Apple iPhone Air vs Apple iPhone 17 Pro Max | Specs, Camera & Battery
Apple iPhone Air vs Apple iPhone 17 Pro Max
Here we compared two flagship smartphones: the 6.5-inch Apple iPhone Air (with Apple A19 Pro) that was released on September 9, 2025, against the Apple iPhone 17 Pro Max, which is powered by the same chip. On this page, you will find tests, full specs, strengths, and weaknesses of each of the devices.
Key Differences
An overview of the main advantages of each smartphone
| iPhone Air | Description | iPhone 17 Pro Max | Description |
|---|---|---|---|
| Weighs 68g less | Much lighter (165g vs 233g), making it easier to hold and carry. | 4x Optical Zoom Camera | Telephoto lens provides true optical zoom for sharper close-up shots. |
| – | – | Larger Battery (5088 mAh vs 3149 mAh) | Nearly 2,000 mAh bigger, offering longer usage time. |
| – | – | More RAM (12GB vs 8GB) | Handles multitasking better with 50% more memory. |
| – | – | Bigger Display (6.9″ vs 6.5″) | Provides ~12% more screen space for media and multitasking. |
| – | – | Faster Charging (40W vs 30W) | Charges more quickly, saving time. |
Tests and specifications
Comparison table of technical specifications and tests
Display (Apple iPhone Air vs Apple iPhone 17 Pro Max)
| Feature | iPhone Air | iPhone 17 Pro Max | Description |
|---|---|---|---|
| Type | OLED | OLED | Both have vibrant OLED panels. |
| Size | 6.5″ | 6.9″ | Pro Max has a larger screen. |
| Resolution | 1260 × 2736 px | 1320 × 2868 px | Both are sharp, Pro Max slightly higher. |
| Refresh rate | 120 Hz (adaptive 1–120 Hz) | 120 Hz (adaptive 1–120 Hz) | Same smoothness. |
| Brightness (max) | 3000 nits | 3000 nits | Identical brightness. |
| HDR | Dolby Vision (1600 nits HDR) | Dolby Vision (1600 nits HDR) | Same HDR support. |
| Screen-to-body | 88.9% | 91.6% | Pro Max has slimmer bezels. |
| Screen space | 16.1 in² | 18.1 in² | Pro Max offers ~12% more screen area. |
Design & Build (Apple iPhone Air vs Apple iPhone 17 Pro Max)
| Feature | iPhone Air | iPhone 17 Pro Max | Description |
|---|---|---|---|
| Dimensions | 156.2 × 74.7 × 5.6 mm | 163.4 × 78 × 8.75 mm | Air is much thinner & lighter. |
| Weight | 165 g | 233 g | Air is significantly lighter. |
| Waterproof | IP68 | IP68 | Both fully dust & water resistant. |
| Cooling | – | Vapor chamber | Pro Max handles heat better. |
| Frame / Back | Metal + Glass | Metal + Glass | Premium materials on both. |
| Colors | White, Black, Gold, Blue | Silver, Blue, Orange | Different finish options. |
Performance (Apple iPhone Air vs Apple iPhone 17 Pro Max)
| Feature | iPhone Air | iPhone 17 Pro Max | Description |
|---|---|---|---|
| Chipset | A19 Pro (3nm) | A19 Pro (3nm) | Same latest-generation chip. |
| CPU | 6-core (up to 4.26 GHz) | 6-core (up to 4.26 GHz) | Identical CPU. |
| GPU | Apple A19 Pro GPU (768 units) | Same | Same graphics power. |
| Geekbench 6 | 3736 / 9737 | 3895 / 9746 | Almost identical scores. |
| AnTuTu 10 | 2,033,552 | 2,094,047 | Pro Max scores slightly higher (+3%). |
Memory & Storage (Apple iPhone Air vs Apple iPhone 17 Pro Max)
| Feature | iPhone Air | iPhone 17 Pro Max | Description |
|---|---|---|---|
| RAM | 8 GB LPDDR5X | 12 GB LPDDR5X | Pro Max has more RAM for multitasking. |
| Storage | 256 GB NVMe | 256 GB NVMe | Same storage. |
| Memory card | No | No | Neither supports expansion. |
Battery & Charging (Apple iPhone Air vs Apple iPhone 17 Pro Max)
| Feature | iPhone Air | iPhone 17 Pro Max | Description |
|---|---|---|---|
| Capacity | 3149 mAh | 5088 mAh | Pro Max has a much bigger battery. |
