iPhone 17 Pro Max Review - The Good and The Bad - 4K 60

The iPhone 17 Pro Max offers significant improvements in display brightness, modem performance, battery life, and camera versatility, making it a compelling upgrade despite some durability concerns and software bugs.

• Vastly improved display brightness and comfortable, sleek design.

• Upgraded cameras, including a versatile front-facing 'center stage' sensor.

• Enhanced 5G and Wi-Fi performance with a powerful, smooth A19 Pro chip.

The iPhone 17 Pro Max is Apple's flagship phone, featuring a 3000-nit display that maintains brightness even in hot conditions, a more comfortable design with curved edges, and an upgraded 5G modem that provides better signal and faster speeds. Key camera enhancements include an improved 48-megapixel telephoto lens and an 18-megapixel 'center stage' front camera capable of simultaneous front and rear recording. While the phone boasts excellent battery life and performance, potential drawbacks include the anodized aluminum frame's durability and visual glitches within iOS 26.

Display and Design

• 00:00:35 The iPhone 17 Pro Max features a 3000-nit display that maintains brightness reliably, even in hot weather, avoiding the dimming issues of previous generations. The bezels are noticeably thinner, and the phone's design incorporates comfortable curved edges, making it one of the best-feeling iPhones in years. The anti-reflective display is also improved over previous iPhones, though it still trails some competitors like the S25 Ultra.

Camera Innovations

• 00:03:37 The rear cameras, while similar to last year's, include an upgraded 48-megapixel telephoto zoom lens providing 4x and 8x optical zoom with improved post-processing for photos and videos. A significant upgrade is the 18-megapixel 'center stage' front camera, which uses an open-gate sensor to allow for flexible portrait and landscape framing without rotating the phone, and supports simultaneous front and rear camera recording.

Performance and Connectivity

• 00:06:09 The new 5G modem offers improved signal strength and faster speeds, with download speeds reaching up to 140 Mbps and upload speeds around 20 Mbps. The N1 modem also enhances Wi-Fi and Bluetooth performance. The phone's A19 Pro processor, paired with iOS 26, delivers an incredibly smooth and fast experience, reflected in strong benchmark scores and noticeable overall responsiveness.

Durability and Software

• 00:12:08 Concerns exist regarding the long-term durability of the anodized aluminum frame, which is softer than titanium and prone to scratches, though the 'ceramic shield' display is generally robust but not scratch-proof. iOS 26 presents visual bugs and lacks refinement in its early beta stage, with graphical glitches and outdated elements. The phone's color options are also limited compared to previous models, with no gold or black choices for the Pro series.