Apple
iPhone 18 Pro Max vs iPhone 17 Pro Max
Device summary
Apple
iPhone 17 Pro Max
Full specifications
| Basic information | ||
|---|---|---|
| Release year | 2026 | 2025 |
| Starting price | $1,299 | $1,199 |
| Display size | 6.9-inch | 6.9-inch |
| Dimensions | 78.0 mm × 163.4 mm × 8.8 mm | 78.0 mm × 163.4 mm × 8.8 mm |
| Weight | 249 g | 233 g |
| Front material | Ceramic Shield 2 | Ceramic Shield |
| Back material | Ceramic Shield | Ceramic Shield |
| Display | ||
| Display technology | Super Retina XDR OLED | Super Retina XDR OLED |
| Resolution | 2868 × 1320 | 2868 × 1320 |
| Refresh rate | 120 Hz | 120 Hz |
| Peak brightness | 3000 nits | 2000 nits |
| Protection | Ceramic Shield 2 | Ceramic Shield |
| Performance | ||
| Chipset | Apple A20 Pro | Apple A19 Pro |
| CPU | 6-core CPU with 2 super cores and 4 efficiency cores | 6-core CPU |
| GPU | 7-core GPU with Neural Accelerators | 6-core GPU |
| Storage | 256 GB, 512 GB, 1024 GB, 2048 GB | 256 GB, 512 GB, 1024 GB |
| Expandable storage | No | No |
| RAM | — | 12 GB |
| Cameras | ||
| Main camera | Fusion Main · 48 MP · ƒ/1.48–ƒ/4.0 · 24 mm · Second-generation sensor-shift OIS | Fusion · 48 MP · ƒ/1.78 · 24 mm · Second-generation sensor-shift OIS |
| Ultra-wide camera | Fusion Ultra Wide · 48 MP · ƒ/2.2 · 13 mm | Ultra Wide · 48 MP · ƒ/2.2 · 13 mm |
| Telephoto camera | Fusion Telephoto · 48 MP · ƒ/2.8 · 100 mm · 4× optical zoom · 3D sensor-shift OIS | Telephoto · 48 MP · ƒ/2.8 · 120 mm · 4× optical zoom · OIS |
| Front cameras | Center Stage · 18 MP · ƒ/1.9 | Center Stage · 18 MP · ƒ/1.9 |
| Video recording | 4K Dolby Vision up to 120 fps, ProRes up to 4K at 120 fps | 4K Dolby Vision up to 120 fps, ProRes up to 4K at 60 fps |
| Battery & charging | ||
| Wired charging | — | 25 W |
| Wireless charging | 25 W | 15 W |
| Charging standard | USB-C, MagSafe up to 25W, Qi2 up to 25W | MagSafe, Qi2 |
| Video playback (Manufacturer claim) | 45 h | 39 h |
| Streamed video (Manufacturer claim) | 40 h | — |
| Battery type | Built-in rechargeable lithium-ion | Built-in rechargeable lithium-ion |
| Connectivity | ||
| Cellular | 5G (sub-6 GHz and mmWave), Gigabit LTE | 5G (sub-6 GHz and mmWave), Gigabit LTE |
| Wi‑Fi | Wi‑Fi 7 (802.11be) | Wi‑Fi 7 (802.11be) |
| Bluetooth | Bluetooth 6 | Bluetooth 6 |
| USB | USB-C (USB 3, up to 10Gb/s) | USB-C (USB 3) |
| NFC | Yes | Yes |
| eSIM | Yes | Yes |
| Satellite | Emergency SOS via satellite | Emergency SOS via satellite |
| Build & durability | ||
| Frame | Aluminum unibody | Aluminum unibody |
| Ingress protection | IP68 | IP68 |
Basic information
Release year
- iPhone 18 Pro Max
- 2026
- iPhone 17 Pro Max
- 2025
Starting price
- iPhone 18 Pro Max
- $1,299
- iPhone 17 Pro Max
- $1,199
Display size
- iPhone 18 Pro Max
- 6.9-inch
- iPhone 17 Pro Max
- 6.9-inch
Dimensions
- iPhone 18 Pro Max
- 78.0 mm × 163.4 mm × 8.8 mm
- iPhone 17 Pro Max
- 78.0 mm × 163.4 mm × 8.8 mm
Weight
- iPhone 18 Pro Max
- 249 g
- iPhone 17 Pro Max
- 233 g
Front material
- iPhone 18 Pro Max
- Ceramic Shield 2
- iPhone 17 Pro Max
- Ceramic Shield
Back material
- iPhone 18 Pro Max
- Ceramic Shield
- iPhone 17 Pro Max
- Ceramic Shield
Display
Display technology
- iPhone 18 Pro Max
- Super Retina XDR OLED
- iPhone 17 Pro Max
- Super Retina XDR OLED
Resolution
- iPhone 18 Pro Max
- 2868 × 1320
- iPhone 17 Pro Max
- 2868 × 1320
Refresh rate
- iPhone 18 Pro Max
- 120 Hz
- iPhone 17 Pro Max
- 120 Hz
Peak brightness
- iPhone 18 Pro Max
- 3000 nits
