iPhone 17 Pro Max review: Large and in charge

A thermally efficient powerhouse that brings more to the table than outlandish orange.

iPhone 17 Pro Max
4.5 out of 5 stars
4.5
Processor
A19 Pro
Display
6.9-inch Super Retina XDR
RRP
$2,199
Hannah Geremia
Oct 03, 2025
Icon Time To Read5 min read
Quick verdict: iPhone 17 Pro Max

The iPhone 17 Pro Max is larger than life. While the outlandish orange is certainly a statement, it brings more to the table with a dramatic design overhaul, better battery, camera upgrades, and maximised thermal efficiency. 

pro
Pros
pro Longer battery life
pro Snappier processor
pro Design overhaul feels fresh
pro Camera bump
con
Cons
con The aluminium frame is more prone to scratches
con Con
con Con

Let’s talk about the elephant in the room. Upon first look, that garish display of orange is a lot. But with time, and a case to subdue how loud it is, it’s grown on me. Initially, I was intimidated by the iPhone 17 Pro Max. Coming from last year's iPhone 16 Plus, the Pro Max seemed like overkill. Who needs those extra 0.2 inches? My phone battery can already last the day on a single charge. Why would I need an upgraded telephoto lens? It wasn’t until I gave it a shot that I realised these were famous last words. 

While these upgrades might seem incremental, they coalesce to form an upgrade that genuinely feels like an upgrade. It’s a top-of-the-line phone that performs like one, and to be honest, I don’t think I can go back.

How much does iPhone 17 Pro Max cost in Australia?

Starts at $2,199.

The iPhone 16 Pro Max starts at $2,199 for the 256GB model, $50 up from last year's model. For double the storage, you're looking at $2,599, up $100 from last year's iPhone 16 Pro Max. For 1TB and 2TB storage options, you're looking at $2,999 and $3,799, respectively. 

For those who prefer to pay for their iPhone 17 Pro Max on a plan, it’s available through all three major telcos.

iPhone 16

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Apple iPhone 17 Pro Max: Design and display

For years, the design of the iPhone Pro Max model has remained largely unchanged. Three cameras in the back, and one in the front with a square camera module. The iPhone 17 Pro Max is the biggest departure from the signature Pro style since the iPhone 11 Pro. It brings with it a unibody design, a sleek, raised camera plateau, and the ceramic shield back, covered by a two-toned panel insert. That garish orange, combined with the new design, feels surprisingly refreshing. Like when it’s forecast to drizzle in the morning, but the clouds don’t appear until the afternoon. Not exactly a game-changer, but still a welcome surprise. 

At the core of the iPhone 17 Pro Max’s unibody design is a heat-forged aluminium chamber. It houses the thermal management system that can better dissipate and distribute heat, so your phone won’t get hot in your hands. After 8 hours of TikTok, Pokémon GO, hundreds of snaps and ceaseless Maps use later, the iPhone 17 Pro Max didn’t inch past warm. 

Even though the new aluminium frame is better at keeping your phone cool, the downside is that it’s not as scratch-resistant as the titanium. After a week, I’ve managed to get some very minor scratches on the edges. Mostly from the occasional drop and from removing the clear case.

From front to back, the iPhone 17 Pro Max is protected by ceramic glass. Apple touts that the Ceramic Glass 2 shield display is three times as scratch-resistant and twice as crack-resistant as the previous model. However, it doesn’t do much to prevent minor scratches on the sides, especially if you’re rocking without a case.

Ditching the boomer wallet case in place of a clear one has been freeing, and I perpetually feel like I’m living on the edge. Thankfully, the iPhone 17 Pro Max comes in clutch with that extra scratch and crack protection, even if it comes at a cost. Clumsy girls rejoice!

Apple iPhone 17 Pro Max: Cameras

The iPhone 17 Pro Max has three fusion cameras – the main camera, ultra wide, and telephoto, all at 48MP each. While there isn’t much of a difference between the 16 Pro Max and 17 Pro Max’s camera, you can definitely notice the difference compared to the Plus model. The dual-camera system, which had the 48MP main camera and the 12MP ultra-wide camera, felt worth it at its price point.  

