Comparison
iPhone 15 Pro Max vs iPhone 17 Pro Max: Time to Upgrade?
The iPhone 17 Pro Max is a big upgrade over the 15 Pro Max: up to 39 hours of video playback against 29, a bigger 6.9-inch screen, three 48MP cameras, Camera Control, an 18MP Center Stage selfie camera and faster charging. The 15 Pro Max is lighter, has a 5x zoom and costs much less.
Buy the iPhone 17 Pro Max if you want the best battery life, a 6.9-inch screen, three 48MP cameras and Camera Control. Buy the iPhone 15 Pro Max if you want a lighter titanium Pro Max with a 5x zoom, USB 3 and Apple Intelligence.
You want the longest battery life of the two
You want a bigger, brighter screen
You want three 48MP cameras and a better selfie camera
You plan to keep your phone for years
You want a Pro Max with Apple Intelligence
You prefer a lighter, titanium phone
You like the 5x zoom reach
You still use a physical SIM card
Skip both if: you want a smaller phone. The iPhone 17 Pro has the same cameras in a 6.3-inch size.
The short version
Two years apart, both are Pro Max iPhones with ProMotion up to 120Hz, an always-on display, a 48MP main camera, a 5x or 4x telephoto, USB 3, LiDAR, the Action button and Apple Intelligence.
The iPhone 17 Pro Max improves almost everything else. Battery life jumps from up to 29 hours of video playback to up to 39 hours. The screen grows from 6.7 to 6.9 inches and gets brighter outdoors. The ultra wide and telephoto go from 12MP to 48MP, the front camera goes from 12MP to an 18MP Center Stage camera, and it adds Camera Control.
The trade-offs: it is heavier at 233 g against 221 g, it swaps titanium for aluminum, and its telephoto is 4x instead of 5x.
What's different
See every spec side by side
| iPhone 15 Pro Max | iPhone 17 Pro Max | |
|---|---|---|
| Released | September 2023 | September 2025 |
| Screen | 6.7" OLED, 2796 x 1290 | 6.9" OLED, 2868 x 1320 |
| Refresh rate | Up to 120Hz ProMotion, always-on | Up to 120Hz ProMotion, always-on |
| Peak brightness (outdoor) | 2000 nits | 3000 nits |
| Chip | A17 Pro | A19 Pro |
| Storage | 256GB, 512GB, 1TB | 256GB, 512GB, 1TB, 2TB |
| Main camera | 48MP | 48MP Fusion |
| Ultra wide | 12MP | 48MP |
| Telephoto | 12MP, 5x optical (120 mm) | 48MP, 4x optical (100 mm), 8x optical-quality |
| Front camera | 12MP TrueDepth | 18MP Center Stage |
| 4K video | Up to 60 fps | Up to 120 fps |
| Camera Control | No | Yes |
| Video playback | Up to 29 hours | Up to 39 hours |
| Fast charging (wired) | 50% in about 30 min (20W) | 50% in 20 min (40W) |
| MagSafe / Qi2 | Up to 15W | Up to 25W |
| Port | USB-C (USB 3) | USB-C (USB 3) |
| Wi-Fi / Bluetooth | Wi-Fi 6E, Bluetooth 5.3 | Wi-Fi 7, Bluetooth 6 |
| Frame | Titanium | Aluminum unibody |
| Weight | 221 g | 233 g |
| SIM (Canadian models) | nano-SIM and eSIM | eSIM only |
| Water resistance | IP68 (6 m, 30 min) | IP68 (6 m, 30 min) |
| Refurbished price | From $899.99 | From $1,123.99 |
iPhone 17 Pro Max weight and battery figures are Apple's numbers for eSIM-only models, which is what Apple sells in Canada.
Battery life
Apple rates the 17 Pro Max at up to 39 hours of video playback and up to 35 hours streamed.
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The 15 Pro Max is rated at up to 29 hours and 25 hours. That is about 10 hours more on paper, a big jump.
Charging is faster too. The 17 Pro Max reaches 50% in about 20 minutes with a 40W or higher adapter, against about 30 minutes with a 20W adapter on the 15 Pro Max. Wireless charging goes up to 25W on the 17 and up to 15W on the 15.
