After three years, iPhone 15 Pro Max owners are likely to consider upgrading to the newest version. Here's how the iPhone 18 Pro Max fares against its 2023 counterpart.
The iPhone 18 Pro Max is Apple's latest premium model of smartphone, if you ignore the iPhone Duo. As the top of the line in many respects, it's what consumers wanting the ultimate iPhone will get, especially if they value photography and videography.
However, it's also three years after the introduction of the iPhone 15 Pro Max. That was a notable release for making major changes to the camera setup.
Three years is about the time smartphone owners will consider upgrading to a newer model. That means iPhone 15 Pro Max users will be having a good, long look at the iPhone 18 Pro Max.
Here's how the two models compare, and if a three-year upgrade is worth it.
iPhone 18 Pro Max vs iPhone 15 Pro Max: Specifications
| Specifications | iPhone 18 Pro Max | iPhone 15 Pro Max |
|---|---|---|
| Starting Price (launch) | $1,299 | $1,199 |
| Dimensions | 3.07 x 6.43 in, 8.75mm thick | 3.02 x 6.29 in, 8.25mm thick |
| Weight (ounces) | 8.78 | 7.81 |
| Processor | A20 Pro | A17 Pro |
| Storage | 256GB, 512GB, 1TB, 2TB | 256GB, 512GB, 1TB |
| Display type | 6.9-inch Super Retina XDR, ProMotion, always-on, 3,000 nits max | 6.7-inch Super Retina XDR, ProMotion, always-on display, 2,000 nits max |
| Resolution | 2,868 x 1,320 at 460 ppi | 2,796 x 1,290 at 460 ppi |
| Biometrics | Face ID | Face ID |
| Connectivity | 5G (Sub-6GHz and mmWave), Wi-Fi 7, Bluetooth 6, Ultra Wideband Gen 2, USB-C (USB 3) | 5G (Sub-6GHz and mmWave), Wi-Fi 6E, Bluetooth 5.3, Ultra Wideband Gen 2, USB-C (USB 3) |
| Rear Cameras | 48MP Fusion Main with variable aperture, 48MP Fusion Ultra Wide, 48MP Telephoto with 8x "optical-quality" zoom | 48MP Main, 12MP Ultra Wide, 12MP Telephoto with 5x optical zoom |
| Front Camera | 18MP Center Stage | 12MP TrueDepth |
| Battery (Video playback) | Up to 45 hours | Up to 29 hours |
| Colors | Black, Silver, Glacier, Burgundy | Black Titanium, White Titanium, Blue Titanium, Natural Titanium |
iPhone 18 Pro Max vs iPhone 15 Pro Max: Physical Dimensions
When Apple launched the iPhone 15 Pro Max, it was the first model to adopt a titanium frame instead of stainless steel. It was a sizable device at 6.29 inches by 3.02 inches to hold its 6.7-inch display.
The iPhone 18 Pro Max is a larger device, built to contain its 6.9-inch display. It's also made from an aluminum unibody frame, reused from the iPhone 17 Pro.
That matters when you have to deal with a physically larger smartphone. At 6.43 inches tall and 3.07 inches wide, the newer model is slightly bigger overall.
That also translates down to the thickness, at 8.75mm for the iPhone 18 Pro Max and 8.25mm for the iPhone 15 Pro.
iPhone 18 Pro Max vs iPhone 15 Pro Max: Rear and side views
As for weight, the iPhone 18 Pro Max tips the scales at 8.78 ounces, versus 7.81 ounces for the iPhone 15 Pro Max. That's almost an ounce difference between the models.
The button selection changed with the iPhone 15 Pro, as the physical mute switch was changed for an Action button to go alongside the volume and side standby. The iPhone 18 Pro Max adds Camera Control, which gives users more immediate access to camera app features.
