Thinking about upgrading this year? Whether you're considering moving from the iPhone 17 Pro Max to the iPhone 18 Pro Max or trying to decide if the 17 Pro Max is still your best option, we've got you covered. In this guide, we’ll break down how the iPhone 18 Pro Max and iPhone 17 Pro Max compare and where they truly differ.

Design

The iPhone 18 Pro Max retains the same overall size and design language as the iPhone 17 Pro Max, which is to be expected, considering Apple introduced a major redesign just last year. However, we are treated to a fresh set of color options: Burgundy, Glacier, Silver, and Black.

Battery & A20 Pro Chip

Battery performance gets a noticeable boost: the iPhone 18 Pro Max offers up to 45 hours of battery life compared to the 39 hours on the 17 Pro Max. Charging speeds have also improved significantly; the 18 Pro Max reaches a 50% charge in about 15 minutes, whereas the 17 Pro Max takes roughly 30 minutes to reach 50%. The new A20 Pro chip makes the latest model up to 40% faster in GPU graphics performance, while an upgraded vapor chamber keeps the device running cooler under heavy use.

Camera

The iPhone 18 Pro Max brings generous upgrades to both photo and video capture. On the video side, it features improved low-light performance, Cinematic mode effects that can be adjusted in post-processing, and smart focus tracking. The biggest highlight for photo is the addition of a variable aperture on the new Fusion Main camera, allowing you to choose between ƒ/1.48, ƒ/1.8, ƒ/2.8, and ƒ/4.0 settings, this change allows for even better low-light photography. Time-lapse video recording also gets a boost, adding stabilization at up to 4K Dolby Vision.

Another great update is the Audio Mix feature: while the iPhone 17 Pro Max allowed you to isolate voices and background noise, the 18 Pro Max now lets you isolate and adjust voices and music separately. Lastly, Apple has upgraded the way users edit by implementing the ability to extend your image and even erase objects you don't want via the Apple Intelligence software.

The iPhone 18 Pro Max offers an awesome upgrade for the camera, the newly added variable aperture is definitely a highlight and a new concept we have not seen applied to an Apple phone. There's no doubt the iPhone 18 Pro Max is a great upgrade compared to the iPhone 17 Pro Max.

Are you going to wait or upgrade? Either way, we have got you covered with cases and gear. Check out our new Pro cases in Burgundy and Glacier that perfectly match the latest iPhone models.

Born on the California coast, SANDMARC designs gear for those who live life in motion. For more insights, explore the SANDMARC blog and find us on Instagram, YouTube or TikTok.