- iPhone 17 Pro Max
- 2000 nits
Protection
- iPhone 18 Pro Max
- Ceramic Shield 2
- iPhone 17 Pro Max
- Ceramic Shield
Performance
Chipset
- iPhone 18 Pro Max
- Apple A20 Pro
- iPhone 17 Pro Max
- Apple A19 Pro
CPU
- iPhone 18 Pro Max
- 6-core CPU with 2 super cores and 4 efficiency cores
- iPhone 17 Pro Max
- 6-core CPU
GPU
- iPhone 18 Pro Max
- 7-core GPU with Neural Accelerators
- iPhone 17 Pro Max
- 6-core GPU
Storage
- iPhone 18 Pro Max
- 256 GB, 512 GB, 1024 GB, 2048 GB
- iPhone 17 Pro Max
- 256 GB, 512 GB, 1024 GB
Expandable storage
- iPhone 18 Pro Max
- No
- iPhone 17 Pro Max
- No
RAM
- iPhone 18 Pro Max
- —
- iPhone 17 Pro Max
- 12 GB
Cameras
Main camera
- iPhone 18 Pro Max
- Fusion Main · 48 MP · ƒ/1.48–ƒ/4.0 · 24 mm · Second-generation sensor-shift OIS
- iPhone 17 Pro Max
- Fusion · 48 MP · ƒ/1.78 · 24 mm · Second-generation sensor-shift OIS
Ultra-wide camera
- iPhone 18 Pro Max
- Fusion Ultra Wide · 48 MP · ƒ/2.2 · 13 mm
- iPhone 17 Pro Max
- Ultra Wide · 48 MP · ƒ/2.2 · 13 mm
Telephoto camera
- iPhone 18 Pro Max
- Fusion Telephoto · 48 MP · ƒ/2.8 · 100 mm · 4× optical zoom · 3D sensor-shift OIS
- iPhone 17 Pro Max
- Telephoto · 48 MP · ƒ/2.8 · 120 mm · 4× optical zoom · OIS
Front cameras
- iPhone 18 Pro Max
- Center Stage · 18 MP · ƒ/1.9
- iPhone 17 Pro Max
- Center Stage · 18 MP · ƒ/1.9
Video recording
- iPhone 18 Pro Max
- 4K Dolby Vision up to 120 fps, ProRes up to 4K at 120 fps
- iPhone 17 Pro Max
- 4K Dolby Vision up to 120 fps, ProRes up to 4K at 60 fps
Battery & charging
Wired charging
- iPhone 18 Pro Max
- —
- iPhone 17 Pro Max
- 25 W
Wireless charging
- iPhone 18 Pro Max
- 25 W
- iPhone 17 Pro Max
- 15 W
Charging standard
- iPhone 18 Pro Max
- USB-C, MagSafe up to 25W, Qi2 up to 25W
- iPhone 17 Pro Max
- MagSafe, Qi2
Video playback (Manufacturer claim)
- iPhone 18 Pro Max
- 45 h
- iPhone 17 Pro Max
- 39 h
Streamed video (Manufacturer claim)
- iPhone 18 Pro Max
- 40 h
- iPhone 17 Pro Max
- —
Battery type
- iPhone 18 Pro Max
- Built-in rechargeable lithium-ion
- iPhone 17 Pro Max
- Built-in rechargeable lithium-ion
Connectivity
Cellular
- iPhone 18 Pro Max
- 5G (sub-6 GHz and mmWave), Gigabit LTE
- iPhone 17 Pro Max
- 5G (sub-6 GHz and mmWave), Gigabit LTE
Wi‑Fi
- iPhone 18 Pro Max
- Wi‑Fi 7 (802.11be)
- iPhone 17 Pro Max
- Wi‑Fi 7 (802.11be)
Bluetooth
- iPhone 18 Pro Max
- Bluetooth 6
- iPhone 17 Pro Max
- Bluetooth 6
USB
- iPhone 18 Pro Max
- USB-C (USB 3, up to 10Gb/s)
- iPhone 17 Pro Max
- USB-C (USB 3)
NFC
- iPhone 18 Pro Max
- Yes
- iPhone 17 Pro Max
- Yes
eSIM
- iPhone 18 Pro Max
- Yes
- iPhone 17 Pro Max
- Yes
Satellite
- iPhone 18 Pro Max
- Emergency SOS via satellite
- iPhone 17 Pro Max
- Emergency SOS via satellite
Build & durability
Frame
- iPhone 18 Pro Max
- Aluminum unibody
- iPhone 17 Pro Max
- Aluminum unibody
Ingress protection
- iPhone 18 Pro Max
- IP68
- iPhone 17 Pro Max
- IP68
Key differences
The most meaningful measured gaps in size and weight — not an overall winner.
Weight
iPhone 17 Pro Max
16 g lighter
Height
Very similar height
Width
Very similar width
Thickness
Very similar thickness
User Experience Summary
iPhone 17 Pro Max
Strengths
- Best-in-lineup battery endurance for real travel and heavy days
- 6.9-inch display transforms media, gaming, and mobile editing
- Full Pro camera system including 4x telephoto
Compromises
- Wide, heavy body limits one-handed and pocket-first use
- Incremental upgrade for recent Pro Max owners
- No camera advantage over the smaller iPhone 17 Pro