iPhone 16 Pro Max VS iPhone 17 Pro Max

The iPhone 17 Pro Max comes out ahead overall, scoring 95 to the iPhone 16 Pro Max's 88. Priced at $1199 against $1199, the choice between them is as much about budget as specs, and each phone leans toward a slightly different buyer.

For raw speed the iPhone 17 Pro Max takes the lead, with an AnTuTu score of 2,590,567 against 1,750,331, driven by its A19 Pro. Both feel quick in everyday use, but the gap shows up in demanding games and heavy multitasking where the faster chip pulls ahead.

The iPhone 16 Pro Max pairs a 48MP main camera with 5x optical zoom and a 12MP front sensor. The iPhone 17 Pro Max answers with 48MP, 4x zoom and a 18MP selfie camera. The iPhone 16 Pro Max reaches further with its longer optical zoom, which helps for portraits and distant subjects.

Battery favours the iPhone 17 Pro Max, with a 5088mAh cell against 4685mAh. For refills the iPhone 16 Pro Max is quickest at , spending less time tied to a charger.

Both use high refresh rate OLED screens. The iPhone 16 Pro Max measures 6.9" and peaks at 2000 nits, while the iPhone 17 Pro Max is 6.9" and reaches 3000 nits. Screen size and outright brightness are where they separate most.

Overall the iPhone 17 Pro Max is the one we would steer most buyers toward. Consider the iPhone 16 Pro Max instead if camera versatility matters more to you.