Skip to content
Specdex
Compare now
iPhone 17 Pro Max — A19 Pro · 6.9″ OLED · IP68
Apple

iPhone 17 Pro Max

A19 Pro · 6.9″ OLED · IP68

96
/ 100
From $1,199
VS
iPhone 16 Pro Max 128GB — A18 Pro · iOS · 128GB
Apple

iPhone 16 Pro Max 128GB

A18 Pro · iOS · 128GB

96
/ 100
From $1,199
Specdex verdict

Dead heat — it comes down to priorities.

In our weighted Specdex score, iPhone 17 Pro Max lands at 96 and iPhone 16 Pro Max 128GB at 96. With scores tied, the decision hinges on which sub-scores matter most to you.

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 128GB if…

  • iOS ecosystem
  • Long update support
  • Polished hardware
iPhone 17 Pro Max 96
vs
96 iPhone 16 Pro Max 128GB

Score breakdown

iPhone 17 Pro Max
96
cpu 98
gpu 96
camera 95
battery 92
display 95
design 95
iPhone 16 Pro Max 128GB
96
cpu 96
gpu 94
camera 95
battery 90
display 93
design 96

Specs side-by-side

iPhone 17 Pro Max versus iPhone 16 Pro Max 128GB — full spec comparison
Spec iPhone 17 Pro Max iPhone 16 Pro Max 128GB
Display
6.9″ OLED, 2868×1320 at 460 ppi
Chipset
Apple A19 Pro chip
A18 Pro
Storage
256 / 512 GB / 1 / 2 TB
128GB
Battery (video)
Up to 39 hours
Charging
50% in 20 min with 40W adapter; MagSafe up to 25W
OS
iOS 26
iOS 18
Weight
233 g
IP rating
IP68 (6 m, 30 min)
Release year
2024

iPhone 17 Pro Max

Pros
  • +A19 Pro chip
  • +Up to 39 hours video playback
  • +Up to 2 TB storage
Cons
  • Premium price
  • Weighs 233 g
  • Wired charging requires 40W+ adapter

iPhone 16 Pro Max 128GB

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

FAQ: iPhone 17 Pro Max vs iPhone 16 Pro Max 128GB

Which is better, iPhone 17 Pro Max or iPhone 16 Pro Max 128GB? +

Both score 96 on our weighted rubric — tied. 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 128GB worth the price? +

At $1,199, iPhone 16 Pro Max 128GB delivers a Specdex score of 96 — strongest in cpu.

Does iPhone 17 Pro Max or iPhone 16 Pro Max 128GB 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.