Apple iPhone 17 Pro Max first impressions

Apple has consistently pushed the limits with its Pro models, with the Pro Max serving as the ultimate showcase. This year, it feels the limits have been pushed further. Apple has gone bolder, not just with the design, but with colours and hardware that give the Pro Max a fresh personality.

The new iPhone 17 Pro Max feels like the greatest hits of every Pro iPhone so far, remixed into a funkier, more crowd-pleasing style. And after spending some time with the device, it’s clear where Apple is heading, and we are all in for it. Here are our Apple iPhone 17 Pro Max first impressions. 

iPhone 17 Pro Max design: The Bolder approach

Starting with what meets the eye first, the design. In its Cosmic Orange finish, which will likely be the crowd favourite this year, the iPhone 17 Pro Max looks effortlessly stylish. However, it’s unlike what we saw in media briefs; it has more personality and charm in person.

Apple has surely gone bold here by keeping the vibrant shade at the centre stage. What’s bolder is dropping black altogether. In its place is the Deep Blue variant, which looks stealthy. And for those who’d rather keep things classic, the Silver feels like the safe pick.

Okay, now let’s keep the colours aside; the design itself is polarising. Instead of a minimal look, Apple has added a MagSafe-friendly Ceramic Shield Glass 2 in the centre of the all-aluminium back.

The new camera plateau does stick out a little, but it’s already growing on us. There’s a good reason for it, too—the improved camera system and a bigger battery. And honestly, it only adds to the iPhone’s style, giving the rear a distinct aesthetic of its own.

In hand, the iPhone 17 Pro Max feels lighter than expected, yet solid and undeniably lush. You can also slap the official cases from Apple, but honestly, this is a phone that deserves to go bare—at least for the first couple of months.

The screen remains the same 6.9 inches, but it’s bright at 3,000 nits. The bezels also look narrow, but feel unchanged when compared to the iPhone 16 Pro Max.

iPhone 17 Pro Max Cameras: Jaw-dropping

Apple’s iPhones have always had the edge when it comes to photography. But this year, Apple has left no stone unturned. We get triple cameras, with all sensors being 48MP, including the telephoto unit. And for the very first time in iPhones, you get 8x lossless zoom.

And in indoor environments, it simply delivered. The skin tones look close to natural, and the colours were adjusted pretty well. There’s also the upgraded 18MP Center Stage camera on the front, and it’s quite good. But we will reserve our final judgements about the camera for the full review. This includes the outdoor performance and videography. 

iPhone 17 Pro Max Performance: Snappy

This time, it’s not just the chipset that’s been refreshed; the RAM also gets a bump to 12GB, and in our early use, the phone felt super snappy. We haven’t pushed the A19 Pro chip with AAA titles yet, but that’s something we’ll save for the full review.

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The battery on the iPhone 17 Pro Max is now almost on par with Android flagships. Unfortunately, we couldn’t test it with our limited usage, but it’s advertised to offer up to 39 hours of playback, which is bonkers. We’ll have to wait and see how the iPhone performs for the final verdict.

Apple iPhone 17 Pro Max: First Impressions

The iPhone 17 Pro Max is powerful, fresh, and charismatic. It’s packed with the A19 Pro chipset, styled in the bold Cosmic Orange finish, and topped off with a new camera plateau that houses a sharper telephoto. Put all together, and we’re honestly hooked on to its charming rizz.

What are your thoughts on the iPhone 17 Pro Max? And are you buying it? Do let us know in the comments below.