It’s finally here… the iPhone 17 Pro Max.
Fresh from Apple’s September launch event and already making every other phone feel small. Apple’s “go big or go home” model has always been about cramming in the best tech it can offer, and this year’s version is no exception.
My first impressions? The iPhone 17 Pro Max is huge, it’s premium, and it’s clearly the flagship product Apple wants you to drool over.
My iPhone 17 Pro Max Review
So, all hype aside, what’s it actually like to live with Apple’s biggest, boldest iPhone yet? Let’s break it down, starting with the part you notice the second you pick it up: the design and build.
Design and Build Quality
The iPhone 17 Pro Max doesn’t stray far from Apple’s current design language, but there are refinements that you notice as soon as you pick it up. Bezels are slimmer, giving you a full display size of 6.9 inches. And this year, Apple has also moved to an aluminum unibody design for the Pro models, making them stronger, lighter, and more efficient.
The back is also familiar. The square camera bump is still there, and the lenses are slightly chunkier this year thanks to the upgraded sensors and periscope zoom. The 17 Pro Max is still instantly recognisable as an iPhone… which, depending on your view, is either comfortingly iconic or frustratingly safe.
In the hand, the Pro Max is exactly what it says on the tin: big. It’s not designed to fit easily in your pocket. But if you like your phone to feel like a small tablet, the design delivers.
Display: The Largest iPhone Screen Ever
The star of the iPhone 17 Pro Max is its 6.9-inch OLED display, the largest Apple has ever shipped on a phone. It really is a monster, and the sheer scale of it makes everything feel more immersive.
Of course, size isn’t the only story. The panel supports ProMotion at 120Hz. Gaming feels fluid, scrolling has that “buttery” Apple polish, and animations just look better. Once you’ve lived with 120Hz, going back to 60Hz feels painfully dated.
Apple has also cranked up the brightness again this year. HDR content looks fantastic, and outdoor visibility is improved. You can actually read the screen in direct sunlight without squinting like you’re decoding Morse code.
The Always-On Display returns with more customisation options thanks to iOS 26. Widgets, calendars, or just a minimal clock can live on your lock screen full time, and the power efficiency of OLED means you’re not sacrificing much battery life. The Dynamic Island also returns and feels more useful thanks to Apple Intelligence.
Performance: A19 Pro Chip in Action
The iPhone 17 Pro Max is powered by Apple’s new A19 Pro chip. In everyday use, it’s exactly what you’d expect from a new iPhone: apps open instantly, multitasking is effortless, and nothing ever feels sluggish. If you’re coming from an iPhone 14 or earlier, the jump in responsiveness is obvious.
Where the A19 Pro really flexes is in Apple Intelligence and high-performance tasks. Summarizing notifications, generating text rewrites, and carrying out multi-step Siri requests all feel faster and more natural than they did on the iPhone 16. The neural engine upgrades are doing the heavy lifting here, and it shows.
Gaming also benefits. With support for hardware-accelerated ray tracing and the ProMotion display running at 120Hz, the iPhone 17 Pro Max can comfortably handle console-level graphics. And, (thanks to an improved thermal system featuring a vapour chamber with deionized water INSIDE the phone), it doesn’t overheat during extended play sessions or when recording 4K video.
Cameras: The Real Selling Point
If there’s one reason people will justify spending on the iPhone 17 Pro Max, it’s the cameras. Apple has doubled down here, making this phone the most capable shooter in its lineup.
You still get the triple-lens system (wide, ultra-wide, and telephoto) with 3X 48MP Fusion Cameras and Camera Control, but the big story is the improved 8x periscope zoom (the longest Zoom we’ve ever seen on an iPhone), which is now available on both Pro models. On the Pro Max, the larger sensor makes it even more versatile, giving you sharp detail at ranges that older iPhones could only dream of.
Low-light performance has also had a glow-up. It’s subtle, but side by side with the iPhone 16 Pro Max, the improvements are clear.
Where this thing really shines, though, is video. You can now shoot 4K at 120fps for proper slow motion, and with better heat management, the Pro Max doesn’t cut you off after a couple of minutes. Add in Apple’s stabilization and color science, and this is the kind of footage you’d be proud to put in a professional project.
Apple Intelligence: Now It Feels Real
Last year, Apple announced Apple Intelligence with the iPhone 16, but it felt more like a preview rather than a finished feature. On the iPhone 17 Pro Max, though, Apple Intelligence finally feels like part of the phone.
For example, Siri is noticeably more conversational. You can stumble mid-sentence, and it still understands what you mean. It also pulls context from your apps, emails, and messages, so when you say “remind me about that meeting,” it knows which one.
Notifications are also grouped and summarised into something you can skim quickly. It’s cleaner, more useful, and actually reduces the urge to constantly clear your screen.
Another perk is that you can record calls directly and get an automatic transcript. It announces the recording to the other person (as it should), but for interviews, meetings, or just keeping track of details, it’s a killer addition.
It’s also worth mentioning that all this AI processing happens locally, thanks to the A19 Pro chip. That means you’re not constantly shipping your precious data to the cloud.
Battery Life and Charging
Big phone, big battery, and the iPhone 17 Pro Max leans into that. Apple claims “all-day battery life,” but in practice, that translates to comfortably lasting a long day of heavy use.
For light to moderate users, it’s a genuine day-and-a-half phone. That’s the perk of having such a large body to house the bigger cell, and the efficiency gains from the A19 Pro chip only help stretch it further.
Charging, however, is the same old familiar story. Wired charging caps at around 30W, which means roughly 30 minutes to 50% and just over 90 minutes for a full charge if you’re using Apple’s recommended adapter.
Price and Storage Options
The iPhone 17 Pro Max starts at a familiar place (256GB of storage) and climbs steeply from there. You can opt for 512GB or go all the way up to 2TB if you’re serious about ProRes video, or if you just like hoarding years of photos without worrying about iCloud.
The reality, though, is that storage upgrades are expensive. Jumping from 256GB to 512GB adds a hefty premium, and the leap to 1TB makes this phone more expensive than a decent MacBook. Apple knows creators will pay for it, and they’ve priced it accordingly.
Early Verdict: Who Should Buy It?
The iPhone 17 Pro Max is Apple’s biggest, boldest phone, but that doesn’t mean it’s the right choice for everyone.
Here’s who should actually consider it:
Who Should Buy the iPhone 17 Pro Max?
Biggest, Best, But Not for Everyone
The iPhone 17 Pro Max is exactly what you’d expect from Apple’s top-tier phone in 2025: huge screen, ridiculous power, and cameras that can replace a dedicated camera rig for most people. Add in Apple Intelligence that finally feels ready for everyday use, and this is the most complete iPhone package we’ve ever seen.
BUT: not everyone needs it. For creators and heavy users, the Pro Max is worth every penny. For casual users, it’s overkill. And if you already have a 15 Pro Max or 16 Pro Max? The improvements are nice, but not life-changing.
