iPhone 17 Pro Max vs iPhone 16 Pro Max Refurbished: Which One Should You Choose?
Chip, display, camera, design and battery compared — plus why the refurbished iPhone 16 Pro Max is the smarter buy for most people.
Door The Phone Shopper
Gepubliceerd: 2026-07-18
iPhone 17 Pro Max vs iPhone 16 Pro Max: what's the difference?
Two Pro Max models side by side, one clear question: which refurbished iPhone is the smarter choice? We put the iPhone 17 Pro Max and the iPhone 16 Pro Max head-to-head — honestly, without any hype.
Chip: A19 Pro vs A18 Pro
The iPhone 17 Pro Max runs on the A19 Pro, the successor to the A18 Pro found in the iPhone 16 Pro Max. Both chips are more than powerful enough for everyday use, heavy multitasking and the latest Apple Intelligence features. You'll mainly notice the difference in demanding tasks like 4K video editing or extended gaming sessions, where the A19 Pro is slightly more efficient and runs cooler.
Display: ProMotion 120Hz
Both models feature a Super Retina XDR display of approximately 6.9 inches with ProMotion up to 120Hz for smooth scrolling and Always-On display. The difference between the two generations here is minimal — buying a 16 Pro Max today means you're barely missing out on display quality.
Camera and zoom
The Pro camera system is the highlight of both devices. The iPhone 16 Pro Max features a 48MP main camera, ultrawide lens and a 5x telephoto. The iPhone 17 Pro Max builds on this with an improved telephoto lens and greater digital zoom range on top of the optical zoom. For sharp shots at a distance — concerts, sports, wildlife — the 17 Pro Max has a genuine edge.
Design: titanium vs aluminium
This is where things get interesting. The iPhone 16 Pro Max features a titanium frame — lightweight and scratch-resistant. The iPhone 17 Pro Max switches to an aluminium frame with vapor chamber cooling, which delivers better heat dissipation during intensive use. If titanium is a must for you, the 16 Pro Max is the deliberate choice.
Battery
Thanks to its redesigned chassis, the iPhone 17 Pro Max has room for a larger battery, translating into longer battery life during normal use. The iPhone 16 Pro Max still handles a full day with ease, but may need to be plugged in a little sooner.
Software updates
Both devices will receive iOS updates for years to come, keeping them current in terms of features and security. As the newer model, the iPhone 17 Pro Max simply has more of that update cycle ahead of it.
| Feature | iPhone 17 Pro Max | iPhone 16 Pro Max |
|---|
| Chip | A19 Pro | A18 Pro |
| Display | ~6.9" ProMotion 120Hz | ~6.9" ProMotion 120Hz |
| Camera | Improved telephoto zoom | 48MP + 5x telephoto |
| Frame | Aluminium + vapor chamber | Titanium |
| Battery | Larger | More than sufficient |
| Refurbished price | Higher | More affordable |
Refurbished price
As a refurbished device, the iPhone 16 Pro Max is considerably more affordable than the iPhone 17 Pro Max. That makes sense — it's one generation older and the supply of pre-owned units is greater. Check the latest prices for the iPhone 17 Pro Max and iPhone 16 Pro Max.
Which one should you choose?
Want the very latest, the fastest chip and the best camera, and happy to spend a little more? Go for the iPhone 17 Pro Max. Want nearly the same experience — the same large display, a titanium frame and an excellent camera — for significantly less? Then the iPhone 16 Pro Max is the smarter buy.
Whichever you choose, every refurbished device we sell goes through a 50-point quality check and comes with a 2-year warranty. Browse all refurbished models to see our full range.
Refurbished iPhones, Samsung en iPads
Bespaar tot 50% op een refurbished iPhone. Elk toestel doorloopt ons 50-punts inspectieproces en wordt geleverd met 2 jaar garantie.
Onze diensten
Waarom The Phone Shopper?
- 2 jaar garantie op alle refurbished telefoons
- 30 dagen bedenktijd en gratis retourneren
- Gratis verzending binnen Nederland
- Professioneel 50-punts inspectieproces
- Veilig betalen met iDEAL, creditcard, Bancontact, Apple Pay en Klarna
- Klantenservice bereikbaar op werkdagen 10:00 - 18:00
Kwaliteitsgraden
Al onze refurbished telefoons worden ingedeeld in kwaliteitsgraden:
- Grade A+ (Als Nieuw) — Geen zichtbare gebruikssporen
- Grade A (Uitstekend) — Minimale gebruikssporen
- Grade B (Goed) — Lichte cosmetische gebruikssporen
Klantenservice & informatie
Contact
The Phone Shopper
Willem Alexanderstraat 11
7442 MA Nijverdal, Overijssel
Tel: +31 548 549 536
E-mail: info@thephoneshopper.nl
KvK: 75693623 | BTW: NL002427182B29
Openingstijden: Ma 13:00-18:00 | Di-Wo & Vr 10:00-18:00 | Do 10:00-20:00 | Za 10:00-17:00 | Zo Gesloten
Juridisch
Algemene voorwaarden | Privacybeleid | Cookiebeleid | Disclaimer