At today’s “It’s Glowtime” event, Apple officially unveiled the new iPhone 16 lineup, which includes the iPhone 16, iPhone 16 Plus, iPhone 16 Pro, and iPhone 16 Pro Max. With all-new iOS 18 features, Apple Intelligence, and upgrades in system-on-chip, display, design, and cameras, there’s a lot to explore. If you’re considering upgrading to the iPhone 16 Pro Max and are wondering how it stacks up against last year’s flagship, the iPhone 15 Pro Max, you’re in the right place. This comparison will help you determine if the iPhone 16 Pro Max is worth the upgrade.
iPhone 16 Pro Max vs iPhone 15 Pro Max: Specifications
You can review the specifications chart below to see how the iPhone 16 Pro Max compares to the iPhone 15 Pro Max.
iPhone 16 Pro Max vs iPhone 15 Pro Max: Display
Beginning with the display, the iPhone 16 Pro Max boasts a larger 6.9-inch screen with a resolution of 2868 x 1320 pixels. In comparison, the iPhone 15 Pro Max has a 6.7-inch display with a resolution of 2796 x 1290 pixels.
The iPhone 16 Pro Max features a larger 6.9-inch display, achieved by trimming the bezels to fit into a form factor similar to its predecessor. Additionally, the cutout at the top has been reduced, making the Dynamic Island smaller than before.
Despite these size changes, the display capabilities remain consistent between the two models. Both use Super Retina XDR LTPO OLED panels with a 120Hz ProMotion refresh rate and support for HDR10 and Dolby Vision. The maximum brightness levels for SDR (1,000 nits), HDR (1,600 nits), and outdoor use (2,000 nits) are unchanged.
Build and Design
The iPhone 16 Pro Max features a larger display, resulting in a size increase. The new model is 163mm tall and 77.6mm wide, up from the iPhone 15 Pro Max’s dimensions of 159.9mm in height and 76.7mm in width. However, the thickness stays consistent at 8.3mm.
Both models feature matte-finish glass panels on the rear, but the iPhone 16 Pro Max introduces a glossier titanium frame, thanks to an advanced titanium processing technique. The new model keeps the same button layout as the iPhone 15 Pro Max but adds a new Capture Button on the right side. This dedicated mechanical button allows quick access to the Camera app and taking pictures, and is also pressure-sensitive, enabling you to assign different actions to various touch pressures.
While last year’s model was available in Natural Titanium, Blue Titanium, Black Titanium, and White Titanium, the iPhone 16 Pro Max features a more refined color palette. It is offered in Space Black, White, Gray, and our top choice, Desert Titanium.
iPhone 16 Pro Max vs iPhone 15 Pro Max: Hardware
The iPhone 16 Pro Max moves from last year’s Apple A17 Pro to the new Apple A18 Pro, which is also built on the 3nm N3E processing node. This latest chip, an improved version of TSMC’s N3B process, offers a 15% performance boost and features an upgraded 16-core Neural Engine. While the iPhone 15 Pro Max also had a 16-core Neural Engine, the A18 Pro can handle up to 35 trillion tasks per second, enhancing the device’s capability for Apple Intelligence tasks.
Apple has enhanced the internal thermal design with an upgraded metal battery casing and a new graphene heatsink, replacing the previous copper design. Connectivity has also been improved, with the iPhone 16 Pro Max now supporting the latest Wi-Fi 7 standard and featuring a new Snapdragon X75 5G modem. This modem delivers four times faster data throughput and a 20% boost in energy efficiency compared to the Snapdragon X70 and Wi-Fi 6E standard found in the iPhone 15 Pro Max.
Software and AI
With the release of any new iPhone, you also get the latest features from iOS 18, along with some new AI functions. iOS 18 includes a redesigned and more customizable home screen, an updated Control Panel, enhanced lock screen controls, a new Passwords app that replaces the old password keychain, a Game mode for improved gameplay, and much more. These features are available on both the iPhone 16 Pro Max and the iPhone 15 Pro Max, so there won’t be significant differences in this area when upgrading.
This year’s iOS 18 release introduces Apple’s first iteration of AI, called Apple Intelligence. Although both the iPhone 16 Pro Max and iPhone 15 Pro Max support this new system, the 16 Pro Max offers some exclusive features. Apple Intelligence brings a range of advanced AI capabilities, including an enhanced Siri, ChatGPT integration, Writing Tools, Notification Summaries, AI Genmojis, and more.
iPhone 16 Pro Max vs iPhone 15 Pro Max: Camera
Last year, Apple made significant upgrades to the cameras across the iPhone 15 lineup, including a 48 MP wide f/1.8, 24mm primary sensor on all models, even the base iPhone 15.
This year, Apple has opted for a more traditional approach by keeping the same 48 MP primary sensor and the 12 MP 120mm periscope telephoto lens with an f/2.8 aperture configuration. The telephoto lens continues to provide approximately 5x optical zoom and 3D sensor-shift OIS, maintaining the same capabilities as its predecessor.
The main upgrade is the new 48 MP 0.7µm ultra-wide sensor, a significant improvement over the 12 MP ultra-wide sensor found on the iPhone 15 Pro Max and earlier models. Additionally, the iPhone 16 Pro Max retains the TOF 3D LiDAR scanner for depth, just like its predecessor.
Despite updates to the display and a smaller Dynamic Island, the front camera configuration remains unchanged. The iPhone 16 Pro Max continues to use the 12 MP wide f/1.9, 23mm sensor for selfies with HDR support. There are no changes to video recording capabilities either, as you can still record 4K video at 24/25/30/60 FPS using both the front and rear cameras.
Battery and Charging
Apple has adopted stacked battery technology for the latest Pro model, offering improved lifespan and better energy density compared to the single-layer battery in the iPhone 15 Pro Max.
Unlike other manufacturers, Apple does not advertise battery life in the same way. Instead, they provide estimates based on various usage scenarios. The iPhone 15 Pro Max is rated for up to 95 hours of audio playback, up to 29 hours of video playback, and up to 25 hours of streaming video. With a slightly larger battery and the more efficient Apple A18 Pro chip, the iPhone 16 Pro Max offers longer battery life.
The 16 Pro Max also features an upgraded charging capability. It now supports a 25W MagSafe charger, an increase from the 15W MagSafe charger used with the 15 Pro Max. Wired charging remains the same, with both models capable of charging from 0-50% in 30 minutes.
iPhone 16 Pro Max vs. iPhone 15 Pro Max: Is It Worth the Upgrade?
Each year, the Pro models in the iPhone lineup typically receive the most significant upgrades, and the iPhone 16 Pro Max is no exception. It features a larger display, enhanced internals, a new Capture button, and improved charging support compared to its predecessor. While the camera setup largely remains the same, the addition of the new 48 MP ultra-wide sensor is a notable improvement.
But is upgrading from the iPhone 15 Pro Max worth it? Personally, I’d say no, unless you receive a particularly good trade-in value. The iPhone 15 Pro Max can handle everything the latest model offers, thanks to iOS 18. It also supports Apple Intelligence features, with only a few exclusive ones available on the iPhone 16 Pro Max.
If you have an older device, recommending the iPhone 16 Pro Max becomes more straightforward. With Apple’s new AI features gaining significant attention, you might experience a sense of FOMO, as older iPhones and even the non-Pro iPhone 15 won’t support Apple Intelligence.
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