Apple iPhone 16 Pro Max vs Apple iPhone 17 Pro Max

Our Verdict: This is an iPhone-to-iPhone comparison, so price, size and generation are the real separators. iPhone 17 Pro Max stretches further on storage, topping out at 2TB rather than 1TB, while There's only a year between the iPhone 16 Pro Max and the iPhone 17 Pro Max, so expect small changes rather than big ones. iPhone 16 Pro Max should cost less to own, so iPhone 17 Pro Max needs a feature-led reason to be the pick. Unless iPhone 17 Pro Max has a must-have feature for you, iPhone 16 Pro Max is the more pragmatic option.

The 16 Pro Max is the cheaper one to own: around £1032 over a typical contract, £189 less than the 17 Pro Max.

Expert Rating
4.4
11 reviews
4.4
11 reviews
Screen
6.9" 6.9"
Display
LTPO Super Retina XDR OLED LTPO Super Retina XDR OLED
Resolution
1320 x 2868 1320 x 2868
Pixels Per Inch
458 458
Rear Camera
48 Megapixels 48 Megapixels
Front Camera
12 Megapixels 18 Megapixels
Chipset
Apple A18 Pro Apple A19 Pro
Battery
4,685 mAh 4,823 mAh
Storage
256GB, 512GB, 1TB 256GB, 512GB, 1TB, 2TB
OS
Apple iOS Apple iOS
SIM Type
nano-SIM and e-SIM nano-SIM and e-SIM
Connectivity
Up to 5G Up to 5G
Wi-Fi
802.11 a/b/g/n/ac/6e/7 802.11 a/b/g/n/ac/6e/7
Bluetooth
5.3, A2DP, LE 6.0, A2DP, LE
Dimensions
163 x 77.6 x 8.3 mm 163.4 x 78 x 8.8 mm
Weight
227 grams 233 grams
Water Resistance
IP68 - Dust and water resistant over 1.5 meter and 30 minutes IP68 dust/water resistant (up to 6m for 30 mins)
Contracts
£41.79/mo (£29.00 upfront) £44.99/mo (£119.00 upfront)
SIM-free
£695.00 £1035.00

Prices updated 17 July 2026

Apple iPhone 16 Pro Max Apple iPhone 16 Pro Max Apple iPhone 17 Pro Max Apple iPhone 17 Pro Max
Expert Rating 4.4
11 reviews
4.4
11 reviews
Screen 6.9" 6.9"
Display LTPO Super Retina XDR OLED LTPO Super Retina XDR OLED
Resolution 1320 x 2868 1320 x 2868
Pixels Per Inch 458 458
Rear Camera 48 Megapixels 48 Megapixels
Front Camera 12 Megapixels 18 Megapixels
Chipset Apple A18 Pro Apple A19 Pro
Battery 4,685 mAh 4,823 mAh
Storage 256GB, 512GB, 1TB 256GB, 512GB, 1TB, 2TB
OS Apple iOS Apple iOS
SIM Type nano-SIM and e-SIM nano-SIM and e-SIM
Connectivity Up to 5G Up to 5G
Wi-Fi 802.11 a/b/g/n/ac/6e/7 802.11 a/b/g/n/ac/6e/7
Bluetooth 5.3, A2DP, LE 6.0, A2DP, LE
Dimensions 163 x 77.6 x 8.3 mm 163.4 x 78 x 8.8 mm
Weight 227 grams 233 grams
Water Resistance IP68 - Dust and water resistant over 1.5 meter and 30 minutes IP68 dust/water resistant (up to 6m for 30 mins)
Contracts £41.79/mo
£29.00 upfront
£44.99/mo
£119.00 upfront
SIM-free £695.00 £1035.00
Prices updated 17 July 2026
Deals Deals

Cheapest Deals

Apple iPhone 16 Pro Max
Apple iPhone 16 Pro Max

24 Months

256GB

Desert Titanium

Refurbished

10GB

Data

£41.79 per month, £29 upfront.

Apple iPhone 17 Pro Max
Apple iPhone 17 Pro Max

24 Months

256GB

Cosmic Orange

10GB

Data

£44.99 per month, £119 upfront.

Use code: SUMMER10 (£10)

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Frequently Asked Questions

Is the Apple iPhone 16 Pro Max or Apple iPhone 17 Pro Max cheaper on contract?

Based on total cost of ownership, the Apple iPhone 16 Pro Max is cheaper on contract at £1031.96 over the life of the deal from £41.79 per month with £29.00 upfront.

Which has the better screen, the Apple iPhone 16 Pro Max or Apple iPhone 17 Pro Max?

Both phones have a similar screen size at around 6.9", both screens are similarly sharp at around 458 pixels per inch, and both use LTPO Super Retina XDR OLED panels.

Which has the better camera, the Apple iPhone 16 Pro Max or Apple iPhone 17 Pro Max?

The Apple iPhone 16 Pro Max features a 48 Megapixels rear camera, while the Apple iPhone 17 Pro Max has a 48 Megapixels rear camera. Both devices also have front-facing cameras for selfies and video calls.

Which is cheaper to buy SIM-free, the Apple iPhone 16 Pro Max or Apple iPhone 17 Pro Max?

The Apple iPhone 16 Pro Max is cheaper SIM-free, starting from £695.00.

What storage options are available for the Apple iPhone 16 Pro Max and Apple iPhone 17 Pro Max?

The Apple iPhone 16 Pro Max is available in 256GB, 512GB, 1TB, while the Apple iPhone 17 Pro Max comes in 256GB, 512GB, 1TB, 2TB.

What processors do the Apple iPhone 16 Pro Max and Apple iPhone 17 Pro Max use?

The Apple iPhone 16 Pro Max is powered by the Apple A18 Pro, while the Apple iPhone 17 Pro Max uses the Apple A19 Pro.

Which is easier to carry and hold, the Apple iPhone 16 Pro Max or Apple iPhone 17 Pro Max?

The Apple iPhone 16 Pro Max is the more portable of the two: it's 6g lighter at 227 grams, both are similar in overall footprint, and is slimmer at 8.3mm thick.

Which is more water resistant, the Apple iPhone 16 Pro Max or Apple iPhone 17 Pro Max?

The Apple iPhone 16 Pro Max is rated IP68 - Dust and water resistant over 1.5 meter and 30 minutes, while the Apple iPhone 17 Pro Max is rated IP68 dust/water resistant (up to 6m for 30 mins).

What operating system do the Apple iPhone 16 Pro Max and Apple iPhone 17 Pro Max run?

Both phones run Apple iOS.