Compare iPhone 18 Pro Max vs iPhone 16 Plus
Which one is best for you?
iPhone 18 Pro Max and iPhone 16 Plus both offer large-screen Apple experiences with Super Retina XDR displays, 48MP Fusion rear cameras and Apple Intelligence, but iPhone 18 Pro Max is a newer pro flagship with ProMotion, advanced camera controls and faster charging, while iPhone 16 Plus is a more affordable big-screen phone.
Both phones share a familiar large-screen display. iPhone 18 Pro Max and iPhone 16 Plus each feature a Super Retina XDR display, a 48MP Fusion rear camera, Face ID, and Apple Intelligence powered by their respective chips. Both support 5G and USB-C charging, and both are built to handle everyday photography, streaming and AI tasks with ease. iPhone 16 Plus also includes an Action button and Camera Control, while iPhone 18 Pro Max adds custom Pro controls for finer adjustments.
iPhone 18 Pro Max pulls ahead with a 6.9-inch display with ProMotion up to 120Hz, better brightness and improved anti-reflection, compared with iPhone 16 Plus's 6.7-inch display. Its A20 Pro chip with a next-generation vapour chamber and Dual 16-core Neural Engine delivers up to 40% better GPU performance than iPhone 17 Pro Max, and its 48MP Fusion Main camera with variable aperture, 8x optical-quality zoom and front and rear Dual Capture video is built for creators and photographers. iPhone 18 Pro Max also offers up to 43 hours of video playback and faster wired charging up to 50% in around 15 minutes. iPhone 16 Plus, in comparison, keeps a 6.7-inch display, an A18 chip, a 12MP TrueDepth front camera and up to 27 hours of video playback, making it a solid, more affordable choice for big-screen everyday use.
Choose iPhone 18 Pro Max if you want a pro display with ProMotion, advanced camera controls and faster charging, or pick iPhone 16 Plus if you want a large-screen phone at a more affordable price point.
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Frequently asked questions
iPhone 18 Pro Max has a 6.9-inch Super Retina XDR display with ProMotion up to 120Hz, better brightness and improved anti-reflection, while iPhone 16 Plus has a 6.7-inch Super Retina XDR display. iPhone 18 Pro Max gives you a slightly larger, smoother and brighter screen. If you want the best big-screen experience, iPhone 18 Pro Max is the choice.
iPhone 18 Pro Max has a 48MP Fusion Main camera with variable aperture, 8x optical-quality zoom and front and rear Dual Capture video, while iPhone 16 Plus has a 48MP Fusion camera with 2x optical-quality Telephoto. iPhone 18 Pro Max also has an 18MP Center Stage front camera, compared with iPhone 16 Plus's 12MP TrueDepth front camera. For pro-level photography and zoom, iPhone 18 Pro Max has the edge.
iPhone 18 Pro Max offers up to 43 hours of video playback and faster wired charging up to 50% in around 15 minutes, while iPhone 16 Plus offers up to 27 hours of video playback. Both phones will comfortably last a full day of use. iPhone 18 Pro Max has a longer battery life and faster charging.
Yes, both iPhone 18 Pro Max and iPhone 16 Plus support 5G connectivity. You will get fast mobile data on either phone for streaming or browsing on the go. Both offer WiFi 7 for the latest wireless standards.
iPhone 18 Pro Max runs on the A20 Pro chip with a next-generation vapour chamber and Dual 16-core Neural Engine, while iPhone 16 Plus uses the A18 chip. Both chips power Apple Intelligence and handle everyday tasks well. iPhone 18 Pro Max's newer silicon gives it an advantage for demanding workloads and AAA gaming.
iPhone 18 Pro Max has an aluminium unibody design with colour-matched back glass and a 6.9-inch display, while iPhone 16 Plus has an aerospace-grade aluminium design with a 6.7-inch display and five vibrant colours. Both phones are large, but iPhone 18 Pro Max is the more premium build. Choose iPhone 18 Pro Max for a flagship design or iPhone 16 Plus for a colourful, affordable big-screen phone.
iPhone 18 Pro Max is well suited to streaming, thanks to its 6.9-inch ProMotion display with better brightness and improved anti-reflection. iPhone 16 Plus is also a strong choice for streaming with its large 6.7-inch screen. If you want the smoothest, brightest big-screen experience, choose iPhone 18 Pro Max.
iPhone 16 Plus delivers a large-screen Apple experience with Apple Intelligence at a more affordable price point, while iPhone 18 Pro Max adds ProMotion, advanced camera controls and faster charging for a premium price. If you want pro features, iPhone 18 Pro Max delivers more for the price. If you prioritise a big screen at a lower price, iPhone 16 Plus is the smarter choice.
Yes, both iPhone 18 Pro Max and iPhone 16 Plus support Apple Intelligence, powered by their respective neural engines. You will get AI-powered features like writing tools, smarter Siri and photo editing on either phone. iPhone 18 Pro Max's Dual 16-core Neural Engine may handle heavier AI tasks more smoothly.
iPhone 18 Pro Max features Ceramic Shield 2 front with 3x better scratch resistance than iPhone 16 Pro and a Ceramic Shield back, while iPhone 16 Plus has Ceramic Shield front with splash, water and dust resistance. Both phones are built to be durable. iPhone 18 Pro Max offers improved scratch resistance for everyday protection.