Apple
iPhone 17
A19 · 6.3″ OLED · ProMotion 120 Hz
92
/ 100
From $799
VS
iPhone 17 Pro Max 256GB (Black) wins by 6
Apple
iPhone 17 Pro Max 256GB (Black)
A19 Pro · 256GB · Black
98
/ 100
From $1,199
Specdex verdict
iPhone 17 Pro Max 256GB (Black) takes it — here’s why.
In our weighted Specdex score, iPhone 17 lands at 92 and iPhone 17 Pro Max 256GB (Black) at 98. That puts iPhone 17 Pro Max 256GB (Black) ahead by 6 points — a decisive 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 17 Pro Max 256GB (Black) if…
- ✓Apple A19 Pro silicon
- ✓120 Hz ProMotion (Pro/Air)
- ✓Apple Intelligence Gen 2
iPhone 17 92
vs 98 iPhone 17 Pro Max 256GB (Black)
Score breakdown
iPhone 17
92 cpu 94
gpu 91
camera 88
battery 88
display 92
design 90
iPhone 17 Pro Max 256GB (Black)
98 cpu 99
gpu 98
camera 97
battery 92
display 96
design 99
Specs side-by-side
| Spec | iPhone 17 | iPhone 17 Pro Max 256GB (Black) |
|---|---|---|
| Display | 6.3″ OLED, 2622×1206 at 460 ppi, ProMotion 120 Hz | — |
| Chipset | Apple A19 chip (6-core CPU) | A19 Pro |
| Storage | 256 / 512 GB | 256GB |
| Battery (video) | Up to 30 hours | — |
| Charging | 50% in 20 min with 40W adapter; MagSafe up to 25W | — |
| OS | iOS 26 | iOS 19 |
| Weight | 177 g | — |
| IP rating | IP68 (6 m, 30 min) | — |
| Color | — | Black |
| Release year | — | 2025 |
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 17 Pro Max 256GB (Black)
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 17 vs iPhone 17 Pro Max 256GB (Black)
Which is better, iPhone 17 or iPhone 17 Pro Max 256GB (Black)? +
iPhone 17 Pro Max 256GB (Black) scores 98 on our weighted rubric — ahead by 6. 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 17 Pro Max 256GB (Black) worth the price? +
At $1,199, iPhone 17 Pro Max 256GB (Black) delivers a Specdex score of 98 — strongest in cpu.
Does iPhone 17 or iPhone 17 Pro Max 256GB (Black) 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.