I won't lie — I've been an exclusive Apple iPhone user for the past decade. While some of my fellow Tom's Guide AU colleagues swear by Android powerhouses like Samsung and Nothing phones, I will always come to bat for Apple.
The brand's latest flagship, the iPhone 17 Pro Max, has been the talk of the town as of late. From its impressive vapour cooling technology and long-lasting battery life, to its great photo-taking capabilities (even in space), there is a lot to like about the latest Pro model. There's also a lot to dislike — namely its inflated RRP between AU$2,199 (256GB) and AU$3,799 (2TB).
But when the Phone 17 models were announced in September last year, I didn't line up immediately for preorders. At the time, I was being fiscally conservative — I mean, aren't we all right now? — and I knew it wasn't worth parting ways with my iPhone 14. The phone, which I purchased in 2022, was still kicking on, and as per my own research, it was bound to hold up for at least five years of software updates, battery life and general wear and tear. In theory, I didn't need to upgrade my phone for five years from when it was released.
That said, in the few short years between the iPhone 14 and iPhone 17, the world of smartphones and wearables has grown exponentially. While, yes, Apple is a few strides behind when it comes to AI capabilities, even the comparative jump between the iPhone 14 and iPhone 15 to the iPhone 16 was drastic enough to make me reconsider my five-year plan.
So after skipping the initial release, I thought that I could hold off another year and be first in line for either the iPhone 18 or iPhone 19 models, assuming by then, Apple would have caught up to its competitors. And even after forking out for my iPhone 14 only a few years ago, I naively thought that I'd have no serious FOMO on features or camera quality until my next upgrade. But after a month of testing the iPhone 17 Pro Max, I can safely say I was wrong.
To really put the Pro Max to the test, I outlined three make-or-break factors that would either justify keeping my current iPhone, or push me towards an upgrade. Those factors were camera quality, battery life and overall user experience. So, let’s jump in, shall we?
Camera quality is unrivalled
Okay, yes, I know — one of the biggest differences between a standard, run-of-the-mill iPhone and iPhone Pro model is camera quality, and I can attest to that. I knew going into this trial period that the Pro Max would indeed take better photos than my iPhone 14's dual-lens 12MP back cameras. But as someone who takes photos and videos of products for a living, I can safely say that the iPhone 17 Pro Max has one of the best phone cameras I've ever used.
From capturing lowlight scenes to excellent macro modes and decent colour contrasts, it genuinely amazed me how good the camera quality was from an iPhone. Even on the best days, with great lighting and zero framing issues, my iPhone 14 struggled with overcoming shadows and dark spots, and I'd have to spend a lot of time editing, even if I seemed like I'd taken a good picture. The iPhone 17 Pro Max didn’t have that problem.
I've noticed the upgrade the most when it comes to shooting and editing videos. After receiving some new coffee machines to review, my colleague Max and I set up the iPhone 17 Pro Max to shoot our unboxings. I was anticipating some heavy editing to counter for stabilisation, lighting and detail shots, but I was left pleasantly surprised.
Despite a few instances of straightening the footage and adjusting lighting in post-production, the Pro Max captured the entirety of the unboxing in explicit detail. Even when I accidentally dropped the phone for a millisecond while recording, the footage didn't shake or blur.
I've also really enjoyed taking selfies with the iPhone 17 Pro Max. For starters, it has a wider field of view, which means it can capture more of my surroundings without losing the finer details, and is great when taking the occasional group selfie. Plus, I've also really liked the new 18MP center stage camera, as no matter how I'm holding the phone — be it vertical or horizontal — I can still access the framing options and get the perfect shot. Better yet, I also had so much fun using the dual capture and visual intelligence features, which are somewhat hidden gems.
Bye, bad battery life!
One of my biggest gripes in the past 12 months of using my iPhone 14 was, unfortunately, battery life. As of June 2026, my phone still had 80% battery health, which was rather commendable for a three-year-old phone. However, that comes with a healthy caveat — I was never not recharging my phone.
