Apple iPhone 17 Pro Max vs Apple iPhone 18 Pro
Apple iPhone 17 Pro Max wins 2 of 5. Buy Apple iPhone 17 Pro Max if you want longer battery life and to spend less.
The short answer
- CameraIt's a tie
- BatteryApple iPhone 17 Pro Max. Lasts longer on a charge: battery score 10 out of 10, against 7. It has a 4832 mAh battery.
- SpeedIt's a tie
- UpdatesIt's a tie
- PriceApple iPhone 17 Pro Max. Costs 9% less.
Overall, Apple iPhone 17 Pro Max wins 2 of 5. The full details are below.
Side by side
Compared like for like: each phone in the version closest to the same memory and storage. Change a version at the top of its column.
| Spec | Your main pickApple iPhone 17 Pro Max | Apple iPhone 18 Pro | Suggested by TuvvoXiaomi 17 UltraWins 7 of 10 key areas against Apple iPhone 17 Pro Max₹29,901 cheaper for 16GB + 512GB, better camera, brighter screen outdoors, faster charging, better water protection, upgrades for longer, security fixes for longer | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Price | ₹1,69,900 12GB + 512GB | ₹1,89,900 12GB + 512GB | Best price of these phones₹1,39,999 16GB + 512GB | |
| Price since launch | No change ₹1,49,900 at launch, ₹1,49,900 now 12GB + 256GB model | No change ₹1,64,900 when we started tracking (18 October 2026), ₹1,64,900 now 12GB + 256GB model | No change ₹1,39,999 when we started tracking (18 October 2026), ₹1,39,999 now 16GB + 512GB model | |
| Versions | 12GB + 256GB: ₹1,49,900 12GB + 512GB: ₹1,69,900 12GB + 1TB: ₹1,89,900 12GB + 2TB: ₹2,29,900 | 12GB + 256GB: ₹1,64,900 12GB + 512GB: ₹1,89,900 12GB + 1TB: ₹2,39,900 12GB + 2TB: ₹3,14,900 | 16GB + 512GB: ₹1,39,999 | |
| Stands out for | Nothing that leads its price range | Nothing that leads its price range | Nothing that leads its price range | |
| Launched | 9 September 2025 | 9 September 2026 | 11 March 2026 | |
| Big upgrades | iOS upgrades: no fixed promise from Apple, expected until about Sep 2031 | iOS upgrades: no fixed promise from Apple, expected until about Sep 2031 | Best big upgrades of these phonesAndroid upgrades: until about Mar 2032 (6 upgrades) | |
| Security patches | Security patches: until about Sep 2030 (5 years from launch) | Security patches: until about Sep 2031 (5 years from launch) | Best security patches of these phonesSecurity patches: until about Mar 2032 (6 years from launch) | |
| Software now | iOS 27.0.1, launched with iOS 26 | iOS 27.0.1, launched with iOS 27 | HyperOS 3 (Android 17), launched with HyperOS 3 (Android 16) | |
| Rating | 8.7/10 | 8.8/10 | Best rating of these phones9.2/10 | |
| Battery | Best battery of these phonesOne of the longest-lasting phones we track; 40W wired charging. 4832 mAh | Lasts a full day of heavy use and charges to half in about 15 minutes with a fast charger. 4056 mAh | Very good battery life, with fast 90W wired and 50W wireless charging. 6000 mAh | |
| Camera | Excellent all round, with a 4x zoom lens and pro video features. | Three 48MP cameras including a 4x zoom, and a new main camera that can change its aperture for better control. | Best camera of these phonesLarge main sensor and a 200MP zoom camera with a real zoom ring give excellent photos. | |
| Speed | A19 Pro with vapour-chamber cooling stays fast in long games. | One of the fastest phones you can buy, and it stays fast during long gaming sessions. | Top-tier Snapdragon chip stays fast even under longer loads. | |
| Screen size | 6.9 inch | 6.3 inch | 6.9 inch | |
| Smooth scrolling | 120Hz, very smooth | 120Hz, very smooth | 120Hz, very smooth | |
| Outdoor brightness | 3,000 nits, very easy to read in sun | 3,000 nits, very easy to read in sun | Best outdoor brightness of these phones3,500 nits, very easy to read in sun | |
| Charging | 40W wired, 25W wireless | Not officially stated, 25W wireless | Best charging of these phones90W wired, 50W wireless | |
| Wireless charging | Yes | Yes | Best wireless charging of these phonesYes | |
| Water and dust | IP68: survives a dunk in water | IP68: survives a dunk in water | Best water and dust of these phonesIP68/IP69: survives a dunk and hot water jets | |
| Weight | 233 g | Best weight of these phones211 g | 218.4 g | |
| Thickness | 8.75 mm | 8.8 mm | Best thickness of these phones8.3 mm | |
| 5G | Yes | Yes | Yes | |
| Tap to pay (NFC) | Yes | Yes | Yes | |
| Speakers | Two (stereo) | Two (stereo) | Two (stereo) | |
| Headphone jack | Not listed | Not listed | Not listed | |
| Memory card slot | No | No | No | |
| Colours | Cosmic Orange, Deep Blue, Silver | Black, Silver, Glacier, Burgundy | Black, White | |
| Catch | Heavy at 233g. The iPhone 18 Pro Max is out now; buy the 17 Pro Max only at a clear discount. | It costs $100 (about ₹9,500) more than the iPhone 17 Pro and the camera upgrades are small; a bit heavy for its size. | Very expensive, and the camera app has so many modes it can feel overwhelming. | |
| What owners say | No owner reports yet | No owner reports yet | No owner reports yet | |
| Expert reviews | GSMArena Tom's Guide | GSMArena Smartprix 8.8/10 | 91mobiles 8.7/10 GSMArena |
marks the strongest phone on each row, Tuvvo's suggestion included. For price, weight and thickness, that's the lowest.
