iPhone 18 Pro Max vs iPhone 17e
6.5 mm narrower, 16.7 mm shorter and 80 g lighter.
Quick answer
The choice between iPhone 18 Pro Max and iPhone 17e centers on physical handling versus display area. iPhone 17e is 71.5 mm wide and weighs 169 g, making iPhone 17e manageable with one hand for an average adult hand. In contrast, iPhone 18 Pro Max measures 78 mm wide, 163.4 mm tall, and weighs 249 g, demanding two hands for secure daily interaction. That extra footprint provides a 6.9 in display compared to the 6.1 in screen on iPhone 17e, along with 45 h of video playback versus 26 h. Both devices fit median men's jeans pockets but neither fits median women's jeans pockets. iPhone 17e saves pocket bulk, while iPhone 18 Pro Max maximizes screen space.
- iPhone 17e allows comfortable single-handed operation, whereas iPhone 18 Pro Max requires two-handed navigation for most tasks.
- Carrying iPhone 18 Pro Max adds noticeable heft in a jacket pocket compared to the lighter iPhone 17e.
- The larger 6.9 in display on iPhone 18 Pro Max shows considerably more text than iPhone 17e.
- Neither iPhone 18 Pro Max nor iPhone 17e slides fully into 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 17e: 146.7 by 71.5 by 7.8 millimetres, 169 grams.
18 Pro Max, 17e shown at 2.1 pixels per millimetre.
Height: 18 Pro Max 163.4 millimetres, 17e 146.7 millimetres.Height: 18 Pro Max 6.43 inches, 17e 5.78 inches.Width: 18 Pro Max 78.0 millimetres, 17e 71.5 millimetres.Width: 18 Pro Max 3.07 inches, 17e 2.81 inches.Depth: 18 Pro Max 8.75 millimetres, 17e 7.80 millimetres.Depth: 18 Pro Max 0.34 inches, 17e 0.31 inches.Weight: 18 Pro Max 249 grams, 17e 169 grams.Weight: 18 Pro Max 8.78 ounces, 17e 5.96 ounces.
Specifications
| Specification | 18 Pro Max | 17e |
|---|---|---|
| Height | 163.4 millimetres6.43 inches | 146.7 millimetres, 16.7 millimetres less5.78 inches, 0.66 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 | 7.80 millimetres, 0.95 millimetres less0.31 inches, 0.04 inches less |
| Weight | 249 grams8.78 ounces | 169 grams, 80 grams less5.96 ounces, 2.82 ounces less |
| Volume | 111.5 cubic centimetres6.81 cubic inches | 81.8 cubic centimetres, 29.7 cubic centimetres less4.99 cubic inches, 1.81 cubic inches less |
| Screen-to-body — Active display area over body area. Our own estimate, not an Apple figure. | 91 percent | 86 percent, 4 percent less |
| Display size — Screen size is always quoted in inches. | 6.9 inches | 6.1 inches, 0.8 inches less |
| Resolution | 1320 × 2868 | 1170 × 2532 |
| Pixel density | 458 pixels per inch | 457 pixels per inch, the same |
| Cutout | Dynamic Island | Notch |
| 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 | 26 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 | 599 dollars, 700 dollars less |
| Released | Sep 2026 | Mar 2026 |
| Status | Current | Current |
Also compared with iPhone 18 Pro Max
Questions about these phones
What is the size difference between iPhone 18 Pro Max and iPhone 17e?
iPhone 18 Pro Max measures 163.4 mm tall and 78 mm wide, while iPhone 17e measures 146.7 mm tall and 71.5 mm wide.
How much heavier is iPhone 18 Pro Max than iPhone 17e?
iPhone 18 Pro Max weighs 249 g, making iPhone 18 Pro Max 80 g heavier than iPhone 17e at 169 g.
How do the screens compare between iPhone 18 Pro Max and iPhone 17e?
iPhone 18 Pro Max features a 6.9 in screen, offering more viewing area than the 6.1 in screen on iPhone 17e.
Can iPhone 18 Pro Max be used with one hand compared to iPhone 17e?
iPhone 17e is narrow enough at 71.5 mm for an average adult hand to operate one-handed, whereas iPhone 18 Pro Max requires two hands across a 78 mm width.
Will iPhone 18 Pro Max and iPhone 17e fit in jeans pockets?
Both iPhone 18 Pro Max and iPhone 17e fit into median men's jeans pockets, but neither phone fits into median women's jeans pockets.
Is iPhone 18 Pro Max worth the upgrade from iPhone 17e for size alone?
Upgrading to iPhone 18 Pro Max provides a larger 6.9 in screen and 45 h of video playback, but adds substantial carrying weight over iPhone 17e.