Request a product

Apple iPhone 17 Pro Max vs Apple iPhone Air

Every spec side by side, from each maker's published figures.

Better figure, where one is clearly better

AppleiPhone 17 Pro MaxAppleiPhone Air
Overview
ReleasedSeptember 2025September 2025
Display
Screen size6.9″6.5″
Resolution2868 × 13202736 × 1260
Sharpness458 pixels per inch463 pixels per inch
PanelLTPO OLEDLTPO OLED
Refresh rate120 Hz120 Hz
Peak brightness3,000 nits3,000 nits
Display typeSuper Retina XDR OLED display with Dynamic IslandSuper Retina XDR OLED display with Dynamic Island
Pixel density460 ppi460 ppi
Brightness detail1,000 nits max (typical); 1,600 nits peak (HDR); 1 nit minimum1,000 nits max (typical); 1,600 nits peak (HDR); 1 nit minimum
Always-on displayYesYes
Screen protectionCeramic Shield 2 front, Ceramic Shield backCeramic Shield 2 front, Ceramic Shield back
Display featuresProMotion adaptive refresh; HDR; True Tone; Wide colour (P3); Haptic Touch; 2,000,000:1 contrast ratio (typical); anti-reflective coatingProMotion adaptive refresh; HDR; True Tone; Wide colour (P3); Haptic Touch; 2,000,000:1 contrast ratio (typical); anti-reflective coating
Performance
ChipA19 ProA19 Pro
Memory12 GB12 GB
Storage256 GB, 512 GB, 1 TB, 2 TB256 GB, 512 GB, 1 TB
CPU6-core CPU with 2 performance and 4 efficiency cores6-core CPU with 2 performance and 4 efficiency cores
GPU6-core GPU with Neural Accelerators; hardware-accelerated ray tracing5-core GPU with Neural Accelerators; hardware-accelerated ray tracing
AI engine16-core Neural Engine16-core Neural Engine
CoolingApple-designed vapour chamber laser-welded into the aluminium unibody–
Cameras
Main camera48 MP48 MP
Ultra wide camera48 MPNone
Telephoto camera48 MPNone
Optical zoom4×None
Front camera18 MP18 MP
Main camera48MP Fusion Main, 24 mm, ƒ/1.78 aperture, second-generation sensor-shift optical image stabilisation, 100% Focus Pixels; 24MP and 48MP photos48MP Fusion Main, 26 mm, ƒ/1.6 aperture, sensor-shift optical image stabilisation, 100% Focus Pixels; 24MP and 48MP photos
Ultra wide camera48MP Fusion Ultra Wide, 13 mm, ƒ/2.2 aperture, 120° field of view, Hybrid Focus Pixels–
Telephoto camera48MP Fusion Telephoto, 100 mm (4x), ƒ/2.8 aperture, Hybrid Focus Pixels, 3D sensor-shift optical image stabilisation and autofocus, tetraprism design–
Front camera18MP Center Stage camera, ƒ/1.9 aperture, autofocus with Focus Pixels18MP Center Stage camera, ƒ/1.9 aperture, autofocus with Focus Pixels
Zoom12MP optical-quality 2x (48 mm) from the Main camera and 8x (200 mm) from the Telephoto camera; 8x optical-quality zoom in, 2x optical zoom out (16x optical-quality zoom range); digital zoom up to 40x12MP optical-quality 2x Telephoto (52 mm) from the Main camera; digital zoom up to 10x
Video recording4K Dolby Vision at 24, 25, 30 or 60 fps, and at 100 or 120 fps on the Fusion Main camera; Cinematic mode up to 4K Dolby Vision at 30 fps; Action mode up to 2.8K Dolby Vision at 60 fps; slo-mo 1080p up to 240 fps and 4K Dolby Vision up to 120 fps (Fusion Main); ProRes up to 4K at 120 fps with external recording; ProRes RAW; Apple Log 2; ACES; genlock; spatial video at 1080p 30 fps; Dual Capture up to 4K Dolby Vision at 30 fps; HEVC, H.264, ProRes and ProRes RAW4K Dolby Vision at 24, 25, 30 or 60 fps; 1080p Dolby Vision at 25, 30 or 60 fps; Action mode up to 2.8K Dolby Vision at 60 fps; slo-mo 1080p at 120 or 240 fps; Dual Capture up to 4K Dolby Vision at 30 fps; HEVC and H.264
Front video4K Dolby Vision at 24, 25, 30 or 60 fps; Cinematic mode up to 4K Dolby Vision at 30 fps; ProRes up to 4K at 60 fps with external recording; ProRes RAW; Apple Log 2; slo-mo 1080p at 120 fps4K Dolby Vision at 24, 25, 30 or 60 fps; slo-mo 1080p at 120 fps; ultra-stabilised video; Centre Stage for video calls
Camera featuresPhotonic Engine; Deep Fusion; Smart HDR 5; next-generation portraits with Focus and Depth Control; Night mode; Photographic Styles; ProRAW; spatial photos; 48MP macro photography; Adaptive True Tone flash; LiDAR Scanner; four studio-quality mics; Camera ControlPhotonic Engine; Deep Fusion; Smart HDR 5; next-generation portraits with Focus and Depth Control; Night mode; Photographic Styles; customisable default lens; Camera Control
