Should You Upgrade from the iPhone 16 Pro Max to the iPhone 17 Pro Max?
A spec-by-spec look at what actually changes when you move from the iPhone 16 Pro Max to the iPhone 17 Pro Max, 1 year apart.
Yes — the iPhone 17 Pro Max is a worthwhile upgrade
The iPhone 17 Pro Max is 1 year newer than the iPhone 16 Pro Max, and the BeastScore rises from 80.0 to 84.5. The biggest improvements: performance rated 10 points higher, battery rated 8 points higher, 403 mah bigger battery. Trade-offs to know: 6 g heavier.
What you gain with the iPhone 17 Pro Max
- +Performance rated 10 points higher
- +Battery rated 8 points higher
- +403 mAh bigger battery
- +13W faster wired charging
- +1,000 nits brighter peak display
- +Longer optical zoom (+3x)
- +4 GB more RAM
What you give up
- −6 g heavier
| Spec | iPhone 16 Pro Max | iPhone 17 Pro Max | Change |
|---|---|---|---|
| BeastScore (overall) | 80.0 | 84.5 | +4.5 (6%) |
| Performance score | 80 | 90 | +10 (13%) |
| Camera score | 85 | 85 | No real change |
| Battery score | 78 | 86 | +8 (10%) |
| Display score | 88 | 90 | No real change |
| Battery capacity | 4,685 mAh | 5,088 mAh | +403 mAh (9%) |
| Wired charging | 27W | 40W | +13W (48%) |
| Wireless charging | 25W | 25W | No real change |
| Screen size | 6.9" | 6.9" | No real change |
| Refresh rate | 120Hz | 120Hz | No real change |
| Peak brightness | 2,000 nits | 3,000 nits | +1,000 nits (50%) |
| Main camera | 48 MP | 48 MP | No real change |
| Optical zoom | 5x | 8x | +3x (60%) |
| RAM | 8 GB | 12 GB | +4 GB (50%) |
| Weight | 227 g | 233 g | +6 g (3%) |
| Launch price | $1,199 | $1,199 | No real change |
Upgrade if…
- You regularly run out of battery before the end of the day
- You shoot a lot of zoom and telephoto photos
- You play demanding games or want the newest on-device AI features
- You use your phone outdoors a lot and want a brighter, smoother screen
iPhone 16 Pro Max vs iPhone 17 Pro Max: Upgrade FAQ
Is it worth upgrading from the iPhone 16 Pro Max to the iPhone 17 Pro Max?
Yes — the iPhone 17 Pro Max is a worthwhile upgrade. The iPhone 17 Pro Max is 1 year newer than the iPhone 16 Pro Max, and the BeastScore rises from 80.0 to 84.5. The biggest improvements: performance rated 10 points higher, battery rated 8 points higher, 403 mah bigger battery. Trade-offs to know: 6 g heavier.
What is the biggest difference between the iPhone 16 Pro Max and iPhone 17 Pro Max?
Performance rated 10 points higher: 80 on the iPhone 16 Pro Max vs 90 on the iPhone 17 Pro Max.
Does the iPhone 17 Pro Max have a bigger battery than the iPhone 16 Pro Max?
The iPhone 17 Pro Max has a 5,088 mAh battery versus 4,685 mAh on the iPhone 16 Pro Max (+403 mAh (9%)).
Who should upgrade to the iPhone 17 Pro Max?
Upgrade if: You regularly run out of battery before the end of the day; You shoot a lot of zoom and telephoto photos; You play demanding games or want the newest on-device AI features; You use your phone outdoors a lot and want a brighter, smoother screen.