The iPhone 17 Pro Max on my desk right now has been my primary device for the past four weeks. Switching from the iPhone 16 Pro Max to the iPhone 17 Pro Max feels like moving from an already superb flagship to a slightly more refined, stamina-focused powerhouse.
The first experiential difference shows up in battery performance: while the 16 Pro Max was no slouch, routinely lasting a full day of heavy use, the 17 Pro Max pushes the envelope further, offering noticeably longer screen-on time and allowing users to eke out extra hours, especially with demanding tasks like video playback or gaming.
The improved battery feels substantial in the hand, and the increased weight is perceptible but offset by the confidence that your device will rarely run out of juice before the day is done, thanks in part to the larger 5,000 mAh cell and better battery management software.
A generational leap in camera
The camera experience defines much of the generational leap. On paper, both devices feature robust triple camera setups, but the 17 Pro Max introduces a more advanced telephoto lens and refined image processing. In everyday use, this translates to richer detail, better low-light shots, and notably improved zoom performance in both photos and cinematic video shots. Images shot on 17 Pro Max look crisper with less noise indoors and better highlight handling in tricky conditions.
While the 16 Pro Max continues to deliver fantastic results, enthusiasts and creators will appreciate the subtle but real gains in resolution and sharpness from the upgraded hardware.
Display quality on both devices is outstanding with the 16 Pro Max already delivering high peak brightness and excellent colour accuracy. The 17 Pro Max maintains the same size and refresh rate but pushes peak brightness and scratch resistance further, along with a new anti-reflective coating that makes a difference while outdoors.
In regular use, these changes feel incremental rather than transformational. The step up is tangible but only truly appreciated when held side by side. And when placed side by side, I found the 16 Pro Max’s titanium body to look better than the 17 Pro Max’s unibody aluