Apple ’s later iPhone reach includes the exchange premium iPhone 16 Pro and iPhone 16 Pro Max . The interrogative is , what ’s the deviation between the two ?
While some differences are quite obvious , like the iPhone 16 Pro sporting a smaller , more summary screen than its larger sib , others – like a difference in battery life – are n’t quite as easy to spot .
The two phones also divvy up more similarities than previous generation of Pro iPhone , mean that , for the first time in a couple of class , the two models are on equality in areas like camera execution .
We ’ve to the full tested and brush up both theiPhone 16 ProandiPhone 16 Pro Max , and here ’s how the two comparability .
Spec comparison
Pricing & Availability
The iPhone 16 Pro is the more affordable of the two iPhones , but make no misunderstanding , both are premium phones that fare with match cost tatter . The iPhone 16 Pro starts at £ 999/$999 with 128 GB storage , though you’re able to go up to 1 TB if you need that extra memory .
The iPhone 16 Pro Max costs an additional £ 200/$200 at £ 1,199/$1,199 with a boosted 256 GB of storage . Like the Pro , it ’s also useable in 512 GB and 1 TB storage options .
Both iPhones are available to buy right now , both outright and on contract , following release in September 2024 .
Design
As with previous long time , the iPhone 16 Pro and iPhone 16 Pro Max share the same overall pattern – the same pattern Apple has used on its iPhone reach since theiPhone 12 .
The combination of rounded corners and 2-dimensional sharpness has become the go - to in the agio smartphone market place , with competition like Samsung and OnePlus moving away from stacked phones to match .
That said , there are a few insidious changes to this year ’s Pro - horizontal surface iPhones . There ’s a newCamera Control buttonalongside the return of the stapleAction Button . It ’s essentially a cutoff to the Camera app with a tactile sensation - sensitive surface that also plunk for swipe functionality .
We ’ll go into it in detail later , but it ’s worth noting that it ’s usable across all models of iPhone 16 , not just the Pros .
The iPhone 16 Pro is the smaller , more compact of the two smartphones with its 6.3 - in showing . This makes the phone gentle to hold and utilise , peculiarly one - handed , and it ’s lean ( 8.25 mm ) and light ( 199 g ) than its larger sibling as a event .
The iPhone 16 Pro Max and its 6.9 - in presentation mean that the phone is middling magnanimous , though the rounded corner and flat side do provide satisfying purchase . The upper side , away from the larger screen , is that the iPhone 16 Pro Max can jibe a much larger stamp battery in its chassis than the iPhone 16 Pro can – but again , more on that a petty later .
Those differences away , it ’s moderately much patronage as usual for Apple ’s flagship ; both have IP68 debris and water resistance , propose USB - speed of light connectivity , are available in the same muted shades , and have a durable titanium chassis .
Winner : iPhone 16 Pro
Screen
As already bring up , the screen is one of the defining differences between this twelvemonth ’s Pro - level iPhones . The iPhone 16 Pro measuring rod in at a more pocket - favorable 6.3 column inch , while the iPhone 16 Pro Max boasts a much expectant 6.9 - inch instrument panel .
Both phones are 0.2 inches large than their predecessors , in the main due to the impressively slim bezels . Our reviewers found the slim bezels made the screen experience that much more immersive while also making the telephone set look ultra - premium compared to some other flagships .
The iPhone 16 Pro Max is thebest iPhonefor gaming and watching Netflix , with its big OLED panel serve as a nifty portal for digital ingestion . It ’s big and roomy enough to enjoy games like Call of Duty Mobile with all UI elements clearly visible , and iOS also feels a little roomier in general .
The iPhone 16 Pro , on the other hand , offers more of a pocket-size experience . It ’s sure the easier of the two to use one - handed , and the large sieve this year means it ’s a little better suit to gaming and the like . It ’s just down to personal preference , really .
Importantly , in every other regard , the CRT screen are monovular ; both offer Super Retina XDR panels with LTPO - enabled 120Hz refresh rates , 2000nit peak brightness , support for Dolby Vision HDR and Apple ’s handyDynamic Islandtechnology .
The latter is a particular favourite of our reviewers , with both praise the tech – that display data in and around the Face ID notch – in their reviews .
Winner : iPhone 16 Pro Max
Cameras
Apple sometimes gives the Pro Max good example an edge when it come to camera technical school ; not only did theiPhone 12 Pro Maxget detector - shift Office of Intelligence Support before the 12 Pro , but theiPhone 15 Pro Maxgot the upgraded 5x telephotograph while theiPhone 15 Prostayed with the same 3x telephoto as its herald .
Thankfully , that ’s not the case with the latest coevals of iPhone ; both the iPhone 16 Pro and 16 Pro Max propose the same combination of 48MP main , 48MP ultrawide and 12MP 5x telephoto lenses on the arse , and matching 12MP selfie cameras around the front .
Like old pro - level iPhones , the iPhone 16 Pro and Pro Max had no issues take swell pic in most conditions , declare oneself the same high level of colour truth and realistic peel tones we ’ve come to ask from Apple ’s top - end flagships .
Low - light functioning also continues to be a strong point , though we did n’t notice much of an uptick in performance compared to the iPhone 15 Pro range .
Instead , much of the focusing of this yr ’s range was on photographic styles and Apple ’s new way of controlling the camera app , Camera Controls . Our referee praise the former when test the iPhone 16 Pro , which allows you to pull off how the photographic camera processes colours , shadows and more . If you ’re into picture taking , it ’s a great way to fiddle with shots .
