Apple iPhone 17 Pro Max vs Apple iPhone 18 Pro
Verdict
Apple iPhone 17 Pro Max and Apple iPhone 18 Pro tie on the OH Rank at a score of 78. Apple iPhone 17 Pro Max wins on Battery; Apple iPhone 18 Pro wins on Performance and Main Camera. Apple iPhone 17 Pro Max is 6.1mm wider than Apple iPhone 18 Pro. Apple iPhone 18 Pro is the more recent release, from Sep 18, 2026.
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
78
78
Apple iPhone 17 Pro Max
78mm (3.07in) · Sep 19, 2025 · Rank #17
13+13+11+12+14+5+5+0+5+0 = 78
FLY* BEST Video* TOP Software* TOP Battery Endurance* TOP Selfie
EDITORIAL: Apple decided to introduce an aluminium frame for it's Pro phones after years of promoting steel and titanium as better options. The camera bump now stretches across the top portion of the back to allow for a bigger battery and the new cooling chamber. These make for the biggest design changes in years and it's a needed move considering there is much more Android competition in the premium segment. All of the back cameras are now 48MP but photography is not showing improvement over 16 Pro Max while phones from Vivo, Huawei, Vivo and Xiaomi now offer better pics. A new 18MP selfie produces great photos (as did the old one) and iPhone Pros still record the best videos, front and back. New A19 Pro is a good processor but not as powerful as are the latest SnapDragon and Mediatec chips. iOS 26 brings Liquid Glass design language while keeping the fundamentals the same. UI design feels outdated with multiple pages of icons and (while labels can now be removed) the overall design is not efficient.
PROs
attractive new hardware design and colors, great Apple A19 Pro with NVMe performance, over 42hr of battery life, sub-90min ~35W charging (25W wireless), new anti reflective LTPO HDR OLED screen with Dolby Vision, IP68 protection (down to 6m), great pics from 48MP OIS main + 48MP OIS periscope telephoto + 48MP ultrawide (all with PDAF) back lenses, new 18MP Center Stage selfie, the best video recording, 6+ years of OS updates, video out USB-C port and a new 2TB storage option
CONs
wider and heavier then 16 Pro Max, dropped screen brightness to about 1000nits, no memory expansion slot, no desktop replacement software
Apple iPhone 18 Pro
71.9mm (2.83in) · Sep 18, 2026 · Rank #14
15+10+11+12+15+5+5+0+5+0 = 78
SUPERIOR* TOP Performance* TOP Selfie* TOP PHOTO/VIDEO
EDITORIAL: (this is a pre-test listing based on reasonable expectation of battery, charging and imaging performance) After a major design re-shuffle with previous model Apple is back to it's "minimal upgrades" ways. 18 Pro gets a obligatory new chip and a variable exposure main camera... and that's pretty much it. Pay extra $100 for it.
PROs
excellent build with great feel, fast A20 Pro (2nm) chip with NVMe performance, (barely) 30hr endurance, a ~1000nits 460ppi 120Hz LTPO OLED screen with Dolby Vision, IP68 protection, excellent 48MP 24mm OIS f/1.5-4.0 main + 48MP 100mm OIS periscope telephoto + 48MP 13mm ultrawide (all 3 with PDAF) setup, excellent "center stage" 18MP 20mm selfie, great video recording, rich OS with improved (Google) AI integration and 6 years of updates, fast USB-C 3.2 port with Display Port, globally available
CONs
small 4000mAh (4200mAh on eSIM-only version) old-tech lithium battery with >75min slow (from 0-100%) 35W (25W wireless) charging, no expandable memory, no desktop replacement functionality despite having Display Port tech, $1400 for a minimal investment in innovation
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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