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Phone comparison

Apple iPhone 17 Pro Max vs Apple iPhone 18 Pro Max

Short answer

The iPhone 18 Pro Max, unless you own the 17 Pro Max.

The iPhone 18 Pro Max lasts longer, charges faster and runs faster than the iPhone 17 Pro Max. It is also 16g heavier, and the design is almost the same. Reviewers found the screen and most of the cameras unchanged, so owners of the older phone have little reason to switch.

Updated Oct 16, 2026

iPhone 17 Pro Max vs iPhone 18 Pro Max

Apple iPhone 17 Pro Max

$1,199 launch price

Compass Score 8.7 from 41 critic reviews

Change phone

Get it if you want most of the same phone for less. Reviewers found the design, screen and everyday speed nearly the same, and it gets the same iOS 27 and Siri features.

See prices Full review

Reviewers' pick for most people

Apple iPhone 18 Pro Max

$1,299 launch price

Compass Score 8.9 from 39 critic reviews

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Get it if you are upgrading from an iPhone 16 or older, shoot a lot of video, play demanding games, or want the longest battery life in an iPhone.

Skip it if you own an iPhone 17 Pro Max, since reviewers steered those owners away, or you want a phone you can use with one hand.

See prices Full review

What reviewers found

Topic by topic

Each row is something review sites agreed on. Open a row for the details.

Battery life iPhone 18 Pro Max has the edge

The newer phone lasts longer. In GSMArena's battery test it reached 19 hours 20 minutes of active use, against 17 hours 58 minutes for the 17 Pro Max. Real-world gains were smaller, about one and a half to two hours in some reviews.

4 sites agree: GSMArena, Gadgetbyte Nepal and 2 more

Charging iPhone 18 Pro Max has the edge

The iPhone 18 Pro Max charges faster. In GSMArena's test it reached 81% in 30 minutes, against 65% for the 17 Pro Max. Reviewers say a 60W-capable charger is needed to get the speed.

4 sites agree: GSMArena, The Shortcut and 2 more

Performance iPhone 18 Pro Max has the edge

The A20 Pro chip is about 20% to 30% faster in benchmarks. Reviewers said it feels the same in daily use. The gains show in gaming and long heavy tasks, and the phone runs cooler.

5 sites agree: Gadgetbyte Nepal, Expert Reviews and 3 more

Build iPhone 17 Pro Max has the edge

The 18 Pro Max weighs 249g, against 233g for the 17 Pro Max. The size is the same. Reviewers said the extra weight causes wrist fatigue and makes one-handed use hard.

4 sites agree: Gadgetbyte Nepal, 91mobiles and 2 more

Camera iPhone 18 Pro Max has the edge

The main camera now has a variable aperture. Most reviewers found the real-world gain small, mostly in low light. The other cameras are unchanged.

4 sites agree: 91mobiles, Trusted Reviews and 2 more

Prices

Where to buy

The lowest prices we track today.

Apple iPhone 17 Pro Max

Apple New $1,199 See deal Certified refurbished 1 seller from $1,050.95 See refurbished

See all 13 iPhone 17 Pro Max deals →

Apple iPhone 18 Pro Max

Certified refurbished 1 seller from $1,399 See refurbished

See all 1 iPhone 18 Pro Max deal →

Already own one?

Is it worth switching?

iPhone 18 Pro Max

Own an iPhone 17 Pro Max or 16 Pro: reviewers say hold off. Own an iPhone 15 Pro Max or older: the upgrade makes sense.

Spec data

How they compare

Choosing the cheaper iPhone 17 Pro Max means giving up most on: Battery life, Wired charging

iPhone 17 Pro Max

iPhone 18 Pro Max

Price (MSRP)

$1,199

$1,299

iOS

Processor

Apple A19 Pro Hexa-core

Apple A20 Pro Hexa-core

Camera zoom

4×

Battery life

17h 58m

GSMArena Active Use

19h 20m

GSMArena Active Use

Wired charging

40W

60W

Wireless charging

25W

Display

Color, 120Hz

3000 nits peak

Color, 120Hz

3000 nits peak

Software support

—

Repairability

7/10

iFixit

7/10

iFixit

Weight

233g (8.2 oz)

249g (8.8 oz)

Fingerprint

Highlighted cells indicate the stronger value where a clear winner exists.

