Head to head · October 2026
iPhone 17 vs iPhone 18 Pro Max
iPhone 18 Pro Max is 13.8 mm taller and 72 g heavier than iPhone 17, with a 0.6″ bigger screen and 15 more hours of video.
Pick iPhone 17 for
- One-handed use
- Light in the pocket
- Budget
- Slim and sleek
From $899
Pick iPhone 18 Pro Max for
- Big-screen viewing
- Battery first
- Photography
- Keeping it for years
From $1,299
Our verdict
Which one should you buy?
Choose iPhone 17 if…
- you want the smaller phone: 13.8 mm shorter and 6.5 mm narrower than iPhone 18 Pro Max.
- weight matters: it is 72 g lighter.
- price decides it: it starts $400 lower at Apple.
- you like a slim phone: 7.95 mm thin.
Choose iPhone 18 Pro Max if…
- you want the bigger screen: 6.9″ against 6.3″.
- battery life comes first: up to 45 hours of video against 30.
- you shoot a lot of photos: Triple 48MP rear cameras against Dual 48MP.
- you keep phones for years: the newer A20 Pro chip will get software updates for longer.
Side by side
Next to each other, to scale.
Screen size
6.3″ vs 6.9″
iPhone 18 Pro Max has the bigger screen: 6.9 inches against 6.3 inches on iPhone 17, about 20% more glass (116.7 cm² against 97.2 cm²). iPhone 18 Pro Max shows 2868 × 1320 pixels at 460 ppi and iPhone 17 2622 × 1206 at 460 ppi.
| Screen | iPhone 17 | iPhone 18 Pro Max |
|---|---|---|
| Diagonal | 6.3″ | 6.9″ |
| Approx. area | 97.2 cm² | 116.7 cm² |
| Resolution | 2622 × 1206 | 2868 × 1320 |
| Pixel density | 460 ppi | 460 ppi |
| Refresh rate | 120 Hz | 120 Hz |
Price
$899 vs $1,299
iPhone 17 is the cheaper one: it starts at $899 at Apple in the US, $400 less than iPhone 18 Pro Max at $1,299. The table shows every storage option and what each gigabyte costs.
| Storage | iPhone 17 | iPhone 18 Pro Max |
|---|---|---|
| 256 GB | $899 · $3.51/GB | $1,299 · $5.07/GB |
| 512 GB | $1,099 · $2.15/GB | $1,499 · $2.93/GB |
| 1 TB | — | $1,899 · $1.85/GB |
| 2 TB | — | $2,499 · $1.22/GB |
Full specifications
Every figure, side by side.
| Spec | iPhone 17 | iPhone 18 Pro Max |
|---|---|---|
| Introduced | 2025 | 2026 |
| Apple sells it new | Yes, from $899 | Yes, from $1,299 |
| Height | 149.6 mm | 163.4 mm |
| Width | 71.5 mm | 78 mm |
| Thickness | 7.95 mm | 8.75 mm |
| Weight | 177 g | 249 g |
| Display | 6.3″ | 6.9″ |
| Resolution | 2622 × 1206 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 | A19 | A20 Pro |
| Rear cameras | Dual 48MP | Triple 48MP |
| Video playback | Up to 30 h | Up to 45 h |
| RAM | 8 GB | 12 GB |
| Storage | 256 GB, 512 GB | 256 GB, 512 GB, 1 TB, 2 TB |
| US price by storage | 256 GB $899 ($3.51/GB) · 512 GB $1,099 ($2.15/GB) | 256 GB $1,299 ($5.07/GB) · 512 GB $1,499 ($2.93/GB) · 1 TB $1,899 ($1.85/GB) · 2 TB $2,499 ($1.22/GB) |
| Colors | 5: Black, White, Mist Blue, Sage, Lavender | 4: Black, Silver, Glacier, Burgundy |
Sources: Apple technical specifications for iPhone 17 and iPhone 18 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
17 or 18 Pro Max?
Their conclusions, in our words. Follow the links for the full reviews.
Tom's Guide · Oct 2026
After four years the 18 Pro Max wins in every area they tested, with a much brighter screen standing out, so 14 Pro Max owners have a strong case to upgrade despite the higher $1,299 starting price.
iPhone 18 Pro Max vs iPhone 14 Pro Max: Is it finally time to upgrade? ↗Tom's Guide · Oct 2026
An opinion piece: the writer found the excitement around the Duo made their brand-new 18 Pro Max feel unexciting, a useful gut-check for buyers torn between the two.
My iPhone 18 Pro Max just got delivered and I immediately regret the purchase — and I think iPhone Duo is to blame ↗9to5Mac · Oct 2026
A spec-by-spec rundown that leans practical: with Duo orders already slipping into 2027, the 18 Pro is the pick for anyone who needs a phone soon.
iPhone Duo vs iPhone 18 Pro: Here’s every key difference ↗9to5Mac · Oct 2026
Stopping down the new variable aperture helps night shots with longer exposures and starbursts, but the tester doesn't see it as a reason to leave a 17 Pro, only a bonus for owners of older iPhones.
