As the premium device in Apple's iPhone lineup, the Pro Max model always commands an outsized share of the attention whenever a new version launches. And with the iPhone 17 Pro Max that headlines the iPhone 17 lineup, Apple certainly didn't skimp on the features.
Just about every element you can name has changed with the iPhone 17 Pro Max, from the look of the phone to the components inside. My colleague John Velasco did our initial iPhone 17 Pro Max hands-on review and came away impressed with the Pro Max after this year's overhaul.
But is the iPhone 17 Pro Max impressive enough to make your next phone? That's a question a lot of people are asking now that iPhone 17 preorders are underway ahead of the new models' arrival in stores next Friday (September 19).
We're still gathering information about the iPhone 17 Pro Max for our full review. But based on what we've seen at Apple's launch event, there are some clear reasons to buy the iPhone 17 Pro Max as well as a few arguments for considering a different phone.
iPhone 17 Pro Max: Reasons to buy
Apple's made a more durable phone
All the new iPhone 17 models, the Pro Max included, feature Ceramic Shield 2 on the front. This upgrade material is more scratch resistant than its predecessor, so the odds of keeping your iPhone 17 Pro Max looking pristine have gone up. But the Pro models also feature the original Ceramic Shield on the back, making them a lot more durable than their iPhone 16 Pro counterparts.
When you're paying big bucks for a phone, you don't want it to shatter at the first accidental drop. Apple's Ceramic Shield upgrades coupled with the usual IP68 water and dust resistance means the iPhone 17 Pro Max should be able to handle whatever life throws at it.
The first vapor chamber cooling system in an iPhone
iPhone performance can improve year over year just be virtue of upgrading to a new chipset — the A19 Pro in the iPhone 17 Pro Max's case. But Apple is expanding the performance capabilities of its Pro models with the addition of a vapor chamber to keep the phones from overheating.
As explained by Apple, the cooling chamber draws heat away from the A19 Pro system-on-chip, with the new aluminum frames also helping to dissipate heat. The end result should be that the iPhone 17 Pro Max is able to sustain performance for longer without the spikes in temperature that can result in slowdowns.
In fact, Apple's claiming a 40% improvement in sustained performance over this model's predecessor, which should be music to the ears of anyone who likes blowing off steam by playing graphically intensive games.
A brighter display
You'd think that the iPhone 17 got the better end of the display improvements with the long-awaited addition of a ProMotion display. But Apple didn't forget about its Pro models in the process. The screen size may be unchanged from the iPhone 16 Pro Max's 6.9-inch size, but there's some notable improvements behind the scenes.
Specifically, the iPhone 17 Pro Max panel now offers a peak brightness of 3,000 nits, compared to 2,000 nits for the iPhone 16 Pro Max when outdoors. Apple says outdoor contrast is twice as good on its new display, and that Ceramic Shield 2 coating contains an anti-reflection layer to beat back glare.
Not only does the 6.9-inch display on the iPhone 17 Pro Max give you a lot to look at, it's also going to be easier than ever to see.
Notable camera improvements
Apple made two big changes to the cameras on the iPhone 17 Pro Max. The first — replacing the 12MP TrueDepth camera with an 18MP Center Stage camera — applies to all the new iPhone models, but that doesn't diminish the benefit it brings to the Pro Max. The square sensor can adjust on the fly to accommodate more people into your self portrait and it also keeps you in the frame on FaceTime calls.
The upgraded telephoto lens on the iPhone 17 Pro Max is even more impressive. It's now a 48MP sensor, up from 12MP before, giving Apple's Pro phones a trio of 48MP shooters on the back. Critics will note that the new lens has a shorter optical zoom at 4x instead of the iPhone 16 Pro Max's 5x, but the higher resolution means your photos will be more detailed. What's more, Apple uses a bit of trickery to let you shoot 8x zooms at optical quality, while digital zoom support is now 40x, instead of 25x.
The improvements go beyond hardware, as Apple has updated its Photonic Engine. The end result should be better color accuracy, greater levels of detail and less photographic noise. We still need to test the complete camera package, but I'm imagining a shake-up at the top of our best camera phone rankings.