The latter , on the other hand , was n’t so popular . The Camera Control is a great melodic theme at its heart ; a dedicated button to not only launch the tv camera app but double up as a shutter and a way to switch between shooting modes , lenses and more .
The problem is that the placement is a niggling awkward , with our reviewers ’ fingers not take a breather of course on the button . It ’s also a short stiff to dispirit fully , which can lead to a slender wag when take photos .
video recording is another strong point of both iPhones . Both offer the ability to shoot in 4K@120fps or 4K@60fps in Dolby Vision HDR . They also number with a flurry of additional shot modes , admit Action Mode and Cinematic Mode .
Winner : Draw
Performance
The iPhone 16 Pro and Pro Max offer Apple ’s top - final stage silicon , the A18 Pro , and 8 GB of RAM . backpack a unexampled 16 - core neural engine , 6 - core C.P.U. and 6 - core GPU , the A18 Pro chipset is one of the more capable in the mart in 2025 .
As has been the case for years , the chipset deliver a stunningly sinewy experience that can easily care the most challenging console - point game usable on the App Store .
Both phones utterly fly in everyday use , aided by the super - quiet 120Hz refresh rate on offer , with nary a stutter to be establish . And , with an overindulgence of world power on offering , that eminent stage of performance should continue for quite some clip .
That say , the Pro - level iPhones no longer throw the performance pate ; unlike former twelvemonth , the Android competition has exceeded the performance of the iPhone 16 Pro Max . That ’s largely down to the Snapdragon 8 Elite , which is based on Qualcomm ’s laptop - based Snapdragon X Elite chipset and retrieve in manytop - remnant Android phonesin 2025 .
The iPhone 16 Pro ships with 128 GB of warehousing , which we matte up was a bit on the limited side , both for flagship headphone in 2025 and 1 that cost so much money . 256 GB , 512 gibibyte , and 1 TB options are also available , but these come at an additional cost .
Thankfully , the iPhone 16 Pro Max come with a boosted 256 GB as banner , along with the 512 GB and 1 TB option .
Software
Software is yet another area where the iPhone 16 Pro and iPhone 16 Pro are identical – you ’re probably spotting a form here , correct ?
Both premium sound fare with Apple ’s latest version of iOS , iOS 18 , and both underpin Apple ’s big gamble for this twelvemonth : Apple Intelligence .
Apple ’s big feature for this year ’s iPhone range was particularly controversial because it was n’t actually present on the phone at launching . Some features became available in the US a month afterwards , while the UK and other region did n’t gain reinforcement until December 2024 .
Even now , some of the big feature film of Apple Intelligence – include a much more levelheaded Siri – have yet to materialize .
That order , both phones have plenitude of AI - powered features to keep fans of stilted intelligence entertained for quite some time . prick cast from basic option like rewriting clump of text in different styles to more innovative features like image generation and usance emoji macrocosm .
However , none of these features change the way our reader basically used the iPhones . In fact , both come to the same ending : do n’t buy the iPhone 16 Pro or 16 Pro Maxjustfor Apple Intelligence . It ’s overnice to have , sure , but not essential .
Elsewhere , the iOS 18 experience is rather pleasant . It boasts a swathe of new ( non - AI ) features , including unexampled Home screen customisation selection and a redesign ascendancy center , further meliorate the already heavy experience . And , like much every other iPhone , both will continue to receive major iOS updates for some years to come .
Battery Life
away from the size of the blind , battery life is the other central country where the iPhone 16 Pro and iPhone 16 Pro Max dissent . It hold horse sense ; a phone with a enceinte screen has more space inside for a larger stamp battery than a smaller alternative .
That said , there isquitea departure in barrage longevity , as we happen out in examination . While neither iPhone struggled to last a individual day , our reader bump that the iPhone 16 Pro would unremarkably wind up the day with somewhere between 10 % and 20 % .
The iPhone 16 Pro Max , in demarcation , boasts what might bethebest barrage life of any iPhone to appointment . On one feverish daylight with an impressive seven hours of screen meter , our reviewer take down that the iPhone still had 40 % charge remaining . This twist truly dispose as an all - Clarence Shepard Day Jr. phone , if not a two - solar day phone , count on usage .
The great barrage fire capacity does intend that the iPhone 16 Pro Max thrill slower than the 16 Pro . The former adopt 1 hour and 46 mo to fully lodge while the latter took 1 hour and 32 minute . Both rack up the 50 % mark in around 30 minute , however .
Both also support faster 25W MagSafe charging than their predecessors , along with support for 7.5W Qi charging , offering a order of magnitude of commove pick depending on what you prefer .
Final Thoughts
It ’s clear that the two iPhones offer a top - ending smartphone experience with indestructible designs , great screens , whole cameras , powerful performance and gravid battery life – but there are subtle differences between the two .
The iPhone 16 Pro is the better option if you require something well-to-do to habituate one - handed . Its 6.3 - inch screenland is more manageable than the 6.9 - column inch behemoth iPhone 16 Pro Max .
However , the Pro Max deliver a good gaming and binging experience as a result . It also has more blank for a larger barrage , leading to some of the honorable barrage fire life we ’ve live from an iPhone .
The catch is that it ’s notably more expensive than the iPhone 16 Pro when most core elements are identical . Which you should opt for will probably calculate on whether you desire a compact phone with solid barrage life sentence or a with child phone with particular battery life . For us , it ’s the latter .
If you still need guidance on your next bragging purchase , and are tempted by Android , take a look at our selection of thebest smartphones .
