iPhone 17 Pro Max vs 15
It depends
Too close to call outright
These two are within 2 points overall — it genuinely depends on price on the day. The iPhone 17 Pro Max edges both longevity and performance, so prefer it when prices are close.
Value Score: iPhone 17 Pro Max 69 · 15 67 — methodology
The lifespan decider
When specs are close, support length decides it — this is what each phone costs per month of safe use.
Category by category
Both displays are effectively the same class.
Performance is a wash — same chip tier.
The 15 has the stronger camera system — same lens count, higher-grade sensors.
5,240mAh vs 5,088mAh — the 15 lasts longer between charges.
The iPhone 17 Pro Max is supported until Sep 2032 — 31 months longer than the 15.
Pound for pound, these two are equally good deals.
Full spec table
| Spec | iPhone 17 Pro Max | 15 |
|---|---|---|
| Price (street) | $1199 | $750 |
| Display | 6.9-inch Super Retina XDR OLED, ProMotion 1–120Hz, up to 3000 nits peak | 6.36-inch CrystalRes AMOLED, 2670×1200 (460 ppi), 1–120Hz LTPO, up to 3200 nits peak, Dolby Vision/HDR10+ |
| Chipset | Apple A19 Pro | Snapdragon 8 Elite |
| RAM | 12GB | 12GB |
| Storage | 256GB/512GB/1TB/2TB | 256GB/512GB |
| Battery | 5,088 mAh | 5,240 mAh |
| Charging | Wired fast charge — 50% in ~20 min with a 40W+ adapter; MagSafe wireless up to 25W (Qi2.2) | 90W wired, 50W wireless |
| Rear cameras | 48MP main, 48MP ultra-wide, 48MP telephoto 4x | 50MP main (Light Fusion 900, f/1.62), 50MP ultra-wide, 50MP telephoto (Leica 60mm floating) |
| Dimensions | 163.4 × 78 × 8.75 mm | 152.3 × 71.2 × 8.08 mm |
| Weight | 233 g | 191 g |
| Water resistance | IP68 | IP68 |
| Supported until | Sep 2032 | Mar 2030 |
Scores and verdicts are computed from our verified database — see exactly how. Specs from manufacturer documentation; prices reflect major US retailers.