iPhone Air vs. iPhone 17 Pro Max: I compared both flagship models, and here’s the winner

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Apple’s iPhone 17 lineup brings a few of the greatest design modifications the smartphone collection has seen in years, and no two fashions higher spotlight this shift than the iPhone Air and iPhone 17 Pro Max. The iPhone Air is among the thinnest smartphones Apple has ever made, made for individuals who worth a glossy, moveable design. 

In the meantime, the iPhone 17 Professional Max doubles down on energy with a cutting-edge digicam system and a brand new vapor chamber cooling system.

Additionally: iPhone 17 Pro vs. iPhone 15 Pro: I compared both models, and here’s who should upgrade

Each units are nice, however they cater to totally different audiences. The query of the day is: Which one do you have to get as your new every day driver? It is arduous to decide on, however don’t fret — I am right here to assist. Under, I’ve damaged down how the iPhone Air compares to the iPhone 17 Professional Max.

Specs

You should purchase the iPhone Air if…

1. You need an ultrathin but robust cellphone

At simply 5.6 mm thick, the iPhone Air is almost a 3rd thinner than the iPhone 16 Professional. Though it seems fragile, it is something however, as Apple designed its cell machine to be simply as sturdy as it’s elegant. The smartphone’s body is product of grade 5 titanium, a cloth identified for its excessive power and “corrosion-resistant traits.” 

Additionally: 3 reasons why I’m skipping the iPhone 17 Pro and buying this model instead

Ceramic Defend protects the again of the iPhone Air, permitting it to raised resist harm. On the entrance, Apple selected to equip the display screen with Ceramic Defend 2. Due to this materials, Apple says the show has “3x higher scratch resistance” than earlier fashions and “improved anti-reflection” properties.

2. You do not want each bell and whistle

As I discussed in my iPhone 17 series comparison piece, the iPhone Air is not as feature-rich because the higher-end fashions. 

This can be a controversial opinion, however I feel the machine’s lack of bells and whistles will profit customers as they will obtain a extra streamlined expertise. As an illustration, it solely has a single 48MP Fusion lens as its rear digicam system. According to Apple, it allows the equal of 4 lenses with customers in a position to shoot pictures in each 28mm and 35mm focal lengths. You will not need to fiddle round with the settings or be taught what the cameras do. It is all condensed.

Additionally: iPhone Air vs. Samsung S25 Edge: I compared both thin phones, and there’s a clear winner

One other change pertains to mobile connectivity. The iPhone Air depends completely on eSIM expertise. Carriers proceed to extend assist for eSIM at a constant price, so this is not too large a detriment, however this does imply that you simply will not have the ability to use your SIM card. Apple has additionally stated that the adoption of an “eSIM-only design” allowed the corporate to avoid wasting house, serving to the iPhone Air obtain that skinny kind issue.

You should purchase the iPhone 17 Professional Max if…

1. You need essentially the most highly effective iPhone

The iPhone 17 Pro Max shares a shocking variety of similarities with the iPhone Air. Each units run on a three-chip setup, which consists of the A19 Professional processor, N1 networking chip, and C1X modem. Collectively, this trio permits the smartphones to ship highly effective efficiency, assist Wi-Fi 7 and Bluetooth 6, and supply quicker, extra energy-efficient mobile connections.

Additionally: T-Mobile will give you a free iPhone 17 Pro – here’s how to get yours

The place the Professional Max differentiates itself is in measurement and stamina. Its large 6.9-inch Tremendous Retina XDR show hits 3,000 nits of brightness, making certain visibility below direct daylight. Help for ProMotion lets it run at a refresh price of 120Hz for easy visuals. The glass is even protected by Ceramic Defend 2. Paired with a battery reportedly able to lasting as much as 39 hours of video playback, it’s the iPhone constructed for customers who need one of the best of one of the best.

2. You need one of the best digicam system

The similarities between the 2 telephones do not cease on the chipset or shows as a result of additionally they have comparable digicam methods. For instance, each fashions have the brand new 18MP Middle Stage selfie lens. Not solely does it present higher-quality photos, however it additionally makes use of a brand new sort of sensor that lets house owners seize photographs in each portrait and panorama orientations without having to rotate their cellphone.

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The iPhone 17 Professional Max differentiates itself once more by offering professional-grade video. The flagship mannequin now helps ProRes RAW, a video codec that higher preserves knowledge for high-quality footage, the Log 2 format for wider coloration gamuts, and genlock. 

Genlock is software program that synchronizes “video throughout a number of cameras.” For content material creators, instruments like these permit the iPhone 17 Professional Max to double as a succesful filmmaking digicam.

Options to contemplate