iPhone 18 Pro Max vs iPhone 17
6.5 mm narrower, 13.8 mm shorter and 72 g lighter.
Quick answer
Choosing between iPhone 18 Pro Max and iPhone 17 comes down to screen scale against everyday carry comfort. iPhone 18 Pro Max features an expansive 6.9 in display with a height of 163.4 mm, width of 78 mm, and depth of 8.75 mm. iPhone 18 Pro Max weighs 249 g, creating noticeable pull in a jacket pocket and requiring two hands for an average adult hand. iPhone 17 measures 149.6 mm high, 71.5 mm wide, and 7.95 mm deep with a 6.3 in screen, weighing 177 g. In measured jeans pockets, both phones fit men's pockets, but neither iPhone 18 Pro Max nor iPhone 17 fits women's pockets.
- iPhone 17 allows comfortable one-handed reach across the screen for an average adult hand.
- iPhone 18 Pro Max causes noticeable downward drag in light jacket pockets due to 249 g weight.
- iPhone 18 Pro Max provides significantly more reading area with a 6.9 in screen.
- Neither iPhone 18 Pro Max nor iPhone 17 fits inside median women's jeans pockets.
TRUE SCALE · 1.5 PX/MM
TRUE SCALE · 2.1 PX/MM
Hand: US Army ANSUR II, 2012 (sex-balanced median). Pockets: The Pudding, 2018. Card: ISO/IEC 7810 ID-1.
iPhone 18 Pro Max: 163.4 by 78 by 8.75 millimetres, 249 grams. iPhone 17: 149.6 by 71.5 by 7.95 millimetres, 177 grams.
18 Pro Max, 17 shown at 2.1 pixels per millimetre.
Height: 18 Pro Max 163.4 millimetres, 17 149.6 millimetres.Height: 18 Pro Max 6.43 inches, 17 5.89 inches.Width: 18 Pro Max 78.0 millimetres, 17 71.5 millimetres.Width: 18 Pro Max 3.07 inches, 17 2.81 inches.Depth: 18 Pro Max 8.75 millimetres, 17 7.95 millimetres.Depth: 18 Pro Max 0.34 inches, 17 0.31 inches.Weight: 18 Pro Max 249 grams, 17 177 grams.Weight: 18 Pro Max 8.78 ounces, 17 6.24 ounces.
Specifications
| Specification | 18 Pro Max | 17 |
|---|---|---|
| Height | 163.4 millimetres6.43 inches | 149.6 millimetres, 13.8 millimetres less5.89 inches, 0.54 inches less |
| Width | 78.0 millimetres3.07 inches | 71.5 millimetres, 6.5 millimetres less2.81 inches, 0.26 inches less |
| Depth | 8.75 millimetres0.34 inches | 7.95 millimetres, 0.80 millimetres less0.31 inches, 0.03 inches less |
| Weight | 249 grams8.78 ounces | 177 grams, 72 grams less6.24 ounces, 2.54 ounces less |
| Volume | 111.5 cubic centimetres6.81 cubic inches | 85.0 cubic centimetres, 26.5 cubic centimetres less5.19 cubic inches, 1.62 cubic inches less |
| Screen-to-body — Active display area over body area. Our own estimate, not an Apple figure. | 91 percent | 90 percent, the same |
| Display size — Screen size is always quoted in inches. | 6.9 inches | 6.3 inches, 0.6 inches less |
| Resolution | 1320 × 2868 | 1206 × 2622 |
| Pixel density | 458 pixels per inch | 458 pixels per inch, 1 pixels per inch more |
| Cutout | Dynamic Island | Dynamic Island |
| Rear main | 48MP Fusion, variable aperture f/1.48-f/4.0 | 48MP |
| Rear ultra-wide | 48MP Fusion f/2.2 | — |
| Rear telephoto | 48MP Fusion 100mm (4x optical, 8x optical-quality) | — |
| Front camera | 18MP Center Stage f/1.9 | 12MP |
| Chip | A20 Pro | A19 |
| Video playback — Apple's rated hours of video playback. Apple does not publish battery capacity. | 45 hrs | 30 hrs |
| Port | USB-C | USB-C |
| Wireless | 5G · Wi-Fi 7 · Bluetooth 6 · Apple C2 modem | 5G · Wi-Fi · Bluetooth |
| Water resistance | IP68 (6m for 30 min) | IP68 (6m for 30 min) |
| Storage | 256 GB – 2 TB | 256 – 512 GB |
| Launch price — Base configuration at launch, in US dollars. | 1,299 dollars | 799 dollars, 500 dollars less |
| Released | Sep 2026 | Sep 2025 |
| Status | Current | Current |
Also compared with iPhone 18 Pro Max
Questions about these phones
How does the size of iPhone 18 Pro Max compare to iPhone 17?
iPhone 18 Pro Max measures 163.4 mm tall, 78 mm wide, and 8.75 mm deep, whereas iPhone 17 measures 149.6 mm tall, 71.5 mm wide, and 7.95 mm deep. This makes iPhone 18 Pro Max distinctly taller, wider, and thicker during everyday handling.
How heavy is iPhone 18 Pro Max compared to iPhone 17?
iPhone 18 Pro Max weighs 249 g, while iPhone 17 weighs 177 g. Carrying iPhone 18 Pro Max creates substantially more noticeable weight in pockets and during prolonged handheld reading.
What is the screen size difference between iPhone 18 Pro Max and iPhone 17?
iPhone 18 Pro Max features a 6.9 in screen, while iPhone 17 has a 6.3 in display. The larger screen on iPhone 18 Pro Max offers more viewing area for video playback and documents.
Can iPhone 18 Pro Max or iPhone 17 be used with one hand?
iPhone 17 is manageable with one hand for an average adult hand due to a 71.5 mm width. iPhone 18 Pro Max requires two hands for stable typing and reaching top controls.
Do iPhone 18 Pro Max and iPhone 17 fit in front pockets?
Both iPhone 18 Pro Max and iPhone 17 fit inside measured men's jeans pockets. Neither iPhone 18 Pro Max nor iPhone 17 fits inside measured women's jeans pockets.
Is upgrading to iPhone 18 Pro Max from iPhone 17 worth it for size alone?
Moving from iPhone 17 to iPhone 18 Pro Max gains a 6.9 in display from a 6.3 in screen at a launch price of 1299 USD versus 799 USD. The upgrade adds substantial bulk and weight that makes one-handed operation much harder.