Apple iPhone 15 Pro Max vs Apple iPhone 17
The Verdict
The Apple iPhone 15 Pro Max and Apple iPhone 17 sit in the same category and end up appealing to slightly different buyers. The Apple iPhone 17 is the cheaper of the two at $799 versus $1,199, a difference of about $400. The Apple iPhone 17 is the newer release, which usually means a faster chipset and longer software support. Apple iPhone 15 Pro Max stands out for first apple titanium frame, lighter than predecessor, while Apple iPhone 17 is praised for a19 chip with improved efficiency. Use the side-by-side spec table below to compare cameras, displays, battery life and connectivity in detail and decide which one fits your priorities.
Who Should Buy
Buy the Apple iPhone 15 Pro Max if…
- →First Apple titanium frame, lighter than predecessor
- →Powerful A17 Pro chip with hardware ray tracing
- →New 5x tetraprism telephoto camera
Buy the Apple iPhone 17 if…
- →A19 chip with improved efficiency
- →Ceramic Shield 2 front and back
- →48MP main camera with improved processing
Pros & Cons
Apple iPhone 15 Pro Max
Pros
- First Apple titanium frame, lighter than predecessor
- Powerful A17 Pro chip with hardware ray tracing
- New 5x tetraprism telephoto camera
- USB-C with USB 3 transfer speeds
- Excellent ProMotion 120Hz display
Cons
- Premium pricing
- Heavy device despite titanium
- No charging speed improvements
- Initial overheating reports at launch
Apple iPhone 17
Pros
- A19 chip with improved efficiency
- Ceramic Shield 2 front and back
- 48MP main camera with improved processing
- ProMotion 120Hz display
Cons
- Still only 27W wired charging
- No telephoto lens
- 8GB RAM vs 12GB on Pro models
Full Specifications
| Spec | Apple iPhone 15 Pro Max | Apple iPhone 17 |
|---|---|---|
| Software | iOS 17 | iOS 19 |
| Body | ||
| Weight | 221 g | 174 g |
| Material | Titanium frame | Aluminum frame, Ceramic Shield 2 |
| IP rating | IP68 | IP68 |
| Dimensions | 159.9 x 76.7 x 8.25 mm | 147 x 71 x 7.8 mm |
| Camera | ||
| Main camera | 48 MP | 48 MP, f/1.6, OIS |
| Front camera | 12 MP | 24 MP, f/1.9, Center Stage |
| Video | 4K@60fps Dolby Vision | 4K@60fps, Cinematic mode |
| Telephoto | 12 MP 5x | — |
| Ultrawide | 12 MP | — |
| Memory | ||
| RAM | 8 GB | 8 GB |
| Storage options | 256 GB, 512 GB, 1 TB | 128 GB, 256 GB, 512 GB |
| Battery | ||
| Capacity | 4422 mAh | 3600 mAh |
| Charging | 27W wired | 27W wired |
| Wireless charging | 15W MagSafe | 15W MagSafe |
| Display | ||
| Size | 6.7 inches | 6.1 inches |
| Type | Super Retina XDR OLED, LTPO | Super Retina XDR OLED |
| Resolution | 2796 x 1290 | 1179 x 2556 |
| Refresh rate | 120Hz | 120Hz |
| Brightness (nits) | 2000 | 2000 |
| Processor | ||
| CPU | Hexa-core | 6-core |
| GPU | Apple GPU (6-core) | 5-core GPU |
| Chipset | Apple A17 Pro | Apple A19 |
| Connectivity | ||
| 5G | ||
| NFC | ||
| USB | USB-C 3.2 Gen 2 | USB-C 3.0 |
| Wi-Fi | Wi-Fi 6E | Wi-Fi 7 |
| Bluetooth | 5.3 | 5.4 |
Want to compare a third product?
Add another product for a 3-way comparison.
Related Comparisons
This comparison is based on verified manufacturer specifications covering display, performance, camera, battery, and build quality. Scores are generated by analyzing specs across weighted categories on a 10-point scale. Learn more about our methodology.
Explore more in phones, see all Apple products or all Apple products. View full details for the Apple iPhone 15 Pro Max or the Apple iPhone 17.