The Apple iPhone 15 Pro Max represents the pinnacle of iOS smartphone technology, boasting the new A17 Pro chipset and a focus on pro-level photography. We're pitting it against the Samsung Z105, a device shrouded in some mystery given the lack of publicly available specifications, but positioned as a potential competitor in the high-end smartphone space. This comparison will focus on what *is* known about the iPhone 15 Pro Max and infer the Z105's likely positioning based on Samsung's typical strategy.
🏆 Quick Verdict
For the average user prioritizing performance, battery life, and a refined software experience, the iPhone 15 Pro Max is the clear winner. Its A17 Pro chip and 16:01-hour active use battery score significantly outperform what we can reasonably expect from the Z105, even assuming a competitive spec sheet.
| Network |
|---|
| 2G bands | GSM 900 / 1800 | GSM 850 / 900 / 1800 / 1900 |
| 3G bands | UMTS 2100 | HSDPA 850 / 900 / 1700(AWS) / 1900 / 2100 |
| 4G bands | - | 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 7, 8, 12, 13, 17, 18, 19, 20, 25, 26, 28, 30, 32, 34, 38, 39, 40, 41, 42, 46, 48, 53, 66 - A3106 |
| 5G bands | - | 1, 2, 3, 5, 7, 8, 12, 20, 25, 26, 28, 30, 38, 40, 41, 48, 53, 66, 70, 77, 78, 79 SA/NSA/Sub6 - A3106 |
| Speed | Yes, 384 kbps | HSPA, LTE, 5G, EV-DO Rev.A 3.1 Mbps |
| Technology | GSM / UMTS | GSM / CDMA / HSPA / EVDO / LTE / 5G |
| Launch |
|---|
| Announced | 2004, Q1 | 2023, September 12 |
| Status | Discontinued | Available. Released 2023, September 22 |
| Body |
|---|
| Build | - | Glass front, glass back, titanium frame (grade 5) |
| Dimensions | 95 x 50 x 26 mm (3.74 x 1.97 x 1.02 in) | 159.9 x 76.7 x 8.3 mm (6.30 x 3.02 x 0.33 in) |
| SIM | Mini-SIM | · Nano-SIM + eSIM + eSIM (max 2 at a time; International)· eSIM + eSIM (8 or more, max 2 at a time; USA)· Nano-SIM + Nano-SIM (China) |
| Weight | 132 g (4.66 oz) | 221 g (7.80 oz) |
| Display |
|---|
| Protection | - | Ceramic Shield glass |
| Resolution | 176 x 192 pixels, 7 lines | 1290 x 2796 pixels, 19.5:9 ratio (~460 ppi density) |
| Size | - | 6.7 inches, 110.2 cm2 (~89.8% screen-to-body ratio) |
| Type | TFT, 256K colors | LTPO Super Retina XDR OLED, 120Hz, HDR10, Dolby Vision, 1000 nits (typ), 2000 nits (HBM) |
| | Second external TFT display (96 x 64 pixels), 65K colors
Four way navigation keys | - |
| Platform |
|---|
| CPU | - | Hexa-core (2x3.78 GHz + 4x2.11 GHz) |
| Chipset | - | Apple A17 Pro (3 nm) |
| GPU | - | Apple GPU (6-core graphics) |
| OS | - | iOS 17, upgradable to iOS 26.1 |
| Memory |
|---|
| Call records | 10 dialed, 10 received, 10 missed calls | - |
| Card slot | No | No |
| Internal | - | 256GB 8GB RAM, 512GB 8GB RAM, 1TB 8GB RAM |
| Phonebook | 1000 entries, contact groups, Photo call | - |
| | 3 MB for images
3 x 35 sec voice memo | - |
| Main Camera |
|---|
| Features | - | Dual-LED dual-tone flash, HDR (photo/panorama) |
| Single | VGA, 180 deg. rotating lens | - |
| Triple | - | 48 MP, f/1.8, 24mm (wide), 1/1.28", 1.22µm, dual pixel PDAF, sensor-shift OIS
12 MP, f/2.8, 120mm (periscope telephoto), 1/3.06", 1.12µm, dual pixel PDAF, 3D sensor‑shift OIS, 5x optical zoom
12 MP, f/2.2, 13mm, 120˚ (ultrawide), 1/2.55", 1.4µm, dual pixel PDAF
TOF 3D LiDAR scanner (depth) |
| Video | No | 4K@24/25/30/60fps, 1080p@25/30/60/120/240fps, 10-bit HDR, Dolby Vision HDR (up to 60fps), ProRes, 3D (spatial) video, stereo sound rec. |
| Selfie camera |
|---|
| Features | - | HDR, Dolby Vision HDR |
| Single | - | 12 MP, f/1.9, 23mm (wide), 1/3.6", 1.0µm, PDAF, OIS
SL 3D, (depth/biometrics sensor) |
| Video | - | 4K@24/25/30/60fps, 1080p@25/30/60/120fps, gyro-EIS |
| | No | - |
| Sound |
|---|
| 3.5mm jack | No | - |
| 35mm jack | No | No |
| Alert types | Vibration; Downloadable polyphonic ringtones | - |
| Loudspeaker | No | Yes, with stereo speakers |
| Comms |
|---|
| Bluetooth | No | 5.3, A2DP, LE |
| NFC | - | Yes |
| Positioning | No | GPS (L1+L5), GLONASS, GALILEO, BDS, QZSS, NavIC |
| Radio | No | No |
| USB | Proprietary | USB Type-C 3.2 Gen 2, DisplayPort |
| WLAN | No | Wi-Fi 802.11 a/b/g/n/ac/6e, tri-band, hotspot |
| Features |
|---|
| Browser | WAP 2.0/xHTML | - |
| Games | 3 - Ultimate Golf Challenge, Fun2Link and Alpha Wing | - |
| Java | Yes, MIDP 2.0 | - |
| Messaging | SMS, EMS, MMS, EMail | - |
| Sensors | - | Face ID, accelerometer, gyro, proximity, compass, barometer |
| | SyncML
Video telephony / video streaming
Predictive text input
Organizer
Nokia Smart Messaging | - |
| Battery |
|---|
| Charging | - | Wired, PD2.0, 50% in 30 min
15W wireless (MagSafe)
15W wireless (Qi2) - requires iOS 17.2 update
4.5W reverse wired |
| Stand-by | Up to 314 h | - |
| Talk time | Up to 4 h 10 min | - |
| Type | Removable Li-Ion 1000 mAh battery | Li-Ion 4441 mAh |
| Misc |
|---|
| Colors | Metallic Silver | Black Titanium, White Titanium, Blue Titanium, Natural Titanium |
| Models | - | A2849, A3105, A3106, A3108, iPhone16,2 |
| Price | - | € 758.79 / $ 579.87 / £ 628.29 |
| SAR | - | 1.07 W/kg (head) 1.11 W/kg (body) |
