Phone vs phone
iPhone 17 Pro vs iPhone 17 Pro Max
Same question, two phones: which costs less over a 24-month contract, which is cheaper to buy outright, and what you actually get for the difference.
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Which is cheaper over 24 months?
iPhone 17 Pro — its best deal costs £1,051 including April rises, £100.80 less than the iPhone 17 Pro Max.
Which has the bigger screen and battery?
Screen: iPhone 17 Pro 6.3″, iPhone 17 Pro Max 6.9″. Battery: iPhone 17 Pro 3,988 mAh, iPhone 17 Pro Max 4,832 mAh.
Is it cheaper to buy either one outright?
iPhone 17 Pro: £1,143 SIM-free plus SIM only. iPhone 17 Pro Max: £1,243. Compare with the contract totals above.
iPhone 17 Pro£1,051
iPhone 17 Pro Max£1,151.80True total of the cheapest deal, April rises included
Live from retailers, rises estimated for a contract starting this month.
The iPhone 17 Pro is the cheaper of the two today: its best contract costs £1,051 over 24 months with April rises, against £1,151.80 for the iPhone 17 Pro Max — a gap of £100.80, or about £4.20 a month.
Prices checked 27 October 2026 · How we compare
iPhone 17 Pro vs iPhone 17 Pro Max, side by side
| iPhone 17 Pro | iPhone 17 Pro Max | |
|---|---|---|
| True total (24 months) | £1,051 | £1,151.80 |
| Cheapest network | Vodafone | Talkmobile |
| Upfront on that deal | £199 | £865 |
| Monthly on that deal | £33 | £11.95 |
| Lowest monthly anywhere | £9 | £9 |
| SIM-free price from | £999 | £1,099 |
| SIM-free + SIM only, 24 months | £1,143 | £1,243 |
| Contract deals tracked | 1,983 | 2,974 |
| Screen | 6.3 inches | 6.9 inches |
| Battery | 3,988 mAh | 4,832 mAh |
| Storage | 256GB | 256GB |
| Weight | 206 g | 233 g |
| Released | September 2025 | September 2025 |
| Colours on sale | 1 | 3 |
Highlighted = better on that line. Prices live from retailers; specifications from our data partner’s catalogue.
Network by network
If you already know which network you want, here is the cheapest deal for each phone on it, April rises included.
| Network | iPhone 17 Pro | iPhone 17 Pro Max | Difference |
|---|---|---|---|
| Vodafone | £1,051 | £1,267 | £216 |
| Talkmobile | £1,055.80 | £1,151.80 | £96 |
| iD Mobile | £1,060.96 | £1,161.96 | £101 |
| Three | £1,070.20 | £1,190.20 | £120 |
| O2 | £1,351 | £1,351 | £0 |
Our verdict
On price, the iPhone 17 Pro wins: £100.80 less over two years once each network’s April rises are counted. That is £4.20 a month — enough to matter unless the iPhone 17 Pro Max does something you need.
On the spec sheet, the iPhone 17 Pro Max has the bigger screen (6.9 vs 6.3 inches), the iPhone 17 Pro Max has the larger battery (4,832 mAh).
Buying outright: iPhone 17 Pro SIM-free plus SIM only costs £1,143, more than its cheapest contract; the iPhone 17 Pro Max costs £1,243, more than its contract.
Pick the iPhone 17 Pro if…
- You want to pay less on the day — from £0 upfront vs £39
- You want the lower total — £100.80 less over 24 months
- You prefer a lighter phone
Pick the iPhone 17 Pro Max if…
- You want the bigger screen
- Battery size matters most to you
FAQ
iPhone 17 Pro vs iPhone 17 Pro Max questions
Which is cheaper, the iPhone 17 Pro or the iPhone 17 Pro Max?
The iPhone 17 Pro. Its cheapest contract costs £1,051 over 24 months including April rises, £100.80 less than the iPhone 17 Pro Max (£1,151.80).
What is the cheapest network for each?
For the iPhone 17 Pro it is Vodafone (£199 upfront, £33 a month); for the iPhone 17 Pro Max it is Talkmobile (£865 upfront, £11.95 a month).
Is the iPhone 17 Pro bigger than the iPhone 17 Pro Max?
The iPhone 17 Pro has a 6.3-inch screen and the iPhone 17 Pro Max a 6.9-inch screen; they weigh 206 g and 233 g.
How much are they to buy outright?
SIM-free, the iPhone 17 Pro starts at £999 and the iPhone 17 Pro Max at £1,099, from retailers we track.