The other major physical evolution is the camera bump. While the iPhone 15 Pro Max has a square bump in one corner, the iPhone 18 Pro Max goes for the Camera Plateau that spans the width of the device.
iPhone 18 Pro Max vs iPhone 15 Pro Max: Display
The iPhone 15 Pro Max had a 6.7-inch Super Retina XDR OLED display. With a resolution of 2,796 by 1,290, it had a pixel density of 460 pixels per inch, like most other iPhones the company sells.
Apple also included ProMotion support to 120Hz, along with an always-on mode for the display. There was also the Dynamic Island, some software camouflage for the camera cutout at the top of the screen.
The brightness was 1,000 nits for typical usage, with HDR content peaking to 1,600 nits. You could also see 2,000 nits if you used it in bright sunlight.
The iPhone 18 Pro Max has a bigger display at 6.9 inches, while still being a Super Retina XDR screen. That size also means a larger resolution at 2,868 by 1,320, but the pixel density is the same at 460ppi.
iPhone 18 Pro Max vs iPhone 15 Pro Max: The new display is brighter in the 18-gen model, while Dynamic Island has become even more useful.
ProMotion is still in use, as well as the always-on capability and the Dynamic Island. However, the Dynamic Island has been improved and is now capable of showing three Live Activities.
Brightness is up, however. The 1,000-nit and 1,600-nit levels are the same, but the 3,000-nit outdoor brightness is an improvement.
The 2 million-to-one contrast ratio has survived the generations, as have True Tone and Wide Color (P3) support.
The iPhone 18 Pro Max is a larger screen and certainly better in some respects, but the iPhone 15 Pro Max still holds its own.
iPhone 18 Pro Max vs iPhone 15 Pro Max: Cameras
The iPhone 15 Pro Max brought with it a major change for Apple's camera system that was of high interest for content creators.
The 48MP Main, 12MP Ultra Wide, and 12MP Telephoto was a good trio, complete with LiDAR, however the Telephoto used what was referred to as a Tetraprism lens. The system, which helped bend light within a limited space, enabled Apple to provide a 5x optical zoom on that model, while the non-Max version stuck to a 3x zoom.
Three years later, the iPhone 18 Pro Max uses a triple 48MP system. The upgrade also involved a name change, so they were known as Fusion Main, Fusion Ultra Wide, and Fusion Telephoto.
While the resolutions are up in the 18 generation, the Telephoto has not quite been kept the same.
iPhone 18 Pro Max vs iPhone 15 Pro Max: The latest model's rear camera plateau.
The five-times optical zoom has been turned into an eight-times "optical quality" zoom. Really, it's a 4x optical zoom, but it can be cropped and made to be as if it's an 8x optical zoom, a trick Apple uses to make the Main Fusion camera have a 2x "optical quality" zoom, too.
The bigger change for 2026 is the variable aperture system in the iPhone 18 Pro Max's Fusion Main camera. It can adjust in stages between f/1.48 and f/4.0, so photographers have mechanical control over the depth of field.
This is a change that will appeal to photographers and videographers, as they now have more control for more creative shots. While computational bokeh is still here, there's at least the option to experiment with the real thing.
Pro Controls are also being introduced to adjust the aperture, the shutter speed, and white balance, as well as provide a histogram.
The changes to the iPhone 18 Pro Max also extend to things like smart focus tracking and Apple Reference Image, for those who want to prove an image is genuine and not an AI edit.
For video, both cameras have Dolby Vision 4K, though the 18 Pro Max goes up to 120fps against 60fps on the iPhone 15 Pro Max. Again, Cinematic Mode with 4K Dolby Vision is better on the newer model at 60fps, versus 30fps.
Both benefit from Action Mode at 2.8K Dolby Vision at 60fps. Spatial Video survives at 1080p 30fps, though while Slo-mo on the iPhone 15 Pro Max managed 1080p 240fps, you have the 4K 120fps option on the newer device.
iPhone 18 Pro Max vs iPhone 15 Pro Max: The new variable aperture system.
The introduction of the iPhone 15 Pro Max also brought with it a bunch of professional-aimed additions, such as ProRes video support at 4K 60fps with external recording, ACES, and Apple Log.
