iPhone 17 Pro Max vs iPhone 15 Pro Max: Main differences to expect
Intro
Even if you don't follow the smartphone trends and the mobile market, you might be well aware that Apple holds its most important hardware events in September every year. This September, in particular, we expect Apple to unveil the iPhone 17 generation, helmed by none other than the most advanced iPhone 17 Pro Max.
The iPhone 17 Pro Max will be welcoming some essential, albeit minor, upgrades. For example, the rear and front cameras are getting some improvements, as well as faster performance thanks to a newer and improved chip, larger battery, and an interesting design language that might rustle some feathers.
How will all this compare to the iPhone 15 Pro Max?
iPhone 17 Pro Max vs iPhone 15 Pro Max expected differences:
| iPhone 17 Pro Max | iPhone 15 Pro Max |
|---|---|
| Refreshed design language with a wide Pixel-like camera strip at the back | The same standard design language with a significantly smaller camera island |
| Slightly thicker at 8.7mm | Thinner at 8.2mm |
| Titanium frame, but a switch to aluminum is possible | The first iPhone with titanium frame |
| Triple 48MP cameras at the back, with a higher-res periscope camera | 48MP main camera, but 12MP ultrawide and periscope cameras |
| 8K video-recording possilbe | 4K60FPS video-recording |
| 24MP FaceTime camera | Lower-res 12MP FaceTime camera |
| Apple A19 Pro chipset | Apple A17 Pro chip on board, the first 3nm chip |
| Likely 12GB of RAM | 8GB of RAM on board |
| Brighter 6.9-inch screen (3000 nits) | Smaller 6.7-inch display, with lower 2000-nit peak brightness |
| Miniaturized Dynamic Island notch possible | A standard Dynamic Island cutout |
| Possibly a battery larger than 4,700mAh | Smaller 4,422mAh battery |
| Faster 27W wired charging (up to 40W in some cases) Faster 25W wireless MagSafe 2.0 charging | 25W wired charging 15W MagSafe charging |
| Possible reverse wireless charging | No reverse wireless charging |
Table of Contents:
Design and Size
Changes inbound, but are they all positive ones?
The iPhone 17 Pro Max next to its quite diverse siblings (Image Credit-Weibo)
One of the most obvious changes that might befall the iPhone 17 Pro Max as per the majority of the leaks is a somewhat controversial design change at the rear.
It seems that while some phones are completely getting rid of the oversized camera islands, the iPhone 17 Pro Max is doubling-down with an oversized camera strip, which will now span nearly side-to-side and will definitely draw some parallels with Google's Pixel phones.
iPhone 17 Pro Max render (Image Credit-@asherdipps
In terms of size, we expect the iPhone 17 Pro Max to be marginally thicker at 8.75mm in comparison with the iPhone 15 Pro Max's 8.25mm body, but besides that, the two will likely end up being very similar in terms of size and ergonomics. We only hope the larger camera island doesn't make the phone too top-heavy.
Other than that, the iPhone 17 Pro Max will be mostly similar to the iPhone 16 Pro Max, and in extension, to the iPhone 15 Pro Max. We will get the same flat design language with a Dynamic Island notch up front (but possibly smaller), a customizable Action Button, a useful Camera Control button, and a USB-C port at the bottom.
| iPhone model | iPhone 17 Pro Max | iPhone 15 Pro Max |
|---|---|---|
| Thickness | 8.73 mm | 8.25 mm |
Meanwhile, the iPhone 15 Pro Max is largely the blueprint that shaped its successors in more ways than one. It was the first titanium iPhone, the first to adopt a USB-C port at the bottom, and also the first iPhone to ditch the iconic mute switch for a customizable Action Button.
While we expect the iPhone 17 Pro Max to feature a titanium frame, a round of rumors claims that Apple might be exploring the idea of switching back to aluminum once again. The possible reasons why Apple might do that is to bring costs down and rely less and less on China, which is the global leader in titanium production. With the US-Chinese trade tensions at their most extreme, one could find the logic in that potential change.
Display Differences
Apple rarely changes too many things at once, and this is seen best in the screen section.
We expect the iPhone 17 Pro Max to retain the iPhone 16 Pro Max's 6.9-inch Liquid Retina XDR display with ProMotion that enables up to 120Hz refresh rate.
Apple might change things a bit with a slightly smaller Dynamic Island notch up front, which would take even less screen real estate. Moreover, Apple could source Samsung's M14 OLED panel for the iPhone 17 Pro Max, which would boost both the efficiency of the panel and its peak brightness, which might max out at around 3,000 nits of peak brightness, up from 2,000 nits.
| iPhone model | iPhone 17 Pro Max | iPhone 15 Pro Max |
|---|---|---|
| Screen size | 6.9-inch | 6.7-inch |
| Peak brightness | ~3,000 nits | 2,000 nits |
How does the iPhone 15 Pro Max compare?
Well, this one comes with a slightly smaller 6.7-inch Liquid Retina XDR OLED display, with slightly thicker bezels, and peak brightness of 2,000 nits. Its Dynamic Island is fairly standard and just as big as the ones on the iPhone 14 Pro Max and the iPhone 16 Pro Max.
Performance and Software
The next chapter in performance for Apple
It probably will come as no surprise that the iPhone 17 Pro Max will be powered by the next mobile Apple chipset in line, the Apple A19 Pro.
We suppose that this one will be once again built on TSMC's 3nm manufacturing node, but some rumors claim it might actually be based on a denser and more advanced 2nm manufacturing node. The reason for this speculation is apparently TSMC moving ahead of schedule with its facilities' readiness to usher in the more sophisticated process.
