Apple’s iPhone 16 Pro Max boasts a massive 6.9-inch display and a new A18 Pro chip designed to power its advanced AI capabilities. While this year’s upgrades might seem subtle at first glance, Apple is banking on refined features like the innovative Camera Control button and a sleek new Desert Titanium color to entice users. But is it enough to warrant an upgrade from the iPhone 15 Pro Max, a phone that dominated sales charts just a few months ago?
If you’re an early adopter, a power user craving the latest technology, or a photography enthusiast intrigued by the new camera features, the iPhone 16 Pro Max might be calling your name. Keep reading to see a detailed comparison of the iPhone 16 Pro Max and iPhone 15 Pro Max, and decide if it’s time to take the plunge.
Apple iPhone 16 Pro Max vs. iPhone 15 Pro Max: specs
| Specs | iPhone 16 Pro Max | iPhone 15 Pro Max |
|---|---|---|
| Size | 163 x 77.6 x 8.25mm (6.42 x 3.06 x 0.32 inches) | 159.9 x 76.7 x 8.3mm (6.30 x 3.02 x 0.33 inches) |
| Weight | 227 grams (7.99 oz) | 221 grams (7.80 oz) |
| Screen | 6.9-inch Super Retina XDR OLED
1320 x 2868 pixels ProMotion with 120Hz dynamic refresh rate Dolby Vision, 2000 nits brightness |
6.7-inch Super Retina XDR OLED
1290 x 2796 pixels ProMotion with 120Hz dynamic refresh rate Dolby Vision, 2000 nits brightness |
| Operating system | iOS 18 | Upgradable to iOS 18 |
| RAM & Storage | 256GB, 512GB, 1TB
8GB RAM |
256GB, 512GB, 1TB
8GB RAM |
| Processor | Apple A18 Pro
Six-core CPU Six-core GPU 16-core NPU |
Apple A17 Pro
Six-core CPU (2×3.78 GHz + 4×2.11 GHz) Six-core GPU 16-core NPU |
| Camera | Rear:
48-megapixel primary, f/1.8, 1/1.28″, OIS 48MP ultrawide, f/2.2, 120° FOV 12MP telephoto, f/2.8, 5x optical zoom Front: 12MP, f/1.9, 1/3.6″ |
Rear:
48MP primary, f/1.8, 1/1.28″, OIS 12MP ultrawide, f/2.2, 120° FOV 12MP telephoto, f/2.8, 5x optical zoom Front: 12MP, f/1.9, 1/3.6″ |
| Video | Rear:
4K, up to 120fps Front: 4K, up to 60fps |
Rear:
4K, up to 60fps Front: 4K, up to 60fps |
| Connectivity | Wi-Fi 7, dual-band
Bluetooth 5.3 |
Wi-Fi 6E, dual-band
Bluetooth 5.3 |
| Ports | USB-C Gen 3.2
DisplayPort |
USB-C Gen 3.2
DisplayPort |
| Water resistance | IP68 (maximum depth of 6m up to 30 minutes) | IP68 (maximum depth of 6m up to 30 minutes) |
| Battery & charging | Details of battery capacity to be confirmed
Wired via USB-C, speed to be confirmed 25W wireless charging via MagSafe 15W Qi2 wireless charging |
4,441mAh battery
Wired via USB-C, up to 27W 25W wireless charging via MagSafe 15W Qi2 wireless charging |
| Colors | Black Titanium, White Titanium, Natural Titanium, Desert Titanium | Black Titanium, White Titanium, Blue Titanium, Natural Titanium |
| Price | Starts at $1,199 | Starts at $1,199 |
| Review | iPhone 16 Pro Max | iPhone 15 Pro Max |
Apple iPhone 16 Pro Max vs. iPhone 15 Pro Max: design
On the surface, you may need help identifying many differences between the iPhone 16 Pro Max and the older 15 Pro Max. But there sure are some. The iPhone 16 Pro Max is marginally taller, more comprehensive, and heavier than last year’s Pro Max. This allows the new model to accommodate a new and expansive 6.9-inch OLED display — up from the 6.7-inch display of last year.
The iPhone 16 Pro Max introduces a novel Camera Control button, a physical addition that aims to revolutionize the mobile photography experience. This innovative button offers a tactile and intuitive way to interact with the camera, mimicking the functionality of a traditional camera’s shutter button.
With a simple tap, the Camera app launches, ready to capture fleeting moments. A second tap captures a photo, while a press and hold initiates video recording. But the Camera Control button’s capabilities extend far beyond these essential functions. A double tap, accompanied by haptic feedback, reveals a range of manual controls and zoom levels. Once a menu is activated, sliding your finger across the button allows for seamless navigation and precise zoom adjustments.
