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OnePlus 15 vs iPhone 17 Pro Max: A worthy rival!
The recently released OnePlus 15 has set its sights on the best Apple can deliver - the iPhone 17 Pro Max.
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The iPhone 17 Pro Max differences:
| OnePlus 15 | iPhone 17 Pro Max |
|---|---|
| New camera housing design (similar to Pixel 10 Pro Fold) | New "extended plateau" camera design |
| Slightly smaller 6.78-inch AMOLED screen | Bigger 6.9-inch display |
| 1-165Hz LTPO panel | 1-120Hz ProMotion dynamic refresh rate |
| New Snapdragon 8 Elite Gen 5 chipset | Apple A19 Pro chipset |
| Triple 50MP camera system, different apertures | 48MP main, 48MP telephoto 4x, 48MP ultrawide cameras |
| Huge 7,300 mAh battery (silicon-carbon) | Smaller 5,088 battery (eSIM only model) |
| 80W (up to 100W) wired fast charging | Wired, PD3.2, AVS, 50% in 20 min |
| Better IP69 dust and water protection | IP68 |
| Ultrasonic under-display fingerprint reader | FaceID biometric system |
8.2
OnePlus 15
8
Apple iPhone 17 Pro Max
10
7.8
6.6
8.3
8.5
9.1
8
8
7
8
8
6
Battery Life
Photo Quality
Video Quality
Charging
Performance Heavy
Performance Light
Display Quality
Design
Wireless Charging
Biometrics
Audio
Software
7.4
8
7.1
5.5
8.5
8.8
8.5
8
7.7
8
8
10
Table of Contents:
Design and Size
Design change
Both Apple and OnePlus opted for a visual redesign this generation. The square-ish camera bump on the back of the OnePlus 15 looks suspiciously similar to what you can find on the back of the new IP69 explainer article to learn more about the current highest IP protection in smartphones.
Color-wise the OnePlus 15 can be bought in Sand Storm, Ultra Violet, and Infinite Black. The Apple iPhone 17 Pro Max is available in Silver, Cosmic Orange, and Deep Blue.
Display Differences
In terms of display tech, the OnePlus 15 features some upgrades. The refresh rate is now 165Hz, and the phone uses a BOE panel with X3 material for the display. This brings some brightness improvements compared to the previous generation as well as efficiency gains. The resolution is the same 1.5K as the previous couple of generations.
The iPhone 17 Pro Max, on the other hand, features a slightly bigger 6.9-inch OLED panel with a resolution of 1320 x 2868 pixels and around 460 PPI pixel density. In our display test, the phone managed to produce 2689 nits of brightness at 20% APL - one of the highest results we've ever recorded, so the OnePlus 15 has a benchmark to beat.
| OnePlus 15 | iPhone 17 Pro Max |
|---|---|
| Size 6.78" | Size 6.9" |
| Brightness 1800 nits (typical) | Brightness 1600 nits (HBM) 3000 nits (peak) |
| Refresh rate 1-165Hz | Refresh rate 1-120Hz |
Display Measurements:
| Bright max(20%APL)Higher is better | Bright max(100%APL)Higher is better | Bright minLower is better | Color temp | Gamma | Delta E rgbcmyLower is better | Delta E grayscaleLower is better | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| OnePlus 15 | 3472 (Excellent) | 1119 (Good) | 1.8 (Good) | 7237 | 2.25 | 1.73 (Excellent) | 3.89 (Good) |
| Apple iPhone 17 Pro Max | 2689 (Excellent) | 1098 (Good) | 0.9 (Excellent) | 6801 | 2.21 | 2.01 (Good) | 5.61 (Average) |
The CIE 1931 xy color gamut chart represents the set(area)of colors that a display can reproduce,with the sRGB colorspace(the highlighted triangle)serving as reference.The chart also provides a visual representation of a display's color accuracy. The small squares across the boundaries of the triangle are the reference points for the various colors, while the small dots are the actual measurements. Ideally, each dot should be positioned on top of its respective square. The 'x:CIE31' and 'y:CIE31' values in the table below the chart indicate the position of each measurement on the chart. 'Y' shows the luminance (in nits) of each measured color, while 'Target Y' is the desired luminance level for that color. Finally, 'ΔE 2000' is the Delta E value of the measured color. Delta E values of below 2 are ideal.
