Apple iPhone 18 Pro Max vs Apple iPhone 15 Pro Max
The Apple iPhone 18 Pro Max scores 9.2 in our rating, and the Apple iPhone 15 Pro Max scores 7.6. The Apple iPhone 18 Pro Max leads in display, performance, camera, battery, software support and value for money, while the Apple iPhone 15 Pro Max is ahead in design. At launch in the US, the Apple iPhone 15 Pro Max cost $100 less ($1,199 vs $1,299). The Apple iPhone 18 Pro Max is the newer phone, announced Sep 9, 2026.
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Key differences
Why choose the Apple iPhone 18 Pro Max
- Bigger battery 5,567 mAh vs 4,422 mAh
- Bigger screen 6.9 inches vs 6.7 inches
- Brighter screen 3,000 nits vs 2,000 nits
- Newer model Sep 9, 2026 vs Sep 12, 2023
- Faster wireless charging 25 W vs 15 W
- More RAM 12 GB vs 8 GB
Why choose the Apple iPhone 15 Pro Max
- Longer optical zoom 5× vs 4×
- Lower launch price $1,199 vs $1,299
- Lighter 221 g vs 249 g
- Thinner 8.25 mm vs 8.75 mm
PhoneRanked scores
Calculated from specs, relative to phones from the same year and price range. How we rate phones
Spec
Apple iPhone 18 Pro MaxApple iPhone 15 Pro Max
Overall
9.2
7.6
Display
8.5
8.2
Performance
9.4
7.6
Camera
8.7
8.3
Battery
7.7
5.9
Design
8.3
8.7
Software support
7.4
3.5
Value for money
6.6
4.7
Display
Spec
Apple iPhone 18 Pro MaxApple iPhone 15 Pro Max
Size
6.9 inches
6.7 inches
Type
OLED, Super Retina XDR
OLED, Super Retina XDR
Resolution
1320 × 2868 px
1290 × 2796 px
Pixel density
460 ppi
460 ppi
Refresh rate
120 Hz
120 Hz
Adaptive refresh
✓ Yes
✓ Yes
Peak brightness
3,000 nits
2,000 nits
HDR
HDR10, HDR10+, Dolby Vision
HDR10, Dolby Vision
Protection
Ceramic Shield 2
Ceramic Shield
Performance
Spec
Apple iPhone 18 Pro MaxApple iPhone 15 Pro Max
Process
2 nm
3 nm
Max CPU clock
4.93 GHz
—
GPU
Apple 7-core GPU
Apple 6-core GPU
RAM
12 GB
8 GB
Storage
256 GB / 512 GB / 1 TB / 2 TB
256 GB / 512 GB / 1 TB
microSD slot
✕ No
✕ No
Cameras
Spec
Apple iPhone 18 Pro MaxApple iPhone 15 Pro Max
Main camera
48 MP, f/1.48
48 MP, f/1.78
Optical stabilization
✓ Yes
✓ Yes
Ultrawide
48 MP
12 MP
Telephoto
48 MP, 4× optical, periscope
12 MP, 5× optical, periscope
Optical zoom
4×
5×
Rear cameras
3
3
Rear video
4K@120
4K@60
Front camera
18 MP
12 MP
Front video
4K@60
4K@60
Battery and charging
Spec
Apple iPhone 18 Pro MaxApple iPhone 15 Pro Max
Capacity
5,567 mAh
4,422 mAh
Battery type
Li-Ion
Li-Ion
Wireless charging
25 W
15 W
Reverse wireless
✕ No
✕ No
Charger in box
✕ No
✕ No
Design and build
Spec
Apple iPhone 18 Pro MaxApple iPhone 15 Pro Max
Dimensions
163.4 × 78 × 8.75 mm
159.9 × 76.7 × 8.25 mm
Thickness
8.75 mm
8.25 mm
Weight
249 g
221 g
Form factor
Bar
Bar
Frame
Aluminum
Titanium
Back
Glass
Glass
Water resistance
IP68
IP68
Fingerprint
None
None
3D face unlock
✓ Yes
✓ Yes
SIM
eSIM only
eSIM only
Colors
Black, Silver, Glacier, Burgundy
Natural Titanium, Blue Titanium, White Titanium, Black Titanium
Connectivity and features
Spec
Apple iPhone 18 Pro MaxApple iPhone 15 Pro Max
5G
✓ Yes
✓ Yes
Wi-Fi
Wi-Fi 7
Wi-Fi 6E
Bluetooth
6.0
5.3
USB
USB-C 3.x
USB-C 3.x
NFC
✓ Yes
✓ Yes
3.5 mm jack
✕ No
✕ No
Stereo speakers
✓ Yes
✓ Yes
Satellite
✓ Yes
✓ Yes
IR blaster
✕ No
✕ No
Software
Spec
Apple iPhone 18 Pro MaxApple iPhone 15 Pro Max
OS at launch
iOS 27
iOS 17
Security updates
5 years
—
Launch and price
Spec
Apple iPhone 18 Pro MaxApple iPhone 15 Pro Max
Announced
Sep 9, 2026
Sep 12, 2023
Released
Sep 18, 2026
Sep 22, 2023
Status
Released
Discontinued
US launch price
$1,299
$1,199
Green marks the stronger value in a row. Specs come from official manufacturer data, cross-checked with established tech media; each phone page lists its sources. Report an error
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