Apple iPhone 17 Pro Max · Reviewed by the CompareDirect Editor · November 2026The short version
The iPhone 17 Pro Max is a huge, fast phone with one of the longest-lasting batteries Apple has made. Its real competition is closer to home: the cheaper iPhone 17 now gets the smooth 120Hz screen too, and the newer iPhone 18 Pro range has since arrived. That leaves the 17 Pro Max as a phone for people who want the biggest screen, the best zoom and all-day-plus battery — and who can find it at a fairer price now it's no longer the newest model.
What stands out
- Excellent battery life for the size
- Three 48MP rear cameras, including a sharper telephoto
- Bright, smooth 6.9-inch screen
- Runs cooler under heavy use
What to weigh up
- Expensive, especially at higher storage
- Heavy and tall for one-handed use
- Large camera bump rocks on a table
- Gap to the standard iPhone 17 is smaller than ever
Design: a new look, and aluminium instead of titanium
For the first time in a few years, the back of the Pro Max looks genuinely different. Apple has swapped the titanium frame of the 16 Pro Max for an aluminium “unibody”, and stretched the camera housing right across the top of the phone. Apple calls it a plateau; most people will just notice that the phone now sits flat only if it's in a case.
Aluminium is lighter and conducts heat better than titanium, which helps the cooling system (more on that below). The trade-off is that aluminium marks more easily than titanium — a case is a sensible idea at this price.
The three colours are deliberately different in character. Cosmic Orange is the loud one, and the shade most associated with this model. Deep Blue is darker and more formal. Silver is the quiet option. It's still a big phone at 233g: if you're coming from a standard-size iPhone, try one in a shop first.
The front uses Ceramic Shield 2, which Apple says is far more scratch-resistant than before, and the phone is rated IP68 for water and dust. Buttons are familiar: the Action button and volume on the left, the power button and the Camera Control button on the right.
Display: still one of the best, but no longer exclusive
The 6.9-inch OLED is sharp (2868 × 1320 pixels), colour-accurate and can reach 3,000 nits outdoors, so it stays readable in strong sunshine. ProMotion lets it run anywhere from 1Hz for the always-on display up to 120Hz for scrolling and games.
Here's the twist: the standard iPhone 17 now has a 120Hz screen too. For years the smooth display was a key reason to pay for Pro. On the Pro Max, the main screen benefit is now simply size — great for films, maps, reading and split-screen tasks, less so for small pockets.
Cameras: three 48MP lenses and a longer reach
The biggest camera change is the telephoto, which jumps to 48MP. That means all three rear cameras now share the same high resolution, so zoomed photos keep more detail. The telephoto zoom is 4x, with an 8x setting that crops into the centre of the 48MP sensor. It's worth knowing that 8x is a crop rather than a separate lens, so it works best in good light.
The front camera is new across the iPhone 17 range: an 18MP Center Stage camera with a square sensor. You can take a landscape selfie without turning the phone, and it can widen automatically when more people step into the shot.
Video remains a strong point, with ProRes, Dolby Vision HDR and Dual Capture — recording the front and back cameras at the same time, which is handy for reactions or vlogging.
Rivals still have their own strengths. Samsung's Ultra models offer higher-resolution main sensors and longer optical zoom, and Google's Pixel Pro phones are well regarded for point-and-shoot processing. If camera quality is your deciding factor, compare sample photos from several phones before you choose.
Performance: the A19 Pro and a vapour chamber
The A19 Pro chip makes the Pro Max one of the fastest phones you can buy, with plenty of headroom for gaming, video editing and Apple Intelligence features. More interesting for everyday use is the new vapour chamber, a first for iPhone. It spreads heat away from the chip, so the phone can hold top speed for longer before slowing down to cool off. Combined with the aluminium body, this should make long gaming sessions and 4K recording more comfortable.
Battery and charging: the strongest reason to choose it
Apple quotes up to 37 hours of video playback, the most of any iPhone at launch. In everyday terms, most people should comfortably get through a full day of heavy use, and many will reach the second day. If battery anxiety is your main frustration with your current phone, this is the area where the Pro Max makes the clearest case for itself.
Charging is via USB‑C, with fast wired charging using a compatible higher-wattage adapter (sold separately) and MagSafe wireless charging. No charger comes in the box.
Storage and price
The Pro Max starts at 256GB and goes up to 2TB — the first iPhone to offer that much. Most people will be fine with 256GB, especially if they use iCloud. At launch in the UK it cost £1,199 for 256GB, £1,399 for 512GB, £1,599 for 1TB and £1,999 for 2TB. Now that the iPhone 18 Pro range is out, look out for lower contract and refurbished prices.
iPhone 17 Pro Max specifications
| Screen | 6.9-inch Super Retina XDR OLED, 2868 × 1320 pixels, ProMotion up to 120Hz, always-on |
|---|---|
| Brightness | Up to 3,000 nits peak outdoors (Apple figure) |
| Chip | A19 Pro, with a vapour chamber for cooling |
| Rear cameras | 48MP Main, 48MP Ultra Wide, 48MP Telephoto (4x, up to 8x “optical-quality” crop) |
| Front camera | 18MP Center Stage |
| Battery | Up to 37 hours of video playback (Apple figure) |
| Storage | 256GB, 512GB, 1TB, 2TB |
| Build | Aluminium unibody, Ceramic Shield 2 front, IP68 |
| Size and weight | 163.4 × 78.0 × 8.75 mm, 233g |
| Connections | 5G, Wi‑Fi 7, USB‑C, MagSafe |
| Colours | Cosmic Orange, Deep Blue, Silver |
| UK launch price | From £1,199 (256GB) to £1,999 (2TB), September 2025 |
Our ratings
These ratings are an editorial judgement based on Apple's published specifications and widely reported testing, not a ranking against other phones.
Who might it suit?
- Heavy users who want the longest battery life in an iPhone of this generation.
- Keen photographers and video makers who will use the telephoto and pro video features.
- Big-screen fans who watch, read or work a lot on their phone.
It may suit you less if you want something light and pocketable, or if the standard iPhone 17 already covers what you need for much less. You can also browse other models on our Popular Phones page or consider a refurbished phone paired with a SIM only deal.
Verdict
The iPhone 17 Pro Max does the things a Pro Max should: huge screen, top speed, a flexible camera and outstanding battery life. What's changed is the context. With the iPhone 17 catching up on the screen and the iPhone 18 Pro now on sale, the question is less “is it good?” — it clearly is — and more “is the extra worth it to you?” Compare the price you can actually get with the alternatives, and choose the phone that fits how you use it.
Sources and how we wrote this
Specifications and launch prices come from Apple's published information. This review is our own original writing; we did not receive a phone from Apple and were not paid for it. Always check current prices and terms with the seller before you buy.
Apple, the Apple logo, iPhone, ProMotion, MagSafe and Apple Intelligence are trademarks of Apple Inc., registered in the U.S. and other countries and regions. iPhone 17 Pro Max is a trademark of Apple Inc. CompareDirect is independent and is not affiliated with, endorsed or sponsored by Apple Inc. Photos from Wikimedia Commons under the licences shown.
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