iPhone 17 Pro Max - Best Premium Powerhouse
The iPhone 17 Pro Max offers the ultimate iPhone experience with class-leading battery life, a pro-grade camera suite, and a bold new design for users who demand the best.
- +Unmatched battery life, lasting up to two days on a single charge
- +Powerful triple 48MP camera system with a new 4x telephoto lens
- +Distinctive 'Camera Plateau' aluminum unibody design with improved thermal cooling
- -Extremely high starting price places it in the premium segment
- -Large and heavy form factor can be cumbersome for one-handed use
- -Minor camera and battery upgrades over the standard iPhone 17 Pro
The iPhone 17 Pro Max is Apple's no-compromise flagship, built for users who demand maximum performance and capability. Its most standout feature is its exceptional battery life, which is the best of any iPhone tested, routinely lasting a day and a half to two days with heavy use. This endurance is powered by the most efficient A19 Pro chip yet, housed in a new aluminum unibody with a vapor chamber cooling system that effectively manages heat during prolonged gaming or video editing sessions, preventing performance throttling. The camera system has been redesigned around a bold 'Camera Plateau' that houses a completely upgraded triple-camera array. Every rear lens now features a 48MP sensor.
The telephoto lens, in particular, has been overhauled, moving to a 4x optical zoom with a larger sensor that captures significantly more detail and offers better dynamic range than the previous 5x lens, with optical-quality digital zoom extending to 8x. The 6.9-inch ProMotion display is bright and fluid, and the device supports the fastest wired charging in the iPhone lineup, reaching a 50% charge in approximately 20 minutes with a compatible adapter. While it shares core features like the 18MP Center Stage selfie camera and iOS 26 with the rest of the lineup, the Pro Max distinguishes itself through its sheer power, photographic versatility, and unparalleled battery longevity, justifying its premium for professionals and power users.