| Wired charging | 30 W | 40 W | Faster charging on Pro Max. |
| Wireless charging | 20 W | 25 W | Faster wireless on Pro Max. |
| Reverse charging | Yes | Yes | Both support device-to-device charging. |
Cameras (Apple iPhone Air vs Apple iPhone 17 Pro Max)
| Feature | iPhone Air | iPhone 17 Pro Max | Description |
|---|---|---|---|
| Main sensor | 48 MP | 48 MP | Same resolution but different setup. |
| Camera setup | Single 48 MP | Triple 48 MP (Wide, Tele, Ultra) + Depth | Pro Max has a pro-grade system. |
| Zoom | Digital only | 4× Optical | Pro Max offers optical telephoto. |
| Video | 4K 60 FPS | 4K 120 FPS | Pro Max records at higher frame rates. |
| Selfie camera | 18 MP f/1.9 | 18 MP f/1.9 | Identical front cameras. |
Connectivity (Apple iPhone Air vs Apple iPhone 17 Pro Max)
| Feature | iPhone Air | iPhone 17 Pro Max | Description |
|---|---|---|---|
| Wi-Fi | Wi-Fi 7 | Wi-Fi 7 | Same wireless standard. |
| Bluetooth | 6.0 | 6.0 | Identical version. |
| USB | USB-C 2.0 | USB-C 3.2 (DP, OTG) | Pro Max has faster transfer speeds & DisplayPort. |
| 5G | Yes | Yes | Both support 5G. |
| NFC | Yes | Yes | Both support Apple Pay. |
Other & Pricing (Apple iPhone Air vs Apple iPhone 17 Pro Max)
| Feature | iPhone Air | iPhone 17 Pro Max | Description |
|---|---|---|---|
| Announced | Sept 2025 | Sept 2025 | Same generation. |
| Launch price | $999 | $1199 | Pro Max costs $200 more. |
| Category | Flagship | Flagship | Both premium models. |
| Charger included | No | No | Apple no longer includes chargers. |
FAQS (Apple iPhone Air vs Apple iPhone 17 Pro Max)
General
Q: Which phone is bigger – iPhone Air or iPhone 17 Pro Max?
A: The iPhone 17 Pro Max is larger with a 6.9″ display compared to the iPhone Air’s 6.5″. It also has ~12% more screen space.
Q: Are both phones waterproof?
A: Yes, both are IP68 certified, meaning they can withstand dust and water immersion.
Performance
Q: Do both use the same processor?
A: Yes, both are powered by the Apple A19 Pro chip built on a 3nm process.
Q: Which has better benchmark performance?
A: The iPhone 17 Pro Max scores slightly higher in Geekbench and AnTuTu, but the difference is only around 3–4%.
Memory & Storage
Q: Which has more RAM?
A: iPhone Air comes with 8GB RAM, while iPhone 17 Pro Max has 12GB RAM for smoother multitasking.
Q: Do they support expandable storage?
A: No, neither supports microSD cards.
Cameras
Q: Which phone has better zoom?
A: iPhone 17 Pro Max has a 48MP telephoto lens with 4x optical zoom, while iPhone Air only offers digital zoom.
Q: Do both record 4K video?
A: Yes, but iPhone 17 Pro Max supports 4K at up to 120fps, whereas iPhone Air maxes out at 4K 60fps.
Battery & Charging
Q: Which has a bigger battery?
A: iPhone 17 Pro Max has 5088mAh, while iPhone Air has 3149mAh.
Q: Do they support wireless charging?
A: Yes, both support wireless charging, but the 17 Pro Max is faster (25W vs 20W).
Q: Does either include a charger in the box?
A: No, both come without a bundled charger.
Connectivity
Q: Do both phones support USB-C?
A: Yes, but iPhone Air has USB 2.0 speeds, while iPhone 17 Pro Max supports USB 3.2 with faster data transfer.
Q: Do both support Wi-Fi 7?
A: Yes, both are compatible with the latest Wi-Fi 7 standard.
Price
Q: How much do they cost in the US?
- iPhone Air: $999
- iPhone 17 Pro Max: $1199
Q: Which offers better value?
A: iPhone Air is lighter, thinner, and cheaper. iPhone 17 Pro Max is more powerful, with a bigger display, larger battery, and better cameras.
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