Full specifications (tap to open)
Every spec side by side
Compared like for like: every phone in its 12GB + 256GB version. Change a version at the top of its column.
| Spec | Apple iPhone 17 Pro Max | Apple iPhone 18 Pro |
|---|---|---|
| Display | 6.9-inch Super Retina XDR LTPO OLED (1320 x 2868), 120Hz ProMotion, 3000 nits peak, Ceramic Shield 2 | 6.3-inch LTPO Super Retina XDR OLED, 120Hz, 1000 nits typical, 1600 nits HBM, 3000 nits peak, Ceramic Shield 2 with anti-reflective coating |
| Chipset | Apple A19 Pro (3nm) | Apple A20 Pro (2nm) |
| CPU | 6-core: 2x performance @ 4.26GHz + 4x efficiency | 6-core: 2x performance @ 4.93GHz + 4x efficiency @ 2.64GHz |
| Graphics (GPU) | Apple 6-core GPU with neural accelerators | Apple 7-core GPU (Apple claims up to 40% faster than A19 Pro) |
| AI chip (NPU) | 16-core Neural Engine (TOPS not officially stated) | Dual 16-core Neural Engine (TOPS not officially stated) |
| RAM and storage | 12GB + 256GB, 12GB + 512GB, 12GB + 1TB, 12GB + 2TB (NVMe storage; RAM type not officially stated) | 12GB + 256GB, 12GB + 512GB, 12GB + 1TB, 12GB + 2TB (NVMe storage; RAM type not officially stated) |
| Battery | 4832 mAh | 4056 mAh |
| Charging | 40W wired USB-C (50% in about 20 min), 25W MagSafe/Qi2.2 wireless, 4.5W reverse wired | Wired USB-C PD 3.2 (50% in about 15 min, wattage not officially stated), 25W MagSafe/Qi2 wireless, 4.5W reverse wired |
| Cameras | 48MP main (f/1.78, sensor-shift OIS) + 48MP ultrawide (f/2.2) + 48MP 4x telephoto (f/2.8, OIS); 18MP Center Stage front | 48MP Fusion main (f/1.5-4.0 variable aperture, sensor-shift OIS) + 48MP 4x periscope telephoto (f/2.8, 3D sensor-shift OIS) + 48MP ultrawide (f/2.2, 120 degrees) + LiDAR; 18MP front |
| Water and dust | IP68 (6m for 30 mins) | IP68 |
| Size and weight | 8.75mm thick, 233g | 8.8mm thick, 211g |
| Software | iOS 26 at launch, iOS 27.0.1 now | iOS 27 at launch, iOS 27.0.1 now |
| Updates | 6 years promised | 5 years promised |
| 5G | Yes | Yes |
| NFC | Yes | Yes |
| Connectivity | Wi-Fi 7 (Apple N1), Bluetooth 6, NFC, UWB, USB-C 3 (10Gbps), satellite SOS | Wi-Fi 7 (Apple N1 chip), Bluetooth 6.0, USB-C 3.2 Gen 2 with DisplayPort, UWB, satellite SOS and messaging |
| Modem | Qualcomm 5G modem (model not officially stated) | Apple C2 5G modem (per launch coverage) |
| Speakers and haptics | Stereo speakers; Taptic Engine | Stereo speakers (rated Good by GSMArena, -26.5 LUFS); haptics not officially detailed |
| Screen flicker (PWM) | Not officially stated | Not officially stated |
| Cooling | Vapour chamber in an aluminium unibody | Redesigned vapor chamber with three times the surface area; Apple claims up to 40% better sustained performance |
| Colours | Cosmic Orange, Deep Blue, Silver | Black, Silver, Glacier, Burgundy |
Where to buy
- Apple iPhone 17 Pro Max₹1,49,900
Pick your version and colour, then your store:
Opens 12GB + 256GB.
- Apple iPhone 18 Pro₹1,64,900
Pick your version and colour, then your store:
Opens 12GB + 256GB.
Store links may earn Tuvvo a small commission at no extra cost to you. It never changes our rankings.
Waiting for a better price?See it here next time you open Tuvvo if any of these phones drops in price.
Common questions
- Which is better, Apple iPhone 17 Pro Max or Apple iPhone 18 Pro?
- Apple iPhone 17 Pro Max wins 2 of 5 areas (camera, battery, speed, updates and price). Buy Apple iPhone 17 Pro Max if you want longer battery life and to spend less.
- Which has the better camera?
- They are about even on camera.
- Which has the better battery life?
- Apple iPhone 17 Pro Max lasts longer on a charge.
- Which is faster for gaming?
- They are about even on speed.
- How much do they cost?
- Apple iPhone 17 Pro Max (12GB + 256GB) costs ₹1,49,900, Apple iPhone 18 Pro (12GB + 256GB) costs ₹1,64,900.
- Which gets software updates for longer?
- Apple iPhone 17 Pro Max, now on iOS 27.0.1. iOS upgrades: no fixed promise from Apple, expected until about Sep 2031. Security patches: until about Sep 2030 (5 years from launch). Apple iPhone 18 Pro, now on iOS 27.0.1. iOS upgrades: no fixed promise from Apple, expected until about Sep 2031. Security patches: until about Sep 2031 (5 years from launch).
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