Apple iPhone 17e vs Apple iPhone 17 Pro Max

The iPhone 17 Pro Max is the better phone: a 6.9-inch 120Hz display, a triple-camera system with 5x telephoto, 12GB of RAM and 37 hours of video playback. The 17e is the smarter buy for most people: the same A19-class chip, a 48MP main camera with 2x zoom, 256GB of storage and a lighter 6.1-inch body that fits one hand. Reviewers and owners praise the Pro Max screen, battery and cameras but note its size and weight; the 17e draws praise for value and battery life, with the 60Hz screen and missing telephoto as the usual complaints.

• Choose the iPhone 17e if you want a compact, light iPhone with strong battery life, a 48MP main camera and 256GB of storage without paying for features you won't use.
• Choose the iPhone 17 Pro Max if screen size, a 120Hz refresh rate, a 5x telephoto lens and the longest battery life matter more to you than a lighter, easier-to-hold phone.