Is the iPhone 15 Pro Max Still Worth Buying in 2026? (Used for ₦850,000)

Want a Pro iPhone without paying almost ₦2 million for it? The iPhone 15 Pro Max might be the smartest phone you can buy in Nigeria right now. It's three years old and two generations behind, but at around ₦850,000 for a clean used unit, it breaks the rule that you have to pay big to get a flagship.

I've always had a soft spot for the Pro Max models, and while newer iPhones keep getting pricier, this one keeps getting better value. In today's article, we'll be looking at the iPhone 15 Pro Max to see if it's still worth buying in 2026. Here's what we'll cover: price, display and design, camera, performance and updates, battery and charging, resale value, what to watch out for, and a checklist for buying a used one.

Price

First off, the price is the whole story here. A new iPhone 17 Pro goes for about ₦1,700,000, and the new iPhone 18 Pro Max is sitting at ₦2,650,000. Meanwhile, a clean used iPhone 15 Pro Max goes for around ₦850,000. That's half the price of a 17 Pro, and less than a third of an 18 Pro Max.

Even the newer iPhone 17 Pro isn't twice as good. You're paying for a newer chip, faster charging and a few camera tweaks. For most people, that's not worth an extra ₦850,000.

To be honest, the only real competition at this price is a mid-range Android or a Samsung Galaxy A-series phone. They're decent phones, but they don't give you a Pro camera, a titanium build, or the resale value of an iPhone.

Display and Design

You get a 6.7-inch Super Retina XDR display with ProMotion, Apple's name for its 120Hz screen, which means scrolling is buttery smooth. It's sharp, bright enough to use outdoors, and still looks every bit as premium as the newer models. Unless you put them side by side, you'd struggle to tell it apart from an iPhone 17 Pro Max.

The iPhone 15 Pro Max was Apple's first titanium iPhone, so it's lighter and feels better in the hand than the iPhone 14 Pro Max before it. It also introduced the Action button, a small side button you can set to open the camera, switch on the torch, or turn on silent mode.

On the other hand, there's no Camera Control button like on the iPhone 16 and newer. It's a nice extra, but not something you'll miss much.

Camera

This is where the iPhone 15 Pro Max really earns its money. You get a 48MP main camera, a 12MP ultrawide, and a 5x telephoto zoom. That 5x zoom was the big upgrade on this model, and it's still the camera feature people love to show off.

At an owambe, a concert, or a football match, that 5x zoom lets you get close to the action without the shot turning into mush. Portraits look superb, and video is top-notch, with stable 4K recording that's easy to edit for TikTok or YouTube.

Of course, the iPhone 17 Pro and 18 Pro take slightly better photos, especially at night. But for Instagram, WhatsApp status and everyday photos, the difference is small.

Performance and Updates

This one runs on the A17 Pro chip with 8GB of RAM, and that RAM is the key detail. 8GB is what Apple Intelligence, Apple's set of AI features, needs to run. The regular iPhone 15 only has 6GB, so it doesn't get it.

In everyday use, this one flies. WhatsApp, Instagram, banking apps, Call of Duty and PUBG all run smoothly, and it's still faster than most Android phones sold at this price.

Apple usually supports iPhones with software updates for 6 to 7 years. Since the iPhone 15 Pro Max came out in 2023, it should keep getting iOS updates until around 2029 or 2030. That's several more years of security updates and new features.

Battery and Charging

When it was new, the iPhone 15 Pro Max was rated for up to 29 hours of video playback. A healthy unit will easily last you a full day of calls, WhatsApp, Instagram and Bolt rides.

That aside, battery health is the biggest thing to watch on a used unit. Battery health is the percentage of the battery's original capacity it still has, and many phones in the market today are sitting at 80 to 85%. If you get one that's low, a battery replacement from a good repair shop will cost you roughly ₦60,000 to ₦100,000. Even then, your total is still under ₦1 million.

The good news is that this one uses USB-C, just like the iPhone 16, 17 and 18. That means you can use the same fast chargers and cables, and it charges to about 50% in 30 minutes with a 20W charger. Just make sure it's a genuine one.

Resale Value

This is the part many buyers forget. In Nigeria, iPhones hold their value like almost nothing else. Buy an iPhone 15 Pro Max at ₦850,000 today, and in two years you'll still get a good swap value when you move to a newer iPhone.

