Product Guide
Updated Oct. 13, 2026
SIDE BY SIDE

Apple iPhone 17 Pro Max vs iPhone Air (1st gen): which should you buy?

01 / A

Apple iPhone 17 Pro Max

PRICE NOT CONFIRMED
Price not confirmed
02 / B

Apple iPhone Air (1st gen)

NO NEED TO RUSH
TODAY$1,099
at Apple
Checked Oct. 13, 2026
256GB
PURCHASE TODAY

No clear price call today

We couldn't confirm a current price for Apple iPhone 17 Pro Max, so we don't compare prices. There's no rush to buy the Apple iPhone Air (1st gen).

BETTER PRODUCT01 / A

Apple iPhone 17 Pro Max has the edge in reviews

Outlets that scored both gave Apple iPhone 17 Pro Max the higher marks. The scores are below.

THE PRICE

Price check

Each model is judged on its own price history.

Apple iPhone 17 Pro Max

Price not confirmedApple no longer sells it on its own store, and iDevice has no confirmed price for itLast confirmed: $1,199 at Apple (Sept. 9, 2026)

Apple iPhone Air (1st gen)

$1,099at Apple
Checked Oct. 13, 2026
256GB
Lowest in the 34 days we've tracked it
FIND YOUR FIT

Best for

Open any row to see the reason.

01 / A

Apple iPhone 17 Pro Max

Movies

It has a 6.9-inch screen and plays video for up to 39 hours.

Gaming

It runs the same A19 Pro graphics as the rest of the iPhone 17 Pro family.

02 / B

Apple iPhone Air (1st gen)

Travel

It is 5.64mm thick and weighs 165 grams.

Everyday use

It has a 6.5-inch screen and plays up to 27 hours of video.

Both products

Photos and video
THE INDEPENDENT VIEW

Do reviews break the tie?

Reviewers rate the Apple iPhone 17 Pro Max higher. Both outlets that scored the two (Engadget and WIRED) gave it higher marks, by 14.6 points out of 100 on average.

YOUR NEXT STEP

More comparisons

Should you buy the Apple iPhone 17 Pro Max?Should you buy the Apple iPhone Air (1st gen)?Apple iPhone 17 Pro Max vs Apple iPhone 18 ProApple iPhone 17 Pro vs Apple iPhone 17 Pro MaxApple iPhone 17 Pro vs Apple iPhone Air (1st gen)Apple iPhone 17 vs Apple iPhone 17 Pro Max
Independent decisions

No AI-generated verdicts. Commissions never change the answer.

Evidence-based

Every key fact links to a source.

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