Compare iPhone 18 Pro Max vs iPhone 17e
Which one is best for you?
iPhone 18 Pro Max and iPhone 17e sit at opposite ends of the range, but both run-on Apple silicon and support 5G, with iPhone 18 Pro Max bringing a larger display, a pro camera system, and far more battery life.Â
Both phones feature a Super Retina XDR display, 5G connectivity, Face ID, and Ceramic Shield 2 front glass with improved scratch resistance. They each carry a 48MP Fusion camera and charge using USB-C. You also get an Action button on iPhone 17e and Pro-level controls on iPhone 18 Pro Max.Â
iPhone 18 Pro Max adds a 6.9-inch ProMotion display with a 120Hz refresh rate, while iPhone 17e has a 6.1-inch display with no ProMotion. The A20 Pro chip in iPhone 18 Pro Max is purpose-built for AI, compared with the A19 chip in iPhone 17e. You get 8x optical-quality zoom, an 18MP Center Stage front camera, and up to 43 hours of video playback on iPhone 18 Pro Max, against 2x optical-quality zoom, a 12MP front camera, and up to 26 hours on iPhone 17e. For travellers, streamers, and creators, iPhone 18 Pro Max delivers noticeably more.Â
Choose iPhone 18 Pro Max if you want a large ProMotion display, a pro camera system, and long battery life. Choose iPhone 17e if you want core iPhone features at a wallet-friendly price.
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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, while iPhone 17e has a 6.1-inch display. Both use Super Retina XDR technology, so visuals are crisp on either. If a larger, smoother screen matters to you, iPhone 18 Pro Max is the better option.
Both phones have a 48MP Fusion camera, but iPhone 18 Pro Max offers 8x optical-quality zoom and an 18MP Center Stage front camera. iPhone 17e has a 2x optical-quality Telephoto and a 12MP TrueDepth front camera. For photos and video calls, iPhone 18 Pro Max gives you more range and detail.
iPhone 18 Pro Max offers up to 43 hours of video playback, while iPhone 17e offers up to 26 hours. Both charge via USB-C, and iPhone 17e also supports MagSafe wireless charging up to 15W. If you need the longest battery life, iPhone 18 Pro Max is the clear winner.
Yes, both phones support 5G connectivity. You get fast mobile data on either phone, so streaming and downloads are quick. There is no difference in 5G support between the two.
iPhone 18 Pro Max runs on the A20 Pro chip, which is purpose-built for AI and offers up to 40% better GPU performance than previous Pro models. iPhone 17e uses the A19 chip, which still handles everyday tasks and AAA gaming well. For the most demanding apps, iPhone 18 Pro Max is faster.
iPhone 17e starts at 256GB of storage, while iPhone 18 Pro Max comes in 256GB, 512GB, 1TB, and 2TB. Both give you plenty of room for photos and apps, but iPhone 18 Pro Max offers up to 2TB if you need maximum capacity.
iPhone 18 Pro Max has a 6.9-inch display and an aluminium unibody design with colour-matched back glass, while iPhone 17e has a 6.1-inch display and a more compact form. Both feature Ceramic Shield 2 front glass for better scratch resistance. iPhone 18 Pro Max is the larger, more premium-feeling phone.
iPhone 18 Pro Max is better for streaming, with its larger 6.9-inch ProMotion display and longer battery life. iPhone 17e still delivers 4K streaming thanks to its A19 chip, on a smaller screen. If you watch a lot of videos on the go, iPhone 18 Pro Max gives you a more immersive experience.
iPhone 18 Pro Max is a premium phone, so it sits at a much higher price point than iPhone 17e, which is designed as a wallet-friendly option. Both offer great value for what they include. If budget is your priority, iPhone 17e is the more affordable choice.
Yes, both phones use Face ID to unlock securely. You get the same biometric convenience on either phone. There is no difference in how Face ID works between the two.