If you just got the iPhone 17 Pro Max, you may be wondering what you’re missing out on with Apple’s newly released iPhone 18 Pro and 18 Pro Max.
Not much. Honestly, side by side, the phones could be twins. There are changes like the iPhone 18 Pro Max’s variable aperture camera, a larger vapor chamber and the A20 Pro chip for better performance and speed. And there’s better battery life, too.
Apple says the iPhone 18 Pro Max has 45 hours of video playback and 30 hours of usage per charge with the new premium version. It’s also expected to have faster wireless charging, and 15 minutes of wired charging should put the phone at 50%. By comparison, the iPhone 17 Pro Max promises 39 hours of video playback. And based on our testing, the phone’s battery life reached 49% in 20 minutes. It’s a pretty sweet upgrade for $100 more than its predecessor’s original price.
What about the iPhone 17 Pro Max’s battery?
We saw a big improvement in the iPhone 17 Pro Max, which holds the crown as our current best-tested phone battery.
By comparison, the iPhone 17 Pro Max promises 39 hours of video playback. And based on our testing, the phone’s battery life reached 49% in 20 minutes. But don’t be too persuaded by the iPhone 18 Pro Max’s battery.
The 18 Pro Max seems to pack a powerful punch with its battery. And surprisingly, Apple’s not raising the price too much. The iPhone 18 Pro Max starts at $1,299 for 256GB, which is only $100 more than the iPhone 17 Pro Max for the same storage. But are the battery upgrades worth the price? I don’t think so.
Sure, the iPhone 18 Pro Max has a better battery, but if you’re like me, you just want your phone’s battery to last a day without rushing to a charger. If you’re not watching videos for days, you may not see much of a difference between the iPhone 17 Pro Max and the new model. Especially if you want a better battery on a budget. So if you have the iPhone 17 Pro Max, it’s not worth upgrading just for better battery life. However, if you have an earlier model, it may be worth considering one of the latest models.
A recent CNET survey highlighted what US adults really want in a phone upgrade. Most (55%) want a cheaper phone, and next to that is better battery life (52%). Truthfully, while the iPhone 18 Pro Max price increase seems small (especially given the RAM shortage), you may be able to get a solid battery for less.
Act fast if you want the iPhone 17 Pro Max
If you want to cut costs, you may consider the iPhone 17 Pro Max, which is slightly cheaper. But I don’t think Apple plans to keep this iPhone around.
Shortly after Apple’s “Surprise and shine” event, the iPhone 17 Pro and Pro Max disappeared from Apple’s site. You still may be able to find the phones at other retailers and mobile carriers. We also noticed Apple increased prices on other iPhone models, so it’s worth shopping around.
Apple’s Upgrade program and other mobile carrier trade-in programs may make the newer model cheaper. But if you’re buying outright or won’t get a deep discount, save yourself the money and look for the older model that still holds a charge for the day. And if you have the iPhone 17 Pro Max, don’t rush to upgrade for better battery life quite yet.
