The iPhone 15 Pro Max and the iPhone 13 Pro Max both have their strengths but Apple’s iPhone 15 series has been tested and utilized, and the dust has mostly settled. After a few issues with overheating and image permanence on certain units’ screens, it appears that everything has been resolved and things are running smoothly. They also happen to be fairly solid flagships like iPhone 15 Pro Max and iPhone 13 Pro Max, which is surprising.
That’s pretty much the same story every year, except when Apple has a huge hitch. So, with that in mind, the iPhone 13 Pro Max remains a terrific phone. Should you consider replacing it with the iPhone 15 Pro Max? Mostly, the 13 series is still very modern – it features a 120 Hz screen, a 3x zoom camera, and a processor that is still quite capable.
However, the iPhone 15 Pro Max will include a new 48 MP camera with enhanced picture processing, a new titanium frame with a gorgeous brushed finish, and a more powerful SoC capable of running console-level games.
IPHONE 15 PRO MAX VS IPHONE 13 PRO MAX: SPECS COMPARISON
Apple has unveiled its entire new phone lineup, with the iPhone 15 Pro Max standing out as the largest and most powerful. If you’ve had the iPhone 13 Pro Max for a while, you may be considering an upgrade. Let’s look at the significant distinctions.
The iPhone 15 event has passed, but there is still a lot to absorb, especially if you’re thinking about getting one of the new phones. The modifications from the previous generation to this one aren’t dramatic, but as compared to two years ago, the 2023 gadgets have a lot of additional features. Here’s all you should know about the iPhone 15 Pro Max vs. iPhone 13 Pro Max.
CAMERA
The iPhone 13 Pro Max already feels out of date with its 12 MP main camera sensor; the 14 series upgraded it to a gigantic 48 MP one, which shoots far better images — still 12 MP, but with quad pixel clusters for greater light capture. Now, the iPhone 15 Pro Max will make greater use of its 48 MP camera, capturing 24 MP images by default. And, of course, it enables full 48 MP mode for RAW photos in Pro Mode. The main camera lens has been coated for anti-glare — we’ll see how that goes — and the new iPhone 15 Pro Max includes a 5x telephoto lens for optical zoom. The iPhone 13 Pro Max features a 3x lens.
The iPhone 15 Pro Max will undoubtedly be a worthwhile upgrade for professionals who wish to utilize their iPhone for videography. Thanks to the new USB 3 port, you can record ProRes video directly to an external disk, which is quite convenient. Surprisingly, the iPhone 13 Pro Max has held up exceptionally well in 2023. Pixel-peeping will indicate that the iPhone 15 Pro Max performs marginally better when handling small details. However, dynamics and colors are fairly similar, at least in daylight.
At night, the iPhone 15 Pro Max’s intricacies stand out even more since the larger sensor collects more light. When zoomed in, the graphics on the iPhone 13 Pro Max appear ragged. However, both manage to improve shadows and produce generally nice photographs.
When zoomed in, the iPhone 15 Pro Max prevails. It maintains colors, dynamics, and fine detail throughout, but the iPhone 13 Pro Max soon produces over sharpened, jagged detail and washes out colors throughout processing. Even with the iPhone 13 Pro Max’s optical zoom set to 3x, the image appears over sharpened and artificial. The detail in the 3x photo with the iPhone 15 Pro Max is softer, but it appears a lot cleaner, with no odd auras or sharp edges.
The selfie cameras perform slightly differently, with the iPhone 15 Pro Max providing greater detail and better skin tone balance in varied lighting settings. However, not much has been upgraded here.
DESIGN AND DISPLAY
The displays on Apple’s latest devices aren’t innovative, although both the iPhone 15 Pro Max and 13 Pro Max have quite excellent 6.7-inch Super Retina XDR OLED screens. The 15 Pro Max has slightly higher resolution (2796×1290) than the 13 Pro Max (2778×1284), although this is not a significant difference. Peak brightness with HDR content increases to 2,000 nits, compared to the 13 Pro Max’s peak brightness of 1,200 nits.
The most noticeable change in the display is not the screen itself, but the bezels around it. Apple has reduced the bezels on the iPhone 15 series, raising the screen-to-body ratio by a few percentage points. The Dynamic Island, which debuted with the iPhone 14 Pro and Pro Max, is also present in the iPhone 15 Pro Max; nevertheless, the notch remains on the iPhone 13 Pro Max. That’s not a big change, but it’s another illustration of how the newest versions improve the iPhone’s appearance.
The iPhone 15 Pro Max and 13 Pro Max have Apple’s distinctive high build quality and design style. They have a similar design factor, albeit Apple made slight changes to the current edition. The iPhone 15 series has a little more rounded frame, which makes it more comfortable in the hand while keeping the overall design.
The iPhone 15 Pro Max is also lighter since Apple utilized titanium rather than steel for the chassis. It weighs 7.8 ounces, so while it’s not a lightweight phone, it’s lighter than the 8.47-ounce iPhone 13 Pro Max. The dimensions have also changed slightly, with the 15 Pro being slightly narrower and longer than the 13 Pro Max thanks to smaller screen bezels. However, it is somewhat thicker (0.32 inches) than the 13 Pro Max, which is 0.3 inches thick. That means you’ll need to buy a new case created specifically for the 15 Pro Max, as your old one will not fit.
In terms of connectors, you may have heard that Apple has finally given up on the USB-C issue and discontinued the Lightning port with the iPhone 15 series. The 15 Pro Max now has a USB-C connector for charging and data transfer, although the 13 Pro Max still uses Lightning. Both phones lack a 3.5mm headphone port, which has been the standard for Apple for years, so you’ll have to rely on wireless audio or an adapter.
HOW’S THE PERFORMANCE?
Both phones are excellent in terms of raw power, but the iPhone 15 Pro Max takes the lead. It is powered by Apple’s latest A17 Pro, a 3nm chip that is an industry first. On paper, it outperforms even the highly anticipated Snapdragon 8 Gen 2, thus expectations for iPhone 15 Pro Max performance were high. In our hands-on tests, the 15 Pro Max met those expectations by providing quick response, fluid multitasking, and excellent mobile gaming and streaming. The iPhone 15 Pro Max also has 8GB of RAM, which helps things move along. Storage capacities range from 256GB to a staggering 1TB.
The iPhone 13 Pro Max lags behind the 15 Pro Max, which is unsurprising considering that we’re comparing a two-year-old phone to Apple’s most recent premium flagship. It’s no slouch, however, and should not feel slow by 2024 standards. It is powered by the A15 Bionic CPU, which is still a great performance, with 6GB of memory and storage options ranging from 128GB to 1TB. However, for those who seek the absolute best in performance and future-proofing, the iPhone 15 Pro Max’s superior new A17 Pro CPU and expanded RAM options make it the clear performance victor.
GET THE IPHONE 15 PRO MAX FOR:
- The lighter body and softened corners provide a better hand feel.
- Better photographs and movies at 5x zoom, as well as crisper 24MP photos.
- Faster A17 Pro chipset.
- The ubiquitous USB-C port supports USB 3.2 transfer speeds and provides more connectivity choices.
GET THE IPHONE 13 PRO MAX FOR:
- The appearance and feel are, perhaps, more luxurious.
- It has excellent photo and video quality at 3x zoom and good quality at 5x.
The significantly lower pricing. - The Lighting port allows you to easily share chargers and accessories with users of older iPhones.
