Apple iPhone 18 Pro Max vs Apple iPhone 16 Plus

Updated Sep 2026 · Scored by the Let’s Compare Data Engine · How we score

For most buyers the Apple iPhone 18 Pro Max is the better pick — it scores 78/100 to the Apple iPhone 16 Plus's 70, leading on Chip and Memory. Choose the Apple iPhone 16 Plus instead if design & weight and miscellaneous matter most to you, where it comes out ahead.

Verdict

Our overall take, at a glance

Apple iPhone 18 Pro Max leads overall

Apple iPhone 18 Pro Max

Apple iPhone 16 Plus

Why it stands out

Storage capacity: 256 GB (100% more)
Display Refresh rate: 120 Hz (100% more)
Rear Camera Optical zoom: 4 (300% more)

Watch-outs

Compromises to know before you buy

Apple iPhone 18 Pro Max

No notable compromises found.

Apple iPhone 16 Plus

60 Hz display — less smooth scrolling than 90/120 Hz rivals.

Winner by category for Apple iPhone 18 Pro Max vs Apple iPhone 16 Plus
Category	Apple iPhone 18 Pro Max	Apple iPhone 16 Plus	Winner
Chip	86	78	Apple iPhone 18 Pro Max
Memory	90	76	Apple iPhone 18 Pro Max
Storage	55	35	Apple iPhone 18 Pro Max
Display	69	53	Apple iPhone 18 Pro Max
Rear Camera	78	68	Apple iPhone 18 Pro Max
Front Camera	81	73	Apple iPhone 18 Pro Max
Cellular	84	84	Tie
Connectivity	74	71	Apple iPhone 18 Pro Max
Sensors	85	85	Tie
Design & Weight	39	62	Apple iPhone 16 Plus
Power & Battery	80	71	Apple iPhone 18 Pro Max
Benchmark	91	70	Apple iPhone 18 Pro Max
Miscellaneous	85	92	Apple iPhone 16 Plus
Security	85	85	Tie

In-depth analysisAI

AI-generated from the cited sources — may be incomplete or inaccurate; verify important details before deciding · generated Sep 2026.

Apple iPhone 18 Pro Max

The Apple iPhone 18 Pro Max is a flagship smartphone built around the high-performance A20 Pro processor and running iOS 27. It is designed for users seeking a premium, large-format device, featuring a 6.9-inch 120Hz OLED display and a high-capacity 5567 mAh battery. The device also integrates an advanced triple-lens camera system with 48-megapixel sensors across its main, ultrawide, and 4x telephoto lenses.

Best for High-resolution mobile photography and optical zoom versatilityBest for All-day-plus battery endurance under heavy workloadsBest for Large-screen media consumption and mobile gaming

Pros

Versatile rear camera setup utilizing 48-megapixel sensors for all three lenses
Generous 5567 mAh battery capacity for prolonged daily usage
Cutting-edge wireless support with Wi-Fi 7 and Bluetooth 6 compatibility
Fluid visual performance on a large 6.9-inch 120Hz OLED screen

Cons

Heavier physical profile weighing in at 249 grams
No option for expandable storage
Exclusively utilizes eSIM, lacking a physical SIM card slot

Official

Official specificationsOfficial specifications sheet detailing the chip, display, camera system, battery size, weight, and connectivity options.

Video — reviews used (3)

Generated Sep 12, 2026

Apple iPhone 16 Plus

The Apple iPhone 16 Plus is an option for users who want a larger iPhone size without purchasing the highest-tier Pro Max model. It features upgrades such as a new chipset, an Ultra wide camera, and added control buttons.

Best for users wanting larger phone sizeBest for those avoiding Pro Max tier spending

Pros

Large display: Features a 6.7-in OLED Super Retina XDR display while being larger than models paired with a vanilla iPhone
Camera system includes dual setups: It has both a wide and ultra-wide camera.
Video recording capability is high quality, supporting 4K at 60 frames per second on both front and back cameras.
The device features the Action button and the new Camera Control key.

Cons

The display utilizes a 60 Hz refresh rate, which some users may find sluggish compared to modern high-refresh-rate Android screens.
Some sources report ongoing questions regarding whether the device is worth buying if it was out for a period of time.

Value for Money

Which is the better deal for the price

Pre-filled with launch prices where known — enter today's price for an up-to-date check. Use the same currency for both.

Apple iPhone 18 Pro Max

Check Price on Amazon

Apple iPhone 16 Plus

Check Price on Amazon

Performance

Higher benchmark score = faster

Apple iPhone 18 Pro Max3,463,072

Apple iPhone 16 Plus1,727,276

See the raw benchmark values →

Benchmark score — a measured indicator of raw performance, not a guarantee of real-world speed.

Battery capacity

Larger cell — a hardware spec, not battery life

Apple iPhone 18 Pro Max5,391 mAh

Apple iPhone 16 Plus4,674 mAh

Capacity is the raw battery size. Real-world battery life depends just as much on the processor, software and display.

Physical Comparison

Weigh them up, then compare real dimensions in 3D

Apple iPhone 18 Pro MaxApple iPhone 16 Plus

Apple iPhone 18 Pro Max is 50 g (25%) heavier than Apple iPhone 16 Plus.