This time, the telephoto is finally getting the 48MP treatment. If you’re snap-happy or a budding photographer, you’ll notice how much more detail is in every zoom range and light level when shooting with the new 48MP telephoto lens. There’s plenty of detail in each shot, and colours seem sharper, more contrasting and expressive. Unfortunately, that means darker photos if you live in a permanently cloudy city like Melbourne. 

The iPhone 17 Pro Max also features the new 18MP Center Stage front camera. It’s got a larger square sensor and a wider lens, so you can easily reframe your selfies in portrait or landscape orientation. No more wishing you had Elastagirl arms to take the perfect group selfie, your camera will adjust to include your pals with the click of a button.

Apple iPhone 17 Pro Max: Features and performance

All good things come in threes, and the iPhone 17 Pro Max’s performance is no exception. The thermal cooling chamber casing, the A19 Pro chip, and the variable refresh rate display work together seamlessly. It’s like having the Powerpuff Girls trio inside your phone, committed to keeping things fast, cool, and efficient. 

Whether you’re sinking your time into doomscrolling, Pokémon Go, or you’re better than everyone else and choose a book, the ProMotion display will adapt accordingly. The always-on display dials down to 1Hz, then scales up to 120Hz when required. Coming from the 60Hz fixed display on the 16 Plus, it's a genuine game-changer. Everything feels smoother, cleaner, and faster, but it also doesn’t hold your battery for ransom. 

The A19 Pro chip boasts a whopping 40% better performance compared to last year’s model, and the proof is in the pudding. It feels snappy, responsive, and ready for any graphically demanding games you can throw at it. It handled several hours of Infinity Nikki with ease, and could handle more if you’ve got battery to burn. 

In terms of battery life, this guy is a tank. Every year, Apple seems to extend the battery life so you can get more from your exy smartphone. With the iPhone 17 Pro Max, you can expect it to last at least a full day with moderate to heavy usage.  After eight hours of using battery-sucking apps, I still returned home with about 35%. The iPhone 17 Pro Max charges faster, too, taking you from flat to 50% in just 20 minutes with a 40W charger, or 30 minutes with a 30W charger. 

The vapour chamber casing keeps things cool, nicely complementing the upgraded performance with some much-needed heat management and power efficiency. Even when you’re pushing the iPhone 17 Pro Max to its capabilities to the limit, it remains cool, calm, and collected. 

Is the iPhone 17 Pro Max worth buying?

The iPhone 17 Pro Max is a thermally efficient powerhouse. I’m floored by the slew of high-end features it’s managed to squeeze in since last year, but the design overhaul and brash orange frame are just part of the deal. Its battery is a step up from its predecessor, the camera refinements are a delightful touch, and the plateau doesn’t make it feel as hefty as I anticipated. Less might be more, but in this case, large is still in charge.

How does this compare to the latest iPhone?

See every other iPhone we've reviewed over the years in one place.
Product
Our score
Price
Processor
Screen size
More info
4.5 out of 5 stars
4.5
From$2497
A18 Pro6.7-inches
4.3 out of 5 stars
4.25
From$1397
A186.1-inches
4.3 out of 5 stars
4.25
From$2199
A17 Pro6.7-inches
4.3 out of 5 stars
4.25
From$2199
A17 Pro6.1-inches
4.3 out of 5 stars
4.25
From$1397
A16 Bionic6.7-inches
iphone-12-wireless-charger

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How does the iPhone 17 compare to other smartphones we've reviewed?

Product
Our score
Price
Processor
Screen size
More info
4 out of 5 stars
4
From$1349
Google Tensor G56.3-inch Actua (OLED)
4 out of 5 stars
4
From$1509
Qualcomm Snapdragon 8s Gen 46.67-inch AMOLED
4 out of 5 stars
4
From$2899
Qualcomm Snapdragon 8 Elite for Galaxy6.5-inch + 8-inch AMOLED 2X (120Hz)
4 out of 5 stars
4
From$1849
Qualcomm Snapdragon 8 Elite for Galaxy6.7-inch OLED w/ 120Hz refresh rate
3 out of 5 stars
3
From$699
MediaTek Dimensity 7300 5G6.67-inch OLED w/ 120Hz refresh rate
Hannah Geremia
Written by
Hannah has over six years of experience researching, writing, and editing quality content. She’s passionate about all things tabletop and video games and can typically be found under a blanket with a cup of coffee.

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