The iPhone 18 Pro Max goes further again, with Pro Control, smart focus tracking, Dual Capture, ProRes RAW, and Genlock.
Apple included stereo recording in the iPhone 15 Pro Max, but the iPhone 18 Pro Max goes with a studio-quality four-mic array. The newer model also has Audio Mix and wind noise reduction.
The front camera of the iPhone 15 Pro Max is a 12MP TrueDepth array used for Face ID, but the iPhone 18 Pro Max uses a new 18MP Center Stage camera. That upgrade means you can switch from portrait to landscape orientation shots without rotating the iPhone itself.
There's also Center Stage support as well as smart focus tracking and Time-lapse video with 4K Dolby Vision for that front camera.
Both the front and back cameras have received a lot of attention from Apple. Content creators will probably be willing to upgrade on the power of these changes alone.
iPhone 18 Pro Max vs iPhone 15 Pro Max: Processing and Performance
Chip-wise, the iPhone 15 Pro Max was a milestone for Apple's mobile processing in its own right. The A17 Pro was the first 3-nanometer smartphone chip.
The A20 Pro is also a milestone, as it's the first using a 2-nanometer process.
Both chips have a six-core CPU in a familiar 2-performance, 4-efficiency configuration, though the newer one runs faster. Apple claims in its marketing that the A20 Pro's CPU runs 50% faster than the A17 Pro in the iPhone 15 Pro Max.
Joining each are GPUs, with a six-core version in the A17 Pro, seven in the A20 Pro. The A20 Pro's GPU also includes Neural Accelerators in each core, which help with AI tasks.
Speaking of AI, Apple has gone from a 16-core Neural Engine in the A17 Pro to a Dual 16-core Neural Engine in the A20. That means 32 cores of AI-processing silicon, as well as those Neural Accelerators.
Apple also has a vapor chamber cooling system in the iPhone 18 Pro Max. The iPhone 15 Pro Max simply doesn't have this element, so the A20 will do better when it comes to sustained processing.
The initial benchmarks for the A20 chip are starting to roll in before release, and they indicate that users can expect a big jump in performance. It's said that users can detect a 15% change, so it's certain that this will be noticeable this time around.
iPhone 18 Pro Max vs iPhone 15 Pro Max: Geekbench 7 single-core benchmarks
The initial published listings show the A20 as scoring 4,006 in single-core Geekbench 7 tests. By comparison, the iPhone 15 Pro Max's A17 manages 2,532, giving the A20 Pro a 58% improvement over time.
On to multi-core, and the A20 manages 11,460. The iPhone 15 Pro Max's listing states it got to 6,865, giving the A20 Pro a 67% advantage.
iPhone 18 Pro Max vs iPhone 15 Pro Max: Geekbench 7 multi-core benchmarks
Then there's the GPU figures, which should change based on both improvements to the cores and underlying technology, as well as the extra core in the A20 Pro.
The A20 Pro scores 62,302, which is massive against the 23,238 of the iPhone 15 Pro Max. That's a 168% change over three years.
iPhone 18 Pro Max vs iPhone 15 Pro Max: Geekbench 7 Metal benchmarks
You should also bear in mind that these benchmarks don't take into account AI processing. The iPhone 15 Pro Max is considered the base model for Apple Intelligence support, but the iPhone 18 Pro Max will also support Apple's newest models.
The iPhone 18 Pro Max will benefit from both the increased available cores of the Neural Engine as well as those GPU Neural Accelerators.
Yes, you can certainly benefit from Siri AI on the iPhone 15 Pro Max. It will just be an awful lot more responsive for local processing on the newer smartphone.
iPhone 18 Pro Max vs iPhone 15 Pro Max: Connectivity
The iPhone 15 Pro Max uses Wi-Fi 6E as well as Bluetooth 5.3. There's also a second-gen Ultra Wideband chip and Thread, as well as NFC on the rear for Apple Pay.
