Apple recently introduced the iPhone 15 Pro and iPhone 15 Pro Max as successors to the iPhone 14 Pro and iPhone 14 Pro Max with a new titanium design, action button, USB-C port, A17 Pro chip and more. As Apple’s premium flagship, the iPhone 15 Pro and iPhone 15 Pro Max are the most powerful iPhones available.
The iPhone 15 Pro starts at $999 and the iPhone 15 Pro Max starts at $1,199. For the Pro Max, this is a $100 price increase over last year’s model, but the 128GB storage configuration is also no longer available for the device, meaning it’s basically just a price increase if you buy this model normally.
Both phones have the same OLED Super Retina XDR always-on display with ProMotion and Dynamic Island, A17 Pro chip, 5G connectivity, ‘Pro’ rear camera setup and are available in the same color variants. Although the two phones share the vast majority of features, there are ten important differences between the devices. Our guide highlights the key differences between the iPhone 15 Pro and iPhone 15 Pro Max and helps answer the question of how to decide which of the two iPhone models is best for you.
| iPhone 15 Pro | iPhone 15 Pro Max |
|---|---|
| 6.1-inch OLED Super Retina XDR display with a resolution of 2532 x 1170 pixels | 6.7-inch OLED Super Retina XDR display with a resolution of 2778 x 1284 pixels |
| 12-megapixel telephoto lens with ƒ/2.8 aperture | 12-megapixel telephoto lens with ƒ/2.8 aperture and larger sensor |
| Telephoto lens with second generation optical image stabilization with sensor shift | A telephoto lens with a compound square design and a 3D sensor shift auto focus module |
| 0.5x, 1x, 2x, 3x optical zoom | 0.5x, 1x, 2x and 5x optical zoom |
| 23-hour battery life (while playing video) | 29-hour battery life (when playing video) |
| Height 5.77 inches (146.6 mm). | Height 6.29 inches (159.9 mm). |
| Width 2.78 inches (70.6 mm). | Width 3.02 inches (76.7 mm). |
| Weight 6.60 ounces (187 grams). | Weight 7.81 ounces (221 grams). |
| 128GB, 256GB, 512GB or 1TB of storage | 256 GB, 512 GB or 1 TB of storage |
| $999 (128GB), $1,099 (256GB), $1,299 (512GB), or $1,499 (1TB) | $1,199 (256GB), $1,399 (512GB), or $1,599 (1TB) |
Like some previous iPhone models offered in two sizes, such as the iPhone 12 Pro and iPhone 12 Pro Max, the larger model has another main camera feature. This year it’s a 5x telephoto optical zoom lens, which is ideal for sports or wildlife photography as it can get even closer to the subject.
iPhone 15 Pro Max provides the longest optical zoom on an iPhone: 5x at 120mm. The new telephoto lens on iPhone 15 Pro Max is great for close-ups, wildlife photography and capturing action from a distance, featuring an innovative quad design with combined optical image stabilization and autofocus with the 3D Sensor Shift Module, Apple’s most advanced stabilization system. yet.
The iPhone 15 Pro has a maximum optical zoom of 3x and lacks the telephoto hardware improvements of the iPhone 15 Pro Max. However, the main and ultra-wide cameras are identical on both devices.
The iPhone 15 Pro Max represents the most you can get from an iPhone with the best possible battery life, but that doesn’t necessarily translate into a value purchase for all users. Some users may prefer 3x optical zoom over 5x optical zoom, in which case the iPhone 15 Pro is a better choice. Ultimately, the alternative photography capabilities of these devices come down to this single difference. If you’re more likely to use your new iPhone to shoot portraits, the 3x telephoto iPhone 15 Pro is a better choice, while the iPhone 15 Pro Max is unbeatable for sports and wildlife photography, where you want to capture subjects that are much further away.
Combined with longer battery life and a larger display, the iPhone 15 Pro Max differs from the iPhone 15 Pro quite significantly. The added $200 price tag for the iPhone 15 Pro Max seems fair for its additional display area, battery life, storage, and camera technology, but it’s important to consider these factors in your personal case. That boils down to a $100 price difference if you buy the 256GB model normally.
If you normally buy the 128GB iPhone “Pro Max” model, it might be time to look for a smaller model this year, as getting the larger model will require you to spend $100 more than usual and get 256GB of storage that you might not use. . On the other hand, if you always buy an iPhone with 256GB storage, you may be more inclined to buy the iPhone 15 Pro Max.
Likewise, the larger and heavier 6.7-inch iPhone isn’t for everyone. Some may find the size of the iPhone 15 Pro Max excessive or uncomfortably large, while others will love the larger display for media consumption. Screen size is ultimately a matter of personal preference, and since the iPhone 15 Pro and iPhone 15 Pro Max share most of their other features, it comes down to individual taste.
The most important decision point when choosing between iPhone 15 Pro and iPhone 15 Pro Max is undoubtedly the screen size, but comfort, pocketability, weight, battery life and camera technology are also important factors that will depend on your personal needs and preferences. If you’re hesitant about the size and weight of the iPhone 15 Pro Max, you might be better off sticking with the iPhone 15 Pro, but otherwise it probably won’t disappoint, especially if price isn’t an issue.
