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Apple iPhone 15 Pro Max vs Samsung Galaxy Note8 Comparison

A detailed, side-by-side comparison to help you pick the right phone.
Apple iPhone 15 Pro Max
Apple
Apple iPhone 15 Pro Max
9.0 / 10
Compass Score
From 74 critic reviews
Full review →
Samsung Galaxy Note8
Samsung
Samsung Galaxy Note8
8.9 / 10
Compass Score
From 86 critic reviews
Full review →
Verdict

Pros & cons

iPhone 15 Pro Max

A feature-packed phone with a sleek design but still needs extra care due to its delicate exterior.

+
Good
+ Lighter titanium design
+ Advanced gaming performance
+ Impressive 5x optical zoom
+ Long battery life
+ Clear audio quality
−
Not
− Screen easily scratches
− Slow charging
− Action Button limitations
− Heats up during heavy use
− High price

Galaxy Note8

+
Good
+ Bright, vivid screen
+ Blazing performance
+ Plenty of storage
+ S-Pen support
+ IP68 water and dustproofing
+ Great camera
−
Not
− So-so battery life
− Price
− Too big for one-handed use
− Awkward fingerprint scanner placement
− Bixby still inaccurate
Spec data

How they compare

iPhone 15 Pro Max
Galaxy Note8
Price (MSRP)
$1,199
Price (MSRP)
$929
OS
iOS
OS
Android
Processor
Apple A17 Pro Hexa-core
Processor
Qualcomm MSM8998 napdragon 835 Octa core
Camera zoom
—
Camera zoom
2×
Battery life
12h 58m
GSMArena Active Use
Battery life
—
Wired charging
—
Wired charging
—
Wireless charging
15W
Wireless charging
—
Display
Color, 120Hz
2000 nits peak
Display
Color
Software support
—
Software support
—
Repairability
7/10
iFixit
Repairability
—
Weight
221g (7.8 oz)
Weight
195g (6.9 oz)
Fingerprint
No
Fingerprint
Yes
Highlighted cells indicate the stronger value where a clear winner exists.
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Third-party data

Testing & benchmarks

iPhone 15 Pro Max
Galaxy Note8
DxOMark v5
154
photo 153 · video 158
DxOMark v5
—
AnTuTu v10
1.42M
AnTuTu v10
—
GSMArena endurance
12h 58m
Active Use
GSMArena endurance
—
iFixit repairability
7/10
iFixit repairability
—
Physical comparison

Size & weight

Footprint · to scale
iPhone 15 Pro Max
6.3" × 3"
Galaxy Note8
6.4" × 3"
Thickness · to scale
iPhone 15 Pro Max
0.3"
Galaxy Note8
0.4"
Height
6.3" (159.9 mm)
Height
6.4" (162 mm)
Width
3" (76.7 mm)
Width
3" (75 mm)
Depth
0.3" (8.3 mm)
Depth
0.4" (9 mm)
Weight
221g (7.8 oz)
Weight
195g (6.9 oz)
Screen
6.7"
Screen
6.3"

Dimensions shown in inches (mm). Silhouettes are proportionally scaled for visual comparison.

Also compared

Related comparisons

Other head-to-head matchups for the phones on this page.

Apple iPhone 15 Pro Max
9.0
VS
Apple iPhone 18 Pro Max
8.9
Apple iPhone 15 Pro Max vs Apple iPhone 18 Pro Max
Compare →
Common questions

iPhone 15 Pro Max vs Galaxy Note8: FAQ

Which is better, the iPhone 15 Pro Max or Galaxy Note8?
Based on aggregated critic reviews, the iPhone 15 Pro Max earns a Compass Score of 9.0 compared to 8.9 for the Galaxy Note8. That 0.1-point gap reflects stronger reviews across the board, though individual priorities like camera quality, battery life, or price could tip the scales the other way. Scores aggregate dozens of expert opinions, so they are a useful starting point, not the final word.
Which phone is more affordable, the iPhone 15 Pro Max or Galaxy Note8?
The Galaxy Note8 launches at $929, which is $270 less than the iPhone 15 Pro Max at $1,199. Street prices shift after launch, so check current deals for both phones before deciding.

Specifications sourced from manufacturers and third-party databases. Last updated October 2026. Suggest a correction →