Xiaomi 15S Pro vs. iPhone 15 Pro Max: A Head-to-Head Flagship Battle

The Xiaomi 15S Pro and Apple iPhone 15 Pro Max represent the pinnacle of Android and iOS smartphone engineering, respectively. This comparison dissects their core components – from the cutting-edge 3nm chipsets to their charging capabilities – to determine which device offers the most compelling package for demanding users.
Phones Images

🏆 Quick Verdict

For the average user prioritizing long-term software support and a refined ecosystem, the iPhone 15 Pro Max is the superior choice. However, the Xiaomi 15S Pro’s significantly faster 90W charging and potentially more aggressive CPU configuration offer a compelling alternative for power users who value speed and convenience.

PHONES
Phone Names Xiaomi 15S Pro Apple iPhone 15 Pro Max
Network
2G bandsGSM 850 / 900 / 1800 / 1900GSM 850 / 900 / 1800 / 1900
3G bandsHSDPA 800 / 850 / 900 / 1700(AWS) / 1900 / 2100HSDPA 850 / 900 / 1700(AWS) / 1900 / 2100
4G bands1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 7, 8, 12, 17, 18, 19, 20, 26, 28, 34, 38, 39, 40, 41, 42, 48, 661, 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 bands1, 2, 3, 5, 7, 8, 12, 20, 26, 28, 38, 40, 41, 48, 66, 77, 78, 79 SA/NSA1, 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
SpeedHSPA, LTE, 5GHSPA, LTE, 5G, EV-DO Rev.A 3.1 Mbps
TechnologyGSM / CDMA / HSPA / EVDO / LTE / 5GGSM / CDMA / HSPA / EVDO / LTE / 5G
Launch
Announced2025, May 222023, September 12
StatusAvailable. Released 2025, May 22Available. Released 2023, September 22
Body
Build-Glass front, glass back, titanium frame (grade 5)
Dimensions161.3 x 75.3 x 8.3 mm (6.35 x 2.96 x 0.33 in)159.9 x 76.7 x 8.3 mm (6.30 x 3.02 x 0.33 in)
SIMNano-SIM + Nano-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)
Weight216 g (7.62 oz)221 g (7.80 oz)
Display
ProtectionShatterproof glass (2024 gen)Ceramic Shield glass
Resolution1440 x 3200 pixels, 20:9 ratio (~521 ppi density)1290 x 2796 pixels, 19.5:9 ratio (~460 ppi density)
Size6.73 inches, 109.4 cm2 (~90.0% screen-to-body ratio)6.7 inches, 110.2 cm2 (~89.8% screen-to-body ratio)
TypeLTPO AMOLED, 68B colors, 120Hz, 1920Hz PWM, Dolby Vision, HDR10+, HDR Vivid, 3200 nits (peak)LTPO Super Retina XDR OLED, 120Hz, HDR10, Dolby Vision, 1000 nits (typ), 2000 nits (HBM)
Platform
CPU10-core (2x3.9GHz Cortex-X925 & 4x3.4GHz Cortex-A725 & 2x1.9GHz Cortex-A725 & 2x1.8GHz Cortex-A520)Hexa-core (2x3.78 GHz + 4x2.11 GHz)
ChipsetXring O1 (3 nm)Apple A17 Pro (3 nm)
GPUImmortalis-G925 MP16Apple GPU (6-core graphics)
OSAndroid 15, HyperOS 2iOS 17, upgradable to iOS 26.1
Memory
Card slotNoNo
Internal512GB 16GB RAM, 1TB 16GB RAM256GB 8GB RAM, 512GB 8GB RAM, 1TB 8GB RAM
Main Camera
FeaturesLaser AF, color spectrum sensor, Leica lens, Dual-LED dual-tone flash, HDR, panoramaDual-LED dual-tone flash, HDR (photo/panorama)
Triple50 MP, f/1.4, 23mm (wide), 1/1.31", 1.2µm, dual pixel PDAF, OIS 50 MP, f/2.5, 120mm (periscope telephoto), PDAF (30cm - ∞), OIS, 5x optical zoom 50 MP, f/2.2, 14mm, 115˚ (ultrawide), AF48 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)
Video8K@24fps (HDR), 4K@30/60fps (HDR10+, 10-bit Dolby Vision HDR, 10-bit LOG), 1080p@30/60/120/240/960fps, gyro-EIS4K@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
FeaturesHDR, panoramaHDR, Dolby Vision HDR
Single32 MP, f/2.0, 22mm (wide), 0.7µm12 MP, f/1.9, 23mm (wide), 1/3.6", 1.0µm, PDAF, OIS SL 3D, (depth/biometrics sensor)
Video4K@30/60fps, 1080p@30/60fps, gyro-EIS4K@24/25/30/60fps, 1080p@25/30/60/120fps, gyro-EIS
Sound
35mm jackNoNo
Loudspeaker Yes, with stereo speakersYes, with stereo speakers
Comms
Bluetooth5.4, A2DP, LE, aptX HD, aptX Adaptive, LHDC 55.3, A2DP, LE
Infrared portYes-
NFCYesYes
PositioningGPS (L1+L5), BDS (B1I+B1c+B2a), GALILEO (E1+E5a), QZSS (L1+L5), GLONASSGPS (L1+L5), GLONASS, GALILEO, BDS, QZSS, NavIC
RadioNoNo
USBUSB Type-C 3.2 Gen2, Display Port, OTGUSB Type-C 3.2 Gen 2, DisplayPort
WLANWi-Fi 802.11 a/b/g/n/ac/6e/7, dual-band, Wi-Fi DirectWi-Fi 802.11 a/b/g/n/ac/6e, tri-band, hotspot
Features
SensorsFingerprint (under display, ultrasonic), accelerometer, proximity, gyro, compass, barometerFace ID, accelerometer, gyro, proximity, compass, barometer
Battery
Charging90W wired, PD3.0 50W wireless 10W reverse wirelessWired, PD2.0, 50% in 30 min 15W wireless (MagSafe) 15W wireless (Qi2) - requires iOS 17.2 update 4.5W reverse wired
TypeSi/C Li-Ion 6100 mAhLi-Ion 4441 mAh
Misc
ColorsBlack, BlueBlack Titanium, White Titanium, Blue Titanium, Natural Titanium
Models-A2849, A3105, A3106, A3108, iPhone16,2
PriceAbout 680 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)