Review Videos

Hand-picked expert reviews for each product

Detailed Specifications

The full spec sheet, side by side

Chip

Feature	Apple iPhone 18 Pro Max	Apple iPhone 16 Plus
Model

Memory

Feature	Apple iPhone 18 Pro Max	Apple iPhone 16 Plus
RAM capacity	12 GB50% more	8 GB
Memory technology	N/A

Storage

Feature	Apple iPhone 18 Pro Max	Apple iPhone 16 Plus
Storage capacity	256 GB100% more	128 GB
Is expandable	No	No

Display

Feature	Apple iPhone 18 Pro Max	Apple iPhone 16 Plus
Size	6.9 in3% more	6.7 in
Resolution	1320 × 2868 px	1290 × 2796 px
Pixel density	460 PPI	460 PPI
Refresh rate	120 Hz100% more	60 Hz
Display technology
Protection
Has pen support	No	No
Screen-to-body ratio	92%	88%

Rear Camera

Feature	Apple iPhone 18 Pro Max	Apple iPhone 16 Plus
Rear camera (megapixels)	48 MP	48 MP
Rear camera aperture	1.488% less	1.6
Optical zoom	4300% more	1
Has High Dynamic Range (HDR)	Yes	Yes
Has Optical Image Stabilization (OIS)	Yes	Yes
Number of cameras	3	2
Other cameras	48 MP f/2.8, 48 MP ultrawide f/2.2	12 MP ultrawide f/2.2

Front Camera

Feature	Apple iPhone 18 Pro Max	Apple iPhone 16 Plus
Front camera (megapixels)	18 MP50% more	12 MP
Front camera aperture	1.9	1.9

Cellular

Feature	Apple iPhone 18 Pro Max	Apple iPhone 16 Plus
Cellular technology
SIM type
Has dual-sim support	Yes	Yes

Connectivity

Feature	Apple iPhone 18 Pro Max	Apple iPhone 16 Plus
Bluetooth technology
Wi-Fi technology
Connector
Has a headphone jack	No	No

Sensors

Feature	Apple iPhone 18 Pro Max	Apple iPhone 16 Plus
Has a NFC sensor	Yes	Yes
Has an accelerometer sensor	Yes	Yes
Has a gyroscope sensor	Yes	Yes
Has a magnetic field sensor	Yes	Yes
Has an atmospheric pressure sensor	Yes	Yes
Has a GPS sensor	Yes	Yes

Design & Weight

Feature	Apple iPhone 18 Pro Max	Apple iPhone 16 Plus
Color		N/A
Dimensions	7.8 × 16.34 × 0.88 cm	7.78 × 16.09 × 0.78 cm
Weight	249 g	199 g20% less

Power & Battery

Feature	Apple iPhone 18 Pro Max	Apple iPhone 16 Plus
Battery capacity	5,391 mAh15% more	4,674 mAh
Has wireless charging support	Yes	Yes
Has fast charging support	Yes	Yes

Benchmark

Feature	Apple iPhone 18 Pro Max	Apple iPhone 16 Plus
Antutu score	3,463,072100% more	1,727,276
Geekbench single-core score	4,73545% more	3,274
Geekbench multi-core score	12,79461% more	7,927

Miscellaneous

Feature	Apple iPhone 18 Pro Max	Apple iPhone 16 Plus
Release date	September 18, 2026	September 20, 2024
SAR (Head)	N/A	1.13 W/kg
SAR (Body)	N/A	1.16 W/kg
Dust & Water resistance
Operating system

Security

Feature	Apple iPhone 18 Pro Max	Apple iPhone 16 Plus
Has a fingerprint scanner	No	No
Has an advanced face scanner	Yes	Yes

Specification Note

Specifications are compiled from official manufacturer data and other reliable internet sources. Some features may vary by region or model configuration.

Frequently Asked Questions

Common questions about Apple iPhone 18 Pro Max vs Apple iPhone 16 Plus comparison

Based on our overall comparison score, Apple iPhone 18 Pro Max rates higher at 85/100 versus 77/100 for Apple iPhone 16 Plus — a 8-point lead. Apple iPhone 18 Pro Max is the stronger overall pick, though the right choice still depends on which specs matter most to you; the full spec table above breaks down every difference.

Apple iPhone 18 Pro Max and Apple iPhone 16 Plus are compared side by side above across every spec in the smartphones category — including performance, features and design — each scored 0–100 so you can see exactly where one leads the other. Our overall scores are 85/100 for Apple iPhone 18 Pro Max and 77/100 for Apple iPhone 16 Plus.

At launch, Apple iPhone 16 Plus was the more affordable option ($899) versus Apple iPhone 18 Pro Max ($1299). Weigh that against the overall scores (85/100 vs 77/100) and the value-for-money meter above to judge whether the higher-rated model justifies its price for your needs. Current retail prices vary — check the retailer.

If you want the higher-rated smartphones option overall, Apple iPhone 18 Pro Max (85/100) edges out Apple iPhone 16 Plus (77/100). But if Apple iPhone 16 Plus is cheaper or stronger on the specific specs you care about, it can still be the better buy — use the spec table and strengths profile above to decide.