Each year, we come across several new iPhone models that expose us to a variety of features. Further, making us wonder which phone is better, the iPhone 15 Pro Max vs. iPhone 16 Pro Max, and whether it is worth switching from the iPhone 15 to the 16 model.
To help our readers navigate this question with ease, our professional tech geeks took it upon themselves to find the answer to this query. So scroll down to learn and understand the differences between iPhone 15 Pro Max Vs iPhone 16 Pro Max.
We understand that it might be difficult when it comes to switching your existing phone for a new model, especially when you have little to no knowledge of the specifications. For this reason, we have listed a comprehensive table highlighting key characteristics of the iPhone 15 Pro Max vs. iPhone 16 Pro Max.
Specification | iPhone 15 Pro Max | iPhone 16 Pro Max |
Display | 6.9” ProMotion Technology | 6.7” ProMotion Technology |
Apple Intelligence | Yes | Yes |
Chip | A18 Pro chip | A17 Pro chip |
Camera Control | Easier and faster access with Camera Control Button | – |
Camera System | 48MP Fusion | 48MP Main |
48MP Ultra Wide | Ultra Wide | |
Telephoto | Telephoto | |
48MP Macro Photography | Macro Photography | |
Dolby Vision up to 4K at 120fps | Dolby Vision up to 4K at 60fps | |
Visual Intelligence | – | |
Optical Zoom | .5x, 1x, 2x, 5x | .5x, 1x, 2x, 5x |
Dynamic Island | Yes | Yes |
SOS | Emergency SOS via Satellite | Emergency SOS via Satellite |
Crash Detection | Crash Detection | |
Roadside Assistance via Satellite | Roadside Assistance via Satellite | |
Messages via Satellite | Messages via Satellite | |
Playback | Up to 33 hours video playback | Up to 29 hours video playback |
USB-C | Supports USB 3 for up to 20x faster transfers | Supports USB 3 for up to 20x faster transfers |
Face ID | Yes | Yes |
5G | Superfast 5 cellular | Superfast 5 cellular |
Ceramic Shield | Latest-generation Ceramic Shield front | Ceramic Shield tougher than any smartphone glass |
Capacity | 256GB | 256GB |
512GB | 512GB | |
1TB | 1TB | |
Weight | 7.99 ounces | 7.81 ounces |
Apple Pay | Pay with your phone | Pay with your phone |
Send or receive money via iMessage | Send or receive money via iMessage | |
Pay using the Express Transit | Pay using the Express Transit | |
Fast-charge Capability | Up to 50% in 35 minutes with 20W adapter | Up to 50% in 35 minutes with 20W adapter |
Sensors | LiDAR Scanner | LiDAR Scanner |
Dual ambient light sensors | Dual ambient light sensors | |
Proximity sensor | Proximity sensor | |
SIM Card | Dual eSIM | Dual eSIM |
Connector | USB-C | USB-C |
Supports USB 3 (up to 10Gb/s) | Supports USB 3 (up to 10Gb/s) |
This is how the two models, 15 Pro Max and 16 Pro Max, differ and share similar elements amongst one another.
If you are currently confused about the iPhone 16 Pro Max vs iPhone 15 Pro Max comparison, then this section can help you out with your query. Here we have listed a detailed difference between the two models for you to make an informed decision. So without any further ado, let’s begin.
Both the models, 15 Pro Max and 16 Pro Max, come in three variants, namely 256 GB, 512 GB, and 1 TB, offering users a broad set of capacities to choose from. However, they share a significant difference in terms of size and weight, as you can tell by the table mentioned below.
Aspect | iPhone 16 Pro Max | iPhone 15 Pro Max |
Weight | 7.99 ounces (227 grams) | 7.81 ounces (221 grams) |
Depth | 0.32 inch (8.25 mm) | 0.32 inch (8.25 mm) |
Height | 6.42 inches (163 mm) | 6.29 inches (159.9 mm) |
Width | 3.06 inches (77.6 mm) | 3.02 inches (76.7 mm) |
Looking at the table above, you can already tell that the iPhone 16 Pro Max is a bit heavier with a bigger build.
