Phone Comparison
Apple iPhone 16 Pro vs Apple iPhone 18 Pro Max Comparison
A detailed, side-by-side comparison to help you pick the right phone.
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Verdict
Pros & cons
iPhone 16 Pro
Offers robust features but lacks innovation, maintaining the same design with marginal upgrades that may not justify an upgrade for recent models.
+
What's good
+
5x optical zoom
+
Upgraded ultrawide lens
+
New camera control button
+
Slightly larger screen
+
Better battery efficiency
−
What's not
−
Incremental updates
−
No Apple Intelligence yet
−
Pricey accessories
−
Similar design to predecessor
−
Low resolution selfie camera
iPhone 18 Pro Max
iPhone 16 Pro
Offers robust features but lacks innovation, maintaining the same design with marginal upgrades that may not justify an upgrade for recent models.
+
Good
+
5x optical zoom
+
Upgraded ultrawide lens
+
New camera control button
+
Slightly larger screen
+
Better battery efficiency
−
Not
−
Incremental updates
−
No Apple Intelligence yet
−
Pricey accessories
−
Similar design to predecessor
−
Low resolution selfie camera
iPhone 18 Pro Max
Spec data
How they compare
Choosing the cheaper iPhone 16 Pro means giving up most on: Camera zoom, Battery life, Wired charging
iPhone 16 Pro
iPhone 18 Pro Max
Price (MSRP)
$999
$1,299
OS
iOS
iOS
Processor
Apple A18 Pro Hexa-core
Apple A20 Pro Hexa-core
Camera zoom
—
4×
Battery life
14h 17m
GSMArena Active Use
19h 20m
GSMArena Active Use
Wired charging
45W
60W
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
199g (7 oz)
249g (8.8 oz)
Fingerprint
No
No
Highlighted cells indicate the stronger value where a clear winner exists.
Spec data
How they compare
Choosing the cheaper iPhone 16 Pro means giving up most on: Camera zoom, Battery life, Wired charging
iPhone 16 Pro
iPhone 18 Pro Max
Price (MSRP)
$999
Price (MSRP)
$1,299
OS
iOS
OS
iOS
Processor
Apple A18 Pro Hexa-core
Processor
Apple A20 Pro Hexa-core
Camera zoom
—
Camera zoom
4×
Battery life
14h 17m
GSMArena Active Use
Battery life
19h 20m
GSMArena Active Use
Wired charging
45W
Wired charging
60W
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
199g (7 oz)
Weight
249g (8.8 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
iPhone 18 Pro Max
DxOMark v5
157
photo 157 · video 159
—
AnTuTu v10
1.81M
3.46M
GSMArena endurance
14h 17m
Active Use
19h 20m
Active Use
iFixit repairability
7/10
7/10
Third-party data
Testing & benchmarks
iPhone 16 Pro
iPhone 18 Pro Max
DxOMark v5
157
photo 157 · video 159
DxOMark v5
—
AnTuTu v10
1.81M
AnTuTu v10
3.46M
GSMArena endurance
14h 17m
Active Use
GSMArena endurance
19h 20m
Active Use
iFixit repairability
7/10
iFixit repairability
7/10
Physical comparison
Size & weight
Footprint · to scale
iPhone 16 Pro
5.9" × 2.8"
iPhone 18 Pro Max
6.4" × 3.1"
Thickness · to scale
iPhone 16 Pro
0.3"
iPhone 18 Pro Max
0.3"
iPhone 16 Pro
iPhone 18 Pro Max
Height
5.9" (149.6 mm)
6.4" (163.4 mm)
Width
2.8" (71.5 mm)
3.1" (78 mm)
Depth
0.3" (8.3 mm)
0.3" (8.8 mm)
Weight
199g (7 oz)
249g (8.8 oz)
Screen
6.3"
6.9"
Height
5.9" (149.6 mm)
Height
6.4" (163.4 mm)
Width
2.8" (71.5 mm)
Width
3.1" (78 mm)
Depth
0.3" (8.3 mm)
Depth
0.3" (8.8 mm)
Weight
199g (7 oz)
Weight
249g (8.8 oz)
Screen
6.3"
Screen
6.9"
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 vs iPhone 18 Pro Max: FAQ
Which is better, the iPhone 16 Pro or iPhone 18 Pro Max?
Based on aggregated critic reviews, the iPhone 18 Pro Max earns a Compass Score of 8.9 compared to 8.5 for the iPhone 16 Pro. That 0.4-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 a better display, the iPhone 16 Pro or iPhone 18 Pro Max?
The iPhone 16 Pro runs at 120Hz and the iPhone 18 Pro Max at 120Hz. Since both panels match, day-to-day scrolling and animation fluidity will feel identical. Screen sizes are 6.3" and 6.9" respectively. Peak brightness hits 2,000 nits on the iPhone 16 Pro and 3,000 nits on the iPhone 18 Pro Max, which affects outdoor readability.
Which lasts longer on a charge, the iPhone 16 Pro or iPhone 18 Pro Max?
In GSMArena's standardised endurance test, the iPhone 18 Pro Max scored 19h 20m of active use compared to 14h 17m for the iPhone 16 Pro. That gives the iPhone 18 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 or iPhone 18 Pro Max?
The iPhone 18 Pro Max scores 3,463,072 in AnTuTu benchmarks compared to 1,808,835 for the iPhone 16 Pro, roughly 91% 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 or iPhone 18 Pro Max?
The iPhone 16 Pro launches at $999, which is $300 less than the iPhone 18 Pro Max at $1,299. Street prices shift after launch, so check current deals for both phones before deciding.
Which is easier to repair, the iPhone 16 Pro or iPhone 18 Pro Max?
Both the iPhone 16 Pro and iPhone 18 Pro Max 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.
Specifications sourced from manufacturers and third-party databases. Last updated November 2026. Suggest a correction →