Sharp Aquos R9 Pro vs. iPhone 15 Pro Max: A Deep Dive into Flagship Performance
| Phones Images | |||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
|
🏆 Quick Verdict
For the average user prioritizing long-term software support and a refined ecosystem, the iPhone 15 Pro Max remains the superior choice. However, the Aquos R9 Pro offers a strong performance profile with the Snapdragon 8s Gen 3 and potentially faster charging at a likely lower price point, making it attractive for Android enthusiasts.
| PHONES | ||
|---|---|---|
| Phone Names | Sharp Aquos R9 pro | Apple iPhone 15 Pro Max |
| Network | ||
|---|---|---|
| 2G bands | GSM 850 / 900 / 1800 / 1900 | GSM 850 / 900 / 1800 / 1900 |
| 3G bands | HSDPA 850 / 900 / 1900 / 2100 | HSDPA 850 / 900 / 1700(AWS) / 1900 / 2100 |
| 4G bands | LTE | 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 | SA/NSA | 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 | HSPA, LTE, 5G | HSPA, LTE, 5G, EV-DO Rev.A 3.1 Mbps |
| Technology | GSM / HSPA / LTE / 5G | GSM / CDMA / HSPA / EVDO / LTE / 5G |
| Launch | ||
|---|---|---|
| Announced | 2024, October 29 | 2023, September 12 |
| Status | Available. Released 2025, February | Available. Released 2023, September 22 |
| Body | ||
|---|---|---|
| Build | - | Glass front, glass back, titanium frame (grade 5) |
| Dimensions | 162 x 78 x 9.3 mm (6.38 x 3.07 x 0.37 in) | 159.9 x 76.7 x 8.3 mm (6.30 x 3.02 x 0.33 in) |
| SIM | Nano-SIM + eSIM | · 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 | 220 g (7.76 oz) | 221 g (7.80 oz) |
| Display | ||
|---|---|---|
| Protection | Corning Gorilla Glass Victus 2 | Ceramic Shield glass |
| Resolution | 1440 x 3120 pixels, 19.5:9 ratio (~513 ppi density) | 1290 x 2796 pixels, 19.5:9 ratio (~460 ppi density) |
| Size | 6.7 inches, 110.2 cm2 (~87.2% screen-to-body ratio) | 6.7 inches, 110.2 cm2 (~89.8% screen-to-body ratio) |
| Type | PRO IGZO LTPO OLED, 1B colors, 240Hz, Dolby Vision, HDR, 1000 nits (HBM), 2000 nits (peak) | LTPO Super Retina XDR OLED, 120Hz, HDR10, Dolby Vision, 1000 nits (typ), 2000 nits (HBM) |
| Platform | ||
|---|---|---|
| CPU | Octa-core (1x3.0 GHz Cortex-X4 & 4x2.8 GHz Cortex-A720 & 3x2.0 GHz Cortex-A520) | Hexa-core (2x3.78 GHz + 4x2.11 GHz) |
| Chipset | Qualcomm SM8635 Snapdragon 8s Gen 3 (4 nm) | Apple A17 Pro (3 nm) |
| GPU | Adreno 735 | Apple GPU (6-core graphics) |
| OS | Android 14, up to 3 major Android upgrades | iOS 17, upgradable to iOS 26.1 |
| Memory | ||
|---|---|---|
| Card slot | No | No |
| Internal | 512GB 12GB RAM | 256GB 8GB RAM, 512GB 8GB RAM, 1TB 8GB RAM |
| Main Camera | ||
|---|---|---|
| Features | Leica lens, color spectrum sensor, LED flash, HDR, panorama | Dual-LED dual-tone flash, HDR (photo/panorama) |
| Triple | 50.3 MP, f/1.8, 23mm (wide), 1/0.98", dual pixel PDAF, OIS 50.3 MP, f/2.6, 65mm (telephoto), 1/1.56", dual pixel PDAF, OIS, 2.8x optical zoom 50.3 MP, f/2.2, 13mm, 122˚ (ultrawide), 1/2.5", PDAF | 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 | 4K@30/60fps, 1080p@30/60fps, gyro-EIS, Dolby Vision HDR | 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 | 50.3 MP, f/2.2, 23mm (wide), PDAF | 12 MP, f/1.9, 23mm (wide), 1/3.6", 1.0µm, PDAF, OIS SL 3D, (depth/biometrics sensor) |
| Video | 1080p@30/60fps, gyro-EIS | 4K@24/25/30/60fps, 1080p@25/30/60/120fps, gyro-EIS |
| Sound | ||
|---|---|---|
| 35mm jack | No | No |
| Loudspeaker | Yes, with stereo speakers | Yes, with stereo speakers |
| Comms | ||
|---|---|---|
| Bluetooth | 5.4, A2DP, LE, aptX HD, aptX Adaptive | 5.3, A2DP, LE |
| NFC | Yes | Yes |
| Positioning | GPS, GLONASS, GALILEO, BDS | GPS (L1+L5), GLONASS, GALILEO, BDS, QZSS, NavIC |
| Radio | No | No |
| USB | USB Type-C 3.2, Display Port 1.4 | USB Type-C 3.2 Gen 2, DisplayPort |
| WLAN | Wi-Fi 802.11 a/b/g/n/ac/6e/7 | Wi-Fi 802.11 a/b/g/n/ac/6e, tri-band, hotspot |
| Features | ||
|---|---|---|
| Sensors | Fingerprint (under display, ultrasonic), accelerometer, gyro, proximity, compass | Face ID, accelerometer, gyro, proximity, compass, barometer |