Cameras
Both have a 48MP main camera.
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The 17 Pro Max adds 48MP sensors to the ultra wide and telephoto, which means sharper wide shots, sharper macro and more detail when you crop.
The zoom is a trade-off. The 15 Pro Max has a 12MP 5x telephoto at 120 mm. The 17 Pro Max has a 48MP 4x telephoto at 100 mm, which Apple rates for 8x optical-quality zoom. Most people will get better zoomed photos from the 17, but the 15 reaches slightly farther natively.
The 17 Pro Max front camera is an 18MP Center Stage camera that can widen the frame for group selfies. Video steps up too, with 4K at up to 120 fps, ProRes RAW and Genlock.
Screen and design
The 17 Pro Max screen is bigger, 6.9 inches against 6.7, and gets brighter outdoors at up to 3000 nits against 2000.
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It adds an anti-reflective coating with Ceramic Shield 2.
The 15 Pro Max has a titanium frame and weighs 221 g. The 17 Pro Max has an aluminum unibody with a Ceramic Shield back and weighs 233 g. It is bigger and heavier in the hand, which some people will notice.
Chip, buttons and connectivity
The A19 Pro is two generations newer than the A17 Pro.
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Both are very fast, and both run Apple Intelligence. The newer chip helps with long gaming sessions, video exports and AI features.
Both have the Action button. Only the 17 Pro Max has Camera Control, the side button that opens the camera and lets you swipe to zoom. The 17 Pro Max also has Wi-Fi 7 and Bluetooth 6 through Apple's N1 chip. The 15 Pro Max has Wi-Fi 6E and Bluetooth 5.3.
Canadian 17 Pro Max models are eSIM only. Canadian 15 Pro Max models have a nano-SIM tray and eSIM. All our phones are unlocked.
Software support
Apple does not publish an end date for iOS updates.
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The 17 Pro Max is two years newer, so it should be supported for about two years longer. If you keep phones a long time, that is worth factoring in.
Price range
Refurbished, the iPhone 15 Pro Max starts at $899.99 and the iPhone 17 Pro Max starts at $1,123.99. Higher storage and better grades cost more. Prices on this page update live from our store.
In between? The iPhone 16 Pro Max has the 6.9-inch screen, Camera Control and a 48MP ultra wide. Browse the iPhone 17 series, or sell or trade in your current phone.
Should you buy new or refurbished?
Pro Max iPhones cost the most new, so refurbished saves the most.
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Every phone we sell is inspected and tested, unlocked, and backed by up to a 1-year warranty and 14-day returns. Grades describe looks only. Read new vs used vs refurbished to learn more.
Still choosing? Our buying guides: best phones in Canada, best camera phones, best battery life and best phones for seniors.
FAQ
Is it worth upgrading from the iPhone 15 Pro Max to the 17 Pro Max?
For most people, yes. You get about 10 more hours of rated video playback, a bigger and brighter screen, three 48MP cameras, Camera Control and faster charging. If your 15 Pro Max still lasts the day and you like titanium, you can wait.
Does the iPhone 15 Pro Max support Apple Intelligence?
Yes. The iPhone 15 Pro and 15 Pro Max were the first iPhones to support Apple Intelligence.
Does the iPhone 15 Pro Max have Camera Control?
No. It has the Action button but not Camera Control. Camera Control arrived with the iPhone 16 lineup.
Which has better zoom, 15 Pro Max or 17 Pro Max?
The 15 Pro Max has a 12MP 5x telephoto. The 17 Pro Max has a 48MP 4x telephoto rated for 8x optical-quality zoom, so it usually gives sharper zoomed shots.
Is the iPhone 17 Pro Max heavier than the 15 Pro Max?
Yes. The 17 Pro Max weighs 233 g against 221 g for the 15 Pro Max.
Still choosing? Read our guide to which iPhone to buy.
See them side by side: compare every spec and today's prices by condition, or add a third phone.
Skip the new-phone price
Get the iPhone 17 Pro Max pre-owned from $1,123.99, tested by real technicians with up to a 1-year warranty and 14-day returns.
