Apple iPhone 18 Pro Max vs Apple iPhone 17 Pro

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 76/100 to the Apple iPhone 17 Pro's 73, leading on Display and Rear Camera. Choose the Apple iPhone 17 Pro 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 and Apple iPhone 17 Pro are closely matched

Apple iPhone 18 Pro Max

Apple iPhone 17 Pro

Where Apple iPhone 18 Pro Max stands out

Display Resolution: 1320 × 2868 px
Design & Weight Dimensions: 7.8 × 16.34 × 0.88 cm
Benchmark Antutu score: 3,463,072 (42% more)

Where Apple iPhone 17 Pro stands out

Weight: 206 g (17% less)

Winner by category for Apple iPhone 18 Pro Max vs Apple iPhone 17 Pro
Category	Apple iPhone 18 Pro Max	Apple iPhone 17 Pro	Winner
Chip	85	85	Tie
Memory	85	85	Tie
Storage	48	48	Tie
Display	68	64	Apple iPhone 18 Pro Max
Rear Camera	76	70	Apple iPhone 18 Pro Max
Front Camera	77	77	Tie
Cellular	84	84	Tie
Connectivity	73	73	Tie
Sensors	85	85	Tie
Design & Weight	39	54	Apple iPhone 17 Pro
Power & Battery	81	63	Apple iPhone 18 Pro Max
Benchmark	89	80	Apple iPhone 18 Pro Max
Miscellaneous	85	92	Apple iPhone 17 Pro
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 17 Pro

The iPhone 17 Pro is designed to be Apple's most advanced smartphone, targeting power users and professionals who require exceptional performance and camera capabilities. It is equipped with the A19 Pro chip and an immersive display intended for high-workload activities.

Best for professional photographyBest for high-end content creationBest for power users

Pros

Boasts a heat-forged aluminum unibody structure, maximizing durability while maintaining a lightweight design.
Features the A19 Pro chip, which uses vapor cooling to sustain high performance even during intensive processing tasks.
The camera system is highly advanced, featuring 48MP rear lenses and an enhanced 'Center Stage' capability for improved video framing.
Includes essential pro features like a customizable Action button and optimized Super Retina XDR displays with ProMotion up to 120Hz.

Cons

The inclusion of advanced chips and specialized thermal systems suggests potentially high cost expectations.
Some key hardware features, such as the exact battery capacity or specific RAM measurements, are not detailed beyond general performance claims.

Official

Official product pageProvided key specs including the A19 Pro chip, heat-forged aluminum unibody, and camera details.

Source

Video — reviews used (2)

Generated Jun 28, 2026

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 17 Pro

Check Price on Amazon

Performance

Higher benchmark score = faster

Apple iPhone 18 Pro Max3,463,072

Apple iPhone 17 Pro2,430,575

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 17 Pro3,998 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 17 Pro

Apple iPhone 18 Pro Max is 43 g (21%) heavier than Apple iPhone 17 Pro.

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 17 Pro
Model

Memory

Feature	Apple iPhone 18 Pro Max	Apple iPhone 17 Pro
RAM capacity	12 GB	12 GB
Memory technology	N/A	N/A

Storage

Feature	Apple iPhone 18 Pro Max	Apple iPhone 17 Pro
Storage capacity	256 GB	256 GB
Is expandable	No	No

Display

Feature	Apple iPhone 18 Pro Max	Apple iPhone 17 Pro
Size	6.9 in10% more	6.3 in
Resolution	1320 × 2868 px	1206 × 2622 px
Pixel density	460 PPI	460 PPI
Refresh rate	120 Hz	120 Hz
Display technology
Protection
Has pen support	No	No
Screen-to-body ratio	92%	90%

Rear Camera

Feature	Apple iPhone 18 Pro Max	Apple iPhone 17 Pro
Rear camera (megapixels)	48 MP	48 MP
Rear camera aperture	1.4818% less	1.8
Optical zoom	4	4
Has High Dynamic Range (HDR)	Yes	Yes
Has Optical Image Stabilization (OIS)	Yes	Yes
Number of cameras	3	3
Other cameras	48 MP f/2.8, 48 MP ultrawide f/2.2	48 MP f/2.8, 48 MP ultrawide f/2.2

Front Camera

Feature	Apple iPhone 18 Pro Max	Apple iPhone 17 Pro
Front camera (megapixels)	18 MP	18 MP
Front camera aperture	1.9	1.9

Cellular

Feature	Apple iPhone 18 Pro Max	Apple iPhone 17 Pro
Cellular technology
SIM type
Has dual-sim support	Yes	Yes

Connectivity

Feature	Apple iPhone 18 Pro Max	Apple iPhone 17 Pro
Bluetooth technology
Wi-Fi technology
Connector
Has a headphone jack	No	No

Sensors

Feature	Apple iPhone 18 Pro Max	Apple iPhone 17 Pro
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 17 Pro
Color		N/A
Dimensions	7.8 × 16.34 × 0.88 cm	7.19 × 15 × 0.88 cm
Weight	249 g	206 g17% less

Power & Battery

Feature	Apple iPhone 18 Pro Max	Apple iPhone 17 Pro
Battery capacity	5,391 mAh35% more	3,998 mAh
Has wireless charging support	Yes	Yes
Has fast charging support	Yes	Yes

Benchmark

Feature	Apple iPhone 18 Pro Max	Apple iPhone 17 Pro
Antutu score	3,463,07242% more	2,430,575
Geekbench single-core score	4,73523% more	3,846
Geekbench multi-core score	12,79429% more	9,923

Miscellaneous

Feature	Apple iPhone 18 Pro Max	Apple iPhone 17 Pro
Release date	September 18, 2026	September 19, 2025
SAR (Head)	N/A	1.19 W/kg
SAR (Body)	N/A	1.19 W/kg
Dust & Water resistance
Operating system

Security

Feature	Apple iPhone 18 Pro Max	Apple iPhone 17 Pro
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 17 Pro comparison

Based on our overall comparison score, Apple iPhone 18 Pro Max rates higher at 81/100 versus 77/100 for Apple iPhone 17 Pro — a 4-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 17 Pro 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 81/100 for Apple iPhone 18 Pro Max and 77/100 for Apple iPhone 17 Pro.

At launch, Apple iPhone 17 Pro was the more affordable option ($1099) versus Apple iPhone 18 Pro Max ($1299). Weigh that against the overall scores (81/100 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 (81/100) edges out Apple iPhone 17 Pro (77/100). But if Apple iPhone 17 Pro 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.