Apple iPhone 18 Pro Max leads on display, scoring 69/100 vs 53/100 for Apple iPhone 15 Plus. The biggest gap is refresh rate, where Apple iPhone 18 Pro Max has 120 vs 60 Hz.
Apple iPhone 18 Pro Max vs Apple iPhone 15 Plus
Updated Sep 2026 · Scored by the Let’s Compare Data Engine · How we score
For most buyers the Apple iPhone 18 Pro Max is the better pick — it scores 78/100 to the Apple iPhone 15 Plus's 67, leading on Chip and Memory. Choose the Apple iPhone 15 Plus instead if design & weight and miscellaneous matter most to you, where it comes out ahead.
Verdict
Our overall take, at a glance
Key takeaways
- Apple iPhone 18 Pro Max leads Apple iPhone 15 Plus overall by 11 points (78 vs 67 out of 100).
- Key differences: refresh rate, where Apple iPhone 18 Pro Max has 120 vs 60 Hz; optical zoom, where Apple iPhone 18 Pro Max has 4 vs 1; geekbench single-core score, where Apple iPhone 18 Pro Max has 4,735 vs 2,627; battery capacity, where Apple iPhone 18 Pro Max has 5,391 vs 4,383 mAh; RAM capacity, where Apple iPhone 18 Pro Max has 12 GB vs 6 GB.
- Best value: Apple iPhone 15 Plus (from $899) — the strongest score-per-dollar of the two.
Apple iPhone 18 Pro Max leads overall
Apple iPhone 18 Pro Max
78
Apple iPhone 15 Plus
67
Key differences
- Refresh rateApple iPhone 18 Pro Max 120 vs 60 Hz
- Optical zoomApple iPhone 18 Pro Max 4 vs 1
- Geekbench single-core scoreApple iPhone 18 Pro Max 4,735 vs 2,627
- Battery capacityApple iPhone 18 Pro Max 5,391 vs 4,383 mAh
- RAM capacityApple iPhone 18 Pro Max 12 GB vs 6 GB
Performance
Higher benchmark score = faster
Apple iPhone 18 Pro Max3,463,072
Apple iPhone 15 Plus1,385,649
Benchmark score — a measured indicator of raw performance, not a guarantee of real-world speed.
Battery capacity
Larger cell — a hardware spec, not battery life
Apple iPhone 18 Pro Max5,391 mAh
Apple iPhone 15 Plus4,383 mAh
Capacity is the raw battery size. Real-world battery life depends just as much on the processor, software and display.
Scores by Category
Head-to-head score per category, out of 100
Apple iPhone 18 Pro Max wins 9 of 14 categories · Apple iPhone 15 Plus wins 2
Apple iPhone 18 Pro MaxApple iPhone 15 Plus
- DisplayApple iPhone 18 Pro Max leadsApple iPhone 18 Pro Max69Apple iPhone 15 Plus53
- Rear CameraApple iPhone 18 Pro Max leadsApple iPhone 18 Pro Max78Apple iPhone 15 Plus68
- Power & BatteryApple iPhone 18 Pro Max leadsApple iPhone 18 Pro Max80Apple iPhone 15 Plus67
- BenchmarkApple iPhone 18 Pro Max leadsApple iPhone 18 Pro Max93Apple iPhone 15 Plus59
- ChipApple iPhone 18 Pro Max leadsApple iPhone 18 Pro Max87Apple iPhone 15 Plus73
- MemoryApple iPhone 18 Pro Max leadsApple iPhone 18 Pro Max93Apple iPhone 15 Plus65
- SecurityTieApple iPhone 18 Pro Max85Apple iPhone 15 Plus85
- Design & WeightApple iPhone 15 Plus leadsApple iPhone 18 Pro Max39Apple iPhone 15 Plus61
- MiscellaneousApple iPhone 15 Plus leadsApple iPhone 18 Pro Max85Apple iPhone 15 Plus91
- StorageApple iPhone 18 Pro Max leadsApple iPhone 18 Pro Max55Apple iPhone 15 Plus35
- CellularTieApple iPhone 18 Pro Max84Apple iPhone 15 Plus84
- Front CameraApple iPhone 18 Pro Max leadsApple iPhone 18 Pro Max81Apple iPhone 15 Plus73
- ConnectivityApple iPhone 18 Pro Max leadsApple iPhone 18 Pro Max75Apple iPhone 15 Plus63
- SensorsTieApple iPhone 18 Pro Max85Apple iPhone 15 Plus85
Physical Comparison
Weigh them up, then compare real dimensions in 3D
Apple iPhone 18 Pro MaxApple iPhone 15 Plus
Apple iPhone 18 Pro Max is 48 g (24%) heavier than Apple iPhone 15 Plus.
