Apple’s latest flagship, the iPhone 17 Pro Max, has officially landed in our hands for testing. While rumors had long suggested that Apple would rebrand the “Pro Max” as the “Ultra,” Cupertino chose otherwise. Instead, the company focused on refining the design and introducing substantial hardware upgrades. This year’s device is not just about performance—it’s about materials, durability, and smarter engineering.
Refined Design and Build
Apple has a history of experimenting with materials. After debuting stainless steel with the iPhone 4 in 2010, the company shifted to aluminum with the iPhone 5. More recently, titanium was used on the Pro lineup to fight increasing weight. With the iPhone 17 Pro Max, Apple has returned to aluminum—this time leveraging its thermal conductivity and lightweight properties while maximizing internal space for a bigger battery.
At 233g, the iPhone 17 Pro Max is the third-heaviest Pro Max ever, trailing only the 13 Pro Max and 14 Pro Max (both 240g). Still, considering its larger 6.9-inch display, the weight feels balanced. The new Ceramic Shield offers 3x scratch resistance and 4x crack resistance, while an anti-reflective coating paired with an impressive 3,000-nit peak brightness ensures superb readability, even under direct sunlight.
Bigger and Better Battery
The iPhone 17 Pro Max also boasts the largest battery ever in an iPhone—depending on your region. Models with a physical nano-SIM pack a 4,832mAh battery, while eSIM-only versions go even bigger with a 5,088mAh unit. Compared to the iPhone 16 Pro Max, that’s a notable upgrade of up to 403mAh.
Apple also improved charging with faster wired speeds and a new AVS charging protocol. However, compatibility with existing PPS chargers remains uncertain—a detail we’ll explore in testing. True to Apple’s current policy, there’s still no charger in the box.
Performance and Heat Management
Under the hood, Apple is taking cooling more seriously. The switch back to aluminum helps with heat dissipation, and a newly added vapor chamber above the A19 Pro chipset boosts thermal performance. Apple claims a 40% improvement in sustained performance, a bold statement we’ll verify in benchmarks and gaming sessions.
Camera Upgrades
Last year’s focus was on the ultra-wide camera. This year, it’s the telephoto lens that gets the spotlight. The iPhone 17 Pro Max features three 48MP sensors, with the telephoto lens adopting a tetraprism design. While the focal length is slightly shorter (100mm, 4x zoom vs. 120mm, 5x zoom on the 16 Pro Max), Apple compensates with an 8x/200mm lossless zoom—made possible by a larger, higher-resolution sensor.
Interestingly, Apple also redesigned the camera island, now stretching across the width of the phone. While visually striking, the added raised rings around each lens still cause wobbling on flat surfaces—a design quirk Apple hasn’t solved yet.
Colors and First Impressions
Apple has introduced a new Cosmic Orange colorway, which is already shaping up to be the fan favorite of the Pro lineup. Combined with the premium finish and refreshed unibody aluminum design, it makes the iPhone 17 Pro Max stand out as both bold and elegant.
Final Thoughts Before Testing
The iPhone 17 Pro Max brings a lot to the table—a larger display, stronger build, improved cameras, smarter cooling, and the biggest iPhone battery yet. With so many upgrades, expectations are sky-high. Our full review will put Apple’s claims to the test, comparing it against the iPhone 16 Pro Max and the latest Android flagships.
Stay tuned—real-world performance, camera samples, and battery life tests are coming soon.