| Battery | ||
|---|---|---|
| Charging | 32W wired, Qi 15W wireless | Wired, PD2.0, 50% in 30 min 15W wireless (MagSafe) 15W wireless (Qi2) - requires iOS 17.2 update 4.5W reverse wired |
| Type | 5000 mAh | Li-Ion 4441 mAh |
| Misc | ||
|---|---|---|
| Colors | Black | Black Titanium, White Titanium, Blue Titanium, Natural Titanium |
| Models | SH-54E, SH-M30 | A2849, A3105, A3106, A3108, iPhone16,2 |
| Price | About 1000 EUR | € 758.79 / $ 579.87 / £ 628.29 |
| SAR | - | 1.07 W/kg (head) 1.11 W/kg (body) |
| SAR EU | - | 0.98 W/kg (head) 0.98 W/kg (body) |
Sharp Aquos R9 pro
- Potentially faster wired charging (32W)
- Android OS flexibility and customization
- Likely more affordable price point
- Shorter software support lifecycle
- Potentially less optimized app ecosystem
- Unknown camera performance
Apple iPhone 15 Pro Max
- Exceptional battery life (16:01h active use)
- Powerful A17 Pro chip for demanding tasks
- Superior camera system and video recording
- Slower wired charging compared to Aquos R9 Pro
- Higher price point
- Less OS customization
Display Comparison
The iPhone 15 Pro Max boasts a significantly brighter display, reaching a measured 1787 nits, ensuring excellent visibility even in direct sunlight. While the Aquos R9 Pro’s display specifications are currently unavailable, Sharp historically focuses on color accuracy, and it’s likely to offer a vibrant viewing experience. The iPhone’s ProMotion technology (LTPO) dynamically adjusts the refresh rate up to 120Hz for smoother scrolling and animations, a feature we anticipate the Aquos R9 Pro may lack, impacting perceived fluidity. Bezels are expected to be minimal on both devices, reflecting current flagship trends.
Camera Comparison
The iPhone 15 Pro Max’s camera system is renowned for its computational photography prowess and video recording capabilities. While specific sensor details for the Aquos R9 Pro are missing, the focus should be on the main sensor’s size and aperture. The iPhone’s image processing prioritizes natural-looking images, while Sharp often leans towards more vibrant and saturated colors. The iPhone’s cinematic mode and ProRes video recording offer professional-grade features absent in most Android competitors. Without detailed specs, it’s difficult to assess the Aquos R9 Pro’s low-light performance or zoom capabilities.
Performance
Apple’s A17 Pro, fabricated on a 3nm process, delivers a hexa-core CPU configuration with two high-performance cores clocked at 3.78 GHz. This contrasts with the Aquos R9 Pro’s Snapdragon 8s Gen 3 (4nm), an octa-core processor featuring a Cortex-X4 prime core at 3.0 GHz. While core count is higher on the Snapdragon, the A17 Pro’s architectural advantages and smaller node size likely translate to superior single-core performance and efficiency. The iPhone’s GPU is also expected to outperform the Snapdragon’s Adreno GPU, particularly in graphically demanding tasks. Thermal management will be crucial for the Snapdragon 8s Gen 3, as sustained performance could be limited by heat dissipation.
Battery Life
The iPhone 15 Pro Max excels in battery endurance, achieving an active use score of 16:01 hours and an endurance rating of 118 hours. The Aquos R9 Pro’s battery capacity is unknown, but its 32W wired charging is faster than the iPhone’s standard wired charging, potentially offering a quicker top-up. Both devices support 15W wireless charging, though the iPhone 15 Pro Max benefits from MagSafe and Qi2 compatibility (requiring iOS 17.2), offering potentially more efficient wireless charging. The iPhone also offers 4.5W reverse wired charging, a feature absent on the Aquos R9 Pro.
Buying Guide
Buy the Sharp Aquos R9 Pro if you need a high-performing Android device with a focus on value and are comfortable with a potentially shorter software support lifecycle. Buy the Apple iPhone 15 Pro Max if you prioritize seamless integration within the Apple ecosystem, guaranteed software updates for years to come, and a consistently polished user experience.