Apple iPhone 15 Pro Max vs Apple iPhone 18 Pro Max: Comparison

Apple’s iPhone 15 Pro Max, released in September 2023, remains a premium example of the company’s high-end smartphone approach, combining powerful hardware with sophisticated materials and a polished photographic system. Its successor, the iPhone 18 Pro Max, released in September 2026, takes that formula further with a larger display, a more advanced processor, increased memory and a considerably upgraded battery arrangement.

The iPhone 15 Pro Max features a 6.7-inch OLED display with a 1290 x 2796 QHD resolution. It offers typical brightness of 1,000 cd/m², a claimed 2,000,000:1 contrast ratio and HDR10 support. With an 87.8% usable front surface, the handset provides an expansive viewing area while retaining Apple’s recognisable design. Its construction combines glass, Corning Gorilla Glass protection and titanium, giving it a notably premium feel. Stereo speakers, Dolby Atmos and a noise-cancelling microphone support both entertainment and call quality.

At its core is Apple’s 3nm A17 Bionic chip, paired with 8GB of LPDDR5X RAM. Storage options include 256GB, 512GB and 1TB using NVMe technology. Its AnTuTu v10 score of 1,641,883 reflects performance suited to demanding games, video editing and intensive multitasking. Connectivity includes Bluetooth 5.3, Wi-Fi 6, NFC, Dual SIM support, eSIM, USB Host 3.0 and GPS with L1 and L5 positioning bands.

Photography is a major strength. The triple rear camera includes a 48-megapixel Sony IMX803 main sensor with an f/1.78 aperture, a 12-megapixel Sony IMX633 ultra-wide and macro camera, and a 12-megapixel Sony IMX913 telephoto lens. The telephoto camera has optical image stabilisation and delivers 5x optical zoom, while digital zoom reaches 25x. The ultra-wide camera offers a 120-degree field of view. Video features are especially comprehensive, including 4K recording at up to 60fps, 10-bit HDR, Dolby Vision HDR, Cinematic mode in 4K at 30fps and gyro-EIS. A 12-megapixel Sony IMX714 front camera and an SL 3D depth sensor serve selfies, facial biometrics and portrait effects. The 4,441mAh battery supports 27W wired fast charging and wireless charging.

The iPhone 18 Pro Max represents a substantial generational move. Its 6.9-inch OLED screen has a sharper 1320 x 2868 QHD resolution, a 120Hz refresh rate and HDR10+ support. The usable display surface rises to 91.1%, making the front appear even more screen-focused. Apple uses an aluminium alloy body, alongside stereo speakers, Dolby Atmos and noise-cancelling microphones.

Power comes from the 2nm Apple A20 Pro processor, supported by 12GB of RAM and an integrated cooling system. NVMe storage begins at 256GB and extends through 512GB and 1TB to a substantial 2TB option. An AnTuTu v11 result of 3,010,000 suggests a major leap in graphics, responsiveness and sustained performance.

Its triple camera system uses three 48-megapixel cameras: a variable-aperture f/1.5–2.4 main camera, an f/2.2 ultra-wide and macro camera, and an f/2.8 telephoto lens. The selfie camera rises to 25 megapixels. Optical stabilisation and 4K video remain included. Bluetooth 6.0 joins Wi-Fi 6, NFC, Dual SIM, eSIM and L1+L5 GPS. Finally, the 5,567mAh battery, 60W fast charging and wireless charging make the iPhone 18 Pro Max clearly better equipped for longer, faster-paced daily use.