Camera and video quality make and break the model, and in both iPhones, it is one of the things that differs. This means, in the iPhone 16 Pro Max, you get the camera system of 48MP Fusion, 48MP Ultra Wide, along with 12MP Telephoto.
Whereas, in the iPhone 15 Pro Max, you get to experience a 48MP Main, 12MP Ultra Wide with a 12MP Telephoto. Other than this, everything else remains constant, with various zoom options and second-generation sensor shift optical image stabilization.
Camera Aspect | iPhone 16 Pro Max | iPhone 15 Pro Max |
Pro Camera System | 48MP Fusion, 48MP Ultra Wide, and 12MP Telephoto | 48MP Main, 12MP Ultra Wide, and 12MP Telephoto |
Aperture | Fusion: 48MP, f/1.78 aperture Ultra Wide: 48MP, f/2.2 aperture Telephoto: 12MP, f/2.8 aperture | Main: 48MP, f/1.78 aperture Ultra Wide: 12MP, f/2.2 aperture Telephoto: 12MP, f/2.8 aperture |
Optimal Zoom Options | .5x, 1x, 2x, 5x | .5x, 1x, 2x, 5x |
Adaptive True Tone Flash | Yes | Yes |
Photonic Engine | Yes | Yes |
Deep Fusion | Yes | Yes |
Smart HDR 5 for photos | Yes | Yes |
Night Mode | Yes | Yes |
Night Mode Portraits | Yes | Yes |
Photographic Styles | Latest-generation | Yes |
Macro Photography | 48MP | Yes |
Spatial Photos | Yes | Yes |
Apple ProRAW | Yes | Yes |
In the video aspect, both models support 4K Dolby Vision video recording at 24 fps, 25 fps, 30 fps, and 60 fps. However, in the 16 Pro Max model, you can also record at 100 fps or 120 fps in Fusion. Along with this, in the ProRes video, you can record up to 4K at 120 fps in the 16 Pro Max model, whereas in the 15 Pro Max model, you can record up to 4K at 60 fps only.
Video Aspect | iPhone 16 Pro Max | iPhone 15 Pro Max |
4K Dolby Vision Video | Recording at 24 fps, 25 fps, 30 fps, 60 fps, 100 fps (Fusion), and 120 fps (Fusion) | Recording at 24 fps, 25 fps, 30 fps, and 60 fps |
1080p Dolby Vision Video | Recording at 25 fps, 30 fps, 60 fps, 100 fps (Fusion), and 120 fps (Fusion) | Recording at 25 fps, 30 fps, and 60 fps |
Action Mode | Yes | Yes |
ProRes Video Recording | Up to 4K at 120 fps | Up to 4K at 60 fps |
Log Video Recording | Yes | Yes |
Macro Video Recording | Including slo-mo and time-lapse | Including slo-mo and time-lapse |
Night mode Time-lapse | Yes | Yes |
Spatial Audio and stereo recording | Spatial Audio and stereo recording | Stereo recording |
Studio-quality four-mic array | Yes | – |
Wind noise reduction | Yes | – |
Audio Mix | Yes | – |
The front camera specifications are the same across both the iPhone 15 Pro Max and iPhone 16 Pro Max. Overall, we’d say the 16 model creates a bit warmer images than the other one.
The more battery life a device has, the more endurance it will have in the long run. Moreover, that will be the number of times you will be charging it for use. In the comparison of these models, the iPhone 16 Pro Max offers more playback time than the iPhone 15 Pro Max.
Aspect | iPhone 16 Pro Max | iPhone 15 Pro Max |
Video playback | Up to 33 hours | Up to 29 hours |
Video playback (streamed) | Up to 29 hours | Up to 25 hours |
Audio playback | Up to 105 hours | Up to 95 hours |
Fast-charge capable | Up to 50% in 35 minutes with 20W adapter | Up to 50% in 35 minutes with 20W adapter |
Built-in rechargeable lithium-ion battery | Yes | Yes |
Other than this, you can play games up to 10 hours on both devices, with a 5-hour difference in calls, where 16 Pro Max is more powerful. Moreover, the efficient Camera Control button makes it easier to capture and access the photos and videos.
