Apple iPhone 15 Pro Max vs Apple iPhone 17 Pro Max

Our Verdict: This is an iPhone-to-iPhone comparison, so price, size and generation are the real separators. iPhone 17 Pro Max stretches further on storage, topping out at 2TB rather than 1TB, while There's two years between the iPhone 15 Pro Max and the iPhone 17 Pro Max, so the iPhone 17 Pro Max is ahead on most things. iPhone 15 Pro Max should cost less to own, so iPhone 17 Pro Max needs a feature-led reason to be the pick. Unless iPhone 17 Pro Max has a must-have feature for you, iPhone 15 Pro Max is the more pragmatic option.

The 15 Pro Max 5G is the cheaper one to own: around £755 over a typical contract, £466 less than the 17 Pro Max.

Expert Rating
4.5
12 reviews
4.4
11 reviews
Screen
6.7" 6.9"
Display
LTPO Super Retina XDR OLED LTPO Super Retina XDR OLED
Resolution
1290 x 2796 1320 x 2868
Pixels Per Inch
460 458
Rear Camera
48 Megapixels 48 Megapixels
Front Camera
12 Megapixels 18 Megapixels
Chipset
Apple A17 Pro Apple A19 Pro
Battery
4,422 mAh 4,823 mAh
Storage
256GB, 512GB, 1TB 256GB, 512GB, 1TB, 2TB
OS
Apple iOS Apple iOS
SIM Type
Nano SIM nano-SIM and e-SIM
Connectivity
Up to 5G Up to 5G
Wi-Fi
802.11 a/b/g/n/ac/6e 802.11 a/b/g/n/ac/6e/7
Bluetooth
5.3 with A2DP, LE 6.0, A2DP, LE
Dimensions
159.9 x 76.7 x 8.3 mm 163.4 x 78 x 8.8 mm
Weight
221 grams 233 grams
Water Resistance
IP68 dust/water resistant (up to 6m for 30 mins) IP68 dust/water resistant (up to 6m for 30 mins)
Contracts
£28.75/mo (£20.00 upfront) £44.99/mo (£119.00 upfront)
SIM-free
£498.00 £1035.00

Prices updated 16 July 2026

Apple iPhone 15 Pro Max Apple iPhone 15 Pro Max Apple iPhone 17 Pro Max Apple iPhone 17 Pro Max
Expert Rating 4.5
12 reviews
4.4
11 reviews
Screen 6.7" 6.9"
Display LTPO Super Retina XDR OLED LTPO Super Retina XDR OLED
Resolution 1290 x 2796 1320 x 2868
Pixels Per Inch 460 458
Rear Camera 48 Megapixels 48 Megapixels
Front Camera 12 Megapixels 18 Megapixels
Chipset Apple A17 Pro Apple A19 Pro
Battery 4,422 mAh 4,823 mAh
Storage 256GB, 512GB, 1TB 256GB, 512GB, 1TB, 2TB
OS Apple iOS Apple iOS
SIM Type Nano SIM nano-SIM and e-SIM
Connectivity Up to 5G Up to 5G
Wi-Fi 802.11 a/b/g/n/ac/6e 802.11 a/b/g/n/ac/6e/7
Bluetooth 5.3 with A2DP, LE 6.0, A2DP, LE
Dimensions 159.9 x 76.7 x 8.3 mm 163.4 x 78 x 8.8 mm
Weight 221 grams 233 grams
Water Resistance IP68 dust/water resistant (up to 6m for 30 mins) IP68 dust/water resistant (up to 6m for 30 mins)
Contracts £28.75/mo
£20.00 upfront
£44.99/mo
£119.00 upfront
SIM-free £498.00 £1035.00
Prices updated 16 July 2026
Deals Deals

Cheapest Deals

Apple iPhone 15 Pro Max
Apple iPhone 15 Pro Max

24 Months

256GB

Natural Titanium

Refurbished

1GB

Data

£28.75 per month, £20 upfront.

Apple iPhone 17 Pro Max
Apple iPhone 17 Pro Max

24 Months

256GB

Silver

10GB

Data

£44.99 per month, £119 upfront.

Use code: SUMMER10 (£10)

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Frequently Asked Questions

Is the Apple iPhone 15 Pro Max or Apple iPhone 17 Pro Max cheaper on contract?

Based on total cost of ownership, the Apple iPhone 15 Pro Max is cheaper on contract at £755.00 over the life of the deal from £28.75 per month with £20.00 upfront.

Which has the better screen, the Apple iPhone 15 Pro Max or Apple iPhone 17 Pro Max?

The Apple iPhone 17 Pro Max has the bigger screen at 6.9" compared to the Apple iPhone 15 Pro Max's 6.7", both screens are similarly sharp at around 460 pixels per inch, and both use LTPO Super Retina XDR OLED panels.

Which has the better camera, the Apple iPhone 15 Pro Max or Apple iPhone 17 Pro Max?

The Apple iPhone 15 Pro Max features a 48 Megapixels rear camera, while the Apple iPhone 17 Pro Max has a 48 Megapixels rear camera. Both devices also have front-facing cameras for selfies and video calls.

Which is cheaper to buy SIM-free, the Apple iPhone 15 Pro Max or Apple iPhone 17 Pro Max?

The Apple iPhone 15 Pro Max is cheaper SIM-free, starting from £498.00.

What storage options are available for the Apple iPhone 15 Pro Max and Apple iPhone 17 Pro Max?

The Apple iPhone 15 Pro Max is available in 256GB, 512GB, 1TB, while the Apple iPhone 17 Pro Max comes in 256GB, 512GB, 1TB, 2TB.

What processors do the Apple iPhone 15 Pro Max and Apple iPhone 17 Pro Max use?

The Apple iPhone 15 Pro Max is powered by the Apple A17 Pro , while the Apple iPhone 17 Pro Max uses the Apple A19 Pro.

Which is easier to carry and hold, the Apple iPhone 15 Pro Max or Apple iPhone 17 Pro Max?

The Apple iPhone 15 Pro Max is the more portable of the two: it's 12g lighter at 221 grams, it's also the more compact phone at 159.9 x 76.7 x 8.3 mm, and is slimmer at 8.3mm thick.

Which is more water resistant, the Apple iPhone 15 Pro Max or Apple iPhone 17 Pro Max?

Both phones share the same water resistance rating of IP68 dust/water resistant (up to 6m for 30 mins).

What operating system do the Apple iPhone 15 Pro Max and Apple iPhone 17 Pro Max run?

Both phones run Apple iOS.