iPhone 15 Pro vs. 15 Pro Max Buyer's Guide: 10 Differences Compared

Apple recently unveiled the iPhone 15 Pro and ‌iPhone 15‌ Pro Max as the successors to the iPhone 14 Pro and iPhone 14 Pro Max, featuring a new titanium design, an Action button, a USB-C port, the A17 Pro chip, and more. As Apple's premium flagship offerings, the ‌iPhone 15‌ Pro and ‌iPhone 15‌ Pro Max are the most fully-featured iPhones available.

iPhone 15 Pro vs 15 Pro Max Buyers Guide Alt
The ‌iPhone 15‌ Pro starts at $999 and the ‌iPhone 15‌ Pro Max starts at $1,199. For the Pro Max model, this is a $100 price increase over last year's model, but there is also no longer a 128GB storage configuration available for this device, meaning that it is effectively only a price hike if you normally buy this model.

Both phones have the same OLED Super Retina XDR always-on display with ProMotion and the Dynamic Island, the A17 Pro chip, 5G connectivity, a "Pro" rear camera setup, and are available in the same color options. Although the two phones share the vast majority of features, there are ten important differences between the devices. Our guide highlights the crucial differences between the ‌iPhone 15‌ Pro and ‌iPhone 15‌ Pro Max, and helps to answer the question of how to decide which of these two iPhone models is best for you.

‌iPhone 15‌ Pro ‌iPhone 15‌ Pro Max
6.1-inch OLED Super Retina XDR display with 2532-by-1170-pixel resolution 6.7-inch OLED Super Retina XDR display with 2778-by-1284-pixel resolution
12-megapixel Telephoto camera with ƒ/2.8 aperture 12-megapixel Telephoto camera with ƒ/2.8 aperture and larger sensor
Telephoto camera with second-generation sensor-shift optical image stabilization Telephoto camera with folded tetraprism design and autofocus 3D sensor-shift module
0.5x, 1x, 2x, 3x optical zoom 0.5x, 1x, 2x, and 5x optical zoom
23-hour battery life (during video playback) 29-hour battery life (during video playback)
5.77-inch (146.6mm) height 6.29-inch (159.9mm) height
2.78-inch (70.6mm) width 3.02-inch (76.7mm) width
6.60-ounce (187 grams) weight 7.81-ounce (221 grams) weight
128GB, 256GB, 512GB, or 1TB storage 256GB, 512GB, or 1TB storage
$999 (128GB), $1,099 (256GB), $1,299 (512GB), or $1,499 (1TB) $1,199 (256GB), $1,399 (512GB), or $1,599 (1TB)

Just like some previous ‌iPhone‌ models offered in two sizes, such as the ‌iPhone‌ 12 Pro and iPhone 12 Pro Max, there is a major additional camera feature to be gained with the larger model. This year, that's 5x telephoto optical zoom, which is ideal for sports or wildlife photography since it can get even closer to a subject.

iPhone 15 Pro Max provides the longest optical zoom ever on iPhone: 5x at 120mm. Great for close-ups, wildlife photos, and catching the action from further distances, the new Telephoto camera on iPhone 15 Pro Max has an innovative tetraprism design with a combined optical image stabilization and autofocus 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 hardware enhancements of the ‌iPhone 15‌ Pro Max's telephoto camera. The Main and Ultra Wide cameras, are, however, identical between the two devices.

The ‌iPhone 15‌ Pro Max represents the most you can get out of an ‌iPhone‌ with the best possible battery life, but that does not necessarily translate into a worthwhile purchase for all users. Some users may prefer a 3x optical zoom over a 5x optical zoom, in which case the ‌iPhone 15‌ Pro is a better choice. Ultimately, the alternative photography capabilities of the devices come down to this single difference. If you are more likely to use your new ‌iPhone‌ to take portrait photos, the 3x telephoto of the ‌iPhone 15‌ Pro is a better choice, while the ‌iPhone 15‌ Pro Max is unrivalled for sports and wildlife photography where you are looking to shoot subjects that are much farther away.

