What to Know Before You Buy a Used iPhone 14 Pro Max vs. a Used iPhone 15 Pro Max

The Used iPhone 14 Pro Max and iPhone 15 Pro Max are two of the most popular models right now. If you want to buy a high-end Apple phone but want to save money by getting a used or refurbished one, these are great options. Both phones are at the top of Apple’s line and have powerful processors, beautiful screens, and advanced camera systems. But the 15 Pro Max, which came out a year later, has some important design and performance improvements that could affect your decision.

We’ll look at every aspect of the two devices in this in-depth comparison, including specs, design, performance, cameras, battery life, and prices on the secondhand market. In the end, you’ll know which used device is the best deal for your money. We can help you whether you want to save a few hundred pounds or get the newest features.

Why should you think about getting a used iPhone Pro Max?
Before getting into the details, it’s important to know why buying a used iPhone 14 Pro Max is a good idea:

Cost Savings: Apple’s newest phones always cost a lot of money. You can get flagship hardware for a lot less money by buying a used iPhone 14 Pro Max.

Both Pro Max models have bigger screens, better build quality, and better cameras than regular iPhones. If you want the very best experience without paying full retail, buying a Used iPhone 14 Pro Max is an excellent choice.

Buying a used phone is better for the environment because it lasts longer and creates less e-waste.

Mature Software: Apple keeps its phones up to date with iOS updates for a long time. Even a used iPhone 14 Pro Max will be able to run the most recent versions of iOS for a long time.

No Performance Loss: Even though the two phones are a year apart, they are both very fast and powerful.

 

In-Depth Comparison: iPhone 14 Pro Max vs. iPhone 15 Pro Max

Let’s look at each important category one by one so you can better weigh the pros and cons.

1. Quality of design and construction
Apple doesn’t just make the phone’s internal specs better every year; the way it looks and feels is also very important.

Used iPhone 14 Pro Max:

Has a textured glass back and a frame made of stainless steel. The stainless steel gives it a shiny, polished look and feels sturdy in your hand.

Weight: 240 grammes, which is a bit heavy for a smartphone but makes it feel more expensive.

The squared-off edges are a continuation of Apple’s design style from previous years, combining style with a good grip.

The phone is rated IP68 for dust and water resistance, so it can easily handle spills and splashes.

The iPhone 15 Pro Max

This model has a titanium frame instead of an aluminium one, which makes it much lighter—almost 20 grammes less than the previous model. This change makes a big difference over time, especially for people who always have their phone in their hand.

The titanium is also tougher and less likely to scratch than stainless steel, which makes it last longer.

The bezels around the screen are a little bit thinner, which makes watching more fun.

The glass back is still there, but the finish is a little different to make it easier to hold and look better.

Keeps its ability to resist water and dust (IP68).

15 Pro Max has a special feature:

The Action Button takes the place of the old mute switch. You can change this new button so that it quickly opens the camera, torch, voice memos, or accessibility tools. It may take some time to get used to, but it adds flexibility that power users will like.

What does this mean for you?

If you want a phone that is heavier and has a stronger frame, the 15 Pro Max is the obvious winner. The Used iPhone 14 Pro Max is still a great choice for people who like the weight and shine of stainless steel.

2. Quality and experience of the display
The Used iPhone 14 Pro Max and 15 Pro Max both have Apple’s Super Retina XDR OLED panels. This means you can expect bright colours, deep black, and great brightness.

Common features include:

The screen of the 15 Pro Max is 6.7 inches wide.

ProMotion technology supports refresh rates from 10Hz to 120Hz. This means that scrolling and animations are smooth, and the battery lasts longer when the content is static.

With HDR10 and Dolby Vision support, videos look great with colours that are true to life.

In HDR content, the peak brightness can be as high as 2000 nits, which makes it very easy to see outside.

 

Things to Keep in Mind:

The bezels around the screen edges of the 15 Pro Max are a little bit thinner. This doesn’t change the visible area much, but it does give the room a more modern, sleek look.

Both models have Apple’s Dynamic Island, which is a pill-shaped cutout at the top of the screen that makes notifications and live activities blend in with the display.

Which display is easier to use?
Both screens have almost the same technical specs, but the 15 Pro Max’s thinner bezels and lighter body can make the display feel more immersive and easier to hold when you watch videos or play games for a long time. The Used iPhone 14 Pro Max still has a great screen that anyone would be happy with.

3. Hardware and performance
Both phones are flagship phones with the latest processors, but the 15 Pro Max has a clear edge in terms of power.

The Used iPhone 14 Pro Max:

The A16 Bionic chip, which was the fastest processor in any smartphone when it came out in 2022, powers it.

This chip has a 6-core CPU, a 5-core GPU, and a 16-core Neural Engine that can do AI and machine learning tasks.

