aperture) + TrueDepth
12MP (f/1.9 aperture) + TrueDepth
– Battery:
N/A
– Charging:
20W wired, 15W wireless (charger not included)
– Dimensions (unfolded):
146.6 x 70.6 x 8.25mm
159.9 x 76.7 x 8.25mm
– Weight:
187 grams
221 grams
– Connectivity:
5G, LTE, NFC, Wi-Fi, USB Type-C, Bluetooth 5.3
– Security:
Advanced facial scanning
– OS:
iOS 17
– Price:
$999
$1,199
– Buy:
N/A (coming September 15)
Apple iPhone 15 Pro vs Apple iPhone 15 Pro Max: Design
These two phones look almost exactly the same. Granted, the iPhone 15 Pro Max is considerably larger, and there’s another detail that differentiates them. The iPhone 15 Pro Max has a different telephoto camera, which you’ll notice if you take a closer look. Both smartphones are made out of titanium, and both have flat edges with rounded corners. That makes these two phones a lot more pleasant to hold and use, compared to their predecessors. Their reduced weight also plays a huge role in everything, of course.
Speaking of weight, the iPhone 15 Pro weighs 187 grams, while the ‘Pro Max’ model is a lot heavier at 221 grams. The ‘Pro Max’ model is also a lot taller and wider, while the phone phones have the exact same thickness. Both phones are IP68 certified for water and dust resistance, by the way, and both now have a Type-C port. That’s a first for iPhones, and all models in the series have them.
The bezels have been reduced on these two phones too, they’re very thin now, and also uniform. A Dynamic Island is still present at the top of the display, while Apple added an ‘Action Button’ on both phones, instead of a mute switch. That button is customizable. Both phones have three cameras on the back, though they’re not identical. That’s something we’ll talk more about in the camera section. These two phones are quite slippery, but slightly less slippery than their predecessors, and more comfortable to use.
Apple iPhone 15 Pro vs Apple iPhone 15 Pro Max: Display
The iPhone 15 Pro has a 6.1-inch 2556 x 1179 LTPO Super Retina XD OLED display. That panel has a 120Hz refresh rate, supports HDR10 content, and also Dolby Vision. Its brightness goes up to 2,000 nits, and we’re looking at a 19.5:9 aspect ratio here. The panel is protected by the Ceramic Shield Glass, and it’s flat. The display on the ‘Pro Max’ model is the same in every way but its size. It measures 6.7 inches instead of 6.1 inches.
Are the two displays any good, though? Well, based on initial impressions, yes, very much so. They are plenty sharp, offer vivid colors, and deep blacks. The viewing angles are excellent, and the touch response is good too. They are immensely bright on top of that. When you’re in direct sunlight, they can both get to 2,000 nits, which is great. They’re not the brightest in the industry, but they’re not far from it either.
Apple iPhone 15 Pro vs Apple iPhone 15 Pro Max: Performance
When it comes to hardware-related specs, well, the two phones are basically the same. Both are fueled by the Apple A17 Pro processor, the latest and greatest mobile chip the company has to offer. This is a 3nm processor. Both phones are also equipped with 8GB of RAM, and offer NVMe storage. So, they’re the same in every way when performance is concerned, at least on paper.
Apple boasted about the outstanding performance of its new chip, and also ray tracing support. Some truly outstanding games are on the way, and it will be interesting to see them in action. The regular day-to-day performance should be immensely fluid, as expected, at least based on some initial impressions with both devices. Gaming tests will have to wait until we manage to get our hands on review units. We don’t expect any problems, though.
Another thing worth noting has to do with the performance of their USB ports. Unlike the iPhone 15 and 15 Plus, these two phones do support USB 3.0 transfer speeds. The thing is, you’ll need to get a different cable to reach those speeds, though. The cables Apple includes with all of its iPhone 15 models are limited to USB 2.0 speeds, so… yeah, you’ll need to get a better one, if you don’t have one already.
Apple iPhone 15 Pro vs Apple iPhone 15 Pro Max: Battery
Apple did not disclose battery capacities for its new smartphones, including these two. We’re guessing that they’re similar to what last year’s models offered, or perhaps a bit larger. The company did boast about an all-day battery life, though, so… we’ll see. This chip should also help in that regard, as it’s more power efficient than its predecessor was. Let’s just hope the battery life will be better than what the iPhone 14 Pro and Pro Max delivered.
Those of you who have been hoping for faster charging here, well, you’ll be disappointed. Neither phone offers faster charging, Apple is sticking with 20W wired, and 15W wireless charging. The phones do support MagSafe and Qi charging, while Qi2 will also be supported. Another thing worth noting is that a charger is not included with either smartphone. You won’t find it in the retail box, so you’ll need to get one yourself.
Apple iPhone 15 Pro vs Apple iPhone 15 Pro Max: Cameras
These two smartphones have the exact same main and ultrawide cameras, but they do differ in the telephoto department. A 48-megapixel main camera is used for the main shooter on both phones. It has a second-gen sensor-shift OIS, and an f/1.78 aperture. That is a larger sensor than Apple used in the iPhone 15 and 15 Plus. A 12-megapixel ultrawide unit is included in both smartphones.
Now, in regards to the telephoto camera, both have a 12-megapixel camera with an f/2.8 aperture, but they’re different. The one on the iPhone 15 Pro is limited to 3x optical zoom, while the Pro Max’s offers a 5x optical zoom. Apple used a different lens here, even though we’re still not looking at a periscope camera here. Both smartphones can take regular shots and then adjust the focus and blur afterwards, as if a portrait photo was taken.
We cannot attest to image quality just yet. We’ll have to wait until we get our hands on the phones. It will be interesting to see if Apple’s new coating really helps with light reflections, as that was a huge problem in low-light photography. Also, let’s hope that Apple fixed some white balance issues that were present on previous models from time to time.
Audio
Apple didn’t really talk much about audio during the presentation. What we do know, however, is that both smartphones have stereo speakers. They support Dolby Atmos, and have Spatial Audio playback too. Those speakers will likely sound similar to the ones on the iPhone 14 Pro series.
You can utilize the Type-C ports on the phones to plug in your wired headphones, as there’s no audio jack on either phone. If you prefer wireless audio, you’ll be glad to know that Bluetooth 5.3 is supported here.