iPhone 17 Pro Max
A19 Pro · 6.9″ OLED · IP68
iPhone 16 Pro Max
A18 Pro · 6.9″ LTPO · Titanium
iPhone 17 Pro Max takes it — here’s why.
In our weighted Specdex score, iPhone 17 Pro Max lands at 96 and iPhone 16 Pro Max at 95. That puts iPhone 17 Pro Max ahead by 1 points — a narrow margin driven mostly by its strengths in the categories below.
Pick iPhone 17 Pro Max if…
- ✓A19 Pro chip
- ✓Up to 39 hours video playback
- ✓Up to 2 TB storage
Pick iPhone 16 Pro Max if…
- ✓Best-in-class A18 Pro silicon
- ✓Tetra-prism 5× zoom
- ✓Apple Intelligence Gen 1
Winner by scenario
Derived from the sub-score breakdown · not a separate testPhotography
TieStills and video quality across lenses
Effectively tied — neither pulls a 2-point weighted lead.
Battery life
iPhone 17 Pro MaxScreen-on time and charging
iPhone 17 Pro Max leads on battery (92 vs 88).
Performance
TieChipset speed for gaming and heavy apps
Effectively tied — neither pulls a 2-point weighted lead.
Display
TiePanel quality, brightness, refresh rate
Effectively tied — neither pulls a 2-point weighted lead.
Value for money
TieSpecdex score per dollar at MSRP
Effectively tied — similar score-per-dollar at MSRP.
Score breakdown
Specs side-by-side
| Spec | iPhone 17 Pro Max | iPhone 16 Pro Max |
|---|---|---|
| Display | 6.9″ OLED, 2868×1320 at 460 ppi | 6.9″ LTPO OLED, 120Hz, 2868×1320 |
| Chipset | Apple A19 Pro chip | Apple A18 Pro (3 nm) |
| Storage | 256 / 512 GB / 1 / 2 TB | 256 / 512 GB / 1 TB |
| Battery (video) | Up to 39 hours | — |
| Charging | ▲ 50% in 20 min with 40W adapter; MagSafe up to 25W | 27W wired, 25W MagSafe |
| OS | iOS 26 | iOS 18 |
| Weight | 233 g | ▲ 227 g |
| IP rating | IP68 (6 m, 30 min) | IP68 |
| RAM | — | 8 GB |
| Rear camera | — | 48 MP + 48 MP UW + 12 MP 5× tele |
| Battery | — | 4685 mAh |
iPhone 17 Pro Max
- +A19 Pro chip
- +Up to 39 hours video playback
- +Up to 2 TB storage
- −Premium price
- −Weighs 233 g
- −Wired charging requires 40W+ adapter
iPhone 16 Pro Max
- +Best-in-class A18 Pro silicon
- +Tetra-prism 5× zoom
- +Apple Intelligence Gen 1
- −Heavier than 15 Pro Max
- −No 8K video
- −Charging speed unchanged
FAQ: iPhone 17 Pro Max vs iPhone 16 Pro Max
Which is better, iPhone 17 Pro Max or iPhone 16 Pro Max? +
iPhone 17 Pro Max scores 96 on our weighted rubric — ahead by 1. Your best pick depends on the sub-scores above.
Is iPhone 17 Pro Max worth the price? +
At $1,199, iPhone 17 Pro Max delivers a Specdex score of 96 — strongest in cpu.
Is iPhone 16 Pro Max worth the price? +
At $1,199, iPhone 16 Pro Max delivers a Specdex score of 95 — strongest in cpu.
Does iPhone 17 Pro Max or iPhone 16 Pro Max 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 battery life, iPhone 17 Pro Max or iPhone 16 Pro Max? +
iPhone 17 Pro Max — leads on battery (92 vs 88). Screen-on time and charging.