iPhone 17 Pro Max vs iPhone 14 Pro Max: Main differences to expect
Intro
The iPhone 17 Pro Max is right 'round the corner, with merely three months and a half remaining until we see it unveiled in September.
The annual round of incremental upgrades will deliver an improved periscope camera, a faster chip, and likely a larger battery, as well as a peculiar design change that will definitely turn heads.
Does this all mean iPhone 14 Pro Max users should feel compelled to upgrade to the upcoming 2025 iteration of the device?
Update: Both iPhones are getting the new iOS 26 version. New "Liquid Glass" design and quite a few quality-of-life upgrades, including the ability to fend off telemarketers. Learn more about all the new iOS 26 features in the 'performance' section below.
iPhone 17 Pro Max vs iPhone 14 Pro Max expected differences:
| iPhone 17 Pro Max | iPhone 14 Pro Max |
|---|---|
| Refreshed design language with a wide Pixel-like camera strip at the back | Flat design language with a smaller camera island |
| Slightly thicker 8.7mm titanium frame, but a switch to aluminum is possible | Much thinner at 7.8mm, the last iPhone to use a stainless steel frame |
| Triple 48MP cameras at the back, with a higher-res periscope camera | 48MP main camera,12MP ultrawide and telephoto cameras |
| 8K video-recording possilbe | 4K60FPS video-recording |
| 24MP FaceTime camera | 12MP FaceTime camera |
| Apple A19 Pro chipset, 3nm | Apple A17 Bionic Pro, 4nm |
| Likely 12GB of RAM | 6GB of RAM on board |
| Brighter 6.9-inch screen (3000 nits) | Smaller 6.7-inch display, with lower 2000-nit peak brightness |
| Miniaturized Dynamic Island notch possible | The first iPhone with a Dynamic Island cutout |
| Possibly a battery larger than 4,700mAh | Much smaller 4,323mAh battery |
| Faster 27W wired charging (up to 40W in some cases) Faster 25W wireless MagSafe 2.0 charging | 25W wired charging 15W MagSafe charging |
| Possible reverse wireless charging | No reverse wireless charging |
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Design and Size
Wait, what's that in the back?
Apple is normalizing excessive camera islands with the iPhone 17 Pro Max, it seems (Image Credit-Weibo)
Now, according to most of the design leaks and rumors, the iPhone 17 Pro Max might be getting a pretty large camera island at the back, significantly wider than before and nearly spanning side-to-side.
Aside from probably making the phone a bit top-heavy, this one will be the signature design element that will distinguish the new device from any older iPhones––as well as fit some extra hardware inside, hopefully.
Other than that, few changes will befall the design of the iPhone 17 Pro Max, which will look very similar to most of its predecessors. We will be getting the same Action Button and Camera Control that debuted with earlier models, as well as the USB-C port at the bottom.
iPhone 17 Pro Max render (Image Credit-@asherdipps
The Dynamic Island notch will be making a return, but will reportedly get slightly smaller and more compact, freeing more display real estate for the user.
The iPhone 14 Pro Max is also thinner at 7.8 mm, while the iPhone 17 Pro Max will most likely be a full millimeter thicker in comparison. However, we do hope that the upcoming iPhone will be lighter, as the iPhone 14 Pro Max tipped the scales at the massive 240 gr.
| iPhone model | iPhone 17 Pro Max | iPhone 14 Pro Max |
|---|---|---|
| Thickness | 8.73mm | 7.85mm |
While we expect a titanium frame to be making the rounds once again, rumors claims we might see a return of aluminum as a build material for the outer frame. Apple might do that for cost-cutting reasons, as well as to shave off some weight.
Sure, superficially it looks rather similar to just about any other iPhone Pro Max before or after it, but it has some unique quirks. It was the last iPhone to feature the standard ring switch as well as the glossy stainless-steel frame that was once synonymous with premium iPhones.
It's also the last iPhone Pro Max model to feature a Lightning port, and to that, we say good riddance!
Display Differences
With the iPhone 17 Pro Max, we're getting a larger 6.9-inch Liquid Retina XDR OLED display with ProMotion, allowing for 1-120Hz refresh rate.
New here could be the OLED panel that could be used: the Samsung M14 one will not only boost the energy efficiency of the device, but will also allow for a much higher peak brightness of nearly 3,000 nits.
