UP
Our takeEditorialThe 5x telephoto and 4441 mAh battery make the 15 Pro Max worth $100 more than the Pro - the zoom reach alone justifies it for photography-focused buyers.
Black Titanium, White Titanium, Blue Titanium, Natural Titanium
Apple
Apple iPhone 15 Pro Max
9.0/10 UpPhone score
The iPhone 15 Pro Max adds a 5x optical telephoto and a larger battery to the Pro package - the best camera in the 2023 iPhone lineup.
Verified for iOS
Screen
6.7"
Chip
Apple A17 Pro
Camera
48 MP
The verdict, & two little voices
Should you actually get the Apple iPhone 15 Pro Max?
The editor weighs in — flanked by the optimist on her shoulder and the cynic on the other.
“The 5x tetraprism telephoto is the most useful iPhone optical upgrade in years - distance photography is transformed.”
“Apple locked the headline camera feature to the expensive model - the standard Pro got nothing new in zoom.”
Our take
The iPhone 15 Pro Max adds a 5x optical telephoto and a larger battery to the Pro package - the best camera in the 2023 iPhone lineup.
The Apple iPhone 15 Pro Max is available from Verizon and AT&T at $599.99 in May 2026. It extends the iPhone 15 Pro's feature set with a 6.7-inch LTPO OLED at 2796 x 1290 and 2000 nits, a 5x optical telephoto lens (up from 3x on the standard Pro), and a 4441 mAh battery that delivers the best endurance in the 15 Pro lineup. The A17 Pro chip, Apple Intelligence support, titanium frame, Action Button, USB-C with USB 3 speeds, and 120 Hz ProMotion always-on display are all shared with the smaller 15 Pro. The 5x tetraprism telephoto is the defining hardware difference - it gives the Pro Max an optical reach that the standard 15 Pro lacks, covering 25x digital zoom from a starting point three times further than the 3x system. At 221g and 6.7 inches, the Pro Max is a large, heavy phone. At $599.99 it is $100 more than the 15 Pro, which is a reasonable premium for the larger display, better battery, and 5x telephoto. This was the first iPhone 15 configuration to ship at 256 GB as the minimum storage, reflecting the larger media footprint of the 5x camera and ProRes video.
What we love
- 5x optical telephoto with tetraprism design - best zoom in 2023 iPhone lineup
- 4441 mAh battery with A17 Pro efficiency for excellent endurance
- 6.7-inch 120 Hz LTPO OLED with always-on display at 2000 nits
- A17 Pro chip enables Apple Intelligence in iOS 18
- Titanium frame at 221g - lighter than stainless steel Pro Max
- Action Button for customizable hardware shortcut
- USB 3 speeds via USB-C
- 256 GB base storage
What we don't
- 221g and 6.7 inches make this a large, heavy device for one-hand use
- eSIM only - no physical SIM slot
- 25W wired charging is slow for a 4441 mAh battery
- Expensive relative to the 15 Pro at only $100 less for a smaller, lighter phone
- Available only through AT&T and Verizon in these listings
Full specifications
Display
Size6.7"
TypeLTPO Super Retina XDR OLED
Resolution2796 x 1290 px
PPI460
Performance
ChipApple A17 Pro
RAM8 GB
Storage256 GB
OSiOS 18.x
Camera
Rear camera48 MP
Rear camera 212 MP
Front camera12 MP
VideoYes
Battery
Wireless charging15 W wireless (MagSafe)
Design
Dimensions159.9 x 76.7 x 8.3 mm
ColorsBlack Titanium, White Titanium, Blue Titanium, Natural Titanium
Form factorSlate
Connectivity
Wi-FiWi-Fi 6E
BluetoothBluetooth 5.3
NFCYes
USBLightning
Networks5G: 1, 2, 3, 5, 7, 8, 12, 20, 25, 26, 28, 30, 38, 40, 41, 48, 53, 66, 70, 77, 78, 79 SA/NSA/Sub6 - A3106 | 4G: 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 7, 8, 12, 13, 17, 18, 19, 20, 25, 26, 28, 30, 32, 34, 38, 39, 40, 41, 42, 46, 48, 53, 66 - A3106 | 3G: HSDPA 850 / 900 / 1700(AWS) / 1900 / 2100 | 2G: GSM 850 / 900 / 1800 / 1900
SIMeSIM only
Apple iPhone 15 Pro Max on individual carriers
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Frequently asked questions about the Apple iPhone 15 Pro Max
What kind of display does the Apple iPhone 15 Pro Max have?
