The Pros and Cons of the iPhone 17 Pro Max

September is always an exciting month for Apple fans because this is when the iPhone 17 Series finally arrives. The most anticipated model is the iPhone 17 Pro Max. It comes with the most advanced features and specifications Apple has ever made and it is the model many people want the most.

The iPhone 17 Pro Max brings several major upgrades compared to the previous generation. The body now uses aluminum alloy. The telephoto and selfie cameras get an upgrade. The battery lasts longer and supports faster charging. The performance improves as well. If you want to know more about it, here are the pros and cons.

Pros of the iPhone 17 Pro Max

Since this is the most premium model, the price starts at US$1500. A price this high always comes with big expectations. Here are some highlights worth discussing.

1. New Design with Aluminum Alloy

Apple no longer uses titanium steel for the back cover. The iPhone 17 Pro Max uses aluminum alloy instead. Some people see this as a downgrade. The premium feel may not be as strong as before, but this material helps the device manage heat more effectively.

This change sparks debate because it is quite controversial. The new camera module also becomes a talking point. Apple calls it an innovation, but many people feel that it looks familiar, especially to those who often see POCO phones.

No one knows who inspired whom. What is clear is that the iPhone 17 Pro Max looks different from older models. This is subjective and depends on personal taste. The dimensions also change slightly. The phone is 8.8 mm thick and weighs 233 grams.

In terms of durability, the iPhone 17 Pro Max still carries IP68 certification. This rating protects the device from dust and high-pressure water jets. It can even survive submersion in water at a depth of up to 6 meters for 30 minutes.

2. Action Button and Camera Control

The design still includes the Action Button and the Camera Control button. These two features first appeared on the iPhone 16 Series. It would be unlikely for Apple to remove features that sparked so much attention.

The Action Button works as a shortcut. You can set it to perform tasks such as turning on Focus, Flashlight, or Silent Mode. You can also use it to open apps like the camera, voice memos, or the translate app.

The Camera Control button manages camera functions. Press it to take photos or hold it to record videos. A light press brings up camera settings. You can swipe left or right to choose the setting you want. You can adjust exposure, zoom, camera mode, or portrait depth.

3. Maximum Performance from Apple A19 Pro

As usual, the iPhone 17 Pro Max runs on Apple’s newest chip, the Apple A19 Pro. This chipset is built with 3 nm technology and sits at the top of the lineup. Its performance is clearly higher than the Apple A19 in the regular iPhone 17 and the Apple A18 Pro in the iPhone 16 Pro and 16 Pro Max.

Apple also uses the A19 Pro for the iPhone Air, which launched at the same time. The performance on that model is not as strong as the Pro series because the GPU core count is lower. The A19 Pro in the Pro models has six GPU cores. The iPhone Air has five.

For CPU performance, the A19 Pro has two high-performance cores at 4.26 GHz and four efficiency cores at 2.6 GHz. The chip carries hardware Ray Tracing support that lifts the visual quality of mobile gaming.

The iPhone 17 Pro Max also improves temperature control to keep performance stable. Apple uses a new vapor chamber paired with the aluminum body to distribute heat more effectively. Apple also claims that this approach boosts performance by up to 40 percent.

Memory receives a large upgrade as well. The iPhone 17 Pro Max comes with 12 GB of LPDDR5X RAM. Storage options include 256 GB, 512 GB, and 1 TB NVMe. A special 2 TB variant is also available and is not offered on the iPhone 17 Pro.

Benchmark scores show a major jump. Based on GSMArena’s tests, the iPhone 17 Pro Max equipped with the A19 Pro reaches 2.6 million on AnTuTu v10. The previous iPhone 16 Pro Max with the A18 Pro reaches only 1.8 million.

4. Equipped with iOS 26 and Apple Intelligence

The iPhone 17 Series doesn't follow the naming pattern of the iPhone 16 Series. Instead of continuing with iOS 19, Apple jumps straight to iOS 26. This appears intentional because Apple wants to highlight significant interface changes.

One of the most discussed additions in iOS 26 is Liquid Glass. This feature gives icons and interface elements a clear, glass-like appearance. The lock screen also becomes brighter and more dynamic. It can show notifications and various widgets with more flexibility.

iOS 26 also brings a smarter Live Translations feature. You can use it in Messages, Phone Calls, and FaceTime Calls. Reviewers report good accuracy for several languages during testing.

The iPhone 17 Series also arrives with Apple Intelligence. One of its most anticipated features is Visual Intelligence. Apple develops it to rival Google’s Circle to Search. Both features share the same core idea. Apple’s version can extract information from the object you select and integrate the result with ChatGPT.

5. Spacious and Bright Screen with ProMotion Support

Apple continues to use a large display for its top model. The iPhone 17 Pro Max has a 6.9-inch screen, the same size as the iPhone 16 Pro Max. The panel is LTPO Super Retina XDR OLED, which is Apple’s highest-quality display technology for phones.

As with earlier models, the iPhone 17 Pro Max supports ProMotion. This feature also appears on the regular iPhone 17. ProMotion allows the refresh rate to shift between 1 Hz and 120 Hz, which makes the phone feel smoother and more efficient in different use cases.

The phone keeps its high resolution of 1320 x 2868 pixels. The image quality is excellent for many types of content. It supports HDR and Dolby Vision playback. True Tone is also present. This feature adjusts the color temperature based on surrounding light.

