Apple’s top-end iPhone 17 Pro Max is here – but is it worth upgrading from last year’s (still fantastic) iPhone 16 Pro Max?
The iPhone 17 Pro Max certainly has a lot going for it; it not only sports an entirely new design with upgraded camera capabilities on both the front and rear, but it also offers better durability, a more powerful processor, and even improved battery life compared to last year’s model.
However, there are still plenty of similarities between the two. While we’ve not yet gone hands-on with the iPhone 17 Pro Max, here’s how it compares to the fantastic iPhone 16 Pro Max on paper.
Spec comparison
iPhone 17 Pro MaxiPhone 16 Pro MaxDimensions163.4 x 78 x 8.8mm163 x 77.6 x 8.3mmWeight233g227gScreen size6.9-inch6.9-inchRefresh rate120Hz120HzMaterialAluminiumTitaniumProcessorApple A19 ProApple A18 ProRear cameras48MP + 48MP + 48MP48MP + 48MP + 12MPSelfie camera18MP12MPWired charge speed40W20WMagSafe charge speed25W25WBattery capacityUp to 39 hoursUp to 33 hours
Pricing and availability
The iPhone 17 Pro Max is Apple’s top-end iPhone for 2025, and it comes with an equally high price tag, starting at £1199/$1199 for the entry-level 256GB model. Pre-orders begin on 12 September, with launch a week later on 19 September.
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The iPhone 16 Pro Max launched at the same £1199/$1199 price point, albeit with 128GB of storage, back in September 2024. However, as the phone is now a year old and about to be replaced by the newer model, prices are starting to drop for those looking for a bargain.
The iPhone 17 Pro Max sports an all-new design
The most obvious difference between the iPhone 17 Pro Max and its predecessor is its new look. For the first time in years, Apple has completely reinvented the look of its Pro-level iPhone range, ditching the all-glass rear for a mix of aluminium and toughened glass. It also sports a camera bar that stretches across the top of the rear, affectionately dubbed a ‘plataeu’ by Apple.
It’s also available in new shades, including surprisingly vibrant shades and orange alongside a more understated silver option. This is a big improvement over the muted tones of titanium and black available on the iPhone 16 Pro Max, and with newer Ceramic Shield 2 protection on the front and OG Ceramic Shield on the rear, it should be more resistant to scratches and marks.
Dive into the specifics and you might notice that the iPhone 16 Pro Max is the thinner and lighter of the two models – though admittedly there isn’t that much in it at 8.8mm thick and 233g compared to 8.3mm and 227g. Apple says this is mainly down to including a much larger battery in this year’s flagship – but more on that a little later.
The iPhone 17 Pro Max has a brighter screen that better handles reflections
Put the iPhone 17 Pro Max screen side by side with the iPhone 16 Pro Max, and you might not see too many differences at first. Both pack a huge 6.9-inch OLED screen with Apple’s ProMotion-branded 120Hz LTPO tech for a smooth responsive experience, and both offer ultra-slim bezels to complete that premium look.
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However, this year’s model not only gets brighter at 3000nits compared to 2000nits, but it also boasts a new seven-layer anti-reflective coating. Much like Samsung’s competing Galaxy S25 Ultra, it should help negate glare and reflections both indoors and outdoors – but we’ll have to wait until we go hands-on to confirm for ourselves.
As mentioned above, it’s also coated with Apple’s tougher Ceramic Shield 2 to offer a 3x boost to scratch resistance compared to last year’s Pro Max model.
The iPhone 17 Pro Max boasts significant camera improvements
The iPhone 16 Pro Max isn’t exactly lacking in the camera department – its combination of 48MP main, 48MP ultrawide, and 12MP 5x zoom lenses offered one of the most compelling smartphone camera setups for much of 2025. But, the iPhone 17 Pro Max goes a step further.
It features the same 48MP main and ultrawide lenses as last year’s model, but replaces the 12MP 5x zoom with a higher-resolution 48MP 4x zoom. It’s not just a jump in megapixels, though; it features a 56% larger sensor that should not only provide more detail but also improvements to low-light performance.
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Its high resolution also allows it to deliver 8x in-sensor zoom to get closer to the action than ever on an iPhone.
It’s also the first iPhone to be able to shoot in Apple’s ProRes RAW video format – though this one is more for pro-level content creators looking to get the most out of footage in the editing suite than capturing everyday videos to share on social media.
Flip the phone over and you’ll also see another improvement in the form of a new 18MP selfie camera. Again, it’s not just a megapixel bump compared to the iPhone 16 Pro Max’s 12MP alternative; it also boasts Apple’s Centre Stage tech to keep you centred in the shot, and with a unique square-shaped sensor, it can take portrait and landscape shots without having to rotate the phone.
The iPhone 17 Pro Max should offer better performance
The A18 Pro within the iPhone 16 Pro Max was a very strong chipset, but it was outshone by the competing Snapdragon 8 Elite found in the Android competition in most benchmark tests. The question is, can the Snapdragon alternative continue to dominate with the new iPhone?
The new A19 Pro chipset found inside the iPhone 17 Pro Max promises boosts across the board, with a faster CPU, GPU and NPU – but it’s when combined with the new vapour chamber cooling system that the numbers truly impress.
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Apple claims that this combination provides a 40% jump in sustained performance compared to the iPhone 16 Pro Max. In real-world use, this should translate to a phone that doesn’t get as warm as quickly when gaming, and even if it does, it should be able to deliver more stable frame rates than its predecessor.
That said, you’re unlikely to notice a difference in day-to-day performance – it’s only those that truly push the limits of Apple’s chipset that’ll benefit most.
The iPhone 17 Pro Max has better battery life and faster charging
As we mentioned earlier, one of the main reasons for a thicker and heavier iPhone 17 Pro Max is down to the inclusion of a larger battery.
In fact, Apple claims that this year’s Pro Max boasts the best battery life of any iPhone to date, able to provide up to 39 hours of video playback on a single charge. And, if you opt for the eSIM-only variant of the phone, that jumps up by an additional two hours, taking you to 41 hours in total.
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Last year’s iPhone 16 Pro Max was no slouch in this regard, offering up to 33 hours of video playback, but users should see a notable jump from this year’s flagship.
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It also charges faster than the iPhone 16 Pro Max with boosted 40W wired charging that Apple claims can deliver a 50% charge in just 20 minutes. The iPhone 16 Pro Max, for reference, offered 20W wired charging with 50%.
Early thoughts
The iPhone 17 Pro Max looks to be more than a simple year-on-year update with its new look, boosted screen protection, more capable cameras and the claim of the best battery life of any iPhone yet – but we’ll save our final thoughts for once we’ve spent some time with Apple’s latest flagship.