Should You Upgrade from the iPhone 15 Pro Max to the iPhone 16 Pro Max?
A spec-by-spec look at what actually changes when you move from the iPhone 15 Pro Max to the iPhone 16 Pro Max, 1 year apart.
Yes — the iPhone 16 Pro Max is a worthwhile upgrade
The iPhone 16 Pro Max is 1 year newer than the iPhone 15 Pro Max, and the BeastScore rises from 78.3 to 80.0. The biggest improvements: battery rated 8 points higher, 263 mah bigger battery, 10w faster wireless charging. Trade-offs to know: 6 g heavier.
What you gain with the iPhone 16 Pro Max
- +Battery rated 8 points higher
- +263 mAh bigger battery
- +10W faster wireless charging
- +0.2" larger screen
What you give up
- −6 g heavier
| Spec | iPhone 15 Pro Max | iPhone 16 Pro Max | Change |
|---|---|---|---|
| BeastScore (overall) | 78.3 | 80.0 | +1.7 |
| Performance score | 80 | 80 | No real change |
| Camera score | 85 | 85 | No real change |
| Battery score | 70 | 78 | +8 (11%) |
| Display score | 88 | 88 | No real change |
| Battery capacity | 4,422 mAh | 4,685 mAh | +263 mAh (6%) |
| Wired charging | 27W | 27W | No real change |
| Wireless charging | 15W | 25W | +10W (67%) |
| Screen size | 6.7" | 6.9" | +0.2" (3%) |
| Refresh rate | 120Hz | 120Hz | No real change |
| Peak brightness | 2,000 nits | 2,000 nits | No real change |
| Main camera | 48 MP | 48 MP | No real change |
| Optical zoom | 5x | 5x | No real change |
| RAM | 8 GB | 8 GB | No real change |
| Weight | 221 g | 227 g | +6 g (3%) |
| Launch price | $1,199 | $1,199 | No real change |
Upgrade if…
- You regularly run out of battery before the end of the day
iPhone 15 Pro Max vs iPhone 16 Pro Max: Upgrade FAQ
Is it worth upgrading from the iPhone 15 Pro Max to the iPhone 16 Pro Max?
Yes — the iPhone 16 Pro Max is a worthwhile upgrade. The iPhone 16 Pro Max is 1 year newer than the iPhone 15 Pro Max, and the BeastScore rises from 78.3 to 80.0. The biggest improvements: battery rated 8 points higher, 263 mah bigger battery, 10w faster wireless charging. Trade-offs to know: 6 g heavier.
What is the biggest difference between the iPhone 15 Pro Max and iPhone 16 Pro Max?
Battery rated 8 points higher: 70 on the iPhone 15 Pro Max vs 78 on the iPhone 16 Pro Max.
Does the iPhone 16 Pro Max have a bigger battery than the iPhone 15 Pro Max?
The iPhone 16 Pro Max has a 4,685 mAh battery versus 4,422 mAh on the iPhone 15 Pro Max (+263 mAh (6%)).
Who should upgrade to the iPhone 16 Pro Max?
Upgrade if: You regularly run out of battery before the end of the day.