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iPhone 15 Pro 256GB — A17 Pro · iOS · 256GB
Apple

iPhone 15 Pro 256GB

A17 Pro · iOS · 256GB

91
/ 100
From $1,099
VS
iPhone 17 Pro Max wins by 5
iPhone 17 Pro Max — A19 Pro · 6.9″ OLED · IP68
Apple

iPhone 17 Pro Max

A19 Pro · 6.9″ OLED · IP68

96
/ 100
From $1,199
Specdex verdict

iPhone 17 Pro Max takes it — here’s why.

In our weighted Specdex score, iPhone 15 Pro 256GB lands at 91 and iPhone 17 Pro Max at 96. That puts iPhone 17 Pro Max ahead by 5 points — a decisive margin driven mostly by its strengths in the categories below.

Pick iPhone 15 Pro 256GB if…

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

Pick iPhone 17 Pro Max if…

  • ✓A19 Pro chip
  • ✓Up to 39 hours video playback
  • ✓Up to 2 TB storage
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Winner by scenario

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

Photography

iPhone 17 Pro Max

Stills and video quality across lenses

iPhone 17 Pro Max leads on camera (95 vs 90).

Battery life

iPhone 17 Pro Max

Screen-on time and charging

iPhone 17 Pro Max leads on battery (92 vs 85).

Performance

iPhone 17 Pro Max

Chipset speed for gaming and heavy apps

iPhone 17 Pro Max leads on cpu (98 vs 91).

Display

iPhone 17 Pro Max

Panel quality, brightness, refresh rate

iPhone 17 Pro Max leads on display (95 vs 88).

Value for money

Tie

Specdex score per dollar at MSRP

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

iPhone 15 Pro 256GB 91
vs
96 iPhone 17 Pro Max

Score breakdown

iPhone 15 Pro 256GB
91
cpu 91
gpu 89
camera 90
battery 85
display 88
design 91
iPhone 17 Pro Max
96
cpu 98
gpu 96
camera 95
battery 92
display 95
design 95

Specs side-by-side

iPhone 15 Pro 256GB versus iPhone 17 Pro Max — full spec comparison
Spec iPhone 15 Pro 256GB iPhone 17 Pro Max
Chipset
A17 Pro
Apple A19 Pro chip
Storage
256GB
256 / 512 GB / 1 / 2 TB
OS
iOS 17
iOS 26
Release year
2023
—
Display
—
6.9″ OLED, 2868×1320 at 460 ppi
Battery (video)
—
Up to 39 hours
Charging
—
50% in 20 min with 40W adapter; MagSafe up to 25W
Weight
—
233 g
IP rating
—
IP68 (6 m, 30 min)

iPhone 15 Pro 256GB

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

iPhone 17 Pro Max

Pros
  • +A19 Pro chip
  • +Up to 39 hours video playback
  • +Up to 2 TB storage
Cons
  • −Premium price
  • −Weighs 233 g
  • −Wired charging requires 40W+ adapter

FAQ: iPhone 15 Pro 256GB vs iPhone 17 Pro Max

Which is better, iPhone 15 Pro 256GB or iPhone 17 Pro Max? +

iPhone 17 Pro Max scores 96 on our weighted rubric — ahead by 5. Your best pick depends on the sub-scores above.

Is iPhone 15 Pro 256GB worth the price? +

At $1,099, iPhone 15 Pro 256GB delivers a Specdex score of 91 — strongest in cpu.

Is iPhone 17 Pro Max worth the price? +

At $1,199, iPhone 17 Pro Max delivers a Specdex score of 96 — strongest in cpu.

Does iPhone 15 Pro 256GB or iPhone 17 Pro Max 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 Pro 256GB or iPhone 17 Pro Max? +

iPhone 17 Pro Max — leads on camera (95 vs 90). Stills and video quality across lenses.

Which is better for battery life, iPhone 15 Pro 256GB or iPhone 17 Pro Max? +

iPhone 17 Pro Max — leads on battery (92 vs 85). Screen-on time and charging.