iPhone 15 Pro Max – everything you need to know

The iPhone 15 Pro Max is poised to debut alongside the iPhone 15, iPhone 15 Plus and iPhone 15 Pro at Apple’s 2023 September event later today, with all four phones set to shake up our ranking of the best iPhones.

We’re at Apple Park for it all and you can follow our iPhone 15 event live blog for all the last-minute leaks and analysis before it begins, plus all the big reveals once it gets underway at 10am PT / 1pm ET / 6pm BST today. You can also take a look at our guide on how to watch the Apple September event. 

We’d previously heard that an iPhone 15 Ultra could be arriving in place of the Pro Max iPhone this year, and although that rumor has since lost momentum, some last-minute iPhone 15 leaks suggest that Apple’s first Ultra-branded iPhone could still release in 2023, which is worth bearing in mind as you read on.

In this article, though, we detail the most convincing rumors we’ve heard surrounding the iPhone 15 Pro Max, specifically (aka the potential successor to the excellent iPhone 14 Pro Max).

For details on the rest of Apple’s upcoming iPhone 15 line, head over to our roundup of the key iPhone 15 upgrades that seem all but confirmed.

Latest leaks, rumors and news (Updated September 12)

Model comparison

In addition to the iPhone 15 Pro Max, we’re expecting Apple to unveil an iPhone 15, iPhone 15 Plus and iPhone 15 Pro Max later today, and in the below table, we’ve compiled some at-a-glance specs for all four phones.

Here’s a more detailed look at how the iPhone 15 Pro Max compares to the iPhone 14 Pro Max, based on the rumors so far. 

iPhone 15 Pro Max release date predictions

• Apple event set for today, Tuesday, September 12
• Shipping dates slated for Friday, September 22
• Production delays were rumored, but no longer

The iPhone 15 Pro Max is all but certain to be unveiled today, September 12, at Apple’s so-called Wonderlust event. It all starts at 10am PT / 1pm ET / 6pm BST today, so follow our iPhone 15 event live blog for all the latest.

This event will almost certainly play host to the launch of the full iPhone 15 line, with iPhone 15 pre-orders likely to get underway in a few days’ time on Friday, September 15. Shipping dates (i.e. the real iPhone 15 release date) will probably follow another week later on Friday, September 22.

Previous reports had suggested that the actual shipping dates for some iPhone 15 models could be delayed until October, with the iPhone 15 Pro Max, in particular, set to arrive later than its siblings. 

However, seasoned Apple tipster Ming-Chi Kuo has since claimed that the iPhone 15 Pro Max will be available in time for its expected September launch, after all. That said, a more recent leak from a different source again suggests that the iPhone 15 Pro Max could be delayed by up to four weeks. So we’re not certain what’s true at this stage.

With all that in mind, we really don’t think you should buy a new iPhone until the iPhone 15 arrives. 

iPhone 15 Pro Max colors

The iPhone 15 colors will vary by model, but we expect the iPhone 15 Pro and iPhone 15 Pro Max to be offered in the same shades as one another. The latest intelligence suggest that four color options are on the cards:

• Dark red
• Silver 
• Gold
• Graphite, Space Gray, or Space Black

Also on the colors front, reports suggest that every iPhone 15 model will come with a color-matched braided USB-C cable. The use of braiding should make these cables more durable to the rigors of long-term use, as well as better retain their colors. You can read more about the potential benefits of Apple’s transition to USB-C, specifically, further down this article.

iPhone 15 Pro Max price predictions

• Likely to be the most expensive iPhone ever
• May start at $1,199 / £1,309 / AU$2,099

Early leaks surrounding the price of the iPhone 15 Pro Max were based around Apple calling it the iPhone 15 Ultra, but the figures are still worth considering. In December, for instance, an iPhone 15 Ultra price leak suggested that the phone could start at $1,299, likely equating to £1,429 / AU$2,249 in other regions.

Though more recently a TrendForce report pointed to a more modest $100 hike, meaning a starting price of $1,199 (and possibly £1,309 / AU$2,099).

For comparison, the iPhone 14 Pro Max starts at $1,099 / £1,199 / AU$1,899 – which itself represents a price hike over the iPhone 13 Pro Max outside of the US market – while the Samsung Galaxy S23 Ultra starts $1,199.99 / £1,249 / AU$1,949.

Whatever the case, a price increase of some amount seems likely, with even Apple itself suggesting that customers could be willing to pay more for the newest iPhones.

