![Screen Brightness Test: iPhone 17 Pro Max vs iPhone Air [Video]](/images/news/98999/470434/470434-64.png "Screen Brightness Test: iPhone 17 Pro Max vs iPhone Air [Video]")
Screen Brightness Test: iPhone 17 Pro Max vs iPhone Air [Video]
Posted November 9, 2025 at 11:58pm by
Shalom Levytam
Check out our screen brightness test comparing Apple's flagship iPhone 17 Pro Max with the new, ultra-thin iPhone Air.
To perform the test, we disabled Auto Brightness and True Tone in iOS and set the display brightness to 100%. With these settings, the iPhone Air measured a peak manual brightness of 903 nits, slightly outperforming the iPhone 17 Pro Max which we measured at 867 nits.
With Auto Brightness enabled, both phones delivered impressive peak outdoor brightness levels. The iPhone 17 Pro Max narrowly edged out the iPhone Air, measuring 3272 nits compared to the iPhone Air's 3205 nits.
For reference, Apple officially rates both the iPhone 17 Pro Max and the iPhone Air for up to 3000 nits of peak outdoor brightness. The high sustained brightness on the Pro model is aided by its new vapor chamber cooling system that enhances thermal management.
Take a look at the video below, then check out some of our other recent iPhone 17 tests:
● Screen Brightness Test: iPhone 17 Pro Max vs iPhone 16 Pro Max
● Boot Speed Test: iPhone 17 Pro Max vs iPhone Air vs iPhone 17
● Speaker Volume Test: iPhone 17 Pro Max vs iPhone Air vs iPhone 17
Please download the iClarified app or follow iClarified on Twitter, Facebook, YouTube, and RSS for more test videos.
To perform the test, we disabled Auto Brightness and True Tone in iOS and set the display brightness to 100%. With these settings, the iPhone Air measured a peak manual brightness of 903 nits, slightly outperforming the iPhone 17 Pro Max which we measured at 867 nits.
With Auto Brightness enabled, both phones delivered impressive peak outdoor brightness levels. The iPhone 17 Pro Max narrowly edged out the iPhone Air, measuring 3272 nits compared to the iPhone Air's 3205 nits.
For reference, Apple officially rates both the iPhone 17 Pro Max and the iPhone Air for up to 3000 nits of peak outdoor brightness. The high sustained brightness on the Pro model is aided by its new vapor chamber cooling system that enhances thermal management.
Take a look at the video below, then check out some of our other recent iPhone 17 tests:
● Screen Brightness Test: iPhone 17 Pro Max vs iPhone 16 Pro Max
● Boot Speed Test: iPhone 17 Pro Max vs iPhone Air vs iPhone 17
● Speaker Volume Test: iPhone 17 Pro Max vs iPhone Air vs iPhone 17
Please download the iClarified app or follow iClarified on Twitter, Facebook, YouTube, and RSS for more test videos.
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