Is The Apple IPhone 17 Pro Max Better Than The IPhone 16?

Priya Rana

Aug 29,2025

Introduction

As the Apple iPhone 17 rumours are making waves among Apple fans, you might be wondering whether the Apple iPhone 17 Pro Max is better than the iPhone 16 or not. Well, for the exact answer, we need to wait till September as Apple launch all their new phone in the same month. But worry not. To calm your curiosity TechGadget360 is here and in this blog, we will try to give you an idea about the upgrades iPhone 17 Pro Max might be bringing for you. So, let's start.

Chipset & Performance

The iPhone 16 Pro Max has the A18 Pro (3nm) chip – track record smart, fast and power efficient. The iPhone 17 Pro Max is rumoured to feature the A19 Pro (possibly 2nm) chip, which could be 25–30% faster and will be geared towards massive battery and AI tools.

The design will have an approximate cooling system (vapour chamber + graphite). Which means less heat dissipation even during long gaming sessions and demanding tasks. So, the A19 Pro and the updated RAM upgrade (12GB vs 8GB) make it a clear winner over the iPhone 16.

Camera

The iPhone 16 Pro Max already had a 48MP wide + ultrawide + 12MP telephoto (5×) setup. According to rumours, the iPhone 17 Pro Max will have all three rear cameras, wide, ultrawide and telephoto – all 48MP, and a 24MP selfie camera on the front. The video will also be equipped with 8K recording, dual camera recording and AI features. So, camera quality, zoom and selfie detail – all three are reassuring big steps forward.

Design and Screen

iPhone 16 Pro Max has a dual-tone frame, large bezels, and a steel body. But the iPhone 17 Pro Max might be coming with a new design like an Aluminum or Titanium + Glass mix, horizontal camera bar, small dynamic island or Under-Display Face ID, with 144Hz LTPO OLED and scratch-resistant coating. So, the upside is that the New design improves screen usability and appearance.

Battery and Charging

While 16 Pro Max comes with a 4,685mAh battery, 38W charging, and great battery life. 17 Pro Max can come with a slightly bigger battery (~4,700mAh), 40W wired + wireless charging, reverse wireless and better efficiency (2nm + stacked batteries). So, the value it brings is only a slight increase, but the increased charging speed and improved battery performance add to the value.

Connectivity and the Future

When it comes to connectivity, 16 Pro Max has Wi-Fi 7, Bluetooth 5.3, Qualcomm 5G solution. The possibility is that the iPhone 17 Pro Max might have Apple's own Wi-Fi 7 + Bluetooth chip, 5G+ custom modem, with support for future-proof AI use. The result can be a new step in connectivity that is both smart and quality decisions.

Price

iPhone 17 Pro Max's official price is not released yet, though the rumoured starting price is approx $1,299. The 16 Pro Max will come at a premium price, but significant hardware + software gains make the new variant a premium upgrade.

Our Opinion

If you are currently using the iPhone 16 Pro Max, there is no need to give up so quickly. If your phone is still working great, then hold on. But if you want a better camera, new design, smoother updates and AI-enabled features, then the iPhone 17 Pro Max can be a choice, even if the price is a little higher.