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iPhone 16 — A18 · 6.1″ OLED · Camera Control
Apple

iPhone 16

A18 · 6.1″ OLED · Camera Control

89
/ 100
From $799
VS
iPhone 17 Pro Max wins by 7
iPhone 17 Pro Max — A19 Pro · 6.9″ OLED · IP68
Apple

iPhone 17 Pro Max

A19 Pro · 6.9″ OLED · IP68

96
/ 100
From $1,199
Specdex verdict

iPhone 17 Pro Max takes it — here’s why.

In our weighted Specdex score, iPhone 16 lands at 89 and iPhone 17 Pro Max at 96. That puts iPhone 17 Pro Max ahead by 7 points — a decisive margin driven mostly by its strengths in the categories below.

Pick iPhone 16 if…

  • ✓Great value flagship
  • ✓Apple Intelligence ready
  • ✓Best small-phone experience

Pick iPhone 17 Pro Max if…

  • ✓A19 Pro chip
  • ✓Up to 39 hours video playback
  • ✓Up to 2 TB storage
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Winner by scenario

Derived from the sub-score breakdown · not a separate test

Photography

iPhone 17 Pro Max

Stills and video quality across lenses

iPhone 17 Pro Max leads on camera (95 vs 88).

Battery life

iPhone 17 Pro Max

Screen-on time and charging

iPhone 17 Pro Max leads on battery (92 vs 84).

Performance

iPhone 17 Pro Max

Chipset speed for gaming and heavy apps

iPhone 17 Pro Max leads on gpu (96 vs 90).

Display

iPhone 17 Pro Max

Panel quality, brightness, refresh rate

iPhone 17 Pro Max leads on display (95 vs 82).

Value for money

iPhone 16

Specdex score per dollar at MSRP

iPhone 16 more score per dollar ($799 vs $1,199).

iPhone 16 89
vs
96 iPhone 17 Pro Max

Score breakdown

iPhone 16
89
cpu 94
gpu 90
camera 88
battery 84
display 82
design 92
iPhone 17 Pro Max
96
cpu 98
gpu 96
camera 95
battery 92
display 95
design 95

Specs side-by-side

iPhone 16 versus iPhone 17 Pro Max — full spec comparison
Spec iPhone 16 iPhone 17 Pro Max
Display
6.1″ OLED 60Hz
▲ 6.9″ OLED, 2868×1320 at 460 ppi
Chipset
Apple A18
Apple A19 Pro chip
RAM
8 GB
—
Storage
128/256/512 GB
▲ 256 / 512 GB / 1 / 2 TB
Battery
3561 mAh
—
Charging
20W + MagSafe
▲ 50% in 20 min with 40W adapter; MagSafe up to 25W
OS
iOS 18
iOS 26
Weight
▲ 170 g
233 g
Battery (video)
—
Up to 39 hours
IP rating
—
IP68 (6 m, 30 min)

iPhone 16

Pros
  • +Great value flagship
  • +Apple Intelligence ready
  • +Best small-phone experience
Cons
  • −60Hz display still
  • −8 GB RAM minimum for AI
  • −No ProMotion

iPhone 17 Pro Max

Pros
  • +A19 Pro chip
  • +Up to 39 hours video playback
  • +Up to 2 TB storage
Cons
  • −Premium price
  • −Weighs 233 g
  • −Wired charging requires 40W+ adapter

FAQ: iPhone 16 vs iPhone 17 Pro Max

Which is better, iPhone 16 or iPhone 17 Pro Max? +

iPhone 17 Pro Max scores 96 on our weighted rubric — ahead by 7. Your best pick depends on the sub-scores above.

Is iPhone 16 worth the price? +

At $799, iPhone 16 delivers a Specdex score of 89 — strongest in cpu.

Is iPhone 17 Pro Max worth the price? +

At $1,199, iPhone 17 Pro Max delivers a Specdex score of 96 — strongest in cpu.

Does iPhone 16 or iPhone 17 Pro Max last longer? +

Based on our long-term update and support ratings, both ship with multi-year support. Battery and reliability scores are visible in the breakdown above.

Which is better for photography, iPhone 16 or iPhone 17 Pro Max? +

iPhone 17 Pro Max — leads on camera (95 vs 88). Stills and video quality across lenses.

Which is better for battery life, iPhone 16 or iPhone 17 Pro Max? +

iPhone 17 Pro Max — leads on battery (92 vs 84). Screen-on time and charging.