Battery and charging
Battery4,823 mAh3,149 mAh
Video playback (maker's claim)Up to 37 hoursUp to 27 hours
Wireless chargingUp to 25 WUp to 20 W
Battery life detailUp to 33 hours streamed video playback; EU energy label class A, 53 hours per charge, at least 1,000 charge cyclesUp to 22 hours streamed video playback; up to 40 hours video playback with the iPhone Air MagSafe Battery (sold separately); EU energy label class A, 40 hours per charge, at least 1,000 charge cycles
Wired chargingUp to 50% in 20 minutes with a 40W adapter or higher (sold separately)Up to 50% in 30 minutes with a 20W adapter or higher (sold separately)
Wireless chargingMagSafe and Qi2 up to 25W with a 30W adapter or higher; up to 50% in 30 minutesMagSafe and Qi2 up to 20W with a 30W adapter or higher; up to 50% in 30 minutes
Connectivity
Satellite messagingYesYes
Mobile network5G (sub-6GHz) with 4x4 MIMO; Gigabit LTE with 4x4 MIMO; UK model A3526Apple C1X modem; 5G (sub-6GHz) with 4x4 MIMO; Gigabit LTE with 4x4 MIMO; UK model A3517
SIMDual SIM (nano-SIM and eSIM); dual eSIM supportDual eSIM (two active, stores eight or more); no physical SIM card
Wi-FiWi-Fi 7 (802.11be) with 2x2 MIMO; Apple N1 wireless networking chipWi-Fi 7 (802.11be) with 2x2 MIMO; Apple N1 wireless networking chip
BluetoothBluetooth 6; ThreadBluetooth 6; Thread
Ultra WidebandApple second-generation Ultra Wideband chipApple second-generation Ultra Wideband chip
NFCNFC with reader mode; Express Cards with Power ReserveNFC with reader mode; Express Cards with Power Reserve
Satellite featuresEmergency SOS via satellite; Roadside Assistance via satelliteEmergency SOS via satellite; Roadside Assistance via satellite
USBUSB-C with charging, DisplayPort and USB 3 (up to 10Gb/s); video out up to 4K HDRUSB-C with charging and USB 2 (up to 480Mb/s)
PositioningPrecision dual-frequency GPS (GPS, GLONASS, Galileo, QZSS, BeiDou and NavIC); digital compass; iBeacon micro-locationPrecision dual-frequency GPS (GPS, GLONASS, Galileo, QZSS, BeiDou and NavIC); digital compass; iBeacon micro-location
Design
TypeStandardStandard
Weight231 g165 g
Thickness8.75 mm5.64 mm
Height × width163.4 × 78 mm156.2 × 74.7 mm
Water and dust resistanceIP68IP68
MaterialsAluminium unibody (7000-series aluminium alloy)Grade 5 titanium frame with a polished mirror finish; 3D-printed titanium USB-C port
ColoursSilver, Cosmic Orange, Deep BlueSpace Black, Cloud White, Light Gold, Sky Blue
ButtonsAction button; Camera Control; side button; volume up/downAction button; Camera Control; side button; volume up/down
Water resistance detailIP68 (maximum depth of 6 metres up to 30 minutes) under IEC standard 60529IP68 (maximum depth of 6 metres up to 30 minutes) under IEC standard 60529
BiometricsFace IDFace ID
SensorsLiDAR Scanner; barometer; high dynamic range gyro; high-g accelerometer; proximity sensor; dual ambient light sensorsBarometer; high dynamic range gyro; high-g accelerometer; proximity sensor; dual ambient light sensors
SpeakersBuilt-in stereo speakersBuilt-in speaker (one, not stereo)
MicrophonesFour studio-quality mics; Voice Isolation and Wide Spectrum modesBuilt-in microphones; Voice Isolation and Wide Spectrum modes
Software
Operating systemiOSiOS
Software at launchiOS 26iOS 26
Software updatesSecurity, corrective and functionality updates for at least 5 years after it stops being sold (EU product information sheet)Security, corrective and functionality updates for at least 5 years after it stops being sold (EU product information sheet)
AI featuresApple Intelligence; Visual IntelligenceApple Intelligence; Visual Intelligence
Safety featuresCrash DetectionCrash Detection
In the boxiPhone 17 Pro Max, USB-C Charge Cable (1 m), documentation; no power adapteriPhone Air, USB-C Charge Cable (1 m), documentation; no power adapter

More comparisons