6GB of RAM makes it easy to switch between apps and do multiple things at once.

iPhone 15 Pro Max:

It has the new A17 Pro chip, which is built on a 3nm process instead of a 4nm process like the A16. This means it uses a lot less energy and works faster.

The CPU is up to 10–20% faster at single-core tasks. The GPU is much better (up to 20–30% better in games and apps that use a lot of graphics).

It has 8GB of RAM, which makes it easier to run apps that use a lot of resources. This makes it ready for future iOS updates.

What it means in the real world:

Both phones can easily handle everything from simple tasks to demanding gaming and video editing.

The 15 Pro Max will run graphically demanding games and creative apps more smoothly and may last longer.

If you use social media, stream videos, and use common apps, you might not notice a big difference in performance from day to day.

You can get a fast and reliable device whether you buy a used iPhone 14 Pro Max or the newest model.

4. Camera Systems: Pictures and Videos
With cameras on both models, Apple has gone above and beyond, but the iPhone 15 Pro Max has some real improvements.

Setting up the iPhone 14 Pro Max camera:

There are three cameras on the back: a 48MP wide sensor, a 12MP ultra-wide sensor, and a 12MP telephoto lens with 3× optical zoom.

The main sensor has sensor-shift optical image stabilisation, which makes pictures look sharp.

Photographic Styles and Night mode let you use a lot of different lighting situations.

Video recording supports Dolby Vision HDR, 4K at up to 60 frames per second, and cinematic mode for depth effects that look like they were shot in a movie.

Setting up the camera on the iPhone 15 Pro Max:

Keeps the same triple-lens design but adds a periscope-style setup to the telephoto lens, which now has a 5× optical zoom.

This lets you take clearer, more detailed pictures of things that are far away without losing quality when you zoom in.

Improved image stabilisation, especially on the telephoto lens, makes videos that are zoomed in smoother and less shaky.

Photos are more detailed and colour accurate thanks to better performance in low light and computational photography.

Camera on the front (selfies):

Both models have a 12MP TrueDepth camera with autofocus and a Night mode for taking selfies.

There aren’t any big changes here; both have great selfie quality.

 

Who Should Choose What?

The 15 Pro Max’s 5× zoom is a big plus if you often use your phone to take pictures, especially of landscapes, sports, or animals.

The Used iPhone 14 Pro Max still takes professional-quality photos and videos that will impress if you mostly take everyday photos and videos.

5. Charging and battery life
Both phones are made to last through a full day of normal use, but there are some differences.

How much power the battery can hold:

The battery in the used iPhone 14 Pro Max is 4,323mAh.

Reports say that the iPhone 15 Pro Max has a slightly bigger battery (about 4,422mAh), but Apple hasn’t confirmed this yet.

Charging:

The Lightning port on the used iPhone 14 Pro Max is used for charging and accessories.

The iPhone 15 Pro Max now uses USB-C, which is faster for transferring data and charging when using a compatible power brick.

Both phones still support wireless charging with MagSafe and Qi.

What This Means:

The 15 Pro Max has a more powerful chip, a bigger battery, and charges faster, which means you can use it for longer between charges and spend less time plugged in.

With USB-C, you can also share cables with other modern devices, which you can’t do with Lightning.

This could be something to think about if you already have accessories for a used iPhone 14 Pro Max.

6. Prices and choices for storage
When buying used, the size of the storage and the price are very important.

Storage:

The used iPhone 14 Pro Max starts at 128GB and can hold up to 1TB.

The iPhone 15 Pro Max starts at 256GB and goes up to 1TB. There is no 128GB option.

The 15 Pro Max has more base storage, so you may have to pay more up front, but you’ll have more space for apps, photos, and videos.

 

Prices on the Used Market:

The Used iPhone 14 Pro Max has been around since late 2022 and usually sells for between £650 and £800, depending on its condition and storage.

The iPhone 15 Pro Max, which came out in 2023, is still very expensive, even when it’s used. It costs at least £1,000.

You can save hundreds of pounds by buying a used iPhone 14 Pro Max, which still works like a flagship phone.

Should you buy an iPhone 14 Pro Max or an iPhone 15 Pro Max?
The iPhone 15 Pro Max is the best choice if you want the newest technology, a lighter phone, and the new USB-C charging. It has a better telephoto camera, better performance, and design changes that make it the best Apple smartphone right now.

The Used iPhone 14 Pro Max is still one of the best value options on the market, though, if you want to save money and still get a powerful phone with a beautiful screen, professional-level cameras, and a long battery life. It has a great balance of price and features, especially on the secondhand market.

We at Used Mobiles 4 U know that buying a Used iPhone 14 Pro Max is a smart choice for many people because it gives them the same high-quality Apple experience without the high price. No matter which model you choose, you’ll get a high-end smartphone that will last you for years.