Indeed, it looks like Apple will be raising the prices of every phone in the iPhone 15 line versus their respective predecessors. According to one prominent leaker, the iPhone 15 will be 12% more expensive to produce than the iPhone 14, while the iPhone 15 Pro will be a whopping 20% more expensive to produce than the iPhone 14 Pro. Another source has also more recently said to expect a price rise from the iPhone 15 Pro Max, though they didn’t say how much by, and Bloomberg’s Mark Gurman has also pointed to increased iPhone 15 Pro Max prices.

What’s more, it’s possible Apple will do away with 128GB storage options for the iPhone 15 Pro and iPhone 15 Pro Max this year, so the latter may start at a higher price than $1,199 / £1,309 / AU$2,099 (i.e. the price of the 256GB variant of the iPhone 14 Pro Max).

The iPhone 15 Pro Max could be offered with up to 2TB internal storage, too, and considering that the 1TB variant of the iPhone 14 Pro Max costs a whopping $1,599 / £1,740 / AU$2,769 – which is some $200 / £211 / AU$350 more than the 512GB variant (which is half as big, storage-wise) – a 2TB iPhone 15 Pro Max would likely cost at least $1,799 / £1,950 / AU$2,769. Yikes! Though a more recent leak suggests storage will be the same as last year, and a second iPhone 15 Pro Max storage leak has said the same.

As high as these rumored prices are, though, the iPhone 15 Pro Max is nonetheless tipped to outsell other iPhone 15 models by a huge margin.

iPhone 15 Pro Max cameras

• Periscope lens on the Pro Max
• Sensors may be improved 

When it comes to iPhone 15 cameras, the iPhone 15 Pro Max is expected to improve upon its predecessor’s already excellent triple-sensor setup in a few key ways. 

Most prominently, the iPhone 15 Pro Max could use a periscope telephoto camera to deliver a 6x optical zoom. That would provide a notable boost over the iPhone 14 Pro Max’s 3x zoom and open up a wealth of potential for improved zoom ranges, when digital zooming is also brought into the mix. 

One report even suggests this iPhone 15 Pro Max camera upgrade will be “a pivotal factor that could tip the scales for potential buyers.”

Other than that, the main difference between the iPhone 15 Pro Max’s cameras and its predecessor’s will probably be the quality of sensors used. According to leaks, the iPhone 15 Pro is expected to sport new Sony-produced sensors that capture more light, so the iPhone 15 Pro Max would likewise benefit from these sensors.

In fact, one of these sensors – the Sony IMX903 – is rumored to measure 1/1.14 inches, meaning the iPhone 15 Pro Max could ship with the biggest camera sensor ever used in an iPhone. Rumors have also suggested that the iPhone 15 Pro Max will have more advanced image processing skills than the iPhone 15 Pro. 

And lastly, the iPhone 15 Pro Max might have a dual-lens front-facing camera, improving upon its predecessor’s single 12MP front-facing TrueDepth camera. That said, this looks increasingly unlikely, as only one source has mentioned this, and they have an iffy track record.

iPhone 15 Pro Max design

• Thinner bezels and titanium sides expected
• Solid-state buttons were initially rumored, but no longer likely
• Action button seems confirmed, though

We expect the iPhone 15 Pro Max to be similar in size to its predecessor – i.e. 77.6mm x 160.7mm x 7.85mm – but that’s not to say it’ll be an identical-looking device.

For instance, we’ve heard from multiple sources that both the iPhone 15 Pro and iPhone 15 Pro Max could get titanium sides, which would make them stronger and lighter than their stainless steel-framed predecessors (and, presumably, the rest of the best phones out there in 2023). 

Specifically, reports suggest that the iPhone 15 Pro Max will weigh 221g, marking a 19g reduction from the 240g-weight of the iPhone 14 Pro Max.

Both devices are also expected to have rounded rear edges, which would mark a contrast to the iPhone 14 Pro’s sharp-angled sides. Apple was reportedly unsure about implementing this design change for the iPhone 15 Pro and iPhone 15 Pro Max, but leaked renders showing off these curved sides have since emerged, adding weight to the rumor. We argue that by moving away from flat edges, Apple could be onto a design win with the iPhone 15, especially when it comes to the larger iPhone 15 Pro Max. 

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These renders also show a button in place of the mute switch, which is believed to be a configurable button like the Action button on the Apple Watch Ultra. You might be able to do a lot more with this version of the button, though – code snippets in an iOS 17 beta have pointed to nine different options. These include the ability to toggle accessibility modes, Shortcuts, silent mode, the flashlight, the camera, a magnifier, Focus modes, text or speech translation, and voice memos. 