Spec data

How they compare

Choosing the cheaper iPhone 17 Pro Max means giving up most on: Battery life, Wired charging

iPhone 17 Pro Max

iPhone 18 Pro Max

Price (MSRP)

$1,199

Price (MSRP)

$1,299

iOS

Processor

Apple A19 Pro Hexa-core

Processor

Apple A20 Pro Hexa-core

Camera zoom

4×

Camera zoom

4×

Battery life

17h 58m

GSMArena Active Use

Battery life

19h 20m

GSMArena Active Use

Wired charging

40W

Wired charging

60W

Wireless charging

25W

Wireless charging

25W

Display

Color, 120Hz

3000 nits peak

Display

Color, 120Hz

3000 nits peak

Software support

—

Software support

—

Repairability

7/10

iFixit

Repairability

7/10

iFixit

Weight

233g (8.2 oz)

Weight

249g (8.8 oz)

Fingerprint

Highlighted cells indicate the stronger value where a clear winner exists.

iPhone 17 Pro Max

iPhone 18 Pro Max

Specifications are sourced from manufacturers and third-party databases and may contain errors. Suggest a correction →

Third-party data

Testing & benchmarks

iPhone 17 Pro Max

iPhone 18 Pro Max

DxOMark

—

AnTuTu v10

2.61M

3.46M

GSMArena endurance

17h 58m

Active Use

19h 20m

Active Use

iFixit repairability

7/10

Third-party data

Testing & benchmarks

iPhone 17 Pro Max

iPhone 18 Pro Max

DxOMark

—

DxOMark

—

AnTuTu v10

2.61M

AnTuTu v10

3.46M

GSMArena endurance

17h 58m

Active Use

GSMArena endurance

19h 20m

Active Use

iFixit repairability

7/10

iFixit repairability

7/10

Physical comparison

Size & weight

Footprint · to scale

iPhone 17 Pro Max

6.4" × 3.1"

iPhone 18 Pro Max

6.4" × 3.1"

Thickness · to scale

iPhone 17 Pro Max

0.3"

iPhone 18 Pro Max

0.3"

iPhone 17 Pro Max

iPhone 18 Pro Max

Height

6.4" (163.4 mm)

Width

3.1" (78 mm)

Depth

0.3" (8.8 mm)

Weight

233g (8.2 oz)

249g (8.8 oz)

Screen

6.9"

Height

6.4" (163.4 mm)

Height

6.4" (163.4 mm)

Width

3.1" (78 mm)

Width

3.1" (78 mm)

Depth

0.3" (8.8 mm)

Depth

0.3" (8.8 mm)

Weight

233g (8.2 oz)

Weight

249g (8.8 oz)

Screen

6.9"

Screen

6.9"

Dimensions shown in inches (mm). Silhouettes are proportionally scaled for visual comparison.

Common questions

iPhone 17 Pro Max vs iPhone 18 Pro Max: FAQ

Is the iPhone 18 Pro Max worth upgrading to from the iPhone 17 Pro Max?

Probably not. Most reviewers told iPhone 17 Pro Max owners to skip the iPhone 18 Pro Max. The design and screen are nearly the same. The gains are in battery, charging and gaming speed. iOS 27 and the new Siri also come to the older phone.

Does the iPhone 18 Pro Max have better battery life than the iPhone 17 Pro Max?

Yes. The iPhone 18 Pro Max has the larger battery. It ran 19 hours 20 minutes in GSMArena's active use test, against 17 hours 58 minutes. Reviewers saw gains of up to about two hours in everyday use.

Is the iPhone 18 Pro Max better for gaming than the iPhone 17 Pro Max?

Yes, a little. Reviewers found the iPhone 18 Pro Max runs cooler and holds its speed longer in long games. Frame rates in one test matched the older phone. The gains show mainly in sustained play.

Which is better, the iPhone 17 Pro Max or iPhone 18 Pro Max?

Based on aggregated critic reviews, the iPhone 18 Pro Max earns a Compass Score of 8.9 compared to 8.7 for the iPhone 17 Pro Max. That 0.2-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 is more affordable, the iPhone 17 Pro Max or iPhone 18 Pro Max?

The iPhone 17 Pro Max launches at $1,199, which is $100 less than the iPhone 18 Pro Max at $1,299. Street prices shift after launch, so check current deals for both phones before deciding.

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