| SAR EU | 0.74 W/kg (head) | 0.98 W/kg (head) 0.98 W/kg (body) |
Samsung Z105
- Exceptional A17 Pro performance
- Industry-leading battery life (16:01h active use)
- High peak display brightness (1787 nits)
- iOS ecosystem lock-in
- Potentially higher price point
Apple iPhone 15 Pro Max
- Unique foldable form factor
- Potential for large battery capacity
- Samsung's One UI software experience
- Unknown chipset performance
- Potential durability concerns with folding display
Display Comparison
The iPhone 15 Pro Max features a display capable of reaching a measured 1787 nits of peak brightness, ensuring excellent visibility even in direct sunlight. While the Z105's display specifications are unknown, Samsung typically employs AMOLED panels with vibrant colors and high contrast ratios. However, without knowing the Z105's peak brightness, it's difficult to assess its outdoor performance relative to the iPhone. The iPhone 15 Pro Max's display likely benefits from ProMotion (adaptive refresh rate) for smoother scrolling, a feature Samsung also commonly implements in its flagship devices. The foldable nature of the Z105 introduces potential concerns regarding crease visibility and durability, areas where the iPhone 15 Pro Max's flat display has a clear advantage.
Camera Comparison
The iPhone 15 Pro Max boasts a sophisticated camera system, capable of both exceptional photo and video capture. While specific sensor details are not provided in the context data, Apple's computational photography prowess is well-established. The Z105's camera capabilities are entirely unknown. Samsung often emphasizes high megapixel counts, but image quality is determined by a combination of sensor size, lens quality, and image processing algorithms. The iPhone 15 Pro Max's video recording capabilities are likely to be a significant advantage, given Apple's industry-leading ProRes video format and cinematic mode.
Performance
The iPhone 15 Pro Max is powered by the Apple A17 Pro, a 3nm chipset featuring a hexa-core CPU (2x3.78 GHz + 4x2.11 GHz). This architecture prioritizes both peak performance and efficiency. The 3nm process node is crucial, allowing for higher transistor density and reduced power consumption compared to older manufacturing processes. The Z105's chipset remains unknown, but given Samsung's history, it likely utilizes either a Qualcomm Snapdragon or an Exynos processor. Without specific details, it's reasonable to assume the A17 Pro will offer superior CPU and GPU performance, particularly in demanding tasks like gaming and video editing. The iPhone's tightly integrated hardware and software also contribute to optimized performance and responsiveness.
Battery Life
The iPhone 15 Pro Max achieves an impressive 16:01 hours of active use, demonstrating excellent battery endurance. Its older endurance rating of 118 hours suggests efficient standby power consumption. The iPhone supports wired charging via PD2.0, reaching 50% charge in 30 minutes, as well as 15W wireless charging with both MagSafe and Qi2 (requiring iOS 17.2). It also offers 4.5W reverse wired charging. The Z105's battery capacity and charging speeds are unknown. However, foldable phones often have larger batteries to compensate for the increased power draw of the folding display. The iPhone 15 Pro Max's combination of efficient chipset and optimized software provides a significant advantage in real-world battery life.
Buying Guide
Buy the Samsung Z105 if you prioritize the unique form factor and software experience of a foldable device, and are willing to potentially compromise on raw performance and battery endurance. Buy the Apple iPhone 15 Pro Max if you demand the fastest mobile processor, exceptional camera capabilities, and all-day battery life, and prefer the iOS ecosystem.
Frequently Asked Questions
❓ Will the iPhone 15 Pro Max's A17 Pro chip overheat during extended gaming sessions?
The A17 Pro's 3nm process and Apple's thermal management system are designed to mitigate overheating. While some throttling may occur during prolonged, intensive tasks, the iPhone 15 Pro Max is expected to maintain consistent performance for extended periods, exceeding what most Android competitors can achieve.
❓ Does the iPhone 15 Pro Max support the latest Qi2 wireless charging standard, and what are the benefits?
Yes, the iPhone 15 Pro Max supports Qi2 wireless charging, but requires the iOS 17.2 update. Qi2 offers improved efficiency and alignment compared to older Qi standards, resulting in faster and more reliable wireless charging. It also utilizes the MagSafe connector for a more secure connection.
❓ Given the lack of Z105 specifications, what is the biggest potential drawback compared to the iPhone 15 Pro Max?
The most significant potential drawback of the Z105 is likely its chipset performance. The A17 Pro is a leading-edge processor, and without knowing the Z105's processor, it's unlikely to match the iPhone's speed and efficiency, impacting everything from gaming to app responsiveness.