In-depth analysisAI
AI-generated from the cited sources — may be incomplete or inaccurate; verify important details before deciding · generated Sep 2026.
Apple iPhone 18 Pro Max
Pros
- Triple 48 MP rear camera system with 4x optical zoom
- 6.9-inch 120Hz Super Retina XDR display
- Wi-Fi 7 and Bluetooth 6 support
Cons
- 249 g heavy build
- Not expandable
- No headphone jack
The Apple iPhone 18 Pro Max features a 6.9-inch 120Hz OLED display, an Apple A20 Pro chip, and a 5,391 mAh battery. It includes a triple 48 MP rear camera system with 4x optical zoom.
Best for Large-screen mobile mediaBest for Advanced mobile photography
Apple iPhone 15 Plus
Pros
- 6.7-inch Super Retina XDR OLED display
- 4,383 mAh battery capacity
- 48 MP main camera with OIS
Cons
- 60 Hz screen refresh rate
- No expandable storage
- No headphone jack
The iPhone 15 Plus features a 6.7-inch Super Retina XDR OLED display, an Apple A16 Bionic processor, and a 4,383 mAh battery. It includes dual cameras with a 48 MP main sensor, USB-C connectivity, and IP68 water resistance.
Best for Media consumptionBest for Large screen fans
Watch-outs
Compromises to know before you buy
Apple iPhone 18 Pro Max
No notable compromises found.
Apple iPhone 15 Plus
- 60 Hz display — less smooth scrolling than 90/120 Hz rivals.
Value for Money
What the price difference buys you
Launch prices — enter today's prices (same currency for both).
Apple iPhone 18 Pro Max
Apple iPhone 15 Plus
Detailed Specifications
The specs that count most, side by side
Memory
| Feature | Apple iPhone 18 Pro Max | Apple iPhone 15 Plus |
|---|---|---|
RAM capacity | 12 GB100% more | 6 GB |
Storage
| Feature | Apple iPhone 18 Pro Max | Apple iPhone 15 Plus |
|---|---|---|
Storage capacity | 256 GB100% more | 128 GB |
Display
| Feature | Apple iPhone 18 Pro Max | Apple iPhone 15 Plus |
|---|---|---|
Resolution | 1320 × 2868 px | 1290 × 2796 px |
Refresh rate | 120 Hz100% more | 60 Hz |
Display technology | ||
Protection |
Rear Camera
| Feature | Apple iPhone 18 Pro Max | Apple iPhone 15 Plus |
|---|---|---|
Rear camera aperture | 1.488% less | 1.6 |
Optical zoom | 4300% more | 1 |
Has High Dynamic Range (HDR) | Yes | Yes |
Has Optical Image Stabilization (OIS) | Yes | Yes |
Cellular
| Feature | Apple iPhone 18 Pro Max | Apple iPhone 15 Plus |
|---|---|---|
Cellular technology |
Design & Weight
| Feature | Apple iPhone 18 Pro Max | Apple iPhone 15 Plus |
|---|---|---|
Weight | 249 g | 201 g19% less |
Power & Battery
| Feature | Apple iPhone 18 Pro Max | Apple iPhone 15 Plus |
|---|---|---|
Battery capacity | 5,391 mAh23% more | 4,383 mAh |
Has wireless charging support | Yes | Yes |
Has fast charging support | Yes | Yes |
Benchmark
| Feature | Apple iPhone 18 Pro Max | Apple iPhone 15 Plus |
|---|---|---|
Geekbench single-core score | 4,73580% more | 2,627 |
Miscellaneous
| Feature | Apple iPhone 18 Pro Max | Apple iPhone 15 Plus |
|---|---|---|
Dust & Water resistance |
Security
| Feature | Apple iPhone 18 Pro Max | Apple iPhone 15 Plus |
|---|---|---|
Has a fingerprint scanner | No | No |
Specification Note
Specifications are compiled from official manufacturer data and other reliable internet sources. Some features may vary by region or model configuration.
Review Videos
Hand-picked expert reviews for each product
Frequently Asked Questions
Common questions about Apple iPhone 18 Pro Max vs Apple iPhone 15 Plus comparison
Apple iPhone 18 Pro Max has the bigger battery: 5,391 mAh vs 4,383 mAh for Apple iPhone 15 Plus (23% more). Real-world battery life also depends on the chip, display and software.
Apple iPhone 18 Pro Max launched in Sep 2026, 36 months after Apple iPhone 15 Plus. It scores 78/100 vs 67/100 head-to-head — a clear step up. Launch prices were $1,299 vs $899.
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