Phone Comparison
Apple iPhone 16 Pro Max vs Apple iPhone 17 Pro Comparison
A detailed, side-by-side comparison to help you pick the right phone.
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Verdict
Pros & cons
iPhone 16 Pro Max
A sturdy, larger phone with impressive cameras and extensive video features, appealing to creative users.
+
What's good
+
Big, vivid display
+
Long battery life
+
Great camera features
+
New Camera Control
+
Quality build materials
−
What's not
−
Large, heavy design
−
Limited AI features now
−
High price tag
−
Slow wireless charging
iPhone 17 Pro
A sturdy design with focused camera enhancements and extended battery life, aimed at creators and heavy users.
+
What's good
+
Improved battery life
+
Outstanding performance
+
High-quality cameras
+
Advanced cooling system
+
Vibrant display
−
What's not
−
High price point
−
Heavier design
−
Limited AI features
−
Camera control issues
−
No charger included
iPhone 16 Pro Max
A sturdy, larger phone with impressive cameras and extensive video features, appealing to creative users.
+
Good
+
Big, vivid display
+
Long battery life
+
Great camera features
+
New Camera Control
+
Quality build materials
−
Not
−
Large, heavy design
−
Limited AI features now
−
High price tag
−
Slow wireless charging
iPhone 17 Pro
A sturdy design with focused camera enhancements and extended battery life, aimed at creators and heavy users.
+
Good
+
Improved battery life
+
Outstanding performance
+
High-quality cameras
+
Advanced cooling system
+
Vibrant display
−
Not
−
High price point
−
Heavier design
−
Limited AI features
−
Camera control issues
−
No charger included
Spec data
How they compare
Choosing the cheaper iPhone 17 Pro means giving up most on: Battery life
iPhone 16 Pro Max
iPhone 17 Pro
Price (MSRP)
$1,199
$1,099
OS
iOS
iOS
Processor
Apple A18 Pro Hexa-core
Apple A19 Pro Hexa-core
Camera zoom
5×
16×
Battery life
17h 18m
GSMArena Active Use
15h 23m
GSMArena Active Use
Wired charging
—
40W
Wireless charging
25W
25W
Display
Color, 120Hz
2000 nits peak
Color, 120Hz
3000 nits peak
Software support
—
—
Repairability
7/10
iFixit
7/10
iFixit
Weight
227g (8 oz)
206g (7.3 oz)
Fingerprint
No
No
Highlighted cells indicate the stronger value where a clear winner exists.
Spec data
How they compare
Choosing the cheaper iPhone 17 Pro means giving up most on: Battery life
iPhone 16 Pro Max
iPhone 17 Pro
Price (MSRP)
$1,199
Price (MSRP)
$1,099
OS
iOS
OS
iOS
Processor
Apple A18 Pro Hexa-core
Processor
Apple A19 Pro Hexa-core
Camera zoom
5×
Camera zoom
16×
Battery life
17h 18m
GSMArena Active Use
Battery life
15h 23m
GSMArena Active Use
Wired charging
—
Wired charging
40W
Wireless charging
25W
Wireless charging
25W
Display
Color, 120Hz
2000 nits peak
Display
Color, 120Hz
3000 nits peak
Software support
—
Software support
—
Repairability
7/10
iFixit
Repairability
7/10
iFixit
Weight
227g (8 oz)
Weight
206g (7.3 oz)
Fingerprint
No
Fingerprint
No
Highlighted cells indicate the stronger value where a clear winner exists.
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Third-party data
Testing & benchmarks
iPhone 16 Pro Max
iPhone 17 Pro
DxOMark v6
161
photo 158 · video 167
168
photo 166 · video 172
AnTuTu v10
1.75M
2.63M
GSMArena endurance
17h 18m
Active Use
15h 23m
Active Use
iFixit repairability
7/10
7/10
Third-party data
Testing & benchmarks
iPhone 16 Pro Max
iPhone 17 Pro
DxOMark v6
161
photo 158 · video 167
DxOMark v6
168
photo 166 · video 172
AnTuTu v10
1.75M
AnTuTu v10
2.63M
GSMArena endurance
17h 18m
Active Use
GSMArena endurance
15h 23m
Active Use
iFixit repairability
7/10
iFixit repairability
7/10
Physical comparison
Size & weight
Footprint · to scale
iPhone 16 Pro Max
6.4" × 3.1"
iPhone 17 Pro
5.9" × 2.8"
Thickness · to scale
iPhone 16 Pro Max
0.3"
iPhone 17 Pro
0.3"
iPhone 16 Pro Max
iPhone 17 Pro
Height
6.4" (163 mm)
5.9" (150 mm)
Width
3.1" (77.6 mm)
2.8" (71.9 mm)
Depth
0.3" (8.3 mm)
0.3" (8.8 mm)
Weight
227g (8 oz)
206g (7.3 oz)
Screen
6.9"
6.3"
Height
6.4" (163 mm)
Height
5.9" (150 mm)
Width
3.1" (77.6 mm)
Width
2.8" (71.9 mm)
Depth
0.3" (8.3 mm)
Depth
0.3" (8.8 mm)
Weight
227g (8 oz)
Weight
206g (7.3 oz)
Screen
6.9"
Screen
6.3"
Dimensions shown in inches (mm). Silhouettes are proportionally scaled for visual comparison.
