Phone Comparison
Apple iPhone 17 vs Apple iPhone 17 Pro Max Comparison
A detailed, side-by-side comparison to help you pick the right phone.
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Verdict
Pros & cons
iPhone 17
Consistent performance and a quality display make this a good choice for most users.
+
What's good
+
120Hz refresh rate
+
Faster charging
+
Double storage
+
Slick selfie camera
+
Same cost as before
−
What's not
−
Weak zoom capabilities
−
Gets hot during gaming
−
No new AI features
−
Lags in telephoto performance
−
Subdued color options
iPhone 17 Pro Max
A versatile, durable phone with enhanced cameras and outstanding battery life, ideal for those seeking reliability and performance.
+
What's good
+
Long-lasting battery
+
Smooth performance
+
Bright display
+
Powerful zoom camera
+
Sleek design changes
−
What's not
−
Heavy design
−
High cost
−
Camera bulge
−
No major AI
−
Cumbersome size
iPhone 17
Consistent performance and a quality display make this a good choice for most users.
+
Good
+
120Hz refresh rate
+
Faster charging
+
Double storage
+
Slick selfie camera
+
Same cost as before
−
Not
−
Weak zoom capabilities
−
Gets hot during gaming
−
No new AI features
−
Lags in telephoto performance
−
Subdued color options
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
Spec data
How they compare
Choosing the cheaper iPhone 17 means giving up most on: Camera zoom
iPhone 17
iPhone 17 Pro Max
Price (MSRP)
$899
$1,199
OS
iOS
iOS
Processor
Apple A19 Hexa-core
Apple A19 Pro Hexa-core
Camera zoom
—
4×
Battery life
—
17h 58m
GSMArena Active Use
Wired charging
40W
40W
Wireless charging
25W
25W
Display
Color
Color, 120Hz
3000 nits peak
Software support
—
—
Repairability
—
7/10
iFixit
Weight
177g (6.2 oz)
233g (8.2 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 means giving up most on: Camera zoom
iPhone 17
iPhone 17 Pro Max
Price (MSRP)
$899
Price (MSRP)
$1,199
OS
iOS
OS
iOS
Processor
Apple A19 Hexa-core
Processor
Apple A19 Pro Hexa-core
Camera zoom
—
Camera zoom
4×
Battery life
—
Battery life
17h 58m
GSMArena Active Use
Wired charging
40W
Wired charging
40W
Wireless charging
25W
Wireless charging
25W
Display
Color
Display
Color, 120Hz
3000 nits peak
Software support
—
Software support
—
Repairability
—
Repairability
7/10
iFixit
Weight
177g (6.2 oz)
Weight
233g (8.2 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
iPhone 17 Pro Max
DxOMark v6
157
photo 155 · video 162
—
AnTuTu v10
2.24M
2.61M
GSMArena endurance
—
17h 58m
Active Use
iFixit repairability
—
7/10
Third-party data
Testing & benchmarks
iPhone 17
iPhone 17 Pro Max
DxOMark v6
157
photo 155 · video 162
DxOMark v6
—
AnTuTu v10
2.24M
AnTuTu v10
2.61M
GSMArena endurance
—
GSMArena endurance
17h 58m
Active Use
iFixit repairability
—
iFixit repairability
7/10
Physical comparison
Size & weight
Footprint · to scale
iPhone 17
5.9" × 2.8"
iPhone 17 Pro Max
6.4" × 3.1"
Thickness · to scale
iPhone 17
0.3"
iPhone 17 Pro Max
0.3"
iPhone 17
iPhone 17 Pro Max
Height
5.9" (149.6 mm)
6.4" (163.4 mm)
Width
2.8" (71.6 mm)
3.1" (78 mm)
Depth
0.3" (8 mm)
0.3" (8.8 mm)
Weight
177g (6.2 oz)
233g (8.2 oz)
Screen
6.3"
6.9"
Height
5.9" (149.6 mm)
Height
6.4" (163.4 mm)
Width
2.8" (71.6 mm)
Width
3.1" (78 mm)
Depth
0.3" (8 mm)
Depth
0.3" (8.8 mm)
Weight
177g (6.2 oz)
Weight
233g (8.2 oz)
Screen
6.3"
Screen
6.9"
Dimensions shown in inches (mm). Silhouettes are proportionally scaled for visual comparison.
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Common questions
iPhone 17 vs iPhone 17 Pro Max: FAQ
Which is better, the iPhone 17 or iPhone 17 Pro Max?
Both phones earn identical Compass Scores of 8.7, meaning critics rate them equally overall. The right choice depends entirely on which trade-offs matter more to you. Scroll through the spec-by-spec breakdown above to see where each phone pulls ahead.
Which is faster, the iPhone 17 or iPhone 17 Pro Max?
The iPhone 17 Pro Max scores 2,606,807 in AnTuTu benchmarks compared to 2,239,708 for the iPhone 17, roughly 16% 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 17 or iPhone 17 Pro Max?
The iPhone 17 launches at $899, which is $300 less than the iPhone 17 Pro Max at $1,199. Street prices shift after launch, so check current deals for both phones before deciding.
Should I buy the iPhone 17 or the iPhone 17 Pro Max?
Our critics' take on the iPhone 17: "Consistent performance and a quality display make this a good choice for most users." On the iPhone 17 Pro Max: "A versatile, durable phone with enhanced cameras and outstanding battery life, ideal for those seeking reliability and performance." 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 →