Here’s the difference the variable aperture of the iPhone 18 Pro makes at night ↗
More reviewer perspectives (13)
9to5Mac · Oct 2026
After a month of daily use the reviewer singles out all-day battery with plenty to spare, the new variable-aperture main camera and cooler, steadier performance outdoors.
iPhone 18 Pro one month later: These features keep impressing me ↗MacRumors · Oct 2026
The Duo's extra cost buys a big folding screen and side-by-side multitasking, while the Pro models keep the more versatile cameras, Face ID and a much lower price.
iPhone 18 Pro vs. iPhone Duo Buyer's Guide: Which Should You Choose? ↗CNET · Oct 2026
CNET sees the Duo as a niche buy for people who want a pocketable reading and multitasking screen, and points camera, battery and durability buyers to the iPhone 18 Pro Max instead.
The $2,000 Duo: Who Is Apple's First Folding iPhone Actually For? ↗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 ↗Yahoo Tech · Sep 2026
Pick the Duo for screen space and if you simply want a foldable; pick the 18 Pro Max for photography, video and the best camera controls.
Apple iPhone Duo vs. iPhone 18 Pro Max: How to decide between them ↗ZDNET · Sep 2026
Sticks with the 18 Pro: the Duo has no Pro camera controls or telephoto, swaps Face ID for Touch ID, is awkward one-handed when open and costs $800 more at 512GB.
iPhone Duo or 18 Pro? 8 reasons why I'm skipping Apple's first foldable ↗Trusted Reviews · Sep 2026
Same A20 Pro chip, cameras and Pro controls, so it comes down to size: the Pro Max for screen and battery, the Pro if you don't want a huge phone.
iPhone 18 Pro vs 18 Pro Max: What's the difference? ↗9to5Mac · Sep 2026
The headline changes are a new variable-aperture main camera, a smaller Dynamic Island, longer battery life and 50% charge in 15 minutes.
iPhone 18 Pro vs iPhone 17 Pro: Here's everything new ↗CNET · Apr 2026
For everyday use you likely won't feel a huge difference; the 17's gains are a 48MP ultrawide, an 18MP Center Stage selfie camera and a brighter screen.
iPhone 17 vs. iPhone 16: Should You Upgrade? ↗GSMArena · Dec 2025
The iPhone 17 is close enough for most people (same 120 Hz screen, ultrawide and selfie cameras, lighter body); the Pro still earns its price with the 4x telephoto, faster chip and pro video features.
Apple iPhone 17 vs. iPhone 17 Pro ↗Macworld · Oct 2025
If you already own an iPhone 16 you can keep it, but if you're upgrading from something older there is no reason to choose the 16 over the 17.
iPhone 17 vs iPhone 16: The differences are astonishing ↗PCMag · Sep 2025
The iPhone 17 wins on display (120 Hz, brighter), cameras and battery; the 16 only wins on price, and it starts with half the storage.
Apple iPhone 17 vs. iPhone 16: The Choice Is Clear ↗How-To Geek · Sep 2025
A head-versus-heart call: the base iPhone 17 is no longer an entry-level compromise, while the 17 Pro adds sustained performance and better cooling.
Torn Between the iPhone 17 and 17 Pro? Here's How to Choose ↗
FAQ
Questions people ask
- Is iPhone 18 Pro Max bigger than iPhone 17?
- iPhone 18 Pro Max measures 163.4 × 78 × 8.75 mm and iPhone 17 measures 149.6 × 71.5 × 7.95 mm, so iPhone 18 Pro Max is 13.8 mm taller and 6.5 mm wider.
- Will an iPhone 17 case fit iPhone 18 Pro Max?
- No. The bodies differ by 13.8 mm in height, 6.5 mm in width and 0.8 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 17 or iPhone 18 Pro Max?
- iPhone 18 Pro Max. Apple rates it for up to 45 hours of video playback against 30 hours for iPhone 17.
- Is the iPhone 18 Pro Max screen bigger than iPhone 17?
- iPhone 18 Pro Max has the bigger screen: 6.9 inches against 6.3 inches on iPhone 17, about 20% more glass (116.7 cm² against 97.2 cm²). iPhone 18 Pro Max shows 2868 × 1320 pixels at 460 ppi and iPhone 17 2622 × 1206 at 460 ppi.
- Which is lighter?
- iPhone 17 weighs 177 g, 72 g less than iPhone 18 Pro Max (249 g).
- How much more does iPhone 18 Pro Max cost than iPhone 17?
- iPhone 17 is the cheaper one: it starts at $899 at Apple in the US, $400 less than iPhone 18 Pro Max at $1,299. The table shows every storage option and what each gigabyte costs.
Keep comparing
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News & analysis
What changes your choice.
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