Xiaomi 15S Pro

  • Significantly faster 90W wired charging
  • Potentially superior multi-core CPU performance
  • 50W wireless charging and 10W reverse wireless charging

  • Uncertainty regarding long-term software support
  • Camera performance may lag behind iPhone

Apple iPhone 15 Pro Max

  • Exceptional battery life (16:01h active use)
  • Industry-leading camera software and video recording
  • Guaranteed software updates and ecosystem integration

  • Slower charging speeds compared to Xiaomi 15S Pro
  • Higher price point

Display Comparison

The iPhone 15 Pro Max boasts a measured peak brightness of 1787 nits, ensuring excellent visibility even in direct sunlight. While the Xiaomi 15S Pro’s display specifications are not provided, Xiaomi flagships typically employ high-quality AMOLED panels. The iPhone’s advantage lies in its consistently high brightness and likely superior color calibration. The iPhone 15 Pro Max also benefits from ProMotion (LTPO) technology, dynamically adjusting the refresh rate for smoother scrolling and improved power efficiency, a feature commonly found in high-end Android devices but not explicitly confirmed for the 15S Pro.

Camera Comparison

The iPhone 15 Pro Max is renowned for its computational photography prowess and video recording capabilities. While specific sensor details for the Xiaomi 15S Pro are missing, the iPhone’s image processing pipeline is a significant differentiator. Apple’s focus on natural-looking images and cinematic mode video recording provides a distinct advantage. The iPhone’s OIS system is also highly regarded, ensuring stable footage and sharp photos. Without knowing the Xiaomi 15S Pro’s sensor sizes and lens apertures, it’s difficult to assess its low-light performance or dynamic range capabilities. However, Xiaomi often emphasizes high megapixel counts, which doesn't always translate to superior image quality.

Performance

Both devices are powered by 3nm chipsets – Apple’s A17 Pro and Xiaomi’s Xring O1. However, their architectural approaches differ significantly. The A17 Pro utilizes a hexa-core configuration (2x3.78 GHz + 4x2.11 GHz), prioritizing efficiency and single-core performance. The Xring O1, with its deca-core setup (2x3.9GHz Cortex-X925, 4x3.4GHz Cortex-A725, 2x1.9GHz Cortex-A725, 2x1.8GHz Cortex-A520), appears geared towards maximizing multi-threaded performance. This suggests the Xiaomi 15S Pro might excel in tasks that can fully utilize all ten cores, such as video editing or complex simulations. The iPhone’s advantage lies in Apple’s tight software-hardware integration and optimized GPU performance. The lack of RAM specification for the Xiaomi 15S Pro makes a direct comparison difficult, but it likely utilizes LPDDR5x RAM, similar to the iPhone.

Battery Life

The iPhone 15 Pro Max achieves an impressive active use battery score of 16:01h and an endurance rating of 118h, demonstrating exceptional battery life. The Xiaomi 15S Pro compensates for potentially lower battery capacity with its incredibly fast 90W wired charging, capable of significantly reducing downtime. The iPhone 15 Pro Max offers 50% charge in 30 minutes with PD2.0, while the Xiaomi 15S Pro likely achieves a full charge in under an hour. The Xiaomi also supports 50W wireless charging and 10W reverse wireless charging, features the iPhone matches with 15W MagSafe/Qi2 (requiring iOS 17.2) and 4.5W reverse wired charging.

Buying Guide

Buy the Xiaomi 15S Pro if you need blazing-fast charging speeds, a potentially more powerful multi-core CPU for demanding tasks, and aren't heavily invested in the Apple ecosystem. Buy the Apple iPhone 15 Pro Max if you prioritize a seamless user experience, industry-leading camera software, exceptional battery endurance, and guaranteed software updates for years to come.

Frequently Asked Questions

❓ How does the Xring O1 chipset's deca-core design impact real-world performance compared to the A17 Pro's hexa-core setup?
The Xring O1's ten cores suggest a focus on maximizing multi-threaded performance, potentially benefiting tasks like video editing, 3D rendering, and complex simulations. However, the A17 Pro's optimized architecture and tight software integration often result in superior single-core performance and efficiency, which are crucial for everyday tasks and gaming. The actual performance difference will depend on the specific application and how well it's optimized for each chipset.
❓ Is the 90W charging on the Xiaomi 15S Pro safe for long-term battery health?
While 90W charging is incredibly fast, concerns about long-term battery degradation are valid. Xiaomi likely incorporates advanced charging algorithms and thermal management systems to mitigate these risks. However, consistently utilizing extremely fast charging can still contribute to faster battery wear over time compared to slower charging methods. The iPhone's slower charging speeds prioritize battery longevity.
❓ Does the iPhone 15 Pro Max's camera offer a noticeable improvement in low-light photography compared to the Xiaomi 15S Pro?
Given Apple's established expertise in computational photography and image processing, the iPhone 15 Pro Max is likely to deliver superior low-light performance. Apple's algorithms excel at reducing noise and preserving detail in challenging lighting conditions. Without specific sensor details for the Xiaomi 15S Pro, it's difficult to make a definitive comparison, but Apple generally holds an advantage in this area.