Apple iPhone 15 Pro Max vs Moto G Stylus 5G (2023)
The Verdict
Apple's iPhone 15 Pro Max dominates in display quality with its 2000-nit Super Retina XDR OLED screen versus the Moto G Stylus 5G's 550-nit IPS LCD, making a significant difference in outdoor visibility and color accuracy. Processing power heavily favors Apple's A17 Pro chip, which outperforms the Snapdragon 6 Gen 1 substantially in real-world performance and gaming. Camera capabilities strongly lean toward the iPhone with its 48MP main sensor, 5x optical telephoto, and 4K Dolby Vision video recording compared to the Moto's 50MP main with 1080p video limits. Battery capacity favors Moto at 5000mAh versus 4422mAh, though the iPhone's efficiency likely matches or exceeds real-world longevity. Build quality differs markedly: titanium frame and IP68 rating versus plastic construction with IP52 protection. The Moto G Stylus 5G uniquely includes a stylus and costs three times less at $399. For users prioritizing premium performance, imaging, and display technology, the iPhone 15 Pro Max is the clear choice. Budget-conscious buyers willing to accept slower performance and lower-quality display will find the Moto G Stylus 5G surprisingly capable, particularly for its stylus feature and larger battery. These phones serve entirely different market segments with minimal overlap in target audience.
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 Moto G Stylus 5G (2023) if…
- →Built-in stylus for note-taking and sketching
- →5G connectivity at an affordable price
- →5000 mAh battery with great endurance
Category Scores
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
Moto G Stylus 5G (2023)
Pros
- Built-in stylus for note-taking and sketching
- 5G connectivity at an affordable price
- 5000 mAh battery with great endurance
- Wi-Fi 6E support at this price
- 120Hz display for smooth scrolling
Cons
- LCD display instead of AMOLED
- Only 4 GB RAM limits multitasking
- Slow 20W charging
- IP52 is only splash resistant
- Only one OS update guaranteed
Full Specifications
| Spec | Apple iPhone 15 Pro Max | Moto G Stylus 5G (2023) |
|---|---|---|
| Software | iOS 17 | Android 13 |
| Body | ||
| Weight | 221 g | 202 g |
| Material | Titanium frame | Plastic body |
| IP rating | IP68 | IP52 |
| Dimensions | 159.9 x 76.7 x 8.25 mm | 162.8 x 74.2 x 9.2 mm |
| Camera | ||
| Main camera | 48 MP | 50 MP, f/1.8 |
| Front camera | 12 MP | 16 MP, f/2.4 |
| Video | 4K@60fps Dolby Vision | 1080p@60fps |
| Telephoto | 12 MP 5x | — |
| Ultrawide | 12 MP | 8 MP, f/2.2 |
| Macro | — | 2 MP, f/2.4 |
| Memory | ||
| RAM | 8 GB | 4 GB |
| Storage options | 256 GB, 512 GB, 1 TB | 128 GB, 256 GB |
| Battery | ||
| Capacity | 4422 mAh | 5000 mAh |
| Charging | 27W wired | 20W TurboPower |
| Wireless charging | 15W MagSafe | No |
| Display | ||
| Size | 6.7 inches | 6.6 inches |
| Type | Super Retina XDR OLED, LTPO | IPS LCD |
| Resolution | 2796 x 1290 | 2400 x 1080 |
| Refresh rate | 120Hz | 120Hz |
| Brightness (nits) | 2000 | 550 |
| Processor | ||
| CPU | Hexa-core | Octa-core (4x2.2 GHz + 4x1.8 GHz) |
| GPU | Apple GPU (6-core) | Adreno 710 |
| Chipset | Apple A17 Pro | Qualcomm Snapdragon 6 Gen 1 |
| Connectivity | ||
| 5G | ||
| NFC | ||
| USB | USB-C 3.2 Gen 2 | USB-C 2.0 |
| Wi-Fi | Wi-Fi 6E | Wi-Fi 6E |
| Bluetooth | 5.3 | 5.1 |
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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 Motorola products. View full details for the Apple iPhone 15 Pro Max or the Moto G Stylus 5G (2023).