The 6.7-inch LTPO OLED at 2796 x 1290 and 460 PPI is physically the same panel specification as the 14 Pro Max. Peak brightness at 2000 nits. ProMotion adaptive refresh from 1 Hz to 120 Hz. Always-on display for persistent time and widget display. The A17 Pro chip drives the display more efficiently than the A16 in the 14 Pro Max. True Tone, P3 wide color, and Ceramic Shield front glass. The titanium frame gives this display a different physical context - marginally slimmer bezels and a lighter overall chassis than the stainless steel 14 Pro Max.
What kind of camera does the Apple iPhone 15 Pro Max have?
The 5x tetraprism telephoto is the Pro Max's defining differentiator from the standard 15 Pro. The tetraprism design folds the optical path inside the chassis to achieve 5x optical zoom without a large camera bump protrusion. At 5x, subjects are captured from a distance that creates professional-quality compression and background separation. Digital zoom extends to 25x. The 48 MP main sensor and 12 MP ultrawide are shared with the 15 Pro. ProRAW capture across all three lenses, ProRes video at 4K 60 fps (on 256 GB+), and the Action Button camera shortcut are all present. The 5x telephoto is the strongest single argument for the Pro Max over the Pro.
What is the battery life of the Apple iPhone 15 Pro Max?
At 4441 mAh the Pro Max delivers reliable all-day endurance and often reaches a second day under moderate use. Apple quotes 29 hours video playback. The A17 Pro's 3 nm efficiency means the larger battery is used well - the Pro Max consistently outperforms its predecessor in battery life despite similar capacity. Wired charging at 25W is Apple's fastest rate but takes over two hours to fully charge 4441 mAh. MagSafe at 15W works for top-ups. The adapter is not included.
What processor does the Apple iPhone 15 Pro Max use?
The A17 Pro chip is identical to the one in the standard 15 Pro. 8 GB RAM and Apple Intelligence support are the same. The additional memory headroom versus the A16's 6 GB enables on-device AI tasks in iOS 18. Sustained performance under the large display and demanding camera workloads remains smooth. iOS updates should continue through approximately 2031-2032.
How much storage does the Apple iPhone 15 Pro Max have?
256 GB is the base storage on the iPhone 15 Pro Max - Apple did not offer 128 GB for this model. This is appropriate given the 5x telephoto, 48 MP main sensor, and ProRes video capability. A full day of ProRes video at 4K 60 fps fills this storage quickly. USB 3 via USB-C allows fast offload to a Mac or portable SSD.
What kind of speakers does the Apple iPhone 15 Pro Max have?
The 6.7-inch titanium chassis gives the stereo speakers more physical resonance than the standard-size 15 Pro. Audio reproduction at volume is fuller and richer. Spatial Audio with Dolby Atmos works across the speaker system and AirPods. The Pro Max chassis historically produces better speaker audio than the standard Pro.
Does the Apple iPhone 15 Pro Max support fingerprint or face unlock?
Face ID with TrueDepth camera in the Dynamic Island. Same implementation as the 15 Pro. No fingerprint sensor. The larger chassis means the Dynamic Island is proportionally smaller relative to the display area than on the 6.1-inch model.
Is the Apple iPhone 15 Pro Max water-resistant?
IP68 rated to 6 meters for 30 minutes. Consistent with the 15 Pro. Titanium frame with tighter tolerances may improve real-world seal durability in practice. USB-C with USB 3 is sealed to the same IP68 standard. Apple warranty does not cover water damage.