On the other hand, an Android phone bought at the same price will lose a big chunk of its value in the same period. So the real cost of owning this one is much lower than the price tag suggests.

What to Watch Out For

Of course, it's not perfect. Here's what you should know:

• It can get warm: at launch, the iPhone 15 Pro Max had heating complaints, and while software updates fixed most of it, it still gets hot during long gaming sessions
• Used means risk: some units have been repaired with cheap parts, some are iCloud-locked, and some have hidden damage
• It's heavy: at 221 grams, you'll feel it in your pocket, though it's lighter than the iPhone 14 Pro Max
• Newer models charge faster: the iPhone 17 Pro and 18 Pro charge much faster, and the iPhone 16 and newer support 25W MagSafe wireless charging

Checklist for Buying a Used iPhone 15 Pro Max

Before you hand over ₦850,000, go through this list:

• Battery health: go to Settings > Battery > Battery Health and aim for 85% and above
• Parts and service history: go to Settings > General > About and look for "Parts and Service History"; if it says "Unknown Part", the phone has been repaired with non-genuine parts
• iCloud: make sure the seller has signed out of iCloud and Find My is turned off
• IMEI: dial *#06# and check that the IMEI matches the one in Settings and on the box
• Face ID: set it up and make sure it works
• Cameras: test all three cameras, including the 5x zoom, and record a short video
• Screen: check for dead pixels, lines and ghost touch
• Charging port: plug in a cable and make sure it charges without wiggling
• Speakers and mic: make a quick call and play a song
• Seller: buy from a trusted store with a warranty or return period, not from a stranger on the street

Ten minutes of checking can save you from a very expensive mistake.

Pros and cons

Pros

• Half the price of a new iPhone 17 Pro, at around ₦850,000
• 5x telephoto zoom camera that still impresses at events and concerts
• Smooth 120Hz ProMotion display that looks as premium as newer models
• Titanium build and a handy Action button
• Supports Apple Intelligence thanks to 8GB of RAM
• iOS updates expected until around 2029 or 2030
• USB-C works with the same chargers as newer iPhones
• Strong resale value in Nigeria

Cons

• Many used units have tired batteries
• Can get warm during heavy gaming
• Heavy at 221 grams
• Slower charging than the iPhone 17 Pro and 18 Pro
• Buying used always carries some risk

Price

The iPhone 15 Pro Max goes for around ₦850,000 used in Nigeria, depending on storage, battery health and condition. You'll find clean UK used and US used units in trusted phone stores in Lagos, Abuja and Port Harcourt.

Finally, should you get the iPhone 15 Pro Max in 2026? Here's my verdict.

If you want a Pro iPhone without paying ₦1.7 million or more, the iPhone 15 Pro Max is one of the best deals in the Nigerian market right now. You get the 5x zoom camera, a top-notch display, years of updates, and a phone that will still be worth good money when you're ready to upgrade. Just don't buy the first one you see. Look for 85% battery health or higher, no unknown parts, and iCloud signed out.

Related Reading

• iPhone 17 Pro vs iPhone 18 Pro price comparison
• Why the iPhone isn't Nigeria's best-selling phone
• The ultimate iPhone charger guide

FAQ

How much is a used iPhone 15 Pro Max in Nigeria? A clean used iPhone 15 Pro Max goes for around ₦850,000, depending on storage, battery health and condition.

Is the iPhone 15 Pro Max still worth buying in 2026? Yes. It still has a flagship camera, a fast chip, and years of iOS updates left, at about half the price of a new iPhone 17 Pro.

How long will the iPhone 15 Pro Max get updates? Apple usually supports iPhones for 6 to 7 years, so the iPhone 15 Pro Max should get iOS updates until around 2029 or 2030.

Does the iPhone 15 Pro Max support Apple Intelligence? Yes. It has 8GB of RAM, which is what Apple Intelligence needs. The regular iPhone 15 doesn't support it.

What battery health should I look for in a used iPhone 15 Pro Max? Aim for 85% or higher. If it's lower, budget roughly ₦60,000 to ₦100,000 for a battery replacement.

iPhone 15 Pro Max or iPhone 16 Pro Max? The iPhone 16 Pro Max has a bigger battery, the Camera Control button and faster MagSafe charging, but it costs more. If your budget is around ₦850,000, the iPhone 15 Pro Max is the better value.