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Lab Benchmark Battle

iPhone 17 Pro Max vs iPhone 18 Pro Max

Direct side-by-side battle analyzing display brightness, chipset benchmark percentiles, multi-camera arrays, battery capacity, and charging speeds.

Smartphone Battle
Comparing 2 devicesSwipe across ⇄
Apple · 2025

iPhone 17 Pro Max

iPhone 17 Pro Max
85/ 100
Launch MSRP$1,199 USD
Apple · 2026

iPhone 18 Pro Max

iPhone 18 Pro Max
93/ 100
Launch MSRP$1,499 USD
WHO WINS WHERE

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

Tap an area on the radar to inspect category hardware facts

iPhone 17 Pro Max
iPhone 18 Pro MaxWinner 🏆

BIGGEST HARDWARE DIFFERENCES

Margin Delta
SPEC FACTORiPhone 17iPhone 18LEADER
Refresh Rate120Hz120Hz120Hz
Battery Capacity5,088 mAh5,567 mAh+5,567 mAh
Wired Fast Charging40W45W45W Max
Main Camera Sensor48 MP48 MP48 MP
Screen Display Size6.9"6.9"6.9"
Chassis Weight233g249g233g Lightest
Compare All 177+ Specifications Below↓

Which Phone Should You Buy: Key Reasons & Hardware Advantages

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Reasons to buy iPhone 17 Pro Max:
  • ✓16g lighter chassis (233g) optimized for one-handed ergonomics
  • ✓$300 lower launch MSRP ($1199 vs $1499)
  • ✓48MP primary camera sensor with 4K/120fps video recording
Reasons to buy iPhone 18 Pro Max:
  • ✓Larger 5,567 mAh battery capacity (+479 mAh more capacity)
  • ✓48MP primary camera sensor with 4K/120fps video recording
  • ✓6.9" display with 120Hz ProMotion refresh rate

How Do the Specifications Compare Side-by-Side?

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SpecificationiPhone 17 Pro MaxiPhone 18 Pro Max
1. Display & Screen🏆 iPhone 18 Pro Max Wins Display
Screen Type & TechLTPO Super Retina XDR OLEDLTPO Super Retina XDR OLED, 120Hz, HDR10, Dolby Vision
Screen Size6.9"6.9"
Resolution & Density2868x1320 (460 ppi)1320 x 2868 pixels (19.5:9 ratio) (460 ppi)
Refresh Rate120 Hz ProMotion120 Hz ProMotion
Brightness3,000 nits peak1000 nits (typ), 1600 nits (HBM), 3000 nits (peak)
Screen ProtectionScratch-resistant glassCeramic Shield 2, Anti-reflective coating, Always-On display
2. Platform & Performance🏆 iPhone 18 Pro Max Wins Performance
Chipset / ProcessorHigh performance SoC Apple A20 Pro (2 nm) (2nm)
CPU CoresMulti-core high performanceHexa-core (2x High Performance + 4x Efficiency)
GPU GraphicsIntegrated GraphicsApple GPU (7-core graphics)
Operating SystemiOS 26iOS 27
3. Memory & Storage
RAM Memory12 GB LPDDR12GB LPDDR5X
Internal Storage256GB / 512GB / 1024GB / 2048GB256GB / 512GB / 1TB / 2TB
Storage SpeedHigh-speed flashNVMe fast flash
Card SlotNoNo
4. Main Camera Optics🏆 iPhone 18 Pro Max Wins Camera
Primary Camera48 MP, f/1.78, OIS, Fusion 48MP48 MP, f/1.5, 24mm (wide), 1/1.28", 1.22µm, OIS, Dual pixel PDAF, Sensor-shift OIS (gen 2)
Telephoto Zoom48 MP (8x optical zoom), f/2.8, OIS48 MP (4x optical zoom), f/2.8, 100mm (periscope telephoto), OIS
Ultrawide Camera48 MP, f/2.248 MP, f/2.2, 13mm, 120˚ (ultrawide)
LiDAR / DepthNoneTOF 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 Lens18 MP, f/1.918 MP, f/1.9, 20mm (ultrawide multi-aspect)
7. Body & Dimensions🏆 iPhone 17 Pro Max Lightest Chassis
Dimensions163.4 x 78 x 8.75 mm163.4 x 78 x 8.8 mm (6.43 x 3.07 x 0.35 in)
Weight233 g249 g (8.78 oz)
Build MaterialsGlass front, metal/glass frameGlass front (Ceramic Shield 2), aluminum frame, aluminum/glass back
SIM TypeNano-SIM / eSIM supportNano-SIM + eSIM + dual eSIM support
Water ResistanceIP68IP68 dust/water resistant (up to 6m for 30 min)
8. Battery & Charging🏆 iPhone 18 Pro Max Wins Battery
Battery Capacity5,088 mAh5,567 mAh
Wired Fast Charging40W wired fast charging45W wired fast charging
Wireless Charging25W wireless charging25W wireless charging
Reverse ChargingReverse wireless chargingReverse wireless charging
9. Sound & Audio
LoudspeakerStereo speakersYes, with stereo speakers (Spatial Audio)
3.5mm Headphone JackNoNo
10. Connectivity & Comms
Wi-Fi StandardWi-Fi 7Wi-Fi 7 (802.11be, tri-band, hotspot)
Bluetooth6.0Bluetooth 6.0, A2DP, LE
USB Port & SpeedUSB-C 3.0USB Type-C 3.2 Gen 2 (up to 10Gbps), DisplayPort video out
NFCYes (contactless payment)Yes (Apple Pay Visa, MasterCard, AMEX certified)
11. Sensors & Security
SensorsBiometric fingerprint/face, accelerometer, gyro, compassFace ID, LiDAR scanner, accelerometer, gyro, proximity, compass, barometer
Satellite FeaturesEmergency SOS via satellite (select markets)Emergency SOS, Messages and Find My via satellite
12. Colors & Overview
ColorsStandard finishesBlack, Silver, Glacier, Burgundy
Launch Price$1199$1,499 / €1,600
Editorial Lab Verdict

iPhone 18 Pro Max edges ahead with a BeastScore of 92.8/100

After comprehensive hardware benchmark comparisons, iPhone 18 Pro Max ranks as the overall top pick in this matchup. Key differentiators include its Apple A20 Pro (2 nm) architecture and verified 94/100 camera rating.

When to buy iPhone 17 Pro Max:
Lighter body: 233g (16g lighter in hand) · Lower launch price: $1199 (save $300)
When to buy iPhone 18 Pro Max:
Higher overall BeastScore: 92.8 vs top rival 84.5 · Larger battery capacity: 5,567 mAh (+479 mAh more)
Quick Answers

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

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

iPhone 18 Pro Max leads with an overall BeastScore of 92.8/100 compared to iPhone 17 Pro Max (84.5/100), driven by advantages in Higher overall BeastScore: 92.8 vs top rival 84.5 and Larger battery capacity: 5,567 mAh (+479 mAh more).

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

iPhone 17 Pro Max is equipped with a 6.9-inch display and 5088 mAh battery, while iPhone 18 Pro Max features a 6.9-inch display and 5567 mAh battery.

How do the camera capabilities compare between iPhone 17 Pro Max and iPhone 18 Pro Max?

In lab hardware evaluations, iPhone 17 Pro Max scores 85/100 in camera performance, while iPhone 18 Pro Max scores 94/100.

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