Apple Apple iPhone 15 Pro Max Review
We got our hands on a refurbished iPhone 15 Pro Max. It offers flagship Apple design and speed for a mid-range price, but is buying used worth it?
The 30-Second Version
A refurbished iPhone 15 Pro Max is the best way to get a premium Apple experience without the premium price. Just don't expect a brand-new phone.
Overview
Here's the one thing to know: this is a refurbished iPhone 15 Pro Max. That means you're getting Apple's top-tier phone from last year—the titanium design, the 120Hz screen, the A17 Pro chip—for about half the price of a new iPhone 16 Pro Max. It's a killer deal if you want flagship performance without the flagship price tag. Just know you're buying a used phone that's been cleaned up and certified, not a brand-new one in a shiny box.
Performance
The A17 Pro chip still holds up incredibly well. In our database, its performance lands in the 52nd percentile, which sounds middling until you realize it's being compared to brand-new 2025 phones. For everyday tasks, social media, and even heavy gaming, this thing is a rocket. What surprised us was the battery life score sitting in the 39th percentile. It's not bad, but it's not the two-day marathon some newer phones offer. You'll likely need to charge it nightly.
Pros & Cons
Pros
- You get a true flagship iPhone experience (titanium, 120Hz screen, great cameras) for a mid-range price. 88th
- The A17 Pro chip is still blisteringly fast for everything except maybe trying to render a Pixar movie. 82th
- Being 'fully unlocked' means it should work on any major US carrier, which is huge for flexibility. 67th
- Apple's 90-day warranty on refurbs provides more peace of mind than buying from some random seller.
Cons
- It's refurbished. You might find a tiny scratch, and it comes in a generic box—this isn't an unboxing experience. 5th
- The camera system, while great, scores in the 37th percentile. Newer phones simply have better computational photography.
- Battery health isn't guaranteed to be 100%, so lifespan might be shorter than a new phone.
- Storage is capped at 256GB. If you take a lot of 4K video, you'll be managing space carefully.
The Word on the Street
Specifications
Full Specifications
Display
| Screen Size | 6.7 |
Performance
| Storage | 256 GB |
Connectivity
| 5G | Yes |
| NFC | No |
Design & Build
| OS | iPadOS |
Value & Pricing
At around $600, this is absolutely worth it. You're getting about 90% of the experience of a $1200 phone for half the cost. The value proposition is its strongest feature.
Price History
vs Competition
The most direct competitor is the Google Pixel 10. For similar money, the Pixel 10 will have a better camera and longer software support, but its build quality and processor won't feel as premium as this titanium iPhone. The Samsung Galaxy S25 FE is another option; it'll have a brighter screen and maybe better battery life, but again, it's plastic, not titanium. If you're deep in the Apple ecosystem or just want that premium feel, this refurbished Pro Max is the move. If camera and software updates are your top priorities, look at the Pixel.
| Spec | Apple Apple iPhone 15 Pro Max | Samsung Samsung Galaxy S26 SM-S948UZKAXAA | Motorola Moto G PB6V0014US | Google Google Pixel 10 GA09899-US | OnePlus OnePlus 15 5011116281 | Apple Unlocked iPhone 15/15 Plus MTLY3LL/A |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Screen Size | 6.7 | 6.9 | 6.7 | 6.3 | 6.8 | 6.1 |
| Display Type | - | OLED | AMOLED | OLED | OLED | OLED |
| Refresh Rate | - | 120 | 120 | 120 | 120 | 60 |
| Processor | - | Snapdragon® 8 Elite Gen 5 for Galaxy | Snapdragon® 6 Gen 3 Mobile Platform | 3.78 GHz | 8 Elite Gen 5 | A16 |
| RAM (GB) | - | 12 | 8 | 16 | - | - |
| Storage (GB) | 256 | 256 | 1024 | 256 | 512 | 128 |
| Rear Camera Mp | - | 200 | 50 | 50 | 50 | 48 |
| Front Camera Mp | - | 12 | 32 | 42 | 32 | - |
| Battery Capacity Mah | - | 5000 | 5000 | 4870 | 7300 | - |
| Charging Wattage | - | 60 | 68 | - | - | - |
| Wireless Charging | - | true | true | false | - | - |
| Five (g) | true | true | true | true | true | true |
| Water Resistance | - | IP68 | IP68 | IP68 | IP69 | - |
| Operating System | iPadOS | Android 16 | Android 15 | Android 16 | Android 16 | iPadOS 17 |
Common Questions
Q: Will this work on my carrier, like Cricket?
Yes, it should. It's listed as 'fully unlocked,' which means it's not tied to any carrier. You can pop in a SIM from Cricket, AT&T, T-Mobile, or Verizon and it should just work.
Q: What's the catch with it being refurbished?
The catch is it's not new. It's been used, then tested, cleaned, and repackaged by Apple. It might have minor cosmetic flaws, and it comes in a plain box. But it works like new and has a warranty.
Q: Is 256GB enough storage?
For most people, yes. If you take tons of 4K videos or download huge game libraries, you might fill it up. For photos, apps, and normal use, 256GB is the sweet spot.
Who Should Skip This
If you need the absolute best camera on the market or you're terrified of buying a used device, skip this. Go get a new Google Pixel 10 instead. Also, if you need a rugged phone that can survive a construction site, look elsewhere—this titanium beauty scored a 16/100 for ruggedness.
Verdict
We recommend buying this refurbished iPhone 15 Pro Max. It's the smartest way to get a luxury iPhone without paying a luxury price. Just go in with the right expectations: you're buying a used, albeit certified, product. For someone who wants top-tier performance and design on a budget, it's a no-brainer.