Apple iPhone 17 Air vs Apple iPhone 17 Pro Max

The Apple iPhone 17 Air (2024) runs on the Apple A19, while the Apple iPhone 17 Pro Max (2025) runs on the Apple A19 Pro. By overall MobileRank rating, the Apple iPhone 17 Pro Max leads — 63/100 vs 33/100 (a 30-point difference). Key differences: the Apple iPhone 17 Pro Max is faster in AnTuTu (2,601,000 vs 2,085,000).

The Apple iPhone 17 Pro Max significantly outperforms the Apple iPhone 17 Air by 30 points (63/100 vs 33/100).
Profile comparison
Category scores
Apple iPhone 17 Air
Performance 59
Display 0
Camera 24
Battery 0
Design 50
Value for money 55
Apple iPhone 17 Pro Max
Performance 72
Display 100
Camera 66
Battery 41
Design 8
Value for money 27
What makes Apple iPhone 17 Air better?

  • Better design/ergonomics (50/100 vs 8/100)
  • Better value for money (55/100 vs 27/100)
What makes Apple iPhone 17 Pro Max better?
  • Higher AnTuTu: 2601000 vs 2085000
  • Better Geekbench Single: 3933 vs 3610
  • Better Geekbench Multi: 10223 vs 8810

  • Higher performance (72/100 vs 59/100)
  • Better camera (66/100 vs 24/100)
  • Longer battery life (41/100 vs 0/100)
  • Better display (100/100 vs 0/100)
Comparison verdict

Comparing the Apple iPhone 17 Air vs the Apple iPhone 17 Pro Max, the Apple iPhone 17 Pro Max scores 30 points higher (63/100 vs 33/100). In the "performance" category, the Apple iPhone 17 Pro Max leads (72/100 vs 59/100). In the "camera" category, the Apple iPhone 17 Pro Max leads (66/100 vs 24/100). In the "battery" category, the Apple iPhone 17 Pro Max leads (41/100 vs 0/100). In the "value for money" category, the Apple iPhone 17 Air leads (55/100 vs 27/100). In the "performance" category, the Apple iPhone 17 Pro Max is a bit better (72/100 vs 59/100). In the "display" category, the Apple iPhone 17 Pro Max significantly outperforms the Apple iPhone 17 Air (100/100 vs 0/100). In the "camera" category, the Apple iPhone 17 Pro Max significantly outperforms the Apple iPhone 17 Air (66/100 vs 24/100). In the "battery" category, the Apple iPhone 17 Pro Max significantly outperforms the Apple iPhone 17 Air (41/100 vs 0/100). In the "design" category, the Apple iPhone 17 Air significantly outperforms the Apple iPhone 17 Pro Max (50/100 vs 8/100). In the "value for money" category, the Apple iPhone 17 Air notably outperforms the Apple iPhone 17 Pro Max (55/100 vs 27/100).

Apple iPhone 17 Air: The Apple iPhone 17 Air is a better fit for everyday use.
Apple iPhone 17 Pro Max: The Apple iPhone 17 Pro Max is a better fit for active users.
Specs comparison
Specification Apple iPhone 17 Air Apple iPhone 17 Pro Max
Processor Apple A19 Apple A19 Pro
AnTuTu 2085000 2601000
Geekbench Single 3610 3933
Geekbench Multi 8810 10223
Display 6.6" Super Retina XDR OLED 6.9" LTPO Super Retina XDR OLED
Resolution 1290x2796 2868x1320
Refresh rate 120 Hz
Battery 4823 mAh
Charging 40W
Wireless charging 0W 25W
Main camera 48 MP 48 MP
Ultrawide 0 MP 48 MP
Telephoto 0 MP 48 MP
Front camera 12 MP 18 MP
RAM 8GB 12GB
Storage 128GB / 256GB / 512GB 256GB / 512GB / 1TB / 2TB
OS iOS 19 iOS 26
Brightness (peak) 3000 nits
NFC yes
Protection IP68
Dimensions 163.4×78.0×8.8 mm
Weight 233 g
Price $1199
Camera comparison
Apple iPhone 17 Air
  • Main: 48MP f/f/1.6
  • Front: 12MP
24
camera
Apple iPhone 17 Pro Max
  • Main: 48MP f/f/1.78
  • Ultrawide: 48MP
  • Telephoto: 48MP
  • Front: 18MP
66
camera
Display comparison
Apple iPhone 17 Air
  • 6.6" Super Retina XDR OLED
  • Resolution: 1290x2796
  • Refresh rate: —
0
display
Apple iPhone 17 Pro Max
  • 6.9" LTPO Super Retina XDR OLED
  • Resolution: 2868x1320
  • Refresh rate: 120 Hz
100
display
Battery and charging
Apple iPhone 17 Air
  • No wireless charging
0
battery
Apple iPhone 17 Pro Max
  • 4823 mAh
  • Wired: 40W
  • Wireless: 25W
41
battery
Overall performance score

We compared Apple iPhone 17 Air and Apple iPhone 17 Pro Max, covering their specs and all relevant benchmarks.

Apple iPhone 17 Air Apple A19
33/100
2085000 AnTuTu
Apple iPhone 17 Pro Max Apple A19 Pro
63/100 +19.8%
2601000 AnTuTu

Apple iPhone 17 Pro Max leads Apple iPhone 17 Air by 19.8% in our overall performance rating.

Benchmarks
Price and availability
Apple iPhone 17 Air
Price unknown
Apple iPhone 17 Pro Max
$1199
Detailed category analysis
performance

In the "performance" category, the Apple iPhone 17 Pro Max is a bit better (72/100 vs 59/100).

display

In the "display" category, the Apple iPhone 17 Pro Max significantly outperforms the Apple iPhone 17 Air (100/100 vs 0/100).

camera

In the "camera" category, the Apple iPhone 17 Pro Max significantly outperforms the Apple iPhone 17 Air (66/100 vs 24/100).

battery

In the "battery" category, the Apple iPhone 17 Pro Max significantly outperforms the Apple iPhone 17 Air (41/100 vs 0/100).

design

In the "design" category, the Apple iPhone 17 Air significantly outperforms the Apple iPhone 17 Pro Max (50/100 vs 8/100).

value for money

In the "value for money" category, the Apple iPhone 17 Air notably outperforms the Apple iPhone 17 Pro Max (55/100 vs 27/100).

Frequently asked questions
Which is better: the Apple iPhone 17 Air or the Apple iPhone 17 Pro Max?

The Apple iPhone 17 Pro Max significantly outperforms the Apple iPhone 17 Air by 30 points (63/100 vs 33/100).

What is the rating of the Apple iPhone 17 Air and the Apple iPhone 17 Pro Max?

The Apple iPhone 17 Air has a MobileRank rating of 33/100, the Apple iPhone 17 Pro Max — 63/100.

Which has the better camera: the Apple iPhone 17 Air or the Apple iPhone 17 Pro Max?

The Apple iPhone 17 Pro Max leads on camera score (66/100 vs 24/100).

Which is more powerful: the Apple iPhone 17 Air or the Apple iPhone 17 Pro Max?

The Apple iPhone 17 Pro Max leads on performance (72/100 vs 59/100).

Should you choose the Apple iPhone 17 Air over the Apple iPhone 17 Pro Max?

The Apple iPhone 17 Air is a better fit for everyday use. The Apple iPhone 17 Pro Max is a better fit for active users.