Combined with longer battery life and a larger display, the ‌iPhone 15‌ Pro Max differs from the ‌iPhone 15‌ Pro relatively significantly. The added $200 in price for the ‌iPhone 15‌ Pro Max seems fair for its additional display area, battery life, storage, and camera technology but it is important to weigh up these factors in your personal use case. This shrinks to a $100 price difference if you normally buy a 256GB model.

iphone 15 pro gray
If you normally purchase a 128GB ‌iPhone‌ "Pro Max" model, it may be time to look at the smaller model this year, since getting the larger model will necessitate spending $100 more than usual and getting 256GB of storage, which you may not use up. On the other hand, if you always purchase an ‌iPhone‌ with 256GB of storage, you may be more inclined to buy the ‌iPhone 15‌ Pro Max.

Likewise, a larger, heavier 6.7-inch ‌iPhone‌ is not for everyone. Some may find the ‌iPhone 15‌ Pro Max's size excessive or uncomfortably large to hold, while others will love the larger display for consuming media. 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 the ‌iPhone 15‌ Pro and ‌iPhone 15‌ Pro Max is undoubtedly screen size, but comfort, pocketability, weight, battery life, and camera technology are also important considerations that will depend based on your personal needs and preferences. If you are hesitant about the size and weight of the ‌iPhone 15‌ Pro Max, it may be better to stick with the ‌iPhone 15‌ Pro, but it otherwise unlikely to disappoint, especially if price is not an issue.

Popular Stories

2007 iPhone

Apple Discontinuing This 18-Year-Old iPhone Feature

Saturday February 8, 2025 3:51 pm PST by
The end of an 18-year era is on the horizon for the iPhone. Apple reportedly plans to announce a new iPhone SE as soon as next week, and the device is expected to feature a full-screen design with Face ID, instead of a Touch ID home button. That means Apple will no longer sell any new iPhone models with a home button, for the first time since the original iPhone launched. The home button...
oppo find n5 fingers

World's Thinnest Foldable Phone Launches Next Week

Monday February 10, 2025 3:05 am PST by
Oppo has confirmed a February 20 global launch for its Find N5, which the company claims is the world's thinnest device in the foldable phone category. The phone is expected to be re-branded as the OnePlus Open 2 in the US. The Chinese vendor has been teasing the device in the last few weeks, touting its waterproofing and nearly invisible display crease, and highlighting its thinness by compa...
m2 macbook air blue

M4 MacBook Air Release Continues to Appear Imminent

Monday February 10, 2025 10:56 am PST by
There continue to be signs of a new MacBook Air with an M4 chip, indicating that we could see the machine launch in the not too distant future. A private account on X today shared the identifiers that the MacBook Air will use, and those identifiers correspond to the M4 chip. According to the source, both the 13-inch MacBook Air and the 15-inch MacBook Air will be equipped with Apple's...
sequoia

Apple Releases macOS Sequoia 15.3.1

Monday February 10, 2025 10:11 am PST by
Apple today released macOS Sequoia 15.3.1, a minor update to the macOS Sequoia operating system that came out last September. macOS 15.3.1 comes a few weeks after the launch of macOS Sequoia 15.3. Mac users can download the ‌‌‌macOS Sequoia‌‌‌ update through the Software Update section of System Settings. Apple has also released macOS 13.7.4 and macOS 14.7.4 for those who are...
watchOS 11 Thumb 2 1

Apple Releases watchOS 11.3.1

Monday February 10, 2025 10:04 am PST by
Apple today released watchOS 11.3.1, a minor update to the operating system that runs on the Apple Watch. watchOS 11.3.1 is compatible with the Apple Watch Series 6 and later, all Apple Watch Ultra models, and the Apple Watch SE 2. watchOS 11.3.1 can be downloaded by opening up the Apple Watch app and going to General > Software Update. To install the new software, the Apple Watch needs to...
apple silicon mac lineup 2024 feature purple

