Looking for an honest Apple iPhone 15 Plus Very vs Apple iPhone 17 Pro Max comparison in 2026? We scored both smartphones on the same six-dimension framework — performance, battery, display, camera, design and value — using identical methodology, so the numbers below are directly comparable. In our overall scoring the Apple iPhone 17 Pro Max comes out ahead 66/100 to 78/100 — a 12-point gap. The widest gap is in performance, where the Apple iPhone 17 Pro Max pulls noticeably ahead. On price the Apple iPhone 15 Plus Very undercuts the Apple iPhone 17 Pro Max by 200% ($399.99 vs $1,199), which materially changes the value calculus for budget-conscious buyers.
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Apple iPhone 17 Pro Max edges out the Apple iPhone 15 Plus Very in the smartphones category, especially in performance (benchmark 210 vs 140), scoring 78 vs 66. If you want the better overall smartphones, Apple iPhone 17 Pro Max is the recommended choice.
Picking Apple iPhone 17 Pro Max over Apple iPhone 15 Plus Very means trading these off.
$400
Scores are relative within the smartphonescategory. Percentages show each dimension's weight in the overall score. A difference of less than 0.5 points is considered a tie.
✓ Pros
✗ Cons
✓ Pros
✗ Cons
| Spec | Apple iPhone 15 Plus Very | Apple iPhone 17 Pro MaxW |
|---|---|---|
| Display | 6.7" | 6.9"✓ |
| Display Type | Super Retina XDR OLED | OLED |
| Resolution | 2556 x 1179 pixels | — |
| Refresh Rate | 60Hz | 120Hz✓ |
| Brightness | 2000nits | 2000nits |
| HDR | HDR10+, Dolby Vision | — |
| Protection | Ceramic Shield | — |
| Chipset | Apple A16 Bionic | Apple A19 Pro |
| CPU | Hexa-core 3.46 GHz | — |
| GPU | Apple GPU 5-core | — |
| RAM | 6GB | 8GB✓ |
| Storage | 128GB | 256GB✓ |
| Storage Options | 128GB, 256GB, 512GB, 1TB | — |
| Main Camera | 48MP | 48MP |
| Aperture | f/1.6 | — |
| OIS | Sensor-shift OIS | — |
| Video | 4K@60fps | — |
| Front Camera | 12MP | 24MP✓ |
| Battery | 4383mAh | 4685mAh✓ |
| Charging | 20W | 30W✓ |
| Wireless Charging | 15W | — |
| OS | iOS 17 | iOS 19 |
| Wi-Fi | Wi-Fi 6E (802.11ax) | — |
| Bluetooth | Bluetooth 5.3 | — |
| NFC | Yes | Yes |
| USB | USB-C 2.0 | — |
| Water Resistance | IP68 | IP68 |
| Biometrics | Face ID | — |
| Dimensions | 160.7 x 77.6 x 7.8 mm | — |
| Weight | 201g✓ | 228g |
| Colors | Black, White, Blue, Pink, Yellow | — |
| Price | 399.99$ | 1199$ |
Buy Apple iPhone 15 Plus Very if…
Choose the Apple iPhone 15 Plus Very if budget is your top priority — it offers competitive specs at a lower price point.
Buy Apple iPhone 17 Pro Max if…
Buy the Apple iPhone 17 Pro Max if you want the best performance in this comparison. It scores higher overall and is the recommended choice for most buyers.
Apple iPhone 17 Pro Max edges out the Apple iPhone 15 Plus Very in the smartphones category, especially in performance (benchmark 210 vs 140), scoring 78 vs 66. If you want the better overall smartphones, Apple iPhone 17 Pro Max is the recommended choice.
No, Apple iPhone 17 Pro Max scores higher (78 vs 66).
Apple iPhone 15 Plus Very is cheaper at $399.99 vs $1199 for the Apple iPhone 17 Pro Max.
Choose the Apple iPhone 15 Plus Very if budget is your top priority — it offers competitive specs at a lower price point.
Buy the Apple iPhone 17 Pro Max if you want the best performance in this comparison. It scores higher overall and is the recommended choice for most buyers.
Apple iPhone 17 Pro Max has a larger battery (4,685mAh vs 4,383mAh for the Apple iPhone 15 Plus Very), which generally means longer use between charges.
Apple iPhone 17 Pro Max has the larger display (6.9" vs 6.7").
Apple iPhone 15 Plus Very is lighter at 201g vs 228g.
Apple iPhone 17 Pro Max has more RAM (8GB vs 6GB), which helps with multitasking.
Reviewed by VersusMatrix Editorial Team
Last updated: May 11, 2026
Methodology: AI-powered analysis of technical specifications from manufacturer data. Scores are calculated by comparing products across multiple dimensions and normalized relative to the full category database. Our editorial process is independent and not influenced by affiliate partnerships.