Iphone Air Vs. Iphone 17 Pro Max: I Compared Apple's Two Best Models, And I'd Buy This One

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Apple's iPhone 17 lineup brings immoderate of nan biggest creation changes nan smartphone bid has seen successful years, and nary 2 models amended item this displacement than nan iPhone Air and iPhone 17 Pro Max. The iPhone Air is 1 of nan thinnest smartphones Apple has ever made, made for those who worth a sleek, portable design. 

Meanwhile, nan iPhone 17 Pro Max doubles down connected powerfulness pinch a cutting-edge camera strategy and a caller vapor enclosure cooling system.

Also: iPhone 17 Pro vs. iPhone 15 Pro: I compared some models, and here's who should upgrade

Both devices are great, but they cater to different audiences. The mobility of nan time is: Which 1 should you get arsenic your caller regular driver? It's difficult to choose, but don't interest -- I'm present to help. Below, I've surgery down really nan iPhone Air compares to nan iPhone 17 Pro Max.

Specifications

You should bargain nan iPhone Air if...

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1. You want an ultrathin yet reliable phone

At conscionable 5.6 mm thick, nan iPhone Air is astir a 3rd thinner than nan iPhone 16 Pro. Although it appears fragile, it's thing but, arsenic Apple designed its mobile instrumentality to beryllium conscionable arsenic durable arsenic it is elegant. The smartphone's framework is made of grade 5 titanium, a worldly known for its precocious spot and "corrosion-resistant characteristics." 

Ceramic Shield protects nan backmost of nan iPhone Air, allowing it to amended defy damage. On nan front, Apple chose to equip nan surface pinch Ceramic Shield 2. Thanks to this material, Apple says nan show has "3x amended scratch resistance" than erstwhile models and "improved anti-reflection" properties.

2. You don't request each doorbell and whistle

As I mentioned successful my iPhone 17 bid comparison piece, nan iPhone Air isn't arsenic feature-rich arsenic nan higher-end models. 

This whitethorn beryllium a arguable opinion, but I deliberation nan device's deficiency of bells and whistles will use users arsenic they'll person a much streamlined experience. For instance, it only has a azygous 48MP Fusion lens arsenic its rear camera system. According to Apple, it enables nan balanced of 4 lenses pinch users capable to sprout photographs successful some 28mm and 35mm focal lengths. You won't person to fiddle astir pinch nan settings aliases study what nan cameras do. It's each condensed.

Also: iPhone Air vs. Samsung S25 Edge: I compared some bladed phones, and there's a clear winner

Another alteration relates to cellular connectivity. The iPhone Air relies exclusively connected eSIM technology. Carriers proceed to summation support for eSIM astatine a accordant rate, truthful this isn't excessively large a detriment, but this does mean that you won't beryllium capable to usage your SIM card. Apple has besides said that nan take of an "eSIM-only design" allowed nan institution to prevention space, helping nan iPhone Air execute that bladed shape factor.

You should bargain nan iPhone 17 Pro Max if...

Jason Hiner/ZDNET

1. You want nan astir powerful iPhone

The iPhone 17 Pro Max shares a astonishing number of similarities pinch nan iPhone Air. Both devices tally connected a three-chip setup, which consists of nan A19 Pro processor, N1 networking chip, and C1X modem. Together, this trio allows nan smartphones to present powerful performance, support Wi-Fi 7 and Bluetooth 6, and connection faster, much energy-efficient cellular connections.

Also: T-Mobile will springiness you a free iPhone 17 Pro - here's really to get yours

Where nan Pro Max differentiates itself is successful size and stamina. Its monolithic 6.9-inch Super Retina XDR show hits 3,000 nits of brightness, ensuring visibility nether nonstop sunlight. Support for ProMotion lets it tally astatine a refresh complaint of 120Hz for soft visuals. The solid is moreover protected by Ceramic Shield 2. Paired pinch a artillery reportedly tin of lasting up to 39 hours of video playback, it is nan iPhone built for users who want nan champion of nan best.

2. You want nan champion camera system

The similarities betwixt nan 2 phones don't extremity astatine nan chipset aliases displays because they besides person akin camera systems. For example, some models person nan caller 18MP Center Stage selfie lens. Not only does it supply higher-quality images, but it besides uses a caller type of sensor that lets owners seizure photos successful some image and scenery orientations without needing to rotate their phone.

The iPhone 17 Pro Max differentiates itself again by providing professional-grade video. The flagship exemplary now supports ProRes RAW, a video codec that amended preserves information for high-quality footage, nan Log 2 format for wider colour gamuts, and genlock. 

Genlock is package that synchronizes "video crossed aggregate cameras." For contented creators, devices for illustration these let nan iPhone 17 Pro Max to double arsenic a tin filmmaking camera.

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