Apple has widened the gap a bit between this year’s iPhone 15 Pro and iPhone 15 Pro Max. Check out what’s changed.
The release of the iPhone 15 last year brought the usual flurry of interest on the new models, with people wondering whether the iPhone 15 Pro was worth the higher cost over the base iPhone 15. But if you decided that it was and you wanted a Pro, there’s another issue to consider — do you want an iPhone 15 Pro or an iPhone 15 Pro Max? Both models run the latest iOS 17.4 software, released in March 2024, but there are differences in the hardware between the two.
And the Pro versus Pro Max issue is more difficult to decide this time around. While previous iPhone Pro and iPhone Pro Max models were virtually identical expect for their size, with the iPhone 15 series, things have changed. This makes this the first time since the 2020 iPhone 12 Pro Max that you need to weigh up more significant differences than just size when selecting between the Pro and the Pro Max. We’ve got all the details to help you decide, though, so read on to find out about specs and comparisons.iPhone 15 Pro vs. iPhone 15 Pro Max: specsiPhone 15 Pro vs. iPhone 15 Pro Max: design
On the design front, the iPhone 15 Pro and iPhone 15 Pro Max are nearly identical in every meaningful way except for their noticeable size difference. This year, Apple has replaced its stainless steel frame with an elegant brushed titanium finish that adds a different touch of class. It’s a more matte look and better matches the textured glass back, which is basically the same material that Apple has used on its iPhone Pro models for the past several years.
The frame and back are color-matched as usual, although the choice of colors more closely matches the new material theme. Your choices are Natural Titanium, Blue Titanium, White Titanium, and Black Titanium. Did we mention that titanium is a big deal for Apple this year?
However, there’s more to the use of titanium than just looks. The switch has allowed the iPhone 15 Pro models to shed some weight; both models drop 19 grams over their respective predecessors. In practical terms, that makes the iPhone 15 Pro Max closer in weight to last year’s iPhone 14 Pro — and it’s a welcome change for those who have shied away from the larger model purely due to its weight.
The iPhone 15 Pro and iPhone 15 Pro Max also get narrower bezels around the screen and rounded edges on the front and back glass that make it more comfortable to hold without a case. A new Action button also replaces the traditional ring/silent switch on the side. Plus, Apple finally switched out its proprietary Lightning port for a more standard USB-C port.
These changes come equally to the iPhone 15 Pro and iPhone 15 Pro Max, along with the same IP68 dust and water resistance as prior models, which rates them for a maximum depth of 6 meters of water for up to 30 minutes.
Nevertheless, we think the iPhone 15 Pro Max gets a slight edge over its smaller sibling this year. A larger screen is always nice, but with prior 6.7-inch iPhone Pro models, the trade-off was dealing with a heftier phone. The iPhone 14 Pro Max was among the heaviest in its class, outweighing even Samsung’s Galaxy S23 Ultra. Thanks to Apple’s change in materials, you can now get the larger screen in a lighter and more manageable package.
Winner: iPhone 15 Pro MaxiPhone 15 Pro vs. iPhone 15 Pro Max: display
The iPhone 15 Pro and iPhone 15 Pro Max feature the same always-on Super Retina XDR Display with Apple’s variable refresh rate ProMotion technology. This allows the iPhone to dynamically adjust the refresh rate from 10Hz to 120Hz, giving you smooth scrolling and fast-paced action when you need it and saving power when you don’t. The screens also drop to 1Hz when in always-on mode.
If you’re coming from an iPhone 14 Pro model, you won’t find any surprises here; the displays appear identical to what Apple used last year. However, that’s not a bad thing; Apple’s Super Retina XDR Display remains one of the best screens you’ll find on any smartphone today, with vibrant and balanced colors, a buttery smooth refresh rate, and an always-on display that nothing else can match.
Once again, the obvious difference between the two iPhone 15 Pro models is the size, but Apple has made sure that the resolution has been proportionally adjusted for the larger screen so that both iPhones offer the same crispness and clarity. That means a 2,556 x 1,179-pixel screen for the 6.1-inch iPhone 15 Pro and 2,796 x 1,290 pixels for the 6.7-inch display on the iPhone 15 Pro Max. That works out to 460 pixels per inch (ppi) for both.
The displays on the iPhone 15 Pro and iPhone 15 Pro Max can also both reach 2,000 nits of outdoor brightness and 1,600 nits of peak brightness, once again mirroring the specs of last year’s iPhone 14 Pro and iPhone 14 Pro Max.
While opting for the iPhone 15 Pro Max will get you a more expansive canvas to work on, that’s the only display advantage it has over the iPhone 15 Pro. Since not everyone needs a larger screen, we’re calling this one a tie.
Winner: TieiPhone 15 Pro vs. iPhone 15 Pro Max: performance and battery
Although Apple is now reserving its most powerful silicon for its iPhone Pro models. This year, that’s the A17 Pro — a new generation of silicon that drops Apple’s “Bionic” branding and promises to turn the iPhone 15 Pro and iPhone 15 Pro Max into gaming powerhouses.
The A17 Pro has a six-core CPU that’s made up of two high-performance cores and four high-efficiency cores, plus Apple’s 16-core Neural Engine and a new six-core GPU.