Apple has ambitious plans for the Camera Control button, with upcoming features like a Google Lens-style visual search promising to enhance its utility further. While the initial impression of the button is overwhelmingly positive, its placement could lead to accidental activation. Despite this minor drawback, the Camera Control button represents a significant step forward in mobile photography, offering a unique blend of tactile control and advanced functionality.
Apart from the new button, there are a few other noticeable changes, but those that stick out include the latest and smoother finishes on the glass back and the titanium frame. Although three of the four available colors have the same names as last year, there is some visual distinction, with this year’s models appearing less matte than the previous year — at least in the images.
In addition to these outward changes, Apple has now added four microphones to allow you to shoot more spatially apt audio that can be used with AirPods, Vision Pro, or other sound systems capable of surround sound.
Apple iPhone 16 Pro Max vs. iPhone 15 Pro Max: display
The iPhone 16 Pro Max boasts a sprawling 6.9-inch display, eclipsing even the Samsung Galaxy S24 Ultra in size. While this expansive canvas might feel unwieldy to some, those who crave screen real estate will undoubtedly appreciate the immersive experience. Apple has further refined the design by slimming down the bezels, resulting in a more elegant aesthetic and potentially enhancing gesture-based navigation.
This larger display also accommodates a higher resolution, providing a subtle improvement in sharpness over its predecessor. However, Apple hasn’t joined the race for ever-increasing brightness figures. The iPhone 16 Pro Max maintains the impressive peak brightness of its predecessor, reaching 1,600 nits typically and a dazzling 2,000 nits in high-brightness mode. While other manufacturers boast inflated numbers, Apple prioritizes real-world performance, ensuring a vibrant and easily viewable display in various lighting conditions. The result is a screen that is not only expansive and sharp but also delivers a consistently excellent viewing experience.
You get the point, though, and that is, the iPhone 16 Pro Max display gets bare minimum improvements over the last year. The 120Hz dynamic refresh rate switching, thanks to ProMotion and LTPO tech, remains the same, and so does the Dynamic Island up top.
Apple iPhone 16 Pro Max vs. iPhone 15 Pro Max: performance
Despite minimal changes on the surface, there are substantial upgrades under the hood, primarily as Apple looks to deliver sufficient power for on-device AI applications. Apple’s new A18 Pro chip on the iPhone 16 Pro Max succeeds the A17 Pro from last year. As part of Apple’s second generation of 3nm iPhone chips, the A18 Pro is fabricated on TSMC’s N3E process, resulting in better efficiency than the previous generation.
For its CPU, the A18 Pro maintains a six-core design (two performance and four efficiency core) but the frequencies are expected to be bumped up. While Apple doesn’t reveal the specific clock speeds, it claims a 15% performance boost over the A17 Pro. The CPU also has two dedicated sectors or Scalable Matrix Extension (SME) units for better performance in AI or machine learning tasks, while low-level tasks can run off it without engaging the dedicated neural engine.
Next, the GPU on the A18 Pro also comes with the same six-core design as last year, but Apple claims the “desktop-class architecture” enables 20% better performance. The new chip also supports rendering of frames that’s twice as fast with hardware accelerated ray tracing.
The 16-core neural engine is capable of up to 35 tera operations per second (TOPS). While Apple says it’s twice as fast as the “previous generation,” it is referring to the A16 and not the A17 Pro — suggesting there may not be a physical improvement.
What could contribute to better AI performance is the new 17% faster memory on the iPhone 16 Pro Max. Besides AI applications, the faster RAM could also result in an overall improvement in performance.
While Apple Intelligence is a compelling reason to upgrade to the iPhone 16 Pro Max, know that the iPhone 15 Pro Max will also be capable of all the AI-related functionality, and Apple hasn’t explicitly announced plans to limit anything to the iPhone 16 Pro.
In terms of connectivity, the iPhone 16 Pro Max gets a new Snapdragon X75 modem, and you should expect faster 5G speeds. It supports Wi-Fi 7, though support for the 6GHz band is still missing. The iPhone 16 Pro Max also gets satellite connectivity with support for emergency SOS, calling, messages, and Find My via satellite when a standard network isn’t available.
Apple iPhone 16 Pro Max vs. iPhone 15 Pro Max: battery and charging
The iPhone 16 Pro Max houses a robust 4,685mAh battery, the largest ever in an iPhone. This powerhouse effortlessly delivers all-day battery life, and then some, ensuring you can stay connected and productive without constantly searching for a charger.
While the battery capacity has significantly improved, wired charging speeds remain unchanged. You can still expect around 27W-30W, translating to roughly a 50% charge in 30 minutes. However, Apple has made strides in wireless charging. MagSafe charging now offers a faster 25W speed, a notable upgrade from the previous 15W. Qi2 wireless charging comes in at 15W, while reverse wireless charging provides 4.5W for powering up accessories.
