Apple iPhone 16 Pro Max vs Apple iPhone 17 Pro
Verdict
Apple iPhone 16 Pro Max and Apple iPhone 17 Pro tie on the OH Rank at a score of 75. Apple iPhone 16 Pro Max wins on Screen; Apple iPhone 17 Pro wins on Performance. Apple iPhone 16 Pro Max is 5.7mm wider than Apple iPhone 17 Pro. Apple iPhone 17 Pro is the more recent release, from Sep 19, 2025.
Score Breakdown
Performance /15
Battery /15
Screen /15
IP Protection /15
Main Camera /15
Selfie /5
Video /5
SD Memory /5
Software /5
Desktop Replacement /5
TOTAL
75
75
Apple iPhone 16 Pro Max
77.6mm (3.06in) · Sep 20, 2024 · Rank #41
11+10+13+12+14+5+5+0+5+0 = 75
* BEST phone Fall 2024* TOP Selfie* TOP Video Recording* TOP Software
EDITORIAL: The most powerful Apple phone until 2025, delivered the best Apple had to offer. It was also the best all around phone on the market in the Fall of 2024, excelling in processor power and video recording while bringing top tier battery endurance, photos, selfies and videos. Apple never offered expandable memory, preferring to charge a lot for larger memory capacity and the use of iCloud. It will probably never include a desktop repacement option either. But this phone's USB C port does provides video-out, waiting for an app that could turn all that processing power into a desktop computer replacement dream⦠Oh, and Apple's iPhone lounch is still the best phone industry event, hands down.
PROs
being the best iPhone up to date, fast A18 Pro chip performance, 30hr battery endurance, 1800nits very bright LTPO OLED with Dolby Vision, 48MP main + 12MP periscope tele (both with OIS PDAF) + new 48MP PDAF ultrawide, a 12MP OIS and PDAF Selfie, up to 6 years of updates of already very stable and mature iOS
CONs
getting locked into an overpriced ecosystem, lack of innovation in recent years, embarrassing AI effort, >90min sub-30W slow battery charging (15W wireless), lack of expandable storage, no Desktop replacement software
Apple iPhone 17 Pro
71.9mm (2.83in) · Sep 19, 2025 · Rank #39
13+10+11+12+14+5+5+0+5+0 = 75
FLY* BEST Video* TOP Compact
EDITORIAL: A major redesign means bigger and heavier (in every way) 17 Pro with a new camera "plateau". The processor is improved and the first iPhone cooling chamber was added. It comes with a minimum of 256GB of storage, less bright but less reflective screen, new periscope telephoto and a new selfie camera. It has the same starting price as 16 Pro but arrived with no mention of any AI additions. Same old battery tech and 30hr endurance means you may still have to carry a charging brick.
PROs
compact size, attractive new colors (but no black), fast A19 Pro performance with fast NVMe memory, barely 30hr endurance from a 3900mAh battery with a sub-80min 30W wired charging (25W wireless), 460ppi LTPO Super Retina XDR OLED with Dolby Vision and new anti reflective coating, excellent triple (24mm, 100mm & 13mm) 48MP PDAF camera setup (main + periscope with OIS) with ProRes, excellent "Center Stage" 18MP selfie with OIS PDAF and ProRes too, best video recording in industry, stable OS with up to 6 years of updates, USB-C 3.2 with Video-out tech
CONs
sub-1050nits bright screen, 24MP default pic size eats up twice the space and forces use of iCloud (reenforcing dependency on Apple), no expandable memory, no desktop replacement feature, silence on AI improvements, overall lack of innovation Apple used to be known for
Both phones here were scored by me, using the same ten categories, with no ads, sponsorships, or manufacturer relationships — this comparison is as objective and honest as it gets.
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