Apple iPhone 17 vs Apple iPhone 17 Pro Max
Compare Apple iPhone 17 vs Apple iPhone 17 Pro Max side by side: Apple A19 vs Apple A19 Pro, 50MP vs 48MP camera, 3650mAh vs 4823mAh battery, $799 vs $699…
Apple
iPhone 17
$799
6categories won
Apple
iPhone 17 Pro Max
$699
9categories won
6 categories tied · 21 scored in total · add a third phone
Which one wins?
Apple iPhone 17 Pro Max takes the overall win
The Apple iPhone 17 Pro Max proves superior overall against the Apple iPhone 17, 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 17 if its specific hardware strengths better fit your budget.
iPhone 17 Pro Max takes battery honors offering 4,823 mAh alongside 42W charging.
iPhone 17 Pro Max provides greater sustained gaming output with its Apple A19 Pro and 12GB RAM.
iPhone 17 Pro Max takes photography with 48MP optics and 4x optical telephoto capabilities.
iPhone 17 Pro Max wins on budget and value at $699 compared to $799.
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 17 vs iPhone 17 Pro Max: specifications compared
Display
| Specification | iPhone 17 | iPhone 17 Pro Max |
|---|---|---|
| Screen size | 6.27" | 6.9" |
| Resolution | 1179 x 2556 | 1320 x 2868Winner |
| Pixel density | 449 ppi | 458 ppi |
| Refresh rate | 120 Hz | 120 Hz |
| Peak brightness | 2500 nits | 3000 nitsWinner |
Performance
| Specification | iPhone 17 | iPhone 17 Pro Max |
|---|---|---|
| Chipset | Apple A19 | Apple A19 Pro |
| Process node | 3 nm | 3 nm |
| AnTuTu score | 2,400,000 | 2,400,000 |
| Geekbench multi | 8900 | 8900 |
| Maximum RAM | 8 GB | 12 GBWinner |
| Maximum storage | 512GB | 2TBWinner |
Camera
| Specification | iPhone 17 | iPhone 17 Pro Max |
|---|---|---|
| Main sensor | 50 MPWinner | 48 MP |
| Rear cameras | 2 | 3Winner |
| Optical zoom | — | 4x |
| Ultrawide | 12 MP | 48 MPWinner |
| Selfie camera | 16 MP | 18 MPWinner |
| Max video | 8K at 30fps / 4K at 120fps | 8K at 30fps / 4K at 120fps |
Battery and charging
| Specification | iPhone 17 | iPhone 17 Pro Max |
|---|---|---|
| Capacity | 3,650 mAh | 4,823 mAhWinner |
| Wired charging | 45 WWinner | 42 W |
| Wireless charging | 25 W | 25 W |
Design
| Specification | iPhone 17 | iPhone 17 Pro Max |
|---|---|---|
| Weight | 171 gWinner | 233 g |
| Thickness | 7.8 mmWinner | 8.75 mm |
| Water resistance | IP68 | IP68 |
| Build | Aerospace-grade aluminum frame, color-infused matte glass back | Aluminum unibody, Ceramic Shield 2 front |
Software and support
| Specification | iPhone 17 | iPhone 17 Pro Max |
|---|---|---|
| Operating system | iOS 19 | iOS iOS 26 |
| OS updates | 7 yearsWinner | 6 years |
| Security updates | 7 yearsWinner | 6 years |
Connectivity and value
| Specification | iPhone 17 | iPhone 17 Pro Max |
|---|---|---|
| 5G | Yes | Yes |
| Wi-Fi | Wi-Fi 7 (802.11be, tri-band 2.4/5/6GHz, 320MHz bandwidth) | Wi-Fi 7 (802.11be, tri-band 2.4/5/6GHz, 320MHz bandwidth) |
| Storage expansion | None | None |
| 3.5mm jack | No | No |
| Launch price | $799 | $699Winner |
Apple iPhone 17
The standard iPhone 17 represents the biggest upgrade to the base iPhone in years: 120Hz ProMotion is finally standard, accompanied by the 3nm A19 chip and 25W MagSafe fast charging.
- Display
- 6.27"
- Chipset
- Apple A19
- Main camera
- 50MP
- Battery
- 3,650mAh
Apple iPhone 17 Pro Max
The Apple iPhone 17 Pro Max is a massive 6.9-inch flagship suited for power users and mobile videographers. With its new A19 Pro 3nm chipset, 12GB of RAM, and a complete triple 48MP camera system, it delivers top-tier performance, though its 233g aluminum build makes it exceptionally heavy.
- Display
- 6.9"
- Chipset
- Apple A19 Pro
- Main camera
- 48MP
- Battery
- 4,823mAh