After upgrading from my beloved yellow iPhone XR in 2022, I was ecstatic for the iPhone 14's promised 9+ hour battery life. However, that definitely didn't ring true for me, as I constantly needed to plug my phone in at 2pm every afternoon just to make it through my evening commute. Over the past few weeks, my phone's battery life deteriorated even further, and it meant that I had to have two portable chargers attached to my person at all times. And if I was ever caught without a charging cord, I was lost.
It almost goes without saying, but the first week of using the iPhone 17 Pro Max was pure, unstressful magic. As per our review, the iPhone 17 Pro Max can easily last up to 17:54 hours on a single charge. Not only could I unplug the phone at the first chime of my 5:30am alarm, but I could easily make it through the entire work day and commute without needing to plug 'er in. It was fantastic.
Granted, if there were days when I was filming or editing reels on my phone, that came with some battery usage, but it was never enough of a drain to cause worry. There were still times when I felt the phone charging PTSD — like, when I was filming content at an event and the battery was on 26% — but the iPhone 17 Pro Max handled every situation just fine, proving me wrong each time.
Updating user experience
As for user experience, there were some notable upgrades that I really enjoyed but was also perplexed by when using the iPhone 17 Pro Max. For instance, I cannot get enough of the capture button, which makes it much easier to open and use the camera app.
However, I am still a bit confused by the vast customisation options of the action button, which was introduced on the iPhone 15s. It can be used as a shortcut to anything, which, in a sense, is great. You can customise it to send a text, check transport routes, or open a frequently used app. The options are endless, but as someone who is frequently indecisive, the limitless possibilities were exhausting. So, I opted for a simple option — turning on the flashlight — and left it at that.
Action button aside, I didn't feel like there was a massive adjustment when switching between the phones. Of course, the iPhone 17 Pro Max has a faster processor, Apple Intelligence features and larger screen real estate when compared to the iPhone 14, but the changes weren't as drastic as I thought they'd be.
Maybe that's due to my phone constantly having the most up-to-date version of iOS installed, no matter the storage space cost, or the fact that I'm tech-literate enough to use a Pro iPhone without having to head into my local Genius bar. Or maybe I was anticipating such an extreme upgrade that I would have to relearn everything I already knew about iPhones. But it still posed the question — was the upgrade actually worth it?
Is it worth upgrading now or waiting till September?
Look, it's only been a month of using the iPhone 17 Pro Max as my primary handset, and I really like everything about it. However, there are some caveats. Firstly, the pricetag is truly painful to swallow for the average consumer, let alone someone who would get plenty of use out of a Pro iPhone (e.g. me).
However, if you ignore the price tag, there are lots of factors to consider. The 17 Pro Max has beyond impressive battery life, exceptional camera quality, nice (but still evolving) AI capabilities and a redesign I can get behind. But there's still a looming question that many in the same boat as me are still considering, and it's whether it's worth upgrading to the 17 Pro Max now or waiting for the 18 Pro Max.
Here's my take — be it now, or in a few months, if you want a new iPhone, and you're upgrading from ageing out models like the iPhone 11 to iPhone 14s, the 17 range and the 17 Pro Max is one to seriously consider. It offers new features but remains simple enough for older users who don't want to be overwhelmed by change. If you have a newer model, such as a iPhone 15 Pro Max or higher, then the 17 Pro Max probably won't feel much different at all.
There's also a lot of speculation about the iPhone 18 line and how different it could potentially be. It might be the "heaviest" iPhone ever or be superseded by a new "Ultra" model, and after recent Apple price hikes, we can only assume the new iPhones will suffer a similar fate. But at the end of the day, nothing is set in stone until Apple announces the range and new features in the coming months.
So if you're questioning whether to upgrade, I hope this points you in the right direction. As for me, I can officially say that the iPhone 17 Pro Max is my perfect match.
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