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The iPhone 15 series arrived back in September. We’ve compared Apple’s most powerful handset with quite a few phones thus far, but not its predecessor from the iPhone 13 series. In this article, we’ll compare the Apple iPhone 15 Pro Max vs Apple iPhone 13 Pro Max. Many of you upgrade your devices after two years, so this could be the comparison that can help you make a decision.
In some ways, these two phones are similar, but there are quite a few differences too. We’ll first list their specifications, as per usual. Following that, we’ll compare the two phones across a number of categories. We’ll compare their designs, displays, performance, battery life, cameras, and audio output. That being said, let’s get this party started, shall we?
Specs
Apple iPhone 15 Pro Max vs Apple iPhone 13 Pro Max, respectively
– Screen size:
6.7-inch Super Retina XDR display with ProMotion (flat, 120Hz, HDR10, 2,000 nits)
6.7-inch Super Retina XDR display with ProMotion (flat, 120Hz, HDR10, 1,200 nits)
– Display resolution:
2796 x 1290
2778 x 1284
– SoC:
Apple A17 Pro
Apple A15 Bionic
– RAM:
8GB
6GB
– Storage:
256GB/512GB/1TB (NVMe)
128GB/256GB/512GB/1TB
– Rear cameras:
48MP (f/1.78 aperture, second-gen sensor-shift OIS), 12MP (ultrawide, f/2.2 aperture, 120-degree FoV, macro photography), 12MP (telephoto, f/2.8 aperture, 5x optical zoom)
12MP (f/1.5 aperture, sensor-shift OIS), 12MP (ultrawide, f/1.8 aperture, 120-degree FoV), 12MP (telephoto, f/2.8 aperture, 3x optical zoom)
– Front cameras:
12MP (f/1.9 aperture) + TrueDepth
12MP (f/2.2 aperture) + TrueDepth
– Battery:
4,422mAh
4,352mAh
– Charging:
20W wired, 15W wireless (MagSafe & Qi2), 7.5W wireless (Qi), reverse wired charging (charger not included)
20W wired, 15W wireless (MagSafe & Qi2), 7.5W wireless (Qi) (charger not included)
– Dimensions:
159.9 x 76.7 x 8.25mm
160.8 x 78.1 x 7.7mm
– Weight:
221 grams
240 grams
– Connectivity:
5G, LTE, NFC, Wi-Fi, USB Type-C, Bluetooth 5.3
5G, LTE, NFC, Wi-Fi, Lightning, Bluetooth 5.0
– Security:
Advanced facial scanning
– OS:
iOS 17
iOS 15 (upgradable)
– Price:
$1,199
No longer officially available
– Buy:
Apple
Apple iPhone 15 Pro Max vs Apple iPhone 13 Pro Max: Design
When they sit side-by-side, these two devices do look very similar. They have the same shape, and even their rear camera islands look very similar. The main difference, that you can immediately notice, is on the front. The iPhone 15 Pro Max has a pill-shaped cutout aka Dynamic Island, while the iPhone 13 Pro Max has a display notch. The bezels on the iPhone 15 Pro Max are also noticeably thinner, but they’re uniform on both devices.
The rear camera setups on the two smartphones do look similar, down to the camera placement and LED positioning. However, the setup on the iPhone 15 Pro Max is larger, which is to be expected. You’ll notice how different these two devices are once you hold them. The iPhone 15 Pro Max is a more pleasant device to hold and use. Why? Well, not only is it considerably lighter, its flat sides are curved towards the edges, unlike the flat sides on the iPhone 13 Pro Max. That makes the phone easier and more pleasant to hold. The iPhone 13 Pro Max has a tendency to cut into your finger, and you can develop hand fatigue after a while.
The two phones have the same display sizes, but the iPhone 15 Pro Max is slightly more compact. That is mostly due to its bezels that are thinner. It is slightly shorter, slightly narrower, and a bit thicker. As I already mentioned, it’s also lighter. It’s lighter by 19 grams at 221 grams compared to 240 grams. Both smartphones do offer an IP68 certification for water and dust resistance. They both feel like premium pieces of tech. It’s also worth noting that the iPhone 15 Pro Max’s frame is made out of titanium, while the iPhone 13 Pro Max uses stainless steel. That’s the main reason for the added heft.
Apple iPhone 15 Pro Max vs Apple iPhone 13 Pro Max: Display
The two devices do have the same display sizes, but those displays are not identical. They are both flat, by the way. The iPhone 15 Pro Max features an LTPO Super Retina XDR OLED display with a 120Hz refresh rate. It has a resolution of 2796 x 1290. That panel does support HDR10 content, and also has Dolby Vision support. It goes up to 2,000 nits in brightness. The display aspect ratio here is 19.5:9, while the panel is protected by the Ceramic Shield glass.
