Are you contemplating upgrading to one of Apple's latest flagship models? Whether you're a tech enthusiast or just looking for the best value, this guide will help you make an informed decision. Every year, Apple introduces new advancements, and this time around, you might want to consider whether the iPhone 14 Pro Max still holds up against the new iPhone 15 Pro Max. This comparison will delve into key differences in design, camera capabilities, performance, and more, to help you decide if an upgrade is worth it.
In late 2023, Apple unveiled the iPhone 15 Pro and Pro Max models, featuring a sleek titanium design and promising state-of-the-art advancements. But for current iPhone 14 Pro Max owners, the question isn't just "Is it better?" but also "Is it better for me?"
Let's explore the essential aspects such as design, camera performance, battery life, and more to help you determine whether to upgrade or stick with your trusty 14 Pro Max.
Design and Build Quality
The iPhone 15 Pro Max is the undeniable stunner. It feels ridiculously smooth and lightweight, thanks to that fancy titanium frame, akin to holding a mini luxury item. However, let's be realistic—most of us encase our £900-£1500 phones in protective shells. Once cocooned, that luxurious feel might not translate into your everyday use. In contrast, the 14 Pro Max's stainless steel body still exudes solidity and sleekness. Some might even prefer its slightly heavier weight for a reassuring heft.
Materials and Build
The iPhone 15 Pro Max introduces a luxurious titanium frame, which is both stronger and lighter than the stainless steel frame of the iPhone 14 Pro Max. This change makes the iPhone 15 Pro Max feel more like a premium, luxury item. However, most users encase their phones in protective cases, which may diminish the tactile differences between the two models. While the iPhone 15 Pro Max's titanium body offers a lighter feel at 221g compared to the 240g stainless steel iPhone 14 Pro Max, the difference in everyday use may be minimal once a case is applied
Dimensions and Weight
iPhone 14 Pro Max: 160.7 x 77.6 x 7.9mm, 240g
iPhone 15 Pro Max: 159.9 x 76.7 x 8.25mm, 221g
The slightly smaller and lighter build of the iPhone 15 Pro Max could make it more comfortable to hold and use, particularly for extended periods.
Colors
The iPhone 14 Pro Max is available in Space Black, Silver, Gold, and Deep Purple. The iPhone 15 Pro Max, on the other hand, comes in Black Titanium, White Titanium, Blue Titanium, and Natural Titanium, offering a fresh and refined palette for users who prefer a modern look
Display
Screen Size and Type
Both the iPhone 14 Pro Max and iPhone 15 Pro Max feature stunning 6.7-inch OLED displays that deliver vibrant colors and deep blacks. The OLED technology ensures high contrast ratios and true-to-life color reproduction, making both models ideal for media consumption and gaming.
Resolution and Brightness
Both models offer the same resolution of 2796 x 1290 pixels, ensuring sharp and detailed visuals. The iPhone 15 Pro Max, however, boasts slightly improved brightness levels, which enhance visibility in direct sunlight and offer a more vivid display experience.
Dynamic Island and Bezels
Both phones include the innovative Dynamic Island feature, which enhances the user interface by utilizing the space around the front camera cutout for notifications and interactive elements. The iPhone 15 Pro Max features thinner bezels, providing a larger screen area without increasing the overall size of the device.
Performance
Processor
The iPhone 14 Pro Max is powered by the A16 Bionic chip, which delivers exceptional performance for all tasks, from browsing and social media to gaming and video editing. The iPhone 15 Pro Max takes it a step further with the A17 Pro chip, offering improved efficiency and even faster processing speeds. This makes the iPhone 15 Pro Max a slightly better powerhouse for demanding applications and future-proofing your device for upcoming software updates. However, for most daily tasks like browsing, social media, and even casual gaming, the 14 Pro's A16 Bionic chip remains a powerhouse. You may not even notice the speed difference in your everyday usage.
RAM and Storage
Both models come with 6GB of RAM, ensuring smooth multitasking and performance. The iPhone 15 Pro Max, however, starts with a minimum of 256GB storage, eliminating the 128GB option available on the iPhone 14 Pro Max. This change caters to users who require more storage for apps, photos, and videos.
Battery Life
Apple claims that both models offer similar battery life, with the iPhone 14 Pro Max providing up to 29 hours of video playback and the iPhone 15 Pro Max matching this performance. However, the newer model benefits from enhanced efficiency due to the A17 Pro chip, potentially offering better battery management in real-world usage.
For most users, both phones easily last a full day and possibly into the next. They both support fast charging, with the 15 Pro offering even faster MagSafe charging and a new USB-C port. However, unless you're constantly plagued by low battery anxiety, the charging differences may not have a significant impact.
Camera
Both phones offer advanced camera features such as Night Mode, ProRAW, and Cinematic Mode. The iPhone 15 Pro Max introduces additional features like ProRes video recording and improved optical image stabilization, making it a slightly better choice for photography enthusiasts and professionals.
Both phones excel at capturing memories. The iPhone 15 Pro boasts a slightly larger main sensor, better low-light performance, and an additional zoom lens for getting closer to distant subjects. Tactically, the only noticeable difference is the different zoom lengths that you can now use on the 15 by tapping the yellow focal length circles.
