Apple iPhone 17 Pro Max vs iPhone 18 Pro Max

Direct side-by-side battle analyzing hardware specifications, benchmark percentiles, battery endurance, and category performance advantages.

Smartphone Battle

Comparing 2 devicesSwipe across ⇄

Apple

Apple iPhone 17 Pro Max

95/ 100

Launch MSRPPricing on request

Apple · 2026

iPhone 18 Pro Max

93/ 100

Launch MSRP$1,499 USD

WHO WINS WHERE

WHY IS Apple iPhone 17 Pro Max BETTER THAN iPhone 18 Pro Max?

Tap an area on the radar to inspect category hardware facts

Apple iPhone 17 Pro MaxWinner 🏆

iPhone 18 Pro Max

BIGGEST HARDWARE DIFFERENCES

Margin Delta

SPEC FACTOR	Apple iPhone	iPhone 18	LEADER
Refresh Rate	120Hz	120Hz	120Hz
Battery Capacity	4,823 mAh	5,567 mAh	+5,567 mAh
Wired Fast Charging	Standard	45W	45W Max
Main Camera Sensor	50 MP	48 MP	50 MP
Screen Display Size	6.9"	6.9"	6.9"
Chassis Weight	N/A	249g	249g Lightest

Compare All 177+ Specifications Below↓

Which Phone Should You Buy: Key Reasons & Hardware Advantages

Swipe across ⇄

Reasons to buy Apple iPhone 17 Pro Max:

✓50MP primary camera sensor with 4K/120fps video recording
✓6.9" display with 120Hz ProMotion refresh rate

Reasons to buy iPhone 18 Pro Max:

✓750g lighter chassis (249g) optimized for one-handed ergonomics
✓$8500 lower launch MSRP ($1499 vs $9999)
✓Larger 5,567 mAh battery capacity (+744 mAh more capacity)

How Do the Specifications Compare Side-by-Side?