Potentially the best iPhone battery life ever
Because Apple doesn't disclose battery sizes for its phones and because we haven't yet run our battery test on the iPhone 17 Pro Max, we don't know how long the phone will last on a charge. But all signs are very encouraging.
For starters, Apple says the iPhone 17 Max is good for up to 39 hours of video playback. That's a boost from 33 hours on the iPhone 16 Pro Max, implying very strong that rumors of a larger battery in the iPhone 17 Pro Max are accurate. You'd also imagine the A19 Pro powering the iPhone 17 Pro Max manages power more efficiently to improve battery life.
That's potentially a big deal, because the iPhone 17 Pro Max posted the best result we've ever seen from an iPhone on our battery test. Surfing the web continuously, last year's Pro Max held out for more than 17 hours, putting it high on our best phone battery life list. There's a very good chance the iPhone 17 Pro Max pushes that mark even further.
Faster charging
While we're talking about batteries, you can expect to charge up the one inside the iPhone 17 Pro Max faster. After years of being stuck at the same charging speed, Apple's iPhones now support improved charging rates.
Previously, the iPhone 16 Pro Max could get to a 50% charge after 30 minutes, according to Apple's figures. That should take only 20 minutes with the iPhone 17 Pro Max.
The same price as before
You'll pay more for a base model iPhone 17 Pro than you would have for an iPhone 16 Pro (though, admittedly, you're getting more storage in the newer phone). But the iPhone 17 Pro Max's price isn't changing at all.
Just like a year ago, $1,199 gets you a 256GB Pro Max. And with the Pro cost now only $100 less instead of $200, you could argue, as John Velasco does, that the iPhone 17 Pro Max is a much better value than before.
iPhone 17 Pro Max: Reasons to skip
This year's model is bulkier
The margins are pretty fine, but there's no getting around the fact that the iPhone 17 Pro Max is thicker and heavier than its predecessor. While fractionally taller and wider than the iPhone 16 Pro Max, the iPhone 17 Pro Max's 0.34-inch thickness is decidedly more pronounced than the 0.32-inch size of last year's phone.
The weight has gone up, too, as the iPhone 16 Pro Max managed to slide in just under 8 ounces. (It weighs 7.99 ounces to be precise.) The iPhone 17 Pro Max adds another 0.23 ounces to tip the scales at 8.22 ounces.
You could say these are pretty small increases, and you'd be right. But that doesn't make the iPhone 17 Pro Max any easier to tote around, especially now that there's a super thin iPhone Air to tempt you.
A potentially divisive design
Some people are going to love the extended camera bar on the iPhone 17 Pro Max or at least appreciate how the phone's unibody design aids in other goals like improving thermal performance and squeezing in more battery. But others are going to look at this very different iPhone setup and think "Not for me."
If you fall into that latter camp, the iPhone 17 still retains a more traditional iPhone look and it's got a larger screen now, too.
The iPhone 17 Pro has the same features
The iPhone 17 Pro may have a higher entry price than the iPhone 16 Pro did a year ago. But it's still $100 less than the iPhone 17 Pro Max, while essentially offering the same feature set.
Our iPhone 17 Pro vs. iPhone 17 Pro Max comparison finds some key differences — screen size, battery size and a 2TB option for the Pro Max if you need that kind of storage — but in most other significant areas, you can enjoy Pro Max features on the Pro. Unless that big screen is very important to you, save yourself $100 on your iPhone purchase.
iPhone 17 Pro Max: Outlook
The iPhone 17 Pro Max is shaping up to be a great upgrade, making a case to become the best iPhone you can buy if money is no object. Big-screen phone fans will have plenty of incentive to make this device their own, especially thanks to the battery and camera improvements. It all boils down to how much you value a big screen and whether or not the Pro Max's new look appeals to you.
More from Tom's Guide
- I still don't like the iPhone 17 Pro's design, but at least it should improve performance
- iPhone 17 vs iPhone Air vs iPhone 17 Pro battery life — here's how they compare
- I tried to bend the iPhone Air during an interview with Apple execs — here's what happened
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