Head to head · October 2026
iPhone 16 Pro Max vs iPhone 17 Pro Max
iPhone 17 Pro Max is 6 g heavier than iPhone 16 Pro Max, with 6 more hours of video.
Pick iPhone 16 Pro Max for
- Slim and sleek
No longer sold new
Pick iPhone 17 Pro Max for
- Battery first
- Keeping it for years
No longer sold new
Our verdict
Which one should you buy?
Choose iPhone 16 Pro Max if…
- you like a slim phone: 8.25 mm thin.
Choose iPhone 17 Pro Max if…
- battery life comes first: up to 39 hours of video against 33.
- you keep phones for years: the newer A19 Pro chip will get software updates for longer.
Side by side
Next to each other, to scale.
Screen size
6.9″ vs 6.9″
Both have a 6.9-inch screen. iPhone 16 Pro Max is 2868 × 1320 pixels at 460 ppi; iPhone 17 Pro Max is 2868 × 1320 at 460 ppi.
| Screen | iPhone 16 Pro Max | iPhone 17 Pro Max |
|---|---|---|
| Diagonal | 6.9″ | 6.9″ |
| Approx. area | 116.7 cm² | 116.7 cm² |
| Resolution | 2868 × 1320 | 2868 × 1320 |
| Pixel density | 460 ppi | 460 ppi |
| Refresh rate | 120 Hz | 120 Hz |
Price
— vs —
Apple no longer sells iPhone 16 Pro Max or iPhone 17 Pro Max new. Refurbished and second-hand prices vary by condition and storage.
Full specifications
Every figure, side by side.
| Spec | iPhone 16 Pro Max | iPhone 17 Pro Max |
|---|---|---|
| Introduced | 2024 | 2025 |
| Apple sells it new | No | No |
| Height | 163 mm | 163.4 mm |
| Width | 77.6 mm | 78 mm |
| Thickness | 8.25 mm | 8.75 mm |
| Weight | 227 g | 233 g |
| Display | 6.9″ | 6.9″ |
| Resolution | 2868 × 1320 at 460 ppi | 2868 × 1320 at 460 ppi |
| Refresh rate | 120 Hz ProMotion | 120 Hz ProMotion |
| Top of screen | Dynamic Island | Dynamic Island |
| Unlock | Face ID | Face ID |
| Chip | A18 Pro | A19 Pro |
| Rear cameras | Triple 48MP | Triple 48MP |
| Video playback | Up to 33 h | Up to 39 h |
| RAM | 8 GB | 12 GB |
| Storage | 256 GB, 512 GB, 1 TB | 256 GB, 512 GB, 1 TB, 2 TB |
| US price by storage | Not sold new | Not sold new |
| Colors | 4: Black Titanium, White Titanium, Natural Titanium, Desert Titanium | 3: Silver, Cosmic Orange, Deep Blue |
Sources: Apple technical specifications for iPhone 16 Pro Max and iPhone 17 Pro Max; US prices from apple.com, checked October 2026. Apple does not publish RAM; it comes from Apple's Xcode device data as reported by MacRumors, or Wikipedia's list of iPhone models for older phones.
What reviewers say
16 Pro Max or 17 Pro Max?
Their conclusions, in our words. Follow the links for the full reviews.
TechRadar · Sep 2026
Lab-tests Apple's claims: video playback rises 9% on the 18 Pro and 15% on the 18 Pro Max over the 17 Pro models, though real gains depend on how you use the phone.
Our iPhone 18 Pro and 18 Pro Max battery life test results ↗CNET · Sep 2025
Praises the new aluminum unibody design, sharper telephoto and new selfie camera, and a battery that scored highest of any phone CNET had tested.
iPhone 17 Pro and Pro Max Review: Part Midlife Crisis, Part Battery King ↗
FAQ
Questions people ask
- Is iPhone 17 Pro Max bigger than iPhone 16 Pro Max?
- iPhone 17 Pro Max measures 163.4 × 78 × 8.75 mm and iPhone 16 Pro Max measures 163 × 77.6 × 8.25 mm, so iPhone 17 Pro Max is 0.4 mm taller and 0.4 mm wider.
- Will an iPhone 16 Pro Max case fit iPhone 17 Pro Max?
- No. The bodies differ by 0.4 mm in height, 0.4 mm in width and 0.5 mm in thickness, and cases are cut to within a fraction of a millimetre. Buy a case made for your exact model.
- Which has better battery life, iPhone 16 Pro Max or iPhone 17 Pro Max?
- iPhone 17 Pro Max. Apple rates it for up to 39 hours of video playback against 33 hours for iPhone 16 Pro Max.
- Do iPhone 16 Pro Max and iPhone 17 Pro Max have the same screen size?
- Both have a 6.9-inch screen. iPhone 16 Pro Max is 2868 × 1320 pixels at 460 ppi; iPhone 17 Pro Max is 2868 × 1320 at 460 ppi.
- Which is lighter?
- iPhone 16 Pro Max weighs 227 g, 6 g less than iPhone 17 Pro Max (233 g).
- Can I still buy iPhone 16 Pro Max and iPhone 17 Pro Max new from Apple?
- No. Apple no longer sells iPhone 16 Pro Max or iPhone 17 Pro Max new; you will find them refurbished or second-hand.
Keep comparing