These measurements are made using Portrait Displays' CalMAN calibration software.
These measurements are made using Portrait Displays' CalMAN calibration software.
The Color accuracy chart gives an idea of how close a display's measured colors are to their referential values. The first line holds the measured (actual) colors, while the second line holds the reference (target) colors. The closer the actual colors are to the target ones, the better.
These measurements are made using Portrait Displays' CalMAN calibration software.
These measurements are made using Portrait Displays' CalMAN calibration software.
In terms of brightness, the OnePlus 15 manages to outshine the iPhone 17 Pro Max. The latter is better in dim conditions as the minimum brightness is under 1 nit. Both displays are doing a good job with color accuracy, and both look great in person.
The same ultrasonic fingerprint reader from last generation is found under the screen of the OnePlus 15 and it works great. In comparison, Apple and the iPhone 17 Pro Max rely on the FaceID tech and no fingerprint scanner.
Performance and Software
Snapdragon Elite Gen 5 versus A19 Pro
The OnePlus 15 is the latest bearer of the Snapdragon 8 Elite Gen 5 chipset, a promising contender in the never-ending fight to overthrow Apple's A-silicon.
Apple relies on its in-house developed A19 Pro silicon, and even though the company was at the top of most of the synthetic benchmarks, the new Snapdragon might give it a serious run for its money. Some early benchmarks even put the Snapdragon 8 Elite Gen 5 in front of the A19 Pro. Let's get to the benchmarks.
| OnePlus 15 | iPhone 17 Pro Max |
|---|---|
| Chip Qualcomm Snapdragon 8 Elite Gen 5 | Chip Apple A19 Pro |
| Process 3nm | Process 3nm |
| RAM, Storage 12/256GB 16/512GB LPDDR5X RAM UFS 4.1 storage | RAM, Storage 12/256GB 12/512GB 12/1TB 12/2TB LPDDR5X RAM NVMe storage |
CPU Performance Benchmarks:
Geekbench 6 SingleHigher is better | OnePlus 153493 Apple iPhone 17 Pro Max3775 |
Geekbench 6 MultiHigher is better | OnePlus 1510692 Apple iPhone 17 Pro Max9749 |
GPU Performance:
3DMark Extreme(High)Higher is better | OnePlus 155328 Apple iPhone 17 Pro Max5987 |
3DMark Extreme(Low)Higher is better | OnePlus 155110 Apple iPhone 17 Pro Max3841 |
The situation is inconclusive and we don't have a clear winner. The iPhone 17 Pro Max wins in the single-core test, while the OnePlus 15 is ahead multi-core performance. The same goes for the GPU benchmark. The initial run goes to the iPhone, but the Pro Max throttles quite a lot and the OnePlus 15 is able to finish on a better footing.
Recommended For You
When it comes to RAM, iPhones have always been doing things a bit differently because of the closed ecosystem and better optimization. That's why 12GB of RAM on the iPhone 17 Pro Max might not sound like a lot, but it's more than enough.
OnePlus offers a wide range of RAM and storage configurations. Last year the company even launched a 24GB version of the iOS 26. The iPhone 17 Pro Max will be supported until 2031.
OnePlus offers a wide range of RAM and storage configurations. Last year the company even launched a 24GB version of the iOS 26. The iPhone 17 Pro Max will be supported until 2031.
Camera
Very similar on paper
The OnePlus 15 features a very similar camera system to its predecessor, consisting of three 50MP cameras. The main camera uses a Sony IMX906 sensor under the main F/1.8 lens, coupled with two 50MP cameras on ultrawide and telephoto duties.
