Apple iPhone 16vsApple iPhone 15 Pro Max
SETTLEDUpdated September 8, 2026
Apple iPhone 15 Pro Max wins
Verdict
Apple iPhone 15 Pro Max wins 4 of 5 categories — our overall pick
Apple iPhone 15 Pro Max is the overall winner, 4 / 5 — camera is its standout. It costs USD 1,099 — USD 300 more than the Apple iPhone 16. Pay the premium if camera is your priority.
- Apple iPhone 15 Pro Max takes Performance — led by storage (256 GB).
- Apple iPhone 15 Pro Max takes Display — led by refresh rate (120 Hz).
- Apple iPhone 15 Pro Max takes Camera — led by telephoto (Yes).
- Apple iPhone 15 Pro Max takes Battery — led by battery (4,441 mAh).
- Apple iPhone 16 takes Price — led by price (799 USD).
Scores follow our published methodology · v2026.09
In plain English
Choose Apple iPhone 16 if you want…
- Choose Apple iPhone 16 if you want a lower price — 799 USD vs 1,099 USD.
Choose Apple iPhone 15 Pro Max if you want…
- Choose Apple iPhone 15 Pro Max if you want a faster phone for apps and games — 1,600,000 pts vs 1,400,000 pts.
- Choose Apple iPhone 15 Pro Max if you want more room for photos and apps — 256 GB vs 128 GB.
- Choose Apple iPhone 15 Pro Max if you want a bigger screen — 6.7 in vs 6.1 in.
- Choose Apple iPhone 15 Pro Max if you want smoother scrolling — 120 Hz vs 60 Hz.
- Choose Apple iPhone 15 Pro Max if you want true optical zoom — Yes vs No.
- Choose Apple iPhone 15 Pro Max if you want better video quality — 97 pts vs 94 pts.
- Choose Apple iPhone 15 Pro Max if you want a better camera — 150 pts vs 142 pts.
- Choose Apple iPhone 15 Pro Max if you want longer battery life — 4,441 mAh vs 3,561 mAh.
At a glance
- Apple iPhone 16
- Apple iPhone 15 Pro Max
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Best price now
The cheap alternative
Full record
Every spec, side by side — winners get a check and a proportional bar. Ties share the badge.
Performance score
Approximate benchmark score of the chipset — higher is faster for apps, games and AI.
Chipset
The processor inside — shown for reference, never decides a winner.
RAM
More RAM keeps more apps alive in the background.
Storage
Base onboard storage for photos, apps and media.
Screen size
Diagonal screen size — bigger is better for media, smaller is easier to hold.
Pixel density
Sharpness of the screen — above ~400 ppi looks crisp.
Refresh rate
How smooth scrolling and motion feel. 120 Hz is the modern standard.
Peak brightness
Peak brightness in sunlight — higher stays readable outdoors.
Main camera
Resolution of the primary rear camera — photo quality is judged by the Camera quality score, not megapixels.
Selfie camera
Resolution of the front camera.
Telephoto
A dedicated zoom lens for distant subjects without quality loss.
Video score
Composite video rating — stabilisation, 4K/8K support and colour.
Camera score
Composite camera quality from independent testing — how good the photos actually are.
Battery
Battery capacity — higher generally lasts longer.
Charging speed
Wired charging speed — higher refills faster.
Wireless charging
Whether the phone charges wirelessly.
Price
Typical MSRP in US dollars — lower is better value.
Which one should you buy?
Apple iPhone 16
Choose Apple iPhone 16 if price matters most. It costs USD 799, the lowest price in this group.
Apple iPhone 15 Pro Max
Choose Apple iPhone 15 Pro Max if camera matters most — it wins the most categories overall. It costs USD 1,099.
Pros & cons
Apple iPhone 16
- A18 speed
- Camera Control button
- Strong resale value
- 60 Hz display
- Slow 20 W charging
- No telephoto lens
Apple iPhone 15 Pro Max
- Titanium build
- 5x telephoto
- Great video
- Slow 20 W charging
- Heavy
- Pricey vs Android rivals