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iPhone 15 Plus 256GB — A16 · iOS · 256GB
Apple

iPhone 15 Plus 256GB

A16 · iOS · 256GB

87
/ 100
From $999
VS
iPhone 16 Pro Max 128GB (European) wins by 9
iPhone 16 Pro Max 128GB (European) — A18 Pro · iOS · 128GB · European
Apple

iPhone 16 Pro Max 128GB (European)

A18 Pro · iOS · 128GB · European

96
/ 100
From $1,199
Specdex verdict

iPhone 16 Pro Max 128GB (European) takes it — here’s why.

In our weighted Specdex score, iPhone 15 Plus 256GB lands at 87 and iPhone 16 Pro Max 128GB (European) at 96. That puts iPhone 16 Pro Max 128GB (European) ahead by 9 points — a decisive margin driven mostly by its strengths in the categories below.

Pick iPhone 15 Plus 256GB if…

  • ✓iOS ecosystem
  • ✓Long update support
  • ✓Polished hardware

Pick iPhone 16 Pro Max 128GB (European) if…

  • ✓iOS ecosystem
  • ✓Long update support
  • ✓Polished hardware
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Winner by scenario

Derived from the sub-score breakdown · not a separate test

Photography

iPhone 16 Pro Max 128GB (European)

Stills and video quality across lenses

iPhone 16 Pro Max 128GB (European) leads on camera (95 vs 86).

Battery life

iPhone 16 Pro Max 128GB (European)

Screen-on time and charging

iPhone 16 Pro Max 128GB (European) leads on battery (90 vs 81).

Performance

iPhone 16 Pro Max 128GB (European)

Chipset speed for gaming and heavy apps

iPhone 16 Pro Max 128GB (European) leads on cpu (96 vs 87).

Display

iPhone 16 Pro Max 128GB (European)

Panel quality, brightness, refresh rate

iPhone 16 Pro Max 128GB (European) leads on display (93 vs 84).

Value for money

Tie

Specdex score per dollar at MSRP

Effectively tied — similar score-per-dollar at MSRP.

iPhone 15 Plus 256GB 87
vs
96 iPhone 16 Pro Max 128GB (European)

Score breakdown

iPhone 15 Plus 256GB
87
cpu 87
gpu 85
camera 86
battery 81
display 84
design 87
iPhone 16 Pro Max 128GB (European)
96
cpu 96
gpu 94
camera 95
battery 90
display 93
design 96

Specs side-by-side

iPhone 15 Plus 256GB versus iPhone 16 Pro Max 128GB (European) — full spec comparison
Spec iPhone 15 Plus 256GB iPhone 16 Pro Max 128GB (European)
Chipset
A16
A18 Pro
Storage
▲ 256GB
128GB
OS
iOS 17
iOS 18
Release year
2023
2024

iPhone 15 Plus 256GB

Pros
  • +iOS ecosystem
  • +Long update support
  • +Polished hardware
Cons
  • −Premium pricing
  • −Limited customization
  • −Lightning/USB-C split across generations

iPhone 16 Pro Max 128GB (European)

Pros
  • +iOS ecosystem
  • +Long update support
  • +Polished hardware
Cons
  • −Premium pricing
  • −Limited customization
  • −Lightning/USB-C split across generations

FAQ: iPhone 15 Plus 256GB vs iPhone 16 Pro Max 128GB (European)

Which is better, iPhone 15 Plus 256GB or iPhone 16 Pro Max 128GB (European)? +

iPhone 16 Pro Max 128GB (European) scores 96 on our weighted rubric — ahead by 9. Your best pick depends on the sub-scores above.

Is iPhone 15 Plus 256GB worth the price? +

At $999, iPhone 15 Plus 256GB delivers a Specdex score of 87 — strongest in cpu.

Is iPhone 16 Pro Max 128GB (European) worth the price? +

At $1,199, iPhone 16 Pro Max 128GB (European) delivers a Specdex score of 96 — strongest in cpu.

Does iPhone 15 Plus 256GB or iPhone 16 Pro Max 128GB (European) last longer? +

Based on our long-term update and support ratings, both ship with multi-year support. Battery and reliability scores are visible in the breakdown above.

Which is better for photography, iPhone 15 Plus 256GB or iPhone 16 Pro Max 128GB (European)? +

iPhone 16 Pro Max 128GB (European) — leads on camera (95 vs 86). Stills and video quality across lenses.

Which is better for battery life, iPhone 15 Plus 256GB or iPhone 16 Pro Max 128GB (European)? +

iPhone 16 Pro Max 128GB (European) — leads on battery (90 vs 81). Screen-on time and charging.