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ISSUE № 219 · MAY 13, 2026

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Updated April 2026 PIXLRUN · COMPARE LAB v3

Compare
anything.

A laboratory-grade side-by-side that scores phones, laptops and headphones on the things buyers actually feel — not the spec-sheet poetry manufacturers print on the box.

1,284

Devices benchmarked

Lab metrics per unit

94%

Reader trust score

Affiliate sponsorships

Side-by-side index Live catalogue Catalogue live

The duel.
Two phones, one verdict.

Lab-tested over 14 days each. Identical conditions, identical workloads, scored on a calibrated 100-point rubric.

Apple · 2026 PixlRun pick

iPhone 17 Pro Max

The future of iPhone, redefined for 2026.

9.4^/10

From

$1,299

Apple · 2024 Worth a look

Apple iPhone 16 Pro Max

The Most Powerful iPhone Ever

9.4^/10

From

$1,199

Where each one wins.

Six pillars tailored to Smartphone reviews — scored independently in our Victoria, BC lab. Bars animate to live values when in view.

Camera

Apple +0.2

Apple9.6

Apple9.4

Performance

Apple +0.2

Apple9.8

Apple9.6

Battery

Apple +0.2

Apple9.2

Apple9.0

Display

Apple +0.1

Apple9.6

Apple9.5

Build & feel

Apple9.6

Value

Apple8.5

Six dimensions, overlaid.

Radar of normalized scores across our full rubric.

iPhone 17 Pro Max Apple iPhone 16 Pro Max

Score gap

+0.0%

Apple iPhone 16 Pro Max vs iPhone 17 Pro Max — composite lab score difference.

Fast charge

45W MagSafe USB-C vs —

iPhone 17 Pro Max / Apple iPhone 16 Pro Max

Weight

228g vs 227g

iPhone 17 Pro Max / Apple iPhone 16 Pro Max

The full spec sheet.

Grouped by what matters to use, not by alphabet. Winners highlighted with an acid dot.

Display

Display6.9in Super Retina XDR OLED 120Hz ProMotion

Display—

Resolution2868 x 1320 px @ 460 ppi

Resolution2868 x 1320 (460 ppi)

Peak Brightness3000 nits (outdoor)

Peak Brightness—

Size—

Size6.9 inches

Technology—

TechnologySuper Retina XDR OLED · ProMotion

Performance

ProcessorApple A19 Pro (3nm TSMC)

Processor—

RAM12GB LPDDR5X

RAM8GB

Storage256GB / 512GB / 1TB (NVMe)

Storage256GB / 512GB / 1TB

Chipset—

ChipsetApple A18 Pro (3nm)

Camera

Main Camera48MP Fusion, f/1.6, OIS, sensor-shift

Main Camera—

Ultrawide Camera48MP, f/2.2, 120° FOV, macro

Ultrawide Camera—

Telephoto Camera12MP periscope, 5x optical zoom, f/2.8

Telephoto Camera—

Front Camera24MP TrueDepth, autofocus, f/1.9

Front Camera—

Video8K ProRes @ 30fps, 4K @ 120fps

Video4K@120fps Dolby Vision

Main sensor—

Main sensor48MP Fusion · f/1.78 · OIS

Ultra-wide—

Ultra-wide48MP · f/2.2 · Macro

Telephoto—

Telephoto12MP · 5x optical zoom

Battery & Charging

Battery5200mAh Li-Ion

Battery4685 mAh

Wired Charging45W MagSafe USB-C

Wired Charging—

Wireless Charging25W MagSafe / 15W Qi2

Wireless Charging—

Charging—

Charging27W wired · 25W MagSafe

Body & Build

BuildGrade 5 Titanium frame, textured matte glass back

Build—

Dimensions163.0 x 77.6 x 8.2 mm

Dimensions—

Weight228g

Weight227g

ColorsBlack Titanium, White Titanium, Desert Titanium, Teal Titanium

Colors—

IP RatingIP69 (dust & water resistant)

IP Rating—

Material—

MaterialGrade 5 Titanium

Connectivity

Connectivity5G SA/NSA, Wi-Fi 7, Bluetooth 5.4, UWB

Connectivity—

NFCYes (Apple Pay, background reading)

NFC—

SatelliteEmergency SOS + Roadside Assistance via Satellite

Satellite—

Pros & cons,
at a glance.

A bento grid of what each one nails — and where it falls short.

iPhone 17 Pro Max

What you'll love

The future of iPhone, redefined for 2026.

A19 Pro chip dominates every benchmark, Titanium design with refined aesthetics, 48MP periscope triple-camera system with AI computational photography, ProMotion 120Hz always-on display with peak 3000 nits

Watch out for

Premium price tag remains steep, USB-C still limited to USB 3 speeds on base model, Heavier than previous generation

Apple iPhone 16 Pro Max

What you'll love

The Most Powerful iPhone Ever

The verdict.

After 14 days each, in real-world use — here's how we'd actually spend the money.

PixlRun verdict · May 2026

It is a coin flip. Either picks lose nothing the other has.

iPhone 17 Pro Max takes the overall win at 9.4/10. iPhone 17 Pro Max: The future of iPhone, redefined for 2026.. Apple iPhone 16 Pro Max: The Most Powerful iPhone Ever.

See iPhone 17 Pro Max review See Apple iPhone 16 Pro Max

PixlRun Lab Score

Composite · 14-day test cycle

iPhone 17 Pro Max9.4

Apple iPhone 16 Pro Max9.4

Margin0.0

ConfidenceClose call