That would be a very decent upgrade up from the 2,000-nit display that has been used on the iPhone 14 Pro Max. It was mostly a similar screen, but with slightly thicker bezels and a slightly smaller 6.7-inch size.
| iPhone model | iPhone 17 Pro Max | iPhone 14 Pro Max |
|---|---|---|
| Screen size | 6.9-inch | 6.7-inch |
| Peak brightness | ~3,000 nites | 2,000 nits |
A big difference could also be found in the Dynamic Island notch. Ever since the latter debuted on the iPhone 14 Pro Max, it has been largely the same size on the successor devices like the iPhone 15 Pro Max and the iPhone 16 Pro Max.
However, with the iPhone 17 Pro Max, Apple might be making the Dynamic Island slightly smaller thanks to relying on more compact Face ID and FaceTime camera components.
Performance and Software
A major leap
When it comes to performance, we expect a pretty noticeable jump between the iPhone 14 Pro Max and the upcoming iPhone 17 Pro Max.
The new device will be powered by none other than the Apple A19 Pro chipset, which will most certainly be a 3nm chipset, although some rumors claim we might see it manufactured on a 2nm node.
In contrast, the iPhone 14 Pro Max comes with the Apple A16 Bionic, Cupertino's last 4nm mobile chip used on a Pro iPhone. For what it's worth, the A16 Bionic was an excellent performer in its heyday, but nearly three years have passed since, and it's been pretty much surpassed by all of Apple's newer chips in terms of performance and efficiency a long time ago.
Does this mean the iPhone 14 Pro Max is terribly outdated? No, of course not. It's still fairly capable and delivers a decent amount of performance in standard everyday usage scenarios, though it won't get any faster, that's for certain.
| iPhone model | iPhone 17 Pro Max | iPhone 14 Pro Max |
|---|---|---|
| Chip | Apple A19 Pro | Apple A16 Bionic |
| Manufacturing process | 3nm | 4nm |
| Memory | 12GB | 6GB |
The iPhone 17 Pro Max will likely feature 12GB of RAM, which will shape it as a very future-proof device, especially when we factor in the tasking requirements of artificial intelligence. In sharp contrast, the iPhone 14 Pro Max comes with way less than that, just 6GB of RAM. This definitely hints that the multitasking experience with the older device would be nowhere as good as on the upcoming iPhone 17 Pro Max.
Storage-wise, the iPhone 14 Pro Max was the last Pro iPhone to boast a 128GB version along with 256GB, 512GB, and 1TB ones as all subsequent devices started straight from 256GB, but were also pricier. We expect the same from the iPhone 17 Pro Max: 256GB base storage and 1TB maximum.
iOS 26 is the biggest visual overhaul of Apple’s mobile OS in the last decade and it comes with a new Liquid Glass design. This can either be (relatively) subtle if you stick with the default look of the system, or it can be very “in your face” if you go for the new “Clear Look” that makes everything glassy and transparent. Windows Vista called, it wants its glass back.
Apart from the design change, you get a number of cool and useful features in iOS 26.
Apart from the design change, you get a number of cool and useful features in iOS 26.
The cool ones include a new dynamic wallpaper where the clock fluidly adapts to the available space on the wallpaper, and the whole wallpaper also moves and adapts for better visibility when you receive notifications. There is also new animated album art that you can see when you tap on the Now Playing menu.
Oh yeah, and Apple also fixes the Photos app mess from the previous iOS version with an easy access to your albums.
But the really useful stuff is in the Phone and Messages app. You get new Call Screening features that lets you fend off telemarketers (Pixel phones had this much earlier). This will also work in Messages, filtering out spammy messages.
You also get a new Live Translate feature in calls, another feature we have already seen on Android earlier. Let’s see how well it works on iOS because it hasn’t been a smooth ride on other phones which have added this previously.
And specifically Messages is getting much improved with typing indicators, custom backgrounds for chats and the ability to add polls in your group chats.
There is also a huge number of smaller changes. Music for example is getting lyrics translations, which is cool, and Apple Maps will better understand your routines and proactively suggest alternate routes when it sees there is a traffic jam ahead.
Camera
Not all triple cameras are equal
Sure, both phones will employ triple-camera arrays at the back, but they will be vastly different from one another.
| iPhone model | iPhone 17 Pro Max | iPhone 14 Pro Max |
|---|---|---|
| Main camera | 48MP F1.8 | 48MP F1.8 |
| Ultrawide camera | 48MP F2.2 | 12MP F2.2 |
| Periscope camera | 48MP F2.8 5X | 12MP F2.8 3X |
| Front camera | 24MP | 12MP |
With the iPhone 17 Pro Max, we are getting 48MP sensors on all cameras, with the 5X periscope being the latest to join the high-res trend. Due to the 48MP upgrade, iPhone 17 Pro Max users will likely be able to make use of significantly more advanced hybrid zoom that allows them to get optically pristine results at longer focal lengths thanks to in-sensor cropping.