On the basis of performance, the iPhone 16 Pro Max definitely supports a newer, faster, and much better-performing chip. For instance, it supports the A18 Pro chip in comparison to the A17 Pro chip, which is present in the 15 Pro Max model.
Aspect | iPhone 16 Pro Max | iPhone 15 Pro Max |
Apple Chip | A18 Pro chip | A17 Pro chip |
CPU | 6-core CPU with 2 performance and 4 efficiency cores | 6-core CPU with 2 performance and 4 efficiency cores |
GPU | 6–core GPU | 6–core GPU |
Neural Engine | 16-core Neural Engine | 16-core Neural Engine |
The overall specs of the devices mirror each other, other than the usual Apple chip, which is better in the iPhone 16 Pro Max model than the iPhone 15 Pro Max device.
Other than the different sizes of the two devices, both offer similar features to their users. This includes how the phone looks and interacts on the physical front with the user.
However, in the iPhone 16 Pro Max, you get to experience the 1 nit minimum brightness, which means that you can lower the brightness to a level of a single candle placed in a one-meter square area.
Aspect | iPhone 16 Pro Max | iPhone 15 Pro Max |
Super Retina XDR display | Yes | Yes |
OLED display | 6.9” | 6.7” |
Dynamic Island | Yes | Yes |
Always-On display | Yes | Yes |
HDR display | Yes | Yes |
True Tone display | Yes | Yes |
Haptic Touch | Yes | Yes |
Wide color display (P3) | Yes | Yes |
1 nit minimum brightness | Yes | – |
If you like to keep your phone on very low brightness with a bigger screen size, then the iPhone 16 Pro Max is the one for you.
The iPhone 15 Pro Max comes in Natural Titanium, Blue Titanium, White Titanium, and Black Titanium. On the other hand, the iPhone 16 Pro Max comes in Desert Titanium, Natural Titanium, White Titanium, and Black Titanium. Both models come in the same capacity range, i.e., 256 GB, 512 GB, 1 TB, etc.
Aspect | iPhone 16 Pro Max | iPhone 15 Pro Max |
256 GB | $1199 | $835 |
512 GB | $1399 | $829 |
1 TB | $1599 | $931 |
However, one significant change between the models is the price range it comes in; that means where you can get a 256 GB iPhone 16 Pro Max at $1199, at the same place the iPhone 15 Pro Max comes at just $835.
Now you know the major differences between the iPhone 15 Pro Max vs. iPhone 16 Pro Max.
After the entire analysis, we have come down to the question of whether it is worth switching from iPhone 15 Pro Max to 16 Pro Max or waiting for the iPhone 17 release date or to check the fresh look of iPhone 17 pro max and feature breakdown is the way to go.
However, we have realized that both the iPhones in question (15 Pro Max and 16 Pro Max) are just a generation apart from one another, making them perform very similarly to each other, from camera performance to operational efficiency.
The iPhone 16 Pro Max does bring a bigger display, better speaker quality, a longer battery life, faster wireless charging, and Camera Control. However, the iPhone 15 Pro Max can provide a very similar experience with a similar user experience at a lower price, and it is more compact making it more user-friendly.
So as per our conclusion, if you are currently on the iPhone 15 Pro Max and have no issue with your handset, then there is no need to switch to the iPhone 16 Pro Max model.
Moreover, if you are persistent on changing to the newer model of iPhone and wondering how to transfer contacts, or getting back your deleted data. Then don’t be hesitant. This is because iOS gives the option to resolve this effortlessly to all its users.
Also Read: How to Change Apple ID on iPhone Without Getting Stressed in 2025?
Ans: Yes, the iPhone 16 Pro Max is better than the 15 Pro Max model, as it has a better chipset, a larger display, better performance, a longer battery life, and quicker MagSafe charging.
Ans: No, the iPhone 17 isn’t out just yet. However, like every year, the common date for it will be out by September 2025.
Ans: The iPhone 15 Pro Max has the same display as the 15 Plus; however, the Pro Max version is way heavier than the Plus model.
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