The iPhone 13 Pro Max, on the flip side, has a 6.7-inch Super Retina XDR OLED panel too, and this panel also has a 120Hz refresh rate. It supports HDR10 and Dolby Vision too, but it’s less bright than the iPhone 15 Pro Max’s display. It peaks at 1,200 nits. This display has a resolution of 2778 x 1284, and a 19.5:9 aspect ratio. The Ceramic Shield glass is used on top of it to protect it.
Both of these panels are very good, but the iPhone 15 Pro Max does have the edge. It is slightly sharper, which is not something you’ll notice, but you’ll notice that it’s brighter when you’re outdoors, especially in direct sunlight. Both displays offer a very good touch response and are quite vivid. They also offer deep blacks, as you’d expect out of AMOLED displays.
Apple iPhone 15 Pro Max vs Apple iPhone 13 Pro Max: Performance
The Apple A17 Pro SoC fuels the iPhone 15 Pro Max. That is Apple’s most powerful processor to date, it’s a 3nm processor, by the way. Apple also included 8GB of RAM here, along with NVMe flash storage. The iPhone 13 Pro Max, on the other hand, comes with the Apple A15 Bionic chip. That is a 5nm processor. This phone packs in 6GB of RAM, and NVMe flash storage.
In case you’re wondering, yes, the iPhone 13 Pro Max still has great performance. From that standpoint, there’s really no need to upgrade to the iPhone 15 Pro Max. Apple’s new flagship, however, is considerably more powerful, there’s no denying that. The Apple A17 Pro is so powerful, it can play some console-quality games. The thing is, that makes the phone get quite toasty fast, so keep that in mind.
Both smartphones do a great job when regular, everyday usage is concerned. Sure, the iPhone 15 Pro Max may open apps a bit faster, but there’s really not a huge difference in regards to fluidity and general performance. The iPhone 13 Pro Max can still keep up with gaming as well, for the most part.
Apple iPhone 15 Pro Max vs Apple iPhone 13 Pro Max: Battery
The iPhone 15 Pro Max is equipped with a 4,441mAh battery, while the iPhone 13 Pro Max has a 4,352mAh battery. The iPhone 13 Pro Max was one of the best battery life flagships of its time. If the battery health on the phone is good, the phone likely provides great battery life. We were able to get over 8 hours of screen-on-time on that phone, easy, even over 9 hours when needed.
The iPhone 15 Pro Max battery life is not bad at all, but it cannot measure up to the iPhone 13 Pro Max, unfortunately. Getting around 7-7.5 hours of screen-on-time is a reality. Do note that gaming is not thrown into the mix, however. When you do that, the difference becomes even more noticeable.
Both smartphones support 20W wired charging, along with 15W MagSafe and Qi2 wireless charging. 7.5W Qi wireless charging is also supported. The iPhone 15 Pro Max also has the ability to charge other devices thanks to its 4.5W reverse wired charging. Neither of the two smartphones comes with a charger in the box, unfortunately.
Apple iPhone 15 Pro Max vs Apple iPhone 13 Pro Max: Cameras
The iPhone 15 Pro Max features a 48-megapixel main camera, in addition to a 12-megapixel ultrawide unit (120-degree FoV), and a 12-megapixel Tetraprism telephoto camera (5x optical zoom). The Apple iPhone 13 Pro Max has a 12-megapixel main camera, a 12-megapixel ultrawide camera (120-degree FoV), and a 12-megapixel telephoto camera (3x optical zoom).
The iPhone 14 Pro series ushered in a major hardware upgrade with the main camera. The iPhone 15 Pro Max pushed things even further in the right direction. Both smartphones do a great job during the day, but the iPhone 15 Pro Max does a much better job in HDR conditions. The iPhone 13 Pro Max still has a tendency to overexose shots in such conditions. A considerable difference is also noticeable in low light, as the iPhone 15 Pro Max easily wins that comparison.
Both ultrawide cameras do a great job. They keep the color science close to the main shooter, which is great. In terms of the telephoto camera, well, the iPhone 13 Pro Max’s shooter is good, but it cannot compare to the iPhone 15 Pro Max’s zoom capability. When it comes to 3x shots, however, things are much closer. The iPhone 15 Pro Max also does a great job in the video department, but the iPhone 13 Pro Max is not far behind, it can still capture very good video.
Audio
There are stereo speakers included on both of these devices. Both speaker setups are good and well-balanced. They are even similar when it comes to the sheer loudness that comes from them.
What you will not find on either phone is the audio jack. The iPhone 15 Pro Max does have a Type-C port at the bottom, while the iPhone 13 Pro Max includes a Lightning port. You can use those to connect your wired headphones. If you prefer wireless connectivity, Bluetooth 5.3 is supported on the new phone, while the iPhone 13 Pro Max comes with Bluetooth 5.0.