Phone Comparison
Apple iPhone 17 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 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 18 Pro Max
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 18 Pro Max
Spec data
How they compare
Choosing the cheaper iPhone 17 means giving up most on: Camera zoom, Wired charging
iPhone 17
iPhone 18 Pro Max
Price (MSRP)
$899
$1,299
OS
iOS
iOS
Processor
Apple A19 Hexa-core
Apple A20 Pro Hexa-core
Camera zoom
—
4×
Battery life
—
19h 20m
GSMArena Active Use
Wired charging
40W
60W
Wireless charging
25W
25W
Display
Color
Color, 120Hz
3000 nits peak
Software support
—
—
Repairability
—
7/10
iFixit
Weight
177g (6.2 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 17 means giving up most on: Camera zoom, Wired charging
iPhone 17
iPhone 18 Pro Max
Price (MSRP)
$899
Price (MSRP)
$1,299
OS
iOS
OS
iOS
Processor
Apple A19 Hexa-core
Processor
Apple A20 Pro Hexa-core
Camera zoom
—
Camera zoom
4×
Battery life
—
Battery life
19h 20m
GSMArena Active Use
Wired charging
40W
Wired charging
60W
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
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 17
iPhone 18 Pro Max
DxOMark v6
157
photo 155 · video 162
—
AnTuTu v10
2.24M
3.46M
GSMArena endurance
—
19h 20m
Active Use
iFixit repairability
—
7/10
Third-party data
Testing & benchmarks
iPhone 17
iPhone 18 Pro Max
DxOMark v6
157
photo 155 · video 162
DxOMark v6
—
AnTuTu v10
2.24M
AnTuTu v10
3.46M
GSMArena endurance
—
GSMArena endurance
19h 20m
Active Use
iFixit repairability
—
iFixit repairability
7/10
Physical comparison
Size & weight
Footprint · to scale
iPhone 17
5.9" × 2.8"
iPhone 18 Pro Max
6.4" × 3.1"
Thickness · to scale
iPhone 17
0.3"
iPhone 18 Pro Max
0.3"
iPhone 17
iPhone 18 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)
249g (8.8 oz)
Screen
6.3"
6.9"
Height
5.9" (149.6 mm)
Height
6.4" (163.4 mm)
Width
2.8" (71.6 mm)
Width
3.1" (78 mm)
Depth
0.3" (8 mm)
Depth
0.3" (8.8 mm)
Weight
177g (6.2 oz)
Weight
249g (8.8 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 18 Pro Max: FAQ
Which is better, the iPhone 17 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. 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 is faster, the iPhone 17 or iPhone 18 Pro Max?
The iPhone 18 Pro Max scores 3,463,072 in AnTuTu benchmarks compared to 2,239,708 for the iPhone 17, roughly 55% 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 18 Pro Max?
The iPhone 17 launches at $899, which is $400 less than the iPhone 18 Pro Max at $1,299. Street prices shift after launch, so check current deals for both phones before deciding.
Specifications sourced from manufacturers and third-party databases. Last updated November 2026. Suggest a correction →