Also compared
Related comparisons
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Common questions
iPhone 16 Pro Max vs iPhone 17 Pro: FAQ
Which is better, the iPhone 16 Pro Max or iPhone 17 Pro?
Based on aggregated critic reviews, the iPhone 17 Pro earns a Compass Score of 8.9 compared to 8.6 for the iPhone 16 Pro Max. That 0.3-point gap reflects stronger reviews across the board, though individual priorities like camera quality, battery life, or price could tip the scales the other way. Scores aggregate dozens of expert opinions, so they are a useful starting point, not the final word.
Which phone has better zoom, the iPhone 16 Pro Max or iPhone 17 Pro?
The iPhone 17 Pro offers 16 optical zoom, while the iPhone 16 Pro Max tops out at 5. Optical zoom preserves full detail at distance; digital zoom crops and upscales, which softens fine textures. If you regularly shoot sports, wildlife, or concerts, the iPhone 17 Pro gives you noticeably sharper reach.
Which phone has a better display, the iPhone 16 Pro Max or iPhone 17 Pro?
The iPhone 16 Pro Max runs at 120Hz and the iPhone 17 Pro at 120Hz. Since both panels match, day-to-day scrolling and animation fluidity will feel identical. Screen sizes are 6.9" and 6.3" respectively. Peak brightness hits 2,000 nits on the iPhone 16 Pro Max and 3,000 nits on the iPhone 17 Pro, which affects outdoor readability.
Which takes better photos, the iPhone 16 Pro Max or iPhone 17 Pro?
DxOMark rates the iPhone 17 Pro at 166 and the iPhone 16 Pro Max at 158 for still photography. A 8-point gap on DxOMark's scale typically translates to visible differences in dynamic range, noise control, or colour accuracy. Real-world results also depend on computational processing and your shooting habits, so consider browsing sample shots for scenes you care about most.
Which lasts longer on a charge, the iPhone 16 Pro Max or iPhone 17 Pro?
In GSMArena's standardised endurance test, the iPhone 16 Pro Max scored 17h 18m of active use compared to 15h 23m for the iPhone 17 Pro. That gives the iPhone 16 Pro Max a measurable edge in screen-on time between charges. Keep in mind that real-world battery life varies with signal strength, screen brightness, and app usage patterns.
Which is faster, the iPhone 16 Pro Max or iPhone 17 Pro?
The iPhone 17 Pro scores 2,634,433 in AnTuTu benchmarks compared to 1,750,331 for the iPhone 16 Pro Max, roughly 51% higher in raw throughput. That gap is most noticeable in heavy gaming, video rendering, and large multitasking sessions. For everyday tasks like messaging and web browsing, both phones will feel responsive.
Which phone is more affordable, the iPhone 16 Pro Max or iPhone 17 Pro?
The iPhone 17 Pro launches at $1,099, which is $100 less than the iPhone 16 Pro Max at $1,199. Street prices shift after launch, so check current deals for both phones before deciding.
Which is easier to repair, the iPhone 16 Pro Max or iPhone 17 Pro?
Both the iPhone 16 Pro Max and iPhone 17 Pro score 7/10 on iFixit's repairability scale. Neither has a meaningful advantage in repair accessibility. Parts availability and repair cost should be similar for both devices.
Should I buy the iPhone 16 Pro Max or the iPhone 17 Pro?
Our critics' take on the iPhone 16 Pro Max: "A sturdy, larger phone with impressive cameras and extensive video features, appealing to creative users." On the iPhone 17 Pro: "A sturdy design with focused camera enhancements and extended battery life, aimed at creators and heavy users." Both phones have clear strengths in different areas; scroll through the comparison above to see which trade-offs align with your priorities.
Specifications sourced from manufacturers and third-party databases. Last updated November 2026. Suggest a correction →