This does feel more of a feature than an upgrade and something you can pretty much do on the iPhone 14 Pro Max by sliding in. It's merely more convenient but even after a few months of use, we don't find ourselves using it.
So, unless you're a photography enthusiast or frequently zooming in on distant objects, the excellent camera of the 14 Pro should suffice. It delivers stunning photos and videos, albeit without the bells and whistles of the 15 Pro.
Main Camera
Both the iPhone 14 Pro Max and iPhone 15 Pro Max feature a 48MP main camera, capable of capturing stunning details and vibrant colors. The iPhone 15 Pro Max includes minor enhancements for better low-light performance and improved image processing, thanks to the A17 Pro chip.
Telephoto and Ultra-Wide
iPhone 14 Pro Max: 12MP telephoto lens with 3x optical zoom
iPhone 15 Pro Max: 12MP periscope telephoto lens with 6x optical zoom
The iPhone 15 Pro Max's telephoto lens provides greater zoom capabilities, making it ideal for capturing distant subjects. Both models share a 12MP ultra-wide lens, ensuring high-quality wide-angle shots.
Camera Modes & Features
Both phones offer Cinematic Mode, allowing you to add artistic background blur to videos. Additionally, the 15 Pro introduces ProRes, a high-quality video format for professional-grade editing.
- ProRes video recording: Both models now support ProRes video recording, a professional-grade video format that offers greater dynamic range and color grading flexibility.
- Focus pull transitions: Cinematic mode now allows for smoother focus transitions between subjects in your video, creating a more cinematic feel.
However, unless you're a YouTuber or filmmaker, the 14 Pro Max's capabilities will do more than suffice for your Instagram stories and casual content creation.
Beyond the Specs: Feeling the Difference
The 15 Pro's sleek titanium frame and slightly slimmer profile might tempt you to ditch your 14 Pro. However, as most of us use phone cases, the luxurious feel of the 15 Pro fades once it's encased, leaving you with a similar in-hand experience. The 14 Pro's stainless steel body remains solid and elegant, and some might even prefer its slightly heavier feel.
Key Features Worth Highlighting:
- 120Hz ProMotion Display: Both phones feature a 120Hz ProMotion display, ensuring smooth scrolling and a responsive touch experience. This high refresh rate is ideal for gaming, video playback, and general navigation, eliminating the need for an upgrade based on display technology alone.
- Portrait Mode and Selfies: Both models excel in capturing high-quality portraits and selfies. The portrait modes on both devices deliver stunning results with advanced depth-of-field effects and accurate skin tones, ensuring you get flawless selfies regardless of your choice.
- ProRes Video Recording: While both phones support ProRes video recording, this high-quality format is primarily beneficial for professionals or those heavily involved in video editing. It offers greater dynamic range and color grading flexibility, but for most users, the standard video recording capabilities of the 14 Pro are more than sufficient.
The Verdict: Upgrade or Stay Put?
Choosing between the iPhone 14 Pro Max and the iPhone 15 Pro Max ultimately depends on your personal needs and budget.
The iPhone 15 Pro Max brings only a few minor improvements like a lighter and more durable titanium frame, slightly superior camera capabilities with a 6x optical zoom, and the powerful A17 Pro chip for better performance and efficiency. These improvements make it an excellent choice for tech enthusiasts, photographers, and those seeking the latest in smartphone technology. There is nothing notable that the average person who uses a smartphone will notice or miss.
Here's the kicker: the 15 Pro Max comes with a significantly higher price tag than the 14 Pro Max. So, is it worth the extra cash? For power users, photography enthusiasts, and early tech adopters who crave the latest and greatest, the 15 Pro might be worth the splurge.
However, the iPhone 14 Pro Max remains an excellent high-performing device. Its stainless steel frame offers a solid feel, and its camera, with a slightly less zooming ability, still delivers exceptional photos and videos. The A16 Bionic chip ensures that it handles everyday tasks and more demanding applications with ease. For the average person using their phone for everyday tasks and enjoying good photos, the 14 Pro offers incredible value. It provides a fantastic phone at a more budget-friendly price, and you're unlikely to miss the fancy extras of the 15 Pro in your daily life.
The decision boils down to your needs and budget:
Upgrade if:
- You're a photography enthusiast needing advanced camera features like 6x optical zoom and slightly improved image stabilization.
- You’re a tech pundit who requires the latest and most powerful A17 Pro chip for future-proofing.
- You prefer the lighter and more premium feel of the titanium frame.
Stay put if:
- The iPhone 14 Pro Max’s excellent camera and performance already meet your needs.
- You prioritize value and want to save money without compromising on quality.
- The additional features of the iPhone 15 Pro Max are not essential for your daily use.
In the end, both models are excellent choices, and the perfect phone is the one that best fits your needs and budget. For those currently using older models like the iPhone 8 or X, upgrading to either the iPhone 14 Pro Max or iPhone 15 Pro Max will be a significant improvement.
Buying certified pre-owned or refurbished will allow your budget to stretch that bit more, without the compromise on quality. Our “Like New” grades are just that - like new, and we guarantee you wouldn't be able to tell the difference.
Lastly, if you haven't purchased a phone yet, the iPhone 14 Pro Max is currently available for around £749 on reboxed, offering substantial savings compared to a new iPhone 15 Pro Max.
