iPhone 16 Pro vs iPhone 16 Pro Max: Which Pro Model Reigns Supreme
iPhone 16 Pro vs iPhone 16 Pro Max: The Ultimate Showdown
If you’re in the market for a new iPhone, you’re likely considering two of the most powerful devices Apple has to offer: the iPhone 16 Pro and the iPhone 16 Pro Max. Both phones are packed with impressive features, but which one is right for you?
iPhone 16 Pro: A Compact Powerhouse
The iPhone 16 Pro is a compact alternative to the Pro Max, with almost identical specs. If you want top-tier power, superb cameras, and a great screen in a smaller size and at a lower price, this is an excellent choice. Just be aware that the battery life isn’t quite as good.
Pros:
- Cheaper than the Pro Max
- A compact powerhouse
- Camera Control functionality
Cons:
- Worse battery life than Pro Max
- No AI at launch
iPhone 16 Pro Max: The Best iPhone You Can Buy
The iPhone 16 Pro Max is Apple’s biggest phone ever, with a massive 6.9-inch screen, incredible battery life, and an unsurprisingly big price tag. It’s the best iPhone you can buy, but it’s only marginally better than the iPhone 16 Pro.
Pros:
- Huge screen
- Superb battery life
- Camera Control functionality
Cons:
- Big and heavy
- Very expensive
Battery Life: What You Need to Know
Apple doesn’t reveal battery capacities, but thanks to teardowns we know that the iPhone 16 Pro has a 3,582mAh battery while the iPhone 16 Pro Max has a larger 4,685mAh one. In practice, Apple claims you’ll get up to 27 hours of video playback or up to 85 hours of audio playback from the iPhone 16 Pro, while the iPhone 16 Pro Max can last for up to 33 hours of video or up to 105 hours of audio. In our own Future Labs tests, we found that the iPhone 16 Pro would last an average of 14 hours, while the iPhone 16 Pro Max would last an average of 16 hours.
Verdict:
Ultimately, the iPhone 16 Pro and iPhone 16 Pro Max are very similar phones, but with a number of key differences. The iPhone 16 Pro Max has a bigger screen, better battery life, and a higher starting storage capacity of 256GB. However, it’s also a heavier phone that’s harder to use with one hand, and of course it costs more. Both of these handsets rank among the best iPhones you can buy, and both achieved 4.5 star reviews, so you won’t go wrong with either. But if you want the ultimate iPhone, it’s the iPhone 16 Pro Max – you’ll just need to be prepared to pay a lot for it.
