iPhone 17 Pro One Month Later

The iPhone 17 Pro Max is an exceptional phone, showcasing Apple's return to hardware innovation with a bold design, enhanced iOS 26, improved cameras, and industry-leading battery life, despite minor controversies and a higher price point than the equally capable iPhone 17.

• iPhone 17 Pro series makes a bold statement with a distinctive, aggressive design and powerful hardware.

• iOS 26 and camera improvements enhance user experience and photo capabilities, with the Pro Max setting new battery life standards.

• Consider the standard iPhone 17 for similar core features and battery life at a lower price point.

After a month of testing, the iPhone 17 Pro and Pro Max are deemed outstanding, representing Apple's bold answer to criticisms of 'boring' designs with a focus on powerful hardware. The new models feature a large battery, a distinctive design, and a vibrant orange color, along with significant improvements to iOS 26, camera capabilities, and battery endurance. While impressive, potential buyers should weigh its value against the standard iPhone 17 and be aware of minor reported issues.

iPhone 17 Pro's Bold Design

• 00:01:17 Apple's iPhone 17 Pro is presented as a defiant response to criticisms of minimalism, moving away from past subtle designs to embrace a bold, aggressive aesthetic. It features a substantial 5,000 mAh battery, a new aluminum unibody frame, and a wide, stretched camera bump reminiscent of 'Jack Nicholson's Joker smile'. The phone is notably available in a bright, electric orange, aiming to make a loud statement and differentiate itself from competitors like Motorola and Samsung, which focused on 'futuristic and fun' foldable designs.

iOS 26 & Camera Enhancements

• 00:02:48 Despite its aggressive exterior, the iPhone 17 Pro unlocks to a clean and contemporary iOS 26 interface with shiny, translucent accents. Messages are more customizable with background images and polls, while lock screens offer extensive personalization. The camera system sees significant upgrades, including an improved selfie camera that captures horizontal snaps vertically and automatically zooms out, alongside a 4x telephoto lens that delivers fantastic photos with greater detail and dynamic range, though with less zoom than previous models.

Unrivaled Battery Performance

• 00:03:58 The iPhone 17 Pro and Pro Max offer impressive battery longevity, lasting a full day with everyday use. The 17 Pro Max achieves the best battery life ever tested for any iPhone or Android phone, making it ideal for users with constant online engagement. While the 17 Pro also performs well, matching the previous 16 Pro Max in endurance tests, the standard iPhone 17 surprisingly performs comparably in many tests, including streaming video, for a significantly lower cost.

Controversies and Accessories

• 00:05:29 The iPhone 17 Pro launch was accompanied by several 'gates,' including 'scratch gate' related to demo units, 'camera plateau' chipping issues reported by JerryRigEverything, and a static noise emanating from the Pro Max speaker when charging. Despite these minor issues, a range of accessories is available, from Apple's new Tech Woven case and Peak Design's Everyday case to the Beats Kickstand Case and the Black Magic Camera Pro Dock for filmmakers. The Pixel Snap Ring Stand is highlighted as a versatile and favorite accessory.