Leaked iPhone 15 Pro Max case images have seemingly teased the Action button, too, and an even newer iOS 17 beta has pretty much confirmed the existence this iPhone 15 Pro feature. Since then, case maker Spigen has also shown off the new Action button, so we’re almost certain that it’ll be debuting with the upcoming iPhone 15 line.

For such a physical addition to the iPhone, we reckon there are 5 key things we need the iPhone 15 Pro Action button to do. And Lance Ulanoff, TechRadar’s US Editor in Chief thinks the removal of the mute slider in favor of the Action button could be a big win for the iPhone 15 range.

On the bezel front, we’ve heard that the iPhone 15 Pro will be getting thinner bezels than the iPhone 14 Pro, meaning the iPhone 15 Pro Max will surely do, too. This would be an impressive feat on Apple’s part, given that the bezels on the iPhone 14 Pro Max are already remarkably thin.

Specifically, the iPhone 15 Pro Max might have bezels of 1.5mm thickness, which would be down from around 2.2mm thick on the iPhone 14 Pro Max, so that’s a significant reduction.

You can take a look at what the iPhone 15 Pro Max might look like in the MacRumors video below, which shows off dummy units for all four rumored iPhone 15 models. The rounded edges and USB-C ports that we’ve been hearing about (more on the latter below) are both visible.

Incidentally, the iPhone 15 Pro and iPhone 15 Pro Max were widely rumored to be getting solid-state volume and power buttons, but Apple analysts recently poured water on those claims. 

It’s also worth noting that Apple may be preparing to move to eSIM in countries outside the US for the iPhone 15 Pro Max, with eSIMs reportedly coming to the next generation of Apple’s best iPhones in France. SIM card-less iPhone 15 Pro Max’s could be coming to the UK, Ireland, Germany, Italy, Spain, Portugal and many other countries, too.

iPhone 15 Pro Max screen size

• Expected to inherit its predecessor’s 6.7-inch Super XDR OLED display
• Dynamic Island will return, with marginal improvements

On the topic of iPhone 15 screen sizes and displays, the iPhone 15 Pro Max will likely retain its predecessor’s 6.7-inch Super XDR OLED screen and Dynamic Island digital cutout. The latter is expected to make its way onto the vanilla iPhone 15, too, though the next iteration of the Dynamic Island won’t necessarily be identical to that which is used on the iPhone 14 line.

According to Apple analyst Ming-Chi Kuo, the iPhone 15’s proximity sensor will be integrated inside the ‌Dynamic Island itself, rather than positioned separately (as on the iPhone 14 Pro and Pro Max). The proximity sensor is used to detect when you raise your iPhone to your ear. When triggered, the sensor shuts off the screen, so you don’t end up accidentally putting your boss on hold or hanging up on your grandma.

This new sensor arrangement is unlikely to result in any material difference to the appearance or functionality of the iPhone 15 Pro Max versus the iPhone 14 Pro Max, but the former’s Dynamic Island will technically be more advanced than the latter’s given the inclusion of a previously isolated sensor.

iPhone 15 Pro Max features and specs

• Will reportedly use the super-fast A17 Bionic
• Possibly more RAM and larger battery
• AI could feature prominently

The iPhone 14 Pro Max uses the A16 Bionic – aka the latest version of Apple’s silicon – which makes it one of the fastest phones money can buy in 2023. Apple being Apple, though, the iPhone 15 Pro Max will be even faster.

Unsurprisingly, Apple’s next Pro-level iPhones are reportedly in line for an A17 Bionic chipset, which will surely be more power-efficient than the A16 Bionic. Chinese outlet DCInside reports that the A17 Bionic will boast a 20% more powerful CPU than its predecessor, meaning the iPhone 15 Pro Max should enjoy sizable performance gains over the iPhone 14 Pro Max (even if these gains won’t necessarily be tangible in terms of speed).

DCInside claims that the A17 Bionic earns a single-core score of 3019 and a multi-core score of 7860 on Geekbench 6, where the A16 Bionic scores 2504 and 6314, respectively. Naturally, we’d suggest taking these rumored figures with a hefty pinch of salt, but they do suggest that the iPhone 15 Pro Max might sport benchmark scores to rival Apple’s best MacBooks.

Notably, the A17 Bionic could also be significantly more powerful than the Snapdragon 8 Gen 2 chipset – aka the processor that powers many of the best Android phones. The latter is made on a 4nm process, while the A17 Bionic will reportedly be made on a 3nm process (which means far more transistors can be included, likely leading to better performance and efficiency).

The iPhone 15 Pro Max is possibly going to get 8GB RAM, too, marking an improvement over the iPhone 14 Pro Max (which uses 6GB RAM). We’ve now heard 8GB of RAM mentioned for the iPhone 15 Pro Max a second time too.

