Apple iPhone 16 Pro Max vs Apple iPhone 16

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

For most buyers the Apple iPhone 16 Pro Max is the better pick — it scores 73/100 to the Apple iPhone 16's 68, leading on Chip and Storage. Choose the Apple iPhone 16 instead if memory and design & weight matter most to you, where it comes out ahead.

Verdict

Our overall take, at a glance

Key takeaways

  • Apple iPhone 16 Pro Max leads Apple iPhone 16 overall by 5 points (73 vs 68 out of 100).
  • Key differences: refresh rate, where Apple iPhone 16 Pro Max has 120 vs 60 Hz; optical zoom, where Apple iPhone 16 Pro Max has 5 vs 1; battery capacity, where Apple iPhone 16 Pro Max has 4,685 vs 3,561 mAh; rear camera aperture, where Apple iPhone 16 has f/1.6 vs f/1.8; resolution, where Apple iPhone 16 Pro Max has 1320 × 2868 vs 1179 × 2556 px.
  • Best value: Apple iPhone 16 (from $799) — the strongest score-per-dollar of the two.
Apple iPhone 16 Pro Max leads overall
Apple iPhone 16 Pro Max
73
Apple iPhone 16
68
Key differences
  • Refresh rateApple iPhone 16 Pro Max 120 vs 60 Hz
  • Optical zoomApple iPhone 16 Pro Max 5 vs 1
  • Battery capacityApple iPhone 16 Pro Max 4,685 vs 3,561 mAh
  • Rear camera apertureApple iPhone 16 f/1.6 vs f/1.8
  • ResolutionApple iPhone 16 Pro Max 1320 × 2868 vs 1179 × 2556 px

Performance

Higher benchmark score = faster

Apple iPhone 16 Pro Max1,838,828
Apple iPhone 161,721,149

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 16 Pro Max4,685 mAh
Apple iPhone 163,561 mAh

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

Scores by Category

Head-to-head score per category, out of 100

Apple iPhone 16 Pro Max wins 6 of 14 categories · Apple iPhone 16 wins 2

Apple iPhone 16 Pro MaxApple iPhone 16
  • DisplayApple iPhone 16 Pro Max leads
    Apple iPhone 16 Pro Max
    69
    Apple iPhone 16
    51
  • Rear CameraApple iPhone 16 Pro Max leads
    Apple iPhone 16 Pro Max
    74
    Apple iPhone 16
    68
  • Power & BatteryApple iPhone 16 Pro Max leads
    Apple iPhone 16 Pro Max
    74
    Apple iPhone 16
    58
  • BenchmarkApple iPhone 16 Pro Max leads
    Apple iPhone 16 Pro Max
    79
    Apple iPhone 16
    76
  • ChipApple iPhone 16 Pro Max leads
    Apple iPhone 16 Pro Max
    83
    Apple iPhone 16
    79
  • MemoryApple iPhone 16 leads
    Apple iPhone 16 Pro Max
    74
    Apple iPhone 16
    79

Physical Comparison

Weigh them up, then compare real dimensions in 3D

227 g170 g
Apple iPhone 16 Pro MaxApple iPhone 16

Apple iPhone 16 Pro Max is 57 g (34%) heavier than Apple iPhone 16.

In-depth analysisAI

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

Apple iPhone 16 Pro Max

Pros
  • 6.9-inch 120Hz Super Retina XDR OLED display
  • 48 MP main camera with 5x optical zoom
  • Apple A18 Pro chip with 8 GB RAM
Cons
  • Weighs 227 g
  • No headphone jack
  • Storage is not expandable

Apple iPhone 16

Pros
  • Apple A18 chip with 8 GB RAM
  • 48 MP rear camera with OIS
  • Wi-Fi 7 and 5G cellular support
Cons
  • Storage starts at 128 GB without expansion
  • 60 Hz display refresh rate

Watch-outs

Compromises to know before you buy

Apple iPhone 16 Pro Max

No notable compromises found.

Apple iPhone 16

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

Value for Money

What the price difference buys you

Launch prices — enter today's prices (same currency for both).

Apple iPhone 16 Pro Max

Apple iPhone 16

Detailed Specifications

The specs that count most, side by side

Memory

Feature
Apple iPhone 16 Pro Max
Apple iPhone 16
RAM capacity
8 GB
8 GB

Storage

Feature
Apple iPhone 16 Pro Max
Apple iPhone 16
Storage capacity
256 GB100% more
128 GB

Display

Feature
Apple iPhone 16 Pro Max
Apple iPhone 16
Resolution
1320 × 2868 px
1179 × 2556 px
Refresh rate
120 Hz100% more
60 Hz
Display technology
Protection

Rear Camera

Feature
Apple iPhone 16 Pro Max
Apple iPhone 16
Rear camera aperture
1.8
1.611% less
Optical zoom
5400% more
1
High Dynamic Range (HDR)
Yes
Yes
Optical Image Stabilization (OIS)
Yes
Yes

Cellular

Feature
Apple iPhone 16 Pro Max
Apple iPhone 16
Cellular technology

Design & Weight

Feature
Apple iPhone 16 Pro Max
Apple iPhone 16
Weight
227 g
170 g25% less

Power & Battery

Feature
Apple iPhone 16 Pro Max
Apple iPhone 16
Battery capacity
4,685 mAh32% more
3,561 mAh
Wireless charging support
Yes
Yes
Fast charging support
Yes
Yes

Benchmark

Feature
Apple iPhone 16 Pro Max
Apple iPhone 16
Geekbench single-core score
3,4907% more
3,263

Miscellaneous

Feature
Apple iPhone 16 Pro Max
Apple iPhone 16
Dust & Water resistance

Security

Feature
Apple iPhone 16 Pro Max
Apple iPhone 16
Fingerprint scanner
No
No

Specification Note

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

Review Videos

Hand-picked expert reviews for each product

Frequently Asked Questions

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

Apple iPhone 16 Pro Max leads on display, scoring 69/100 vs 51/100 for Apple iPhone 16. The biggest gap is refresh rate, where Apple iPhone 16 Pro Max has 120 vs 60 Hz.
Apple iPhone 16 Pro Max has the bigger battery: 4,685 mAh vs 3,561 mAh for Apple iPhone 16 (32% more). Real-world battery life also depends on the chip, display and software.
The biggest differences are optical zoom, where Apple iPhone 16 Pro Max has 5 vs 1; and rear camera aperture, where Apple iPhone 16 has f/1.6 vs f/1.8. Overall, Apple iPhone 16 Pro Max leads 73–68.

Which would you buy?

Cast your vote