The release of a new iPhone has become an annual tradition eagerly awaited by millions worldwide. So when Apple unveiled the 17 series in September, it naturally sparked excitement and curiosity. It also stated the usual endless debates about its design tweaks, internal upgrades, and how much better it really is than its predecessor, the iPhone 16.
This article will compare the recently released iPhone 17 Pro Max to its predecessor, the iPhone 16 Pro Max. We’ll examine the top five new features that Apple unveiled this year to determine whether the most recent model is as good as it looks. Let’s get started!
Processing Power
The iPhone 17 Pro Max is powered by the new A19 Pro chip, Apple’s most advanced processor yet. It features a 6-core CPU with two high-performance cores and four efficiency cores, alongside a 6-core GPU equipped with Neural Accelerators and a 16-core Neural Engine. It also comes with hardware-accelerated ray tracing.
Apple claims the A19 Pro delivers a major boost in speed and efficiency, especially for graphically demanding tasks like gaming, video rendering, and AI-driven applications. Gamers, for instance, can enjoy smoother gameplay and faster load times, whether they’re playing high-end titles like Call of Duty Mobile, Fortnite or PUBG Mobile, or lighter games like Sic Bo online or Clash Royale.
The iPhone 16 Pro Max, on the other hand, runs on the A18 Pro chip, with a 6-core CPU, 6-core GPU, and a 16-core Neural Engine. While this was already a powerful, fast, reliable, and efficient processor, the A19 Pro takes things up a notch. The jump in processing power is most noticeable in more demanding tasks like gaming and AI workloads, where the 17 Pro Max feels smoother and more responsive.
Storage
Apple has also taken things a step further when it comes to storage. The recently released iPhone 17 Pro Max now offers storage options of 256GB, 512GB, 1TB, and an enormous 2TB, but the base capacity stays at 256GB. A first for any iPhone, the 2TB capacity option is obviously targeted at users who require a lot of storage, especially creators who capture high-resolution images, 4K videos, or Apple’s high-end ProRes RAW footage.
Of course, that type of storage is not cheap; the 2TB model costs a whopping $1,999. However, Apple has also included the option to connect an external SSD while shooting in ProRes RAW. This is a considerate move that allows professionals greater flexibility and removes the ongoing concern about running out of storage in the middle of a shoot.
In contrast, the iPhone 16 Pro Max offered storage options of 256GB, 512GB, and 1TB, plenty of space for most users. But as people create more high-resolution photos and videos, use heavier apps, and explore new AI-powered features, that space fills up fast. So, Apple’s move to introduce a 2TB option with the iPhone 17 Pro Max feels more like the next logical step.
Overall, while both phones offer generous storage options, the iPhone 17 Pro Max provides power users and professionals with the extra breathing room they’ve been asking for. For many, that’s a game-changing addition.
Camera
Each year, Apple keeps improving smartphone photography with upgrades that make the iPhone one of the best camera phones ever made. The newly released iPhone 17 Pro Max still has the familiar triple-lens setup. However, every part of the system has been refined. This delivers sharper detail, better low-light performance, and greater creative control.
The main upgrade is the telephoto camera. It now offers up to 8x optical zoom, a big improvement from the 5x optical zoom on the iPhone 16 Pro Max. The telephoto sensor also got a resolution boost, increasing from 12 to 48 megapixels..
Video Recording
Regarding video, ProRes RAW recording is a feature of the 17 Pro Max that enables filmmakers to record raw video straight from the sensor. Professionals now have much more post-production flexibility, allowing for accurate colour, exposure, and tone adjustments without compromising quality. Because it requires the additional power of the new A19 Pro chip to handle the massive processing workload, this feature isn’t available on the iPhone 16 Pro Max.
Another exciting addition is Dual Capture, which lets users record simultaneously using the front and rear cameras. Both the iPhone 17 Pro Max and the 16 Pro Max support 4K video recording at up to 120 frames per second and 1080p slow motion at up to 240 fps, but the 17 Pro Max’s enhanced stabilisation and improved low-light handling give it the edge for cinematic shooting.
Also, the front camera, now called the Centre Stage camera, has undergone an upgrade. It’s been bumped up from 12 to 18 megapixels and comes with a new sensor design that supports vertical or horizontal cropping and better digital stabilisation for video recording.
Battery Power and Charging
Apple claims that the iPhone 17 Pro Max houses the biggest battery ever in an iPhone, even though the company hasn’t disclosed the exact specifications. According to them, this larger battery translates to a noticeable improvement in endurance, as the iPhone 17 Pro Max can deliver up to 39 hours of video playback and up to 35 hours of streamed video playback. This is roughly four hours longer than what you’d get on the iPhone 16 Pro Max.
With a compatible adapter, the iPhone 17 Pro Max can be charged with 40W wired fast charging, reaching 50% in just 20 minutes. Compared to the iPhone 16 Pro Max, which required about 35 minutes to reach the same level with its 20W charger, that is a significant improvement. Additionally, the 17 Pro Max still supports Qi wireless charging up to 7.5W and MagSafe wireless charging up to 30W.
By comparison, the iPhone 16 Pro Max was already impressive in the battery department, offering up to 33 hours of video playback and 29 hours of streamed video. It also supported MagSafe wireless charging up to 25W.
Conclusion
Every year, it feels like Apple has reached the peak of smartphone innovation, only to unveil the next iPhone and somehow raise the bar again. The iPhone 17 Pro Max continues that tradition. However, rather than radical changes, it builds upon the already solid foundation laid by the iPhone 16 Pro Max with a collection of refined upgrades.
Some of these improvements, such as the enhanced A19 Pro chip, may not be immediately apparent to the average user. However, for those who push their devices to the limit like gamers, content creators, and users who rely on their phones for high-performance tasks, the difference will be clear.