The iPhone 18 Pro Max switches over to the Apple-designed N1 wireless chip and improves connectivity to Wi-Fi 7 and Bluetooth 6.
While both support 5G on sub-6GHz and mmWave bands, the iPhone 18 Pro Max does so using Apple's C2 modem. Apple claims this will help improve both efficiency and speed when using cellular networks.
On the physical side, the iPhone 15 Pro Max debuted with USB-C, running at USB3 speeds of up to 10Gbps. The iPhone 18 Pro Max hasn't changed this element at all.
There's satellite-based services on both models, including Emergency SOS via satellite and Roadside Assistance via satellite. There's also Crash Detection, which will work with Emergency SOS via satellite if you have an accident in a cellular blackspot.
iPhone 18 Pro Max vs iPhone 15 Pro Max: Power and Battery
Apple's largest smartphones tend to have massive amounts of battery life. This certainly hasn't changed for the iPhone 18 Pro Max.
The iPhone 15 Pro Max was introduced as capable of up to 29 hours of video playback for locally stored video. This dipped to 25 hours for streamed video playback.
The iPhone 18 Pro Max, on the other hand, can muster up to 45 hours of local video playback from a single charge, or 40 hours if you stream it.
This is a monumental upgrade, and makes the iPhone 18 Pro Max more useful for all-weekend usage without needing to baby the battery life too much.
When it comes to charging, both support MagSafe with Qi2 and Qi support as well.
The iPhone 15 Pro Max can get up to 50% charge in 35 minutes using a 20W adapter and USB-C charging. The iPhone 18 Pro Max can get a 50% charge in about 15 minutes when paired with a 60W adapter or higher using USB-C.
This isn't directly comparable, but it's safe to say they can recharge quickly.
On the iPhone 18 Pro Max, Apple also says it can manage 50% charge in 30 minutes over MagSafe when using a 35W adapter.
iPhone 18 Pro Max vs iPhone 15 Pro Max: Capacity, Color, and Pricing
The iPhone 15 Pro Max started at $1,199 with a 256GB capacity storage, with options for 512GB and 1TB also available.
It was sold in four colorways: Black Titanium, White Titanium, Blue Titanium, and Natural Titanium.
iPhone 18 Pro Max vs iPhone 15 Pro Max: The colors of the iPhone 15 Pro generation.
The iPhone 18 Pro Max starts at a slightly higher $1,299 with 256GB of storage. Options are also available for 512GB, 1TB, and a new 2TB option, if you're prepared to spend $2,499.
It comes in Black, Silver, Glacier, and Burgundy
iPhone 18 Pro Max vs iPhone 15 Pro Max: Which to buy
To owners of the iPhone 15 Pro Max, the iPhone 18 Pro Max represents three years of improvements from Apple. A lot can happen in one year, let alone three.
The main changes are in the cameras, with that variable aperture system being the biggest of the lot. While tetraprism attracted photographers and videographers, the ability to change the aperture will have a similar effect.
iPhone 18 Pro Max vs iPhone 15 Pro Max: Colorways of the iPhone 18 Pro Max
Battery life is also a sizable improvement, as is the processing performance. The latter is especially so as the industry moves towards more onboard AI processing tasks.
The iPhone 18 Pro Max is the ideal upgrade for the user of the iPhone 15 Pro Max. However, they may not necessarily feel the need to do so.
The A17 Pro is still more than capable of number crunching without necessarily feeling slow by modern standards. It's not blisteringly fast, but it's not lagging behind just yet.
People who need better imaging for professional uses will be drawn to the new model. But as it stands, there's no shame in sticking to the iPhone 15 Pro Max for another year.
Where to buy Apple's iPhone 18 Pro Max and iPhone 15 Pro Max
Deals on Apple's iPhone 18 Pro Max are in effect now, with wireless carriers offering up to $1,200 off via bill credits.
You can jump straight to the offers below:
Refurbished iPhone 15 Pro Max models are available at Amazon and BackMarket, with prices in the $614 to $650 range at press time.