Another change will likely be found up front, where the 12MP FaceTime camera of old is finally getting upgraded: rumors say we'll see a 24MP selfie snapper up front the iPhone 17 Pro Max.
What was the camera situation with the iPhone 14 Pro Max?
Well, it was the first one to come with a 48MP main camera, while the ultrawide and the shorter 3X telephoto cameras relied on 12MP sensors. Up front, we also had a 12MP FaceTime camera, too. A very decent camera setup in its time, but now already surpassed by subsequent iPhones.
We might get 8K video-recording on the iPhone 17 Pro Max, an upgrade over the 4K@60fps video-recording that most iPhones have supported for a long time now.
Battery Life and Charging
Bigger battery, more efficient chip tip the scales in favor of the newer device
While exact battery sizes are among the last specs to be unveiled, we've heard that Apple might put a battery in the ballpark of 4,700 to 5,000mAh. This would easily beat the record set by the iPhone 16 Pro Max, which currently features the largest battery ever fitted on an iPhone, a 4,685mAh unit.
In comparison, the older iPhone 14 Pro Max is less impressive here, with a 4,323mAh battery in tow. Coupled with the lower efficiency of the older A16 Bionic chip and by now likely significantly degraded battery health of the existing units, it is more than certain that the upcoming iPhone 17 Pro Max will have vastly better battery life than your iPhone 14 Pro Max.
| iPhone model | iPhone 17 Pro Max | iPhone 14 Pro Max |
|---|---|---|
| Battery size | 4,700-5,000 mAh | 4,323 mAh |
| Wired charging speed | 27W (up to 40W) | 25W |
| Wireless charging speed | 25W | 15W |
Charging-wise, the upcoming iPhone is coming with 27W wired charging (which might spike to 40W in certain scenarios) and 25W MagSafe 2.0 wireless charging. We have slightly lower charging speeds with the iPhone 14 Pro Max: 25W wired and 15W MagSafe wireless charging.
What the new device might have in tow is reverse wireless charging, a first on an iPhone. Thanks to this, iPhone 17 Pro Max users will likely be able to quickly top up their AirPods or Apple Watches.
Specs Comparison
Here's how the iPhone 17 Pro Max will likely compare against the iPhone 14 Pro Max, based on our expectations about the specs:
| iPhone 17 Pro Max | iPhone 14 Pro Max |
|---|---|
| Size, weight 163.0 x 77.6 x 8.73 mm | Size, weight 160.7 x 77.6 x 7.85 mm 240 gr |
| Screen 6.9" OLED 120Hz ProMotion 3000 nits peak brightness | Screen 6.7" OLED 120Hz ProMotion 2000 nits peak brightness |
| Processor A19 Pro 3nm (2nm?) | Processor A16 Bionic 4nm |
| Versions: 12GB/256GB 12GB/512GB 12GB/1TB LPDDR5 | Versions: 6GB/128GB 6GB/256GB 6GB/512GB 6GB/1TB LPDDR5 |
| Cameras: 48MP main 48MP ultra 48MP 5X zoom 24MP front | Cameras: 48MP main 12MP ultra 12MP 3X zoom 12MP front |
| Battery: 4,700+ mAh | Battery: 4,323 mAh |
| Charging: USB-C 27W wired 25W MagSafe 2.0 | Charging: Lightning port 25W wired 15W MagSafe |
Also read: iPhone 17 Pro Max vs Galaxy S25 Ultra
Summary
The iPhone 17 Pro Max is shaping up to be a minor intergenerational upgrade when compared to the iPhone 16 Pro Max, but from the perspective of an iPhone 14 Pro Max user, there might be one too many intriguing improvements that might trigger an upgrade.
Here's what you'd gain if you potentially choose to get the upcoming iPhone 17 Pro Max: a larger and brighter screen, significantly better performance with much longer future-proofness, a way more capable camera, Apple Intelligence support, longer battery life, and faster charging, including reverse wireless charging and MagSafe 2.0, as well as access to the USB-c club!
All of those sound like appealing reasons to at least consider upgrading, provided that what we expect from the iPhone 17 Pro Max turns out to be true.
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