Apple
iPhone 17
A19 · 6.3″ OLED · ProMotion 120 Hz
92
/ 100
From $799
VS
iPhone 16 Pro Max 128GB wins by 4
Apple
iPhone 16 Pro Max 128GB
A18 Pro · iOS · 128GB
96
/ 100
From $1,199
Specdex verdict
iPhone 16 Pro Max 128GB takes it — here’s why.
In our weighted Specdex score, iPhone 17 lands at 92 and iPhone 16 Pro Max 128GB at 96. That puts iPhone 16 Pro Max 128GB ahead by 4 points — a narrow margin driven mostly by its strengths in the categories below.
Pick iPhone 17 if…
- ✓A19 chip with 6-core CPU
- ✓ProMotion 120 Hz on a non-Pro iPhone
- ✓Up to 30 hours of video playback
Pick iPhone 16 Pro Max 128GB if…
- ✓iOS ecosystem
- ✓Long update support
- ✓Polished hardware
iPhone 17 92
vs 96 iPhone 16 Pro Max 128GB
Score breakdown
iPhone 17
92 cpu 94
gpu 91
camera 88
battery 88
display 92
design 90
iPhone 16 Pro Max 128GB
96 cpu 96
gpu 94
camera 95
battery 90
display 93
design 96
Specs side-by-side
| Spec | iPhone 17 | iPhone 16 Pro Max 128GB |
|---|---|---|
| Display | 6.3″ OLED, 2622×1206 at 460 ppi, ProMotion 120 Hz | — |
| Chipset | Apple A19 chip (6-core CPU) | A18 Pro |
| Storage | ▲ 256 / 512 GB | 128GB |
| Battery (video) | Up to 30 hours | — |
| Charging | 50% in 20 min with 40W adapter; MagSafe up to 25W | — |
| OS | iOS 26 | iOS 18 |
| Weight | 177 g | — |
| IP rating | IP68 (6 m, 30 min) | — |
| Release year | — | 2024 |
iPhone 17
Pros
- +A19 chip with 6-core CPU
- +ProMotion 120 Hz on a non-Pro iPhone
- +Up to 30 hours of video playback
Cons
- −No telephoto
- −Two storage tiers only (256/512 GB)
- −Charging needs 40W+ adapter for the headline 50%-in-20-min claim
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 vs iPhone 16 Pro Max 128GB
Which is better, iPhone 17 or iPhone 16 Pro Max 128GB? +
iPhone 16 Pro Max 128GB scores 96 on our weighted rubric — ahead by 4. Your best pick depends on the sub-scores above.
Is iPhone 17 worth the price? +
At $799, iPhone 17 delivers a Specdex score of 92 — 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 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.