Apple iPhone 16 Pro Max vs. iPhone 15 Pro Max: cameras
The iPhone 16 Pro Max may appear virtually identical to its predecessor at first glance, but beneath the surface lies a significantly upgraded camera system. While the 5X telephoto and 12-megapixel selfie cameras remain unchanged, the primary and ultrawide sensors have received substantial enhancements.
Apple has replaced the 48MP primary sensor with a new “Fusion” sensor. While the resolution remains the same, this new technology promises faster capture speeds, allowing you to freeze action with incredible precision. The ultrawide camera has also seen a major upgrade, jumping from 12MP to 48MP. This not only widens the field of view, enabling you to capture more expansive scenes, but also unlocks the ability to shoot 48MP ProRAW photos for greater editing flexibility.
Beyond the hardware improvements, the iPhone 16 Pro Max introduces exciting new features. Spatial photos, captured with an added dimension of depth, can now be experienced on the Apple Vision Pro headset. The powerful A18 Pro chip enables 4K video recording at a cinematic 120 frames per second (fps) with Dolby Vision. ProRes and Log recording options are also available for professional-grade workflows (external storage required). Furthermore, the iPhone 16 Pro Max utilizes four microphones to capture immersive spatial audio and isolate subjects by distance, intelligently filtering out background noise.
Apple has also revitalized its Photographic Styles feature. These refined lux filters offer more nuanced control over color and tone, allowing you to personalize your images with subtle or dramatic effects.
In practice, the iPhone 16 Pro Max delivers exceptional image quality. Photos exhibit true-to-life colors, impressive detail, and remarkable sharpness. The upgraded 48MP ultrawide lens also enhances macro photography, capturing intricate close-ups with stunning clarity.
Apple iPhone 16 Pro Max vs. iPhone 15 Pro Max: software and updates
The iPhone 16 Pro Max arrives with iOS 18 pre-installed, offering a glimpse into the future of Apple’s mobile operating system. This latest iteration, showcased at WWDC and refined through beta testing, introduces a host of exciting features and enhancements. From expanded customization options for app icons and Control Center elements to redesigned Photos and Camera apps, iOS 18 delivers a more personalized and intuitive user experience. Furthermore, a suite of intelligent features promises to streamline tasks and anticipate your needs. For a comprehensive exploration of these advancements, refer to our dedicated iOS 18 article.
While the iPhone 15 Pro Max will also receive the iOS 18 update, including the upcoming Apple Intelligence features, the iPhone 16 Pro Max offers one key advantage: longevity. With an extra year of guaranteed software support, the iPhone 16 Pro Max will continue to receive the latest features and security updates for a longer period. However, given Apple’s exemplary track record of providing extended software support for its devices, with simultaneous updates across models, even the iPhone 15 Pro Max is unlikely to feel outdated anytime soon.
Apple iPhone 16 Pro Max vs. iPhone 15 Pro Max: price and availability
The iPhone 16 Pro Max enters the market with a starting price of $1,199 for the 256GB unlocked model.
As the new flagship takes center stage, the iPhone 15 Pro Max is no longer sold directly by Apple. However, those still interested in the previous generation model may find it available through third-party retailers such as Amazon, Best Buy, and Walmart, or through select carriers.
Apple iPhone 16 Pro Max vs. iPhone 15 Pro Max: Should you upgrade?
Apple has a history of refining its Pro iPhone models incrementally rather than revolutionizing them with each iteration. This approach avoids rendering older iPhones obsolete and minimizes the fear of missing out for those who don’t upgrade annually. The iPhone 16 Pro Max follows this trend, building upon the solid foundation of its predecessor with a series of targeted enhancements.
So, is it worth upgrading from the iPhone 15 Pro Max to the iPhone 16 Pro Max? The simple answer is: it depends. The iPhone 15 Pro Max remains a highly capable device that will continue to serve you well for years to come.
However, the iPhone 16 Pro Max offers compelling reasons to make the leap. The innovative Camera Control button puts advanced photographic controls at your fingertips, empowering you to explore your creativity and capture stunning images with greater precision. This tactile control could even inspire a resurgence of horizontally composed photos, a welcome shift in the age of vertical social media feeds. The enhanced video capabilities, coupled with the A18 Pro chip’s exceptional performance, make the iPhone 16 Pro Max a formidable tool for mobile filmmaking. And with the rise of on-device AI, the A18 Pro’s processing power will ensure your phone remains at the forefront of intelligent features.
Furthermore, Apple’s generous trade-in program can significantly reduce the upfront cost of the iPhone 16 Pro Max, making it a more tempting proposition. Ultimately, the decision to upgrade hinges on your individual needs and priorities. If you crave the latest camera technology, seek enhanced creative control, and value the longevity of extended software support, the iPhone 16 Pro Max is a worthy investment.
