Apple
iPhone XS Max 256GB
A12 · iOS · 256GB
78
/ 100
From $1,199
VS
iPhone 17 Pro wins by 18
Apple
iPhone 17 Pro
A19 Pro · 6.3″ LTPO · Titanium
96
/ 100
From $1,099
Specdex verdict
iPhone 17 Pro takes it — here’s why.
In our weighted Specdex score, iPhone XS Max 256GB lands at 78 and iPhone 17 Pro at 96. That puts iPhone 17 Pro ahead by 18 points — a decisive margin driven mostly by its strengths in the categories below.
Pick iPhone XS Max 256GB if…
- ✓iOS ecosystem
- ✓Long update support
- ✓Polished hardware
Pick iPhone 17 Pro if…
- ✓A19 Pro in a compact flagship
- ✓Improved 6× telephoto
- ✓Best single-core CPU shipping
iPhone XS Max 256GB 78
vs 96 iPhone 17 Pro
Score breakdown
iPhone XS Max 256GB
78 cpu 78
gpu 76
camera 77
battery 72
display 75
design 78
iPhone 17 Pro
96 cpu 100
gpu 96
camera 96
battery 86
display 94
design 96
Specs side-by-side
| Spec | iPhone XS Max 256GB | iPhone 17 Pro |
|---|---|---|
| Chipset | A12 | Apple A19 Pro (3 nm) |
| Storage | 256GB | 256 / 512 GB / 1 TB |
| OS | iOS 12 | iOS 19 |
| Release year | 2018 | — |
| Display | — | 6.3″ LTPO OLED, 120Hz, 2622×1206 |
| RAM | — | 12 GB |
| Battery | — | 3900 mAh |
| Charging | — | 45W wired, 30W MagSafe |
iPhone XS Max 256GB
Pros
- +iOS ecosystem
- +Long update support
- +Polished hardware
Cons
- −Premium pricing
- −Limited customization
- −Lightning/USB-C split across generations
iPhone 17 Pro
Pros
- +A19 Pro in a compact flagship
- +Improved 6× telephoto
- +Best single-core CPU shipping
Cons
- −12 GB RAM still tight for aggressive AI
- −Charging conservative
- −Pro tax over iPhone 17 Air
FAQ: iPhone XS Max 256GB vs iPhone 17 Pro
Which is better, iPhone XS Max 256GB or iPhone 17 Pro? +
iPhone 17 Pro scores 96 on our weighted rubric — ahead by 18. Your best pick depends on the sub-scores above.
Is iPhone XS Max 256GB worth the price? +
At $1,199, iPhone XS Max 256GB delivers a Specdex score of 78 — strongest in cpu.
Is iPhone 17 Pro worth the price? +
At $1,099, iPhone 17 Pro delivers a Specdex score of 96 — strongest in cpu.
Does iPhone XS Max 256GB or iPhone 17 Pro 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.