Apple relies on a very similar setup in its iPhone 17 Pro - three 48MP cameras are on duty at the back, while the front features a redesigned 18MP selfie camera which can take horizontal and vertical photos without the need to physically turn the phone.
Photo
Video
| Phone | Camera Score |
Photo Score |
Main (wide) |
Ultra Wide |
Selfie | Zoom |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| OnePlus 15 | 151 | 159 | 82 | 21 | 27 | 29 |
| Apple iPhone 17 Pro Max | 156 | 162 | 84 | 24 | 28 | 26 |
| Phone | Camera Score |
Video Score |
Main (wide) |
Ultra Wide |
Selfie | Zoom |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| OnePlus 15 | 151 | 143 | 74 | 20 | 26 | 23 |
| Apple iPhone 17 Pro Max | 156 | 150 | 77 | 23 | 26 | 24 |
Find out more details about photo and video scores for all phones we have tested on our PhoneArena Camera Score page
| OnePlus 15 | iPhone 17 Pro Max |
|---|---|
| Main 50 MP, f/1.8 24 mm | Main 48 MP, f/1.8 24 mm 1/1.28" |
| Ultrawide 50 MP, f/2.0 15 mm | Ultrawide 48 MP, f/2.2 13 mm 1/2.55" |
| Telephoto 50 MP, f/2.8 3.5X zoom (113mm) | Telephoto 48 MP, f/2.8 4X zoom (100mm) 1/2.55" |
The camera score of the iPhone 17 Pro Max is 156 (out of 158), which is near the top in our composite camera benchmark score. The OnePlus 15 managed 151, which is a decent score and an upgrade compared to the last generation but still a bit short if we put the iPhone into the equation. But scores are just numbers on a paper (or a screen). Time to see some real-life, side-by-side samples.
Main camera
< OnePlus 15
iPhone 17 Pro Max >
We managed to snap some quick samples while the sun was setting and the results are quite interesting. The OnePlus 15 produces quality images, but tends to overexpose the frame a bit in a pursue to resolve more detail. The iPhone 17 Pro Max handles the low-light images a tad better, with more natural colors and exposure as well. But both look quite good, to be honest.
Zoom Quality
< OnePlus 15
iPhone 17 Pro Max >
When it comes to zoom, the OnePlus 15 seems to have a slight advantage, the sample looks crisper and more detailed. The iPhone 17 Pro Max also does a good job, but next to the OnePlus 15, the image looks a bit soft and not that detailed.
Ultrawide camera
< OnePlus 15
iPhone 17 Pro Max >
The ultrawide samples are pretty similar in quality - the level of detail is good, exposure and dynamic range are comparable, as well. There's a yellowish tint to the iPhone 17 Pro Max sample, it looks considerably warmer next to the image taken with the OnePlus 15.
Selfie
< OnePlus 15
iPhone 17 Pro Max >
Selfie shots are nearly identical, it's funny how sometimes the scores are absolutely reflected in the samples. Both display pleasant colors, nice details and good exposure. Kudos to OnePlus for making a good selfie camera to rival the all-new 18MP selfie on the iPhone.
Battery Life and Charging
7,300 mAh?!
We now live in the silicon-carbon battery era, and OnePlus was one of the first companies to bring that tech outside China. The previous generation featured a 6,000 mAh cell inside, and get this - the OnePlus 15 now comes equipped with a huge 7,300 mAh battery.
This doesn't mean it will necessarily top our battery test, but the writing's on the wall (spoiler - it did). The iPhone 17 Pro Max comes in two flavors, depending on the presence or absence of a physical SIM slot. The eSIM model features a 5,088 mAh battery, while the nanoSIM version has a 4,823 mAh one on board.
We've tested the EU model with a physical SIM and a smaller battery and got a 7h 46m battery estimate, putting the phone at 36th place among phones tested in the past two years. Let's see how the OnePlus performed.
