Phone vs phone
iPhone 18 Pro Max 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.
bemobiles tips
Which is cheaper over 24 months?
iPhone 17 Pro Max — its best deal costs £1,151.80 including April rises, £190 less than the iPhone 18 Pro Max.
Which has the bigger screen and battery?
Screen: iPhone 18 Pro Max 6.9″, iPhone 17 Pro Max 6.9″. Battery: iPhone 18 Pro Max 5,391 mAh, iPhone 17 Pro Max 4,832 mAh.
Is it cheaper to buy either one outright?
iPhone 18 Pro Max: £1,443 SIM-free plus SIM only. iPhone 17 Pro Max: £1,243. Compare with the contract totals above.
iPhone 18 Pro Max£1,341.80
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 Max is the cheaper of the two today: its best contract costs £1,151.80 over 24 months with April rises, against £1,341.80 for the iPhone 18 Pro Max — a gap of £190, or about £7.92 a month.
Prices checked 28 October 2026 · How we compare
iPhone 18 Pro Max vs iPhone 17 Pro Max, side by side
| iPhone 18 Pro Max | iPhone 17 Pro Max | |
|---|---|---|
| True total (24 months) | £1,341.80 | £1,151.80 |
| Cheapest network | Talkmobile | Talkmobile |
| Upfront on that deal | £1,055 | £865 |
| Monthly on that deal | £11.95 | £11.95 |
| Lowest monthly anywhere | £11.95 | £9 |
| SIM-free price from | £1,299 | £1,099 |
| SIM-free + SIM only, 24 months | £1,443 | £1,243 |
| Contract deals tracked | 7,763 | 2,669 |
| Screen | 6.9 inches | 6.9 inches |
| Battery | 5,391 mAh | 4,832 mAh |
| Storage | 256GB | 256GB |
| Weight | 249 g | 233 g |
| Released | September 2026 | September 2025 |
| Colours on sale | 4 | 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 18 Pro Max | iPhone 17 Pro Max | Difference |
|---|---|---|---|
| Talkmobile | £1,341.80 | £1,151.80 | £190 |
| iD Mobile | £1,401.96 | £1,161.96 | £240 |
| Vodafone | £1,457 | £1,267 | £190 |
| O2 | £1,463 | £1,351 | £112 |
| Three | £1,530.20 | £1,190.20 | £340 |
Our verdict
On price, the iPhone 17 Pro Max wins: £190 less over two years once each network’s April rises are counted. That is £7.92 a month — enough to matter unless the iPhone 18 Pro Max does something you need.
On the spec sheet, the iPhone 18 Pro Max has the larger battery (5,391 mAh), the iPhone 18 Pro Max is the newer phone (September 2026).
Buying outright: iPhone 18 Pro Max SIM-free plus SIM only costs £1,443, more than its cheapest contract; the iPhone 17 Pro Max costs £1,243, more than its contract.
Pick the iPhone 18 Pro Max if…
- Battery size matters most to you
- You want the newer model with longer support ahead
Pick the iPhone 17 Pro Max if…
- You want to pay less on the day — from £39 upfront vs £799
- You want the lowest monthly price — from £9 a month vs £11.95
- You want the lower total — £190 less over 24 months
- You prefer a lighter phone
FAQ
iPhone 18 Pro Max vs iPhone 17 Pro Max questions
Which is cheaper, the iPhone 18 Pro Max or the iPhone 17 Pro Max?
The iPhone 17 Pro Max. Its cheapest contract costs £1,151.80 over 24 months including April rises, £190 less than the iPhone 18 Pro Max (£1,341.80).
What is the cheapest network for each?
For the iPhone 18 Pro Max it is Talkmobile (£1,055 upfront, £11.95 a month); for the iPhone 17 Pro Max it is Talkmobile (£865 upfront, £11.95 a month).
Is the iPhone 18 Pro Max bigger than the iPhone 17 Pro Max?
The iPhone 18 Pro Max has a 6.9-inch screen and the iPhone 17 Pro Max a 6.9-inch screen; they weigh 249 g and 233 g.
How much are they to buy outright?
SIM-free, the iPhone 18 Pro Max starts at £1,299 and the iPhone 17 Pro Max at £1,099, from retailers we track.