iPhone 17 Pro Max

Apple iPhone 17 Pro Max Complete Review: Specs, Strengths, Weaknesses, and Price

Hands-On With the iPhone 17 Pro and 17 Pro Max: First Look and Pricing

Apple officially introduced the iPhone 17 Pro and iPhone 17 Pro Max yesterday, giving the media a chance to get hands-on with the new devices. Dan Barbera from MacRumors spent some time with the Pro Max to explore its refreshed design and share his first impressions.

A New Approach to Materials

This year, Apple has moved away from the titanium-and-glass construction of the iPhone 16 Pro. Instead, the iPhone 17 Pro models feature a unibody aluminum frame. The back and camera housing are made from aluminum, while a Ceramic Shield insert is used for MagSafe charging. The camera module itself is noticeably larger, and the combination of aluminum and Ceramic Shield creates a clean two-tone finish.

Durability and In-Hand Feel

The new Pro models feel sturdy and well-built, living up to Apple’s premium standards. Apple also claims that both scratch resistance and overall durability have been improved. A brand-new anti-reflective coating has been applied to the display. While it’s not a night-and-day change, glare is visibly reduced in bright conditions.

Striking Color Options

This year’s color lineup includes Silver, Dark Blue, and Orange. The blue and orange finishes are particularly eye-catching and add a fresh vibe to the Pro lineup. Unfortunately, Apple has discontinued the classic Space Black and Space Gray, leaving fans of darker tones with fewer choices.

Camera Upgrades That Matter

The rear Telephoto lens now supports up to 8x zoom, giving more flexibility for mobile photography. On the front, Apple has upgraded the selfie camera, which now allows users to shoot in both portrait and landscape modes without physically rotating the device.

Launch Date and Global Pricing

The iPhone 17 Pro and 17 Pro Max will hit stores on September 19, with full reviews to follow soon after. Pricing is set at:

• iPhone 17 Pro Max (256GB) – $1,190
• iPhone 17 Pro Max (2TB) – $2,065

This places the iPhone 17 Pro Max among the most expensive flagship smartphones on the market, especially for those opting for the massive 2TB storage option.