Swipe across ⇄

Specification	Apple iPhone 17 Pro Max	iPhone 18 Pro Max
1. Display & Screen🏆 Apple iPhone 17 Pro Max Wins Display
Screen Type & Tech	AMOLED / OLED display	LTPO Super Retina XDR OLED, 120Hz, HDR10, Dolby Vision
Screen Size	6.9"	6.9"
Resolution & Density	N/A	1320 x 2868 pixels (19.5:9 ratio) (460 ppi)
Refresh Rate	120 Hz ProMotion	120 Hz ProMotion
Brightness	N/A	1000 nits (typ), 1600 nits (HBM), 3000 nits (peak)
Screen Protection	Scratch-resistant glass	Ceramic Shield 2, Anti-reflective coating, Always-On display
2. Platform & Performance🏆 iPhone 18 Pro Max Wins Performance
Chipset / Processor	Apple A19 Pro	Apple A20 Pro (2 nm) (2nm)
CPU Cores	Multi-core high performance	Hexa-core (2x High Performance + 4x Efficiency)
GPU Graphics	Integrated Graphics	Apple GPU (7-core graphics)
Operating System	iOS 18	iOS 27
3. Memory & Storage
RAM Memory	12 GB LPDDR	12GB LPDDR5X
Internal Storage	2048 GB	256GB / 512GB / 1TB / 2TB
Storage Speed	High-speed flash	NVMe fast flash
Card Slot	No	No
4. Main Camera Optics🏆 iPhone 18 Pro Max Wins Camera
Primary Camera	50 MP, 50MP Main (OIS) + 50MP Ultra-wide + Telephoto	48 MP, f/1.5, 24mm (wide), 1/1.28", 1.22µm, OIS, Dual pixel PDAF, Sensor-shift OIS (gen 2)
Telephoto Zoom	None (Digital zoom only)	48 MP (4x optical zoom), f/2.8, 100mm (periscope telephoto), OIS
Ultrawide Camera	N/A	48 MP, f/2.2, 13mm, 120˚ (ultrawide)
LiDAR / Depth	None	TOF 3D LiDAR scanner (depth sensing & night portrait)
5. Video Recording Capabilities
Main Camera Video	4K@60fps1080p@240fpsHDR	4K@24/25/30/60/100/120fps1080p@240fps10-bit HDRDolby Vision HDR (up to 120fps)ProRes RAWApple Log 2Spatial 3D video & stereo sound
Front Video	4K@60fps1080p@60fpsgyro-EIS	4K@24/25/30/60fps1080p@120fpsgyro-EISDolby Vision HDR
6. Selfie Camera
Selfie Lens	32 MP	18 MP, f/1.9, 20mm (ultrawide multi-aspect)
7. Body & Dimensions🏆 iPhone 18 Pro Max Lightest Chassis
Dimensions	N/A	163.4 x 78 x 8.8 mm (6.43 x 3.07 x 0.35 in)
Weight	N/A	249 g (8.78 oz)
Build Materials	Glass front, metal/glass frame	Glass front (Ceramic Shield 2), aluminum frame, aluminum/glass back
SIM Type	Nano-SIM / eSIM support	Nano-SIM + eSIM + dual eSIM support
Water Resistance	Not certified	IP68 dust/water resistant (up to 6m for 30 min)
8. Battery & Charging🏆 Apple iPhone 17 Pro Max Wins Battery
Battery Capacity	4,823 mAh	5,567 mAh
Wired Fast Charging	N/A	45W wired fast charging
Wireless Charging	Not supported	25W wireless charging
Reverse Charging	Reverse wireless charging	Reverse wireless charging
9. Sound & Audio
Loudspeaker	Stereo speakers	Yes, with stereo speakers (Spatial Audio)
3.5mm Headphone Jack	No	No
10. Connectivity & Comms
Wi-Fi Standard	Wi-Fi 7 / 6E tri-band	Wi-Fi 7 (802.11be, tri-band, hotspot)
Bluetooth	Bluetooth 5.3+	Bluetooth 6.0, A2DP, LE
USB Port & Speed	USB Type-C	USB Type-C 3.2 Gen 2 (up to 10Gbps), DisplayPort video out
NFC	Yes	Yes (Apple Pay Visa, MasterCard, AMEX certified)
11. Sensors & Security
Sensors	Biometric fingerprint/face, accelerometer, gyro, compass	Face ID, LiDAR scanner, accelerometer, gyro, proximity, compass, barometer
Satellite Features	Emergency SOS via satellite (select markets)	Emergency SOS, Messages and Find My via satellite
12. Colors & Overview
Colors	Standard finishes	Black, Silver, Glacier, Burgundy
Launch Price	Price on request	$1,499 / €1,600

Editorial Lab Verdict

Apple iPhone 17 Pro Max edges ahead with a BeastScore of 95.0/100

After comprehensive hardware benchmark comparisons, Apple iPhone 17 Pro Max ranks as the overall top pick in this matchup. Key differentiators include its superior specifications and verified build advantages.

When to choose Apple iPhone 17 Pro Max:

Higher overall BeastScore: 95.0 vs top rival 92.8

When to choose iPhone 18 Pro Max:

Larger battery capacity: 5,567 mAh (+744 mAh more) · Significantly faster wired charging: 45W vs max 0W

Quick Answers

Frequently Asked Questions: Apple iPhone 17 Pro Max vs iPhone 18 Pro Max

Which is better: Apple iPhone 17 Pro Max or iPhone 18 Pro Max?

Apple iPhone 17 Pro Max leads with an overall BeastScore of 95.0/100 compared to iPhone 18 Pro Max (92.8/100), driven by advantages in Higher overall BeastScore: 95.0 vs top rival 92.8.

What are the primary battery and display differences between Apple iPhone 17 Pro Max and iPhone 18 Pro Max?

Apple iPhone 17 Pro Max is equipped with a 6.9-inch display and 4823 mAh battery, while iPhone 18 Pro Max features a 6.9-inch display and 5567 mAh battery.