The iPhone 17 Pro Max also increases peak brightness. Outdoor brightness now reaches 3,000 nits, which keeps the screen visible even in direct sunlight. The Always On Display feature can show the time, notifications, and widgets at a minimum brightness of 1 nit to save battery.

For screen protection, Apple uses Ceramic Shield 2. This version is an upgrade from the first-generation Ceramic Shield and claims three times better scratch resistance.

6. Excellent Camera Quality for Professional Workflows

The camera is one of the biggest upgrades on the iPhone 17 Pro Max. The improvement is significant because it involves new hardware. The periscope telephoto camera now has a resolution of 48 MP. This gives the rear camera system a uniform resolution.

This telephoto camera has an f/2.8 aperture and a 100 mm focal length. It is designed for long-distance photography. Its performance improves with PDAF and OIS support that help maintain stability when you zoom in. The only downside is its optical zoom limit. It can only reach 4x optical zoom, while the iPhone 16 Pro Max reaches 5x.

The main and ultrawide cameras remain the same. Both use the same sensors as the previous generation. Even so, the photo and video quality remain excellent. This level of quality is what users expect when they spend this much money.

The iPhone 17 Pro Max also performs well for professional workflows. ProRes RAW makes it the first phone that supports this video codec created by Apple. It also supports Apple Log 2, which offers a much wider color range.

Genlock and Time Code are two features that receive a lot of attention. These two features provide very accurate video synchronization. They are useful for content creators and professional film productions, including Hollywood work.

7. Selfie Camera Flexibility for Various Ratios

The selfie camera on the iPhone 17 Series is one of its strongest points. All three models receive major upgrades, including the iPhone 17 Pro Max. The new sensor has an 18 MP resolution and an f/1.9 aperture.

The sensor has an octagonal shape with cut corners. Most camera sensors use a perfect square, so this shape is unusual. The exact reason is unclear. The most visible effect is the difference in resolution when you use different shooting ratios. Photos in a 1:1 ratio have lower resolution than photos in a 4:3 or 3:4 ratio.

Apple calls this a multi-aspect sensor. You can take selfies in a 4:3 ratio in either portrait or landscape orientation. You can still get full-resolution landscape selfies even if you hold the phone in portrait mode.

A 1:1 ratio results in a cropped image from the center of the sensor. The output becomes 13.5 MP. One drawback is the lack of a resolution indicator in the viewfinder. The rear camera has this indicator. The selfie camera does not.

Even with that limitation, the selfie camera is still exceptional. PDAF and OIS help stabilize the image. This results in sharper and more detailed selfies even if your hands are slightly shaky.

8. 4832 mAh Battery with Fast Charging

The iPhone 17 Pro Max has a 4832 mAh battery. The capacity is slightly larger than the iPhone 16 Pro Max at 4865 mAh. This gives the new model better endurance and longer daily usage.

GSMArena reports an active usage score of 17 hours and 58 minutes. The test includes 24 hours and 26 minutes of calls, 25 hours and 41 minutes of video playback, 15 hours and 33 minutes of browsing, and 12 hours and 8 minutes of gaming.

Charging also receives a small upgrade. Apple adopts a newer charging standard from the USB Power Delivery specification called AVS, short for Adjustable Voltage Supply.

GSMArena records that the iPhone 17 Pro Max reaches 65 percent in the first 30 minutes. A full charge takes about 1 hour and 12 minutes. This speed is much better than the iPhone 16 Pro Max, which needs about 1 hour and 57 minutes for a full charge.

Cons of iPhone 17 Pro Max

Even though this is a flagship smartphone, there are still a few points to consider. These points may not be deal breakers, but they can matter for some users. Here are the drawbacks of the iPhone 17 Pro Max.

1. Not a Significant Upgrade

Technically, the iPhone 17 Pro Max is Apple’s most advanced phone at the time of release. The question is whether this model is compelling enough to attract new users. Another question is whether it is necessary for existing users to upgrade. The answer is likely no.

The design of the iPhone 17 Pro Max is somewhat controversial. Several improvements also feel modest. Features such as the periscope telephoto camera, the selfie camera, and the new chipset are better, but the level of improvement is not dramatic.

People who want a phone that looks new may still find the iPhone 17 Pro Max appealing. Users who want a meaningful upgrade, especially users of the iPhone 16 Pro Max, should think about it more carefully.

A flagship device usually remains reliable for about four years. Because of this, the iPhone 17 Pro Max becomes a strong option for users of the iPhone 15 Pro Max or older models. The upgrade will feel more noticeable for them.

Conclusion

The iPhone 17 Pro Max makes a bold move with its new design. The camera module layout changes and Apple returns to aluminum, which is a decision that sparks debate. Apple has a practical reason because this material is lighter and manages heat more effectively.

Despite the controversy, the iPhone 17 Pro Max stands as one of Apple’s most capable phones. It brings a better periscope telephoto camera, a more flexible selfie camera, a brighter screen, longer battery life with faster charging, and stronger performance.

Even so, the phone is not perfect for everyone. Some users feel that the upgrade is not worth it when compared to the previous generation. There are still several points that make the iPhone 17 Pro Max feel less like the typical Apple product some people expect.