iPhone 17 Pro Max Specifications

📱 Design & Build Quality	Size: 163.4 x 78 x 8.8 mm (about 6.43 x 3.07 x 0.35 inches)  Weight: 233 g (8.22 oz) — not super light, but solid in hand  Materials: Ceramic Shield 2 glass on the front, aluminum alloy frame, and either aluminum alloy or Ceramic Shield glass on the back  SIM setup depends on region:  International: 1x Nano-SIM + 2x eSIM (max 2 active)  USA: eSIM only (supports 8+ numbers, max 2 active)  China: Dual Nano-SIM  IP68 certified — dust-tight and water-resistant (up to 6m for 30 minutes)
🖥️ Display	6.9" LTPO Super Retina XDR OLED 120Hz refresh rate + HDR10 + Dolby Vision  Brightness: 1000 nits (typical), 1600 nits (HBM), up to 3000 nits peak  Resolution: 1320 x 2868 (~460 ppi), 19.5:9 aspect ratio  Protection: Ceramic Shield 2 (Mohs hardness level 5) with anti-reflective coating
🔧 Performance & Hardware	Chipset: Apple A19 Pro (3nm)  CPU: Hexa-core (2x 4.26GHz + 4 efficiency cores)  GPU: Apple 6-core graphics  Storage options: 256GB, 512GB, 1TB, or 2TB — all paired with 12GB RAM (NVMe storage for blazing-fast speeds)
⚙️ Software & Sensors	OS: iOS 26  Sensors: Face ID, accelerometer, gyroscope, proximity, compass, barometer   Ultra Wideband (UWB) gen 2 chip  Emergency features: SOS, messaging, and Find My via satellite
📸 Camera	Main Cameras (Triple setup + LiDAR)  48 MP wide (f/1.6, 24mm, dual pixel PDAF, sensor-shift OIS)  48 MP periscope telephoto (f/2.8, 100mm, 4x optical zoom, 3D sensor-shift OIS)  48 MP ultrawide (f/2.2, 13mm, 120° FOV, PDAF)  TOF 3D LiDAR scanner for depth sensing  Features: Dual-LED dual-tone flash, HDR, panorama  Video: Up to 4K @ 120fps, 1080p @ 240fps, Dolby Vision HDR (up to 60fps), ProRes, ProRes RAW, Apple Log 2, plus 3D spatial video & audio recording  Front Camera:  18 MP (wide, PDAF, OIS) + SL 3D sensor (for Face ID and depth)   Features: HDR, Dolby Vision HDR, 3D spatial audio, stereo sound, ProRes RAW, Apple Log 2  Video: 4K up to 60fps, 1080p up to 120fps, with gyro-EIS
🔋 Battery & Charging	Two battery sizes depending on SIM model:  4832 mAh (Nano-SIM)  5088 mAh (eSIM-only)  Wired charging: PD2.0, 50% in about 20 minutes  Wireless charging: MagSafe/Qi2 up to 25W (50% in 30 minutes, limited to 15W in China)  Reverse wired charging: 4.5W
🌐 Connectivity & Network	Connectivity  Wi-Fi: 802.11 a/b/g/n/ac/6e/7 (tri-band, hotspot support)  Bluetooth 6.0 (A2DP, LE)  Positioning: GPS (L1+L5), GLONASS, Galileo, BDS, QZSS, NavIC  NFC: Yes USB-C 3.2 Gen 2 with DisplayPort support  FM Radio : No  Networks  Technology Works with GSM / CDMA / HSPA / EVDO / LTE / 5G Multiple 2G, 3G, 4G, and 5G bands depending on model (A3526, A3257, A3525, A3527)  Supports both Sub-6 and mmWave (depending on variant)  Network speeds: HSPA, LTE, 5G, and EV-DO Rev.A up to 3.1 Mbps
🔊 Audio & Multimedia	Stereo speakers with spatial audio support  No 3.5mm headphone jack (wireless only)

iPhone 17 Pro Max of Advatages

• Massive, gorgeous display – a 6.9" Super Retina XDR OLED with 120Hz refresh rate, HDR10, and Dolby Vision. Super bright too (up to 3000 nits).
• Blazing performance – powered by Apple’s new A19 Pro chip with 12GB of RAM. Multitasking, gaming, and heavy editing? No sweat.
• Plenty of storage – options go all the way up to a crazy 2TB for people who shoot tons of ProRes videos.
• Versatile triple camera setup – wide, ultrawide, and periscope telephoto with up to 4x optical zoom + LiDAR for depth and AR.
• Pro-level video tools – supports Dolby Vision HDR, ProRes, Apple Log 2, and even 3D spatial video recording.
• Improved selfie camera – sharper, stabilized, and great for both portrait and landscape selfies.
• Solid build – tough Ceramic Shield 2 with IP68 water and dust resistance.
• Next-gen connectivity – Wi-Fi 7, Bluetooth 6.0, USB-C with DisplayPort, and wide 5G support (Sub-6 and mmWave depending on model).
• Fast charging – around 50% in 20 minutes wired, or 30 minutes wireless with MagSafe/Qi2.
• Emergency satellite features – SOS, messaging, and location sharing when you’re off the grid.

iPhone 17 Pro Max of Disadvantages

• It’s big and heavy – at 233 grams and nearly 6.9 inches, it’s not the easiest phone to handle one-handed.
• No headphone jack – wireless or USB-C audio only.
• Expensive – especially the higher storage models (2TB is way over $2,000).
• Wireless charging limit in China – capped at 15W, slower than the global 25W speed.
• Not the fastest USB-C – yes, it’s USB-C, but still limited to 3.2 Gen 2 (no Thunderbolt speeds).
• Periscope zoom is “only” 4x – good, but some Android rivals now push 5x or even 10x optical zoom.
• Still no big battery leap – while it’s better than before, power users might want more than ~5000 mAh for such a huge screen.