Apple
iPhone 16
A18 · 6.1″ OLED · Camera Control
89
/ 100
From $799
VS
iPhone 17 Pro Max 256GB (Deep Blue) wins by 9
Apple
iPhone 17 Pro Max 256GB (Deep Blue)
A19 Pro · 256GB · Deep Blue
98
/ 100
From $1,199
Specdex verdict
iPhone 17 Pro Max 256GB (Deep Blue) takes it — here’s why.
In our weighted Specdex score, iPhone 16 lands at 89 and iPhone 17 Pro Max 256GB (Deep Blue) at 98. That puts iPhone 17 Pro Max 256GB (Deep Blue) ahead by 9 points — a decisive margin driven mostly by its strengths in the categories below.
Pick iPhone 16 if…
- ✓Great value flagship
- ✓Apple Intelligence ready
- ✓Best small-phone experience
Pick iPhone 17 Pro Max 256GB (Deep Blue) if…
- ✓Apple A19 Pro silicon
- ✓120 Hz ProMotion (Pro/Air)
- ✓Apple Intelligence Gen 2
iPhone 16 89
vs 98 iPhone 17 Pro Max 256GB (Deep Blue)
Score breakdown
iPhone 16
89 cpu 94
gpu 90
camera 88
battery 84
display 82
design 92
iPhone 17 Pro Max 256GB (Deep Blue)
98 cpu 99
gpu 98
camera 97
battery 92
display 96
design 99
Specs side-by-side
| Spec | iPhone 16 | iPhone 17 Pro Max 256GB (Deep Blue) |
|---|---|---|
| Display | 6.1″ OLED 60Hz | — |
| Chipset | Apple A18 | A19 Pro |
| RAM | 8 GB | — |
| Storage | 128/256/512 GB | ▲ 256GB |
| Battery | 3561 mAh | — |
| Charging | 20W + MagSafe | — |
| OS | iOS 18 | iOS 19 |
| Weight | 170 g | — |
| Color | — | Deep Blue |
| Release year | — | 2025 |
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 17 Pro Max 256GB (Deep Blue)
Pros
- +Apple A19 Pro silicon
- +120 Hz ProMotion (Pro/Air)
- +Apple Intelligence Gen 2
Cons
- −Still Lightning-free, USB-C only
- −Premium pricing
- −AI features require online offload for some tasks
FAQ: iPhone 16 vs iPhone 17 Pro Max 256GB (Deep Blue)
Which is better, iPhone 16 or iPhone 17 Pro Max 256GB (Deep Blue)? +
iPhone 17 Pro Max 256GB (Deep Blue) scores 98 on our weighted rubric — ahead by 9. 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 17 Pro Max 256GB (Deep Blue) worth the price? +
At $1,199, iPhone 17 Pro Max 256GB (Deep Blue) delivers a Specdex score of 98 — strongest in cpu.
Does iPhone 16 or iPhone 17 Pro Max 256GB (Deep Blue) 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.