Apple
iPhone 8 Plus 64GB (Gold)
A11 · 64GB · Gold
62
/ 100
From $799
VS
iPhone 17 Pro Max 256GB (Black) wins by 36
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 8 Plus 64GB (Gold) lands at 62 and iPhone 17 Pro Max 256GB (Black) at 98. That puts iPhone 17 Pro Max 256GB (Black) ahead by 36 points — a decisive margin driven mostly by its strengths in the categories below.
Pick iPhone 8 Plus 64GB (Gold) if…
- ✓Classic flagship pedigree
- ✓Long firmware tail
- ✓Competitive resale
Pick iPhone 17 Pro Max 256GB (Black) if…
- ✓Apple A19 Pro silicon
- ✓120 Hz ProMotion (Pro/Air)
- ✓Apple Intelligence Gen 2
iPhone 8 Plus 64GB (Gold) 62
vs 98 iPhone 17 Pro Max 256GB (Black)
Score breakdown
iPhone 8 Plus 64GB (Gold)
62 cpu 62
gpu 60
camera 59
battery 56
display 62
design 60
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 8 Plus 64GB (Gold) | iPhone 17 Pro Max 256GB (Black) |
|---|---|---|
| Chipset | A11 | A19 Pro |
| Storage | 64GB | ▲ 256GB |
| Color | Gold | Black |
| Release year | 2017 | 2025 |
| OS | — | iOS 19 |
iPhone 8 Plus 64GB (Gold)
Pros
- +Classic flagship pedigree
- +Long firmware tail
- +Competitive resale
Cons
- −No 5G on pre-2020 models
- −Aging ports/charging
- −Shorter update window
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 8 Plus 64GB (Gold) vs iPhone 17 Pro Max 256GB (Black)
Which is better, iPhone 8 Plus 64GB (Gold) or iPhone 17 Pro Max 256GB (Black)? +
iPhone 17 Pro Max 256GB (Black) scores 98 on our weighted rubric — ahead by 36. Your best pick depends on the sub-scores above.
Is iPhone 8 Plus 64GB (Gold) worth the price? +
At $799, iPhone 8 Plus 64GB (Gold) delivers a Specdex score of 62 — 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 8 Plus 64GB (Gold) 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.