On the other hand, though, it might still be stuck at 6GB, according to another leak, which also adds that the A17 Bionic has six CPU cores, six GPU cores, and a maximum clock speed of 3.70GHz. For reference, the A16 Bionic has six CPU cores, five CPU cores, and a top speed of 3.46GHz.

We were expecting the iPhone 15 Pro Max to boast a similarly-sized power pack to the iPhone 14 Pro Max (4,323mAh), however recent rumors suggest that the entire iPhone 15 lineup will feature significantly larger batteries than their predecessors.

The iPhone 15 Pro Max, specifically, will reportedly feature an 18% larger battery than the iPhone 14 Pro Max, taking its capacity up to 4,852mAh. In theory, then, it’ll boast better battery life. We’ve also heard that Apple will switch to a different type of battery technology with the iPhone 15 line.

Another rumor has suggested that Apple is working on a reverse wireless charging feature for the iPhone 15 line. If true, the iPhone 15 Pro Max will be able to wirelessly charge other Apple gadgets, whereas the iPhone 14 Pro Max can’t.

This option will supposedly arrive with iOS 17, which was announced in June, but only the iPhone 15 Pro and iPhone 15 Pro Max will be able to make use of the technology given their support for Thunderbolt 3.

It’s not yet clear whether Apple’s upcoming premium iPhones will allow you to share all types of content across multiple screens using the charging port alone – game and movie content, for instance, might still require AirPlay or an Apple TV. At the very least, though, filmmakers, photographers, and other creatives look set to have the option of visualizing their subjects on larger, control-free monitors with the iPhone 15 Pro Max.

Regardless, US Editor-in-Chief Lance Ulanoff posits that Apple needs to make the transition to USB-C for the iPhone 15 as painless as possible for users, especially those with a suite of Lightning accessories. 

Getting more granular, every iPhone 15 will reportedly feature an upgraded Ultra Wideband (UWB) chip to support the functionality of Apple’s Vision Pro headset. Analyst Ming-Chi Kuo predicts that Apple’s U1 chip – currently built on a 16nm process – will be replaced by newer silicon, founded on a significantly more compact 7nm process; with the intention of improving performance, while also reducing power consumption. This could have major (positive) implications for the iPhone 15 Pro Max’s functionality with Apple Vision Pro.

Lastly, the entire iPhone 15 line is expected to play host to Apple’s next big developments in AI. Specifically, a new iOS Health app could use AI to make tailored lifestyle recommendations based on your heart rate, sleep, diet, and breathing data – something existing iPhones aren’t able to do.

iPhone 15 Pro Max USB-C

• USB-C should bring improved data transfer/charging speeds

The final iPhone 15 Pro Max design upgrade is expected to come in the form of a USB-C charging port. The EU has told Apple that it has to add USB-C charging ports to iPhones by 2024, but multiple leaks have suggested that Apple will be adopting the charging standard in 2023 with the iPhone 15, iPhone 15 Plus, iPhone 15 Pro and iPhone 15 Pro Max, this year.

It’s also worth reiterating here that the iPhone 15 Pro Max you probably won’t be able to use your older Apple Lightning cable to juice it up. This version of USB-C is rumored to support the USB 3.0 standard, too – whereas the iPhone 15 will reportedly stick with its predecessor’s USB 2.0 standard. So the iPhone 15 Pro Max could get faster file transfer speeds than its vanilla sibling (according to USBMakers, the former could offer 90% faster speeds).  

The switch to USB-C could also bring faster charging speeds – for the Pro models, at least. Indeed, reports suggest that some of Apple’s upcoming iPhone 15 devices will support charging up to 35W. At present, the standard iPhone 14 is limited to 20W charging, while the iPhone 14 Pro Max is capped at 27W. The latter takes around two hours to recharge to full capacity, so we’ll gratefully accept any improvements on that figure for the iPhone 15 Pro Max.

We’ve heard that the iPhone 15 Pro’s Thunderbolt 3 version of USB-C will make the device compatible with 4K monitors, too, meaning you’ll also be able to display certain types of content on a separate screen – as you can with the best iPads – on the iPhone 15 Pro Max.

iPhone 15 Pro Max outlook

With a host of tipped upgrades, from a new design and titanium edges to a periscope telephotos camera with a 6x optical zoom, the iPhone 145 Pro Max is shaping up to be the next-generation iPhone that’ll grab the attention of Apple and Android fans alike. 

An Action button, particularly with customizable functionality, could sweeten the package and make the iPhone 15 Pro Max a future contender for our best phones list. 

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