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iPhone 16 — A18 · 6.1″ OLED · Camera Control
Apple

iPhone 16

A18 · 6.1″ OLED · Camera Control

89
/ 100
From $799
VS
iPhone 14 Pro Max 256GB — A16 · iOS · 256GB
Apple

iPhone 14 Pro Max 256GB

A16 · iOS · 256GB

89
/ 100
From $1,199
Specdex verdict

Dead heat — it comes down to priorities.

In our weighted Specdex score, iPhone 16 lands at 89 and iPhone 14 Pro Max 256GB at 89. With scores tied, the decision hinges on which sub-scores matter most to you.

Pick iPhone 16 if…

  • ✓Great value flagship
  • ✓Apple Intelligence ready
  • ✓Best small-phone experience

Pick iPhone 14 Pro Max 256GB if…

  • ✓iOS ecosystem
  • ✓Long update support
  • ✓Polished hardware
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Winner by scenario

Derived from the sub-score breakdown · not a separate test

Photography

Tie

Stills and video quality across lenses

Effectively tied — neither pulls a 2-point weighted lead.

Battery life

Tie

Screen-on time and charging

Effectively tied — neither pulls a 2-point weighted lead.

Performance

iPhone 16

Chipset speed for gaming and heavy apps

iPhone 16 leads on cpu (94 vs 89).

Display

iPhone 14 Pro Max 256GB

Panel quality, brightness, refresh rate

iPhone 14 Pro Max 256GB leads on display (86 vs 82).

Value for money

iPhone 16

Specdex score per dollar at MSRP

iPhone 16 more score per dollar ($799 vs $1,199).

iPhone 16 89
vs
89 iPhone 14 Pro Max 256GB

Score breakdown

iPhone 16
89
cpu 94
gpu 90
camera 88
battery 84
display 82
design 92
iPhone 14 Pro Max 256GB
89
cpu 89
gpu 87
camera 88
battery 83
display 86
design 89

Specs side-by-side

iPhone 16 versus iPhone 14 Pro Max 256GB — full spec comparison
Spec iPhone 16 iPhone 14 Pro Max 256GB
Display
6.1″ OLED 60Hz
—
Chipset
Apple A18
A16
RAM
8 GB
—
Storage
128/256/512 GB
▲ 256GB
Battery
3561 mAh
—
Charging
20W + MagSafe
—
OS
iOS 18
iOS 16
Weight
170 g
—
Release year
—
2022

iPhone 16

Pros
  • +Great value flagship
  • +Apple Intelligence ready
  • +Best small-phone experience
Cons
  • −60Hz display still
  • −8 GB RAM minimum for AI
  • −No ProMotion

iPhone 14 Pro Max 256GB

Pros
  • +iOS ecosystem
  • +Long update support
  • +Polished hardware
Cons
  • −Premium pricing
  • −Limited customization
  • −Lightning/USB-C split across generations

FAQ: iPhone 16 vs iPhone 14 Pro Max 256GB

Which is better, iPhone 16 or iPhone 14 Pro Max 256GB? +

Both score 89 on our weighted rubric — tied. Your best pick depends on the sub-scores above.

Is iPhone 16 worth the price? +

At $799, iPhone 16 delivers a Specdex score of 89 — strongest in cpu.

Is iPhone 14 Pro Max 256GB worth the price? +

At $1,199, iPhone 14 Pro Max 256GB delivers a Specdex score of 89 — strongest in cpu.

Does iPhone 16 or iPhone 14 Pro Max 256GB last longer? +

Based on our long-term update and support ratings, both ship with multi-year support. Battery and reliability scores are visible in the breakdown above.

Which is better for performance, iPhone 16 or iPhone 14 Pro Max 256GB? +

iPhone 16 — leads on cpu (94 vs 89). Chipset speed for gaming and heavy apps.

Which is better for display, iPhone 16 or iPhone 14 Pro Max 256GB? +

iPhone 14 Pro Max 256GB — leads on display (86 vs 82). Panel quality, brightness, refresh rate.