Apple iPhone 16 Plus vs Apple iPhone 17 Pro Max

Compare Apple iPhone 16 Plus vs Apple iPhone 17 Pro Max side by side: Apple A18 vs Apple A19 Pro, 48MP vs 48MP camera, 4674mAh vs 4823mAh battery, $899 vs…

Apple

iPhone 17 Pro Max

$699

13categories won

5 categories tied · 21 scored in total · add a third phone

Information Gain

Which one wins?

MxMob Algorithmic Verdict

Apple iPhone 17 Pro Max takes the overall win

Overall Pick

The Apple iPhone 17 Pro Max proves superior overall against the Apple iPhone 16 Plus, outperforming on gaming and photography. In camera testing, the iPhone 17 Pro Max leads with superior optics, while battery endurance leans towards the iPhone 17 Pro Max. Choose the iPhone 17 Pro Max if you want the highest performance ceiling, or opt for the iPhone 16 Plus if its specific hardware strengths better fit your budget.

🔋 BatteryiPhone 17 Pro Max

iPhone 17 Pro Max takes battery honors offering 4,823 mAh alongside 42W charging.

🎮 GamingiPhone 17 Pro Max

iPhone 17 Pro Max provides greater sustained gaming output with its Apple A19 Pro and 12GB RAM.

📸 CameraiPhone 17 Pro Max

iPhone 17 Pro Max takes photography with 48MP optics and 4x optical telephoto capabilities.

🏷️ ValueiPhone 17 Pro Max

iPhone 17 Pro Max wins on budget and value at $699 compared to $899.

Category verdicts are computed algorithmically from verified technical specifications and hardware benchmarks. Rows where neither figure is objectively better — screen size preference, operating system choice, aesthetic build materials — are displayed for direct reference without scoring bias.

iPhone 16 Plus vs iPhone 17 Pro Max: specifications compared

Display

Display comparison between the Apple iPhone 16 Plus, Apple iPhone 17 Pro Max
Specification	iPhone 16 Plus	iPhone 17 Pro Max
Screen size	6.7"	6.9"
Resolution	1290 x 2796	1320 x 2868Winner
Pixel density	460 ppi	458 ppi
Refresh rate	60 Hz	120 HzWinner
Peak brightness	2000 nits	3000 nitsWinner

Performance

Performance comparison between the Apple iPhone 16 Plus, Apple iPhone 17 Pro Max
Specification	iPhone 16 Plus	iPhone 17 Pro Max
Chipset	Apple A18	Apple A19 Pro
Process node	3 nm	3 nm
AnTuTu score	1,720,000	2,400,000Winner
Geekbench multi	8200	8900Winner
Maximum RAM	8 GB	12 GBWinner
Maximum storage	512GB	2TBWinner

Camera

Camera comparison between the Apple iPhone 16 Plus, Apple iPhone 17 Pro Max
Specification	iPhone 16 Plus	iPhone 17 Pro Max
Main sensor	48 MP	48 MP
Rear cameras	2	3Winner
Optical zoom	—	4x
Ultrawide	12 MP	48 MPWinner
Selfie camera	12 MP	18 MPWinner
Max video	4K at 60fps Dolby Vision	8K at 30fps / 4K at 120fps

Battery and charging

Battery and charging comparison between the Apple iPhone 16 Plus, Apple iPhone 17 Pro Max
Specification	iPhone 16 Plus	iPhone 17 Pro Max
Capacity	4,674 mAh	4,823 mAhWinner
Wired charging	27 W	42 WWinner
Wireless charging	25 W	25 W

Design

Design comparison between the Apple iPhone 16 Plus, Apple iPhone 17 Pro Max
Specification	iPhone 16 Plus	iPhone 17 Pro Max
Weight	199 gWinner	233 g
Thickness	7.8 mmWinner	8.75 mm
Water resistance	IP68	IP68
Build	Aerospace-grade aluminum frame, color-infused glass back	Aluminum unibody, Ceramic Shield 2 front

Software and support

Software and support comparison between the Apple iPhone 16 Plus, Apple iPhone 17 Pro Max
Specification	iPhone 16 Plus	iPhone 17 Pro Max
Operating system	iOS 18	iOS iOS 26
OS updates	6 years	6 years
Security updates	7 yearsWinner	6 years

Connectivity and value

Connectivity and value comparison between the Apple iPhone 16 Plus, Apple iPhone 17 Pro Max
Specification	iPhone 16 Plus	iPhone 17 Pro Max
5G	Yes	Yes
Wi-Fi	Wi-Fi 7 (802.11be)	Wi-Fi 7 (802.11be, tri-band 2.4/5/6GHz, 320MHz bandwidth)
Storage expansion	None	None
3.5mm jack	No	No
Launch price	$899	$699Winner