Still, be it 3nm or a 2nm chip, the A19 Pro will certainly be an improvement over the A17 Pro that clicks and ticks inside the iPhone 15 Pro Max. The latter was the first 3nm chipset used on an iPhone, and actually the first 3nm chip on a mobile device.
| iPhone model | iPhone 17 Pro Max | iPhone 15 Pro Max |
|---|---|---|
| Chip | Apple A19 Pro | Apple A17 Pro |
| Manufacturing process | 3nm | 3nm |
| Memory | 12GB | 8GB |
While we expect improvements in performance and efficiency, they might not be that grand between the older and the upcoming iPhone generations. That's largely because the iPhone 15 Pro Max is still a very capable and able device.
The iPhone 17 Pro max will feature 12GB of RAM for futureproofness' sake, whereas the iPhone 15 Pro Max boasted 8GB of RAM. The latter made it compatible with Apple Intelligence, and the iPhone 17 Pro Max will be, too. The problem here is on the software side, as Apple's AI suite enjoyed quite a troubled launch and is currently in a rough, fairly unfinished state.
The iPhone 17 Pro Max will come with iOS 19 out of the box, and the iPhone 15 Pro Max will be compatible with the upcoming software update. It is expected to deliver a major visual overhaul that will adopt the visionOS visuals. New Apple Intelligence features will probably get revealed as well.
Camera
Gradual evolution in action
The iPhone 17 Pro Max will feature a triple camera system, like most of its predecessors.
The 48MP main and utlrawide cameras will be joined by a new 48MP 5X periscope camera. The latter will likely allow for lossless in-sensor cropping and more capable hybrid zoom. We'd also see a new 24MP FaceTime camera, which will finally upgrade the 12MP FaceTime camera that has been for years at the front of iPhones.
| iPhone model | iPhone 17 Pro Max | iPhone 15 Pro Max |
|---|---|---|
| Main camera | 48MP F1.8 | 48MP F1.8 |
| Ultrawide camera | 48MP F2.2 | 12MP F2.2 |
| Periscope camera | 48MP F2.8 5X | 12MP F 2.8 5X |
| Front camera | 24MP | 12MP |
The iPhone 15 Pro Max was the second iPhone to feature a 48MP wide camera and a periscope, but the ultrawide and the long zoom lens were 12MP ones. This one did not get a Camera Control button, but we don't really feel it's an essential feature.
Other rumors here claim that we might see 8K video-recording on the iPhone 17 Pro Max, whereas most previous iPhones maxed out at 4K@60fps. Have in mind that this feature might remain exclusive to the Pro models.
Battery Life and Charging
Cautious optimism
Apple's iPhones are on an upwards trajectory when it comes to battery size and endurance. For example, last year's iPhone 16 Pro Max featured a large 4,685mAh battery, the biggest one ever fitted on an iPhone. The iPhone 15 Pro Max, on the other hand, featured a smaller 4,422mAh battery.
Rumors claim we might see an even larger one on the iPhone 17 Pro Max, likely in the range between 4,700mAh and 5,000mAh, and the hinted increase in thickness definitely lends credibility to that.
| iPhone model | iPhone 17 Pro Max | iPhone 15 Pro Max |
|---|---|---|
| Battery size | 4,700-5,000 mAh | 4,422mAh |
| Wired charging speed | 27W (up to 40W) | 25W |
| Wireless charging speed | 25W | 15W |
At the moment, charging speeds on the iPhone 17 Pro Max are not expected to score an upgrade: 27W wired charging (up to 40W in some scenarios) and 25W MagSafe 2.0. In comparison, the iPhone 15 Pro Max features slightly slower 25W wired and 15W wireless MagSafe charging.
A new feature on the upcoming model might be reverse wireless charging, which will probably let you top up your AirPods or Apple Watch in emergencies.
Specs Comparison
Although early, we seem to know or at least be able to pinpoint a large swath of the iPhone 17 Pro Max specs. Here's how they will compare against the iPhone 16 Pro Max.
| iPhone 17 Pro Max | iPhone 15 Pro Max |
|---|---|
| Size, weight 163.0 x 77.6 x 8.73 mm | Size, weight 159.9 x 76.7 x 8.25 mm 221 gr |
| Screen 6.9" OLED 120Hz ProMotion 3000 nits peak brightness | Screen 6.7" OLED 120Hz ProMotion 2000 nits peak brightness |
| Processor A19 Pro 3nm (2nm?) | Processor A17 Pro 3nm |
| Versions: 12GB/256GB 12GB/512GB 12GB/1TB LPDDR5 | Versions: 8/256GB 8/512GB 8/1TB LPDDR5 |
| Cameras: 48MP main 48MP ultra 48MP 5X zoom 24MP front | Cameras: 48MP main 12MP ultra 12MP 5X zoom 12MP front |
| Battery: 4,700+ mAh | Battery: 4,422 mAh |
| Charging: USB-C 27W wired 25W MagSafe 2.0 | Charging: USB-C 25W wired 15W MagSafe |
Summary
Although the iPhone 15 Pro Max will be two years old by the time the iPhone 17 Pro Max arrives, we don't really feel like it will be majorly outdated. It's still a very adequate device that doesn't actually lack any major features that newer iPhones boast.
Although it's not official yet, we honestly don't get the sentiment that iPhone 15 Pro Max users should feel compelled to upgrade to the newer model.
On the other hand, if you're using an iPhone 15 Pro Max and feel like the experience is not as good as it was, then the iPhone 17 Pro Max will likely introduce decent upgrades to both performance and battery life, as well as possibly deliver much greater zoom image quality.
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