Apple Increases Mac Trade-In Values for a Limited Time

Sunday February 9, 2025 3:53 pm PST by
Apple today increased its estimated trade-in values for select Mac models in the United States, with the full changes outlined below. Apple says the extra trade-in credit for select Macs is available with the purchase of an eligible new Apple device through April 2. The trade-in values increased by between $10 and $50. Model New Value Old Value MacBook Pro Up to $925 ...
Powerbeats Pro 2 Orange

Powerbeats Pro 2 Given to Customer Early, Expected to Debut Tomorrow

Monday February 10, 2025 7:42 am PST by
Apple's long-awaited Powerbeats Pro 2 are finally expected to be announced this Tuesday. Ahead of time, one lucky Walmart customer was able to get their hands on the earbuds early, according to a since-deleted Reddit post over the weekend. A leaked image of the Powerbeats Pro 2 in Electric Orange "My local Walmart had them in the cage," the Reddit user explained. "I asked if I can buy them...
iOS 18

Apple Releases iOS 18.3.1 With Bug Fixes

Monday February 10, 2025 10:09 am PST by
Apple today released iOS 18.3.1 and iPadOS 18.3.1, minor updates for the iOS 18 and iPadOS 18 operating systems that came out last September. iOS 18.3.1 comes two weeks after Apple released iOS 18.3. The new software can be downloaded on eligible iPhones and iPads over-the-air by going to Settings > General > Software Update. Apple has also released iPadOS 17.7.5 for those still running...

Top Rated Comments

BradWI Avatar
18 months ago
Being able to access the entire screen one-handed on the Pro outweighs any of the Max advantages for me.
Score: 20 Votes (Like | Disagree)
Zeddi92 Avatar
18 months ago

We all know that the zoom range up to 2x uses the main camera lens, shot at 48 MP then "binned" to 24 MP to create the image.

What happens in higher focal lengths between 2x and 5x? Is it shooting with telephoto lens at 48 MP then "binned" to lower megapixel to create the image? Or is the telephoto lens capable of optically zooming to those focal length? Or is it a combination digital interpolation with the main lens and telephoto lens?
Since the iPhones have no moving part you can guess the answer. But you dont have to guess, there are already reviews online. The iPhone 15 Pro Max shoots everything between 1x an 5x fl with the main camera and digital zoom. That makes images with eg 3x fl way better with a Pro than with a Pro Max. On the other hand the Pro Max starts to shine onwards the 5x fl, as even the digital zoom is way crisper for a 10x fl. In the end it matters what you personally prefer.
Score: 7 Votes (Like | Disagree)
jonnysods Avatar
18 months ago
The value of the 256gb Pro is challenging when compared to the base Max specs. I’m coming from a 13 mini and don’t want a phone that big, but I didn’t really think through the value proposition. Now I’m a little indecisive!
Score: 6 Votes (Like | Disagree)
Mac-ajs Avatar
18 months ago
10 "important differences" that amount to size and camera
I'm sorry MacRumors but this article has clickbait written all over it. It's preposterous to count screen size AND then height, width and weight as separate factors. Battery life is a function of size. Price is a function of size. Three different camera specs == camera difference. 10 == two (you forgot to mention that you are counting in binary)
Score: 6 Votes (Like | Disagree)
Mitsjke Avatar
18 months ago
Don’t forget that you have to choose between 3x or 5x optical zoom.

There is no 3x optical zoom on the iPhone 15 Pro Max.

So if you find yourself needing 3x more often than 5x you better take the normal 15 Pro.

Because then you get native optical zoom. With the Pro Max you get the same digital zoom as the digital 15x in the current pro’s.
Score: 6 Votes (Like | Disagree)
Love-hate ? relationship Avatar
18 months ago

Being able to access the entire screen one-handed on the Pro outweighs any of the Max advantages for me.
Honestly even with the pro it's quite hard. 5.9" would be neat ;)
Score: 5 Votes (Like | Disagree)