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Phone Comparison

Apple iPhone 17 Pro Max vs Apple iPhone 18 Pro Comparison

A detailed, side-by-side comparison to help you pick the right phone.
Apple iPhone 17 Pro Max
Apple
Apple iPhone 17 Pro Max
8.7 / 10
Compass Score
From 41 critic reviews
Full review →
Apple iPhone 18 Pro
Apple
Apple iPhone 18 Pro
8.9 / 10
Compass Score
From 55 critic reviews
Full review →
Verdict

Pros & cons

iPhone 17 Pro Max

A versatile, durable phone with enhanced cameras and outstanding battery life, ideal for those seeking reliability and performance.

+
Good
+ Long-lasting battery
+ Smooth performance
+ Bright display
+ Powerful zoom camera
+ Sleek design changes
−
Not
− Heavy design
− High cost
− Camera bulge
− No major AI
− Cumbersome size

iPhone 18 Pro

Spec data

How they compare

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

iPhone 17 Pro Max
iPhone 18 Pro
Price (MSRP)
$1,199
Price (MSRP)
$1,199
OS
iOS
OS
iOS
Processor
Apple A19 Pro Hexa-core
Processor
Apple A20 Pro Hexa-core
Camera zoom
4Γ—
Camera zoom
4Γ—
Battery life
17h 58m
GSMArena Active Use
Battery life
16h 43m
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
β€”
Software support
β€”
Repairability
7/10
iFixit
Repairability
7/10
iFixit
Weight
233g (8.2 oz)
Weight
211g (7.4 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 17 Pro Max
iPhone 18 Pro
DxOMark v6
β€”
DxOMark v6
172
photo 171 Β· video 176
AnTuTu v10
2.61M
AnTuTu v10
3.40M
GSMArena endurance
17h 58m
Active Use
GSMArena endurance
16h 43m
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
5.9" × 2.8"
Thickness · to scale
iPhone 17 Pro Max
0.3"
iPhone 18 Pro
0.3"
Height
6.4" (163.4 mm)
Height
5.9" (150 mm)
Width
3.1" (78 mm)
Width
2.8" (71.9 mm)
Depth
0.3" (8.8 mm)
Depth
0.3" (8.8 mm)
Weight
233g (8.2 oz)
Weight
211g (7.4 oz)
Screen
6.9"
Screen
6.3"

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

Common questions

iPhone 17 Pro Max vs iPhone 18 Pro: FAQ

Which is better, the iPhone 17 Pro Max or iPhone 18 Pro?
Based on aggregated critic reviews, the iPhone 18 Pro 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 has better zoom, the iPhone 17 Pro Max or iPhone 18 Pro?
Both the iPhone 17 Pro Max and iPhone 18 Pro offer 4 optical zoom. Neither has a hardware advantage at distance. Differences in zoom image quality will come down to computational processing, which varies by lighting and scene complexity.
Which phone has a better display, the iPhone 17 Pro Max or iPhone 18 Pro?
The iPhone 17 Pro Max runs at 120Hz and the iPhone 18 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 3,000 nits on the iPhone 17 Pro Max and 3,000 nits on the iPhone 18 Pro, which affects outdoor readability.
Which lasts longer on a charge, the iPhone 17 Pro Max or iPhone 18 Pro?
In GSMArena's standardised endurance test, the iPhone 17 Pro Max scored 17h 58m of active use compared to 16h 43m for the iPhone 18 Pro. That gives the iPhone 17 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 17 Pro Max or iPhone 18 Pro?
The iPhone 18 Pro scores 3,402,829 in AnTuTu benchmarks compared to 2,606,807 for the iPhone 17 Pro Max, roughly 31% 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 is easier to repair, the iPhone 17 Pro Max or iPhone 18 Pro?
Both the iPhone 17 Pro Max and iPhone 18 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.

Specifications sourced from manufacturers and third-party databases. Last updated November 2026. Suggest a correction →