This doesn't mean it will necessarily top our battery test, but the writing's on the wall (spoiler - it did). The iPhone 17 Pro Max comes in two flavors, depending on the presence or absence of a physical SIM slot. The eSIM model features a 5,088 mAh battery, while the nanoSIM version has a 4,823 mAh one on board.
We've tested the EU model with a physical SIM and a smaller battery and got a 7h 46m battery estimate, putting the phone at 36th place among phones tested in the past two years. Let's see how the OnePlus performed.
| OnePlus 15 | iPhone 17 Pro Max |
|---|---|
| Battery size 7,300 mAh | Battery size 5,088 mAh (eSIM only model) 4,823 mAh (physical SIM) |
Charging speeds 80W (up to 100W) wired 50W wireless charging USB-C 3.2 | Charging speeds Wired, PD3.2, AVS, 50% in 20 min 25W wireless MagSafe/Qi2 USB-C 3.2 |
PhoneArena Battery and Charging Test Results:
Battery Life
Charging
| Phone | Battery Life estimate |
Browsing | Video | Gaming |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| OnePlus 15
7300 mAh
|
10h 44min | 30h 6min | 12h 37min | 14h 16min |
| Apple iPhone 17 Pro Max
5088 mAh
|
7h 46min | 20h 9min | 9h 37min | 11h 34min |
| Phone | Full Charging | 30 min Charge | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Wired | Wireless | Wired | Wireless | |
| OnePlus 15
7300 mAh
|
0h 45min | 1h 52min | 68% | 21% |
| Apple iPhone 17 Pro Max
5088 mAh
|
1h 16min | Untested | 64% | Untested |
Find out more details about battery and charging for all phones we have tested on our PhoneArena Battery Score page
You can't beat physics, as we like to say. The 7,300 mAh battery inside the OnePlus 13, coupled with the efficient screen and chipset, skyrocketed the phone to the top of our battery benchmark table. The results are impressive across the board.
OnePlus is at the forefront when it comes to charging, up there with Xiaomi, Oppo, Vivo, and Honor. The speeds the company offers are pushing 100W. The OnePlus 15 supports 80W (up to 100W) globally and charges from zero to full in 45 minutes.
Companies such as Samsung, Google and Apple are notoriously conservative when it comes to charging speeds. The iPhone 17 Pro Max features a tad faster charging compared to its predecessor and in our test was able to fill its battery from zero to full in 1 hour and 16 minutes.
Companies such as Samsung, Google and Apple are notoriously conservative when it comes to charging speeds. The iPhone 17 Pro Max features a tad faster charging compared to its predecessor and in our test was able to fill its battery from zero to full in 1 hour and 16 minutes.
Specs Comparison
OnePlus 15
Apple iPhone 17 Pro Max
|
|
| OnePlus 15 | Apple iPhone 17 Pro Max |
Design
| Dimensions | |
|---|---|
| 161.4 x 76.7 x 8.1 mm | 163.4 x 78.0 x 8.75 mm (~9.9 mm with camera bump) |
| Weight | |
| 211.0 g | 233.0 g |
Display
| Size | |
|---|---|
| 6.8-inch | 6.9-inch |
| Type | |
| AMOLED, 165Hz | OLED, Variable 1-120Hz |
Hardware
| System chip | |
|---|---|
| Snapdragon 8 Elite Gen 5 SM8850-AC (3 nm) | Apple A19 Pro (3 nm) |
| Memory | |
| 12GB (LPDDR5X)/256GB (UFS 4.1) 16GB/256GB 12GB/512GB 16GB/1TB |
12GB/256GB 12GB/512GB 12GB/1TB 12GB/2TB |
| OS | |
| Android (16) | iOS (26.x) |
Battery
| Type | |
|---|---|
| 7300 mAh | 5088 mAh |
| Charge speed | |
| Wired: 80.0W Wireless: 50.0W |
Wired: 40.0W Wireless: 25.0W |
Camera
| Main camera | |
|---|---|
| 50 MP (OIS, PDAF) Aperture size: F1.8 Focal length: 24 mm Sensor size: 1/1.56" Pixel size: 1.0 μm |
48 MP (Sensor-shift OIS, PDAF) Aperture size: F1.8 Focal length: 24 mm Sensor size: 1/1.28" Pixel size: 1.22 μm |
| Second camera | |
| 50 MP (Ultra-wide) Aperture size: F2.0 Focal Length: 16 mm Sensor size: 1/2.88" Pixel size: 0.61 μm |
48 MP (Ultra-wide, Sensor-shift OIS) Aperture size: F2.2 Focal Length: 13 mm Sensor size: 1/2.55" Pixel size: 0.7 μm |
| Third camera | |
| 50 MP (Telephoto, Periscope, OIS, PDAF) Optical zoom: 3.5x Aperture size: F2.8 Focal Length: 80 mm Sensor size: 1/2.76" Pixel size: 0.64 μm |
48 MP (Telephoto, Periscope, OIS, PDAF) Optical zoom: 4.0x Aperture size: F2.8 Focal Length: 100 mm Sensor size: 1/2.55" Pixel size: 0.7 μm |
| Front | |
| 32 MP | 18 MP (Time-of-Flight (ToF), Autofocus, HDR) |
Connectivity & Features
| Bluetooth | |
|---|---|
| 6.0 | 6.0 |
| WLAN | |
| a,b,g,n,ac,Wi-Fi 6,Wi-Fi 7 Wi-Fi Direct, Hotspot 802.11 a, b, g, n, ac, ax | a,b,g,n,ac,Wi-Fi 6,Wi-Fi 6E,Wi-Fi 7 Wi-Fi Direct, Hotspot 802.11 a, b, g, n, ac, ax |
| USB | |
| Type-C, USB 3.2 | Type-C, USB 3.2 |
| Sensors | |
| Accelerometer, Gyroscope, Compass, Ambient light sensor, Proximity sensor | Accelerometer, Gyroscope, Compass, Barometer, Ambient light sensor, Proximity sensor |
| Hearing aid compatible | |
| M3/T4 | |
| Location | |
| GPS, A-GPS, Glonass, Galileo, BeiDou, Cell ID, Wi-Fi positioning | GPS, A-GPS, Glonass, Galileo, BeiDou, QZSS, NavIC, Cell ID, Wi-Fi positioning, Emergency SOS via satellite (SMS sending/receiving) |
| Other | |
| NFC | NFC, Ultra Wideband (UWB) |
See the full
OnePlus 15 vs Apple iPhone 17 Pro Max specs comparison
or compare them to other phones using our
Phone Comparison tool
Summary
OnePlus coined the term "flagship killer" back in the OnePlus One days. Since then the company has moved into a different area and now occupies the ultra-premium smartphone segment. The OnePlus 15 is a great phone with the fastest silicon and one of the biggest batteries in an Android to date, resulting in the best battery life in a smartphone. The screen is super bright, and the camera system - quite good.
Will it be enough to challenge the iPhone 17 Pro Max when push comes to shove? With its price of 1,149 euros, the OnePlus 15 is not a cheap phone. It rivals the iPhone 17 Pro Max in pricing as well, so it will be a tough sell. Furthermore, the phone is currently not available in the US, due to certification woes amid the government shutdown. This further takes some momentum away and makes OnePlus' job more difficult.
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Mariyan, a tech enthusiast with a background in Nuclear Physics and Journalism, brings a unique perspective to PhoneArena. His childhood curiosity for gadgets evolved into a professional passion for technology, leading him to the role of Editor-in-Chief at PCWorld Bulgaria before joining PhoneArena. Mariyan's interests range from mainstream Android and iPhone debates to fringe technologies like graphene batteries and nanotechnology. Off-duty, he enjoys playing his electric guitar, practicing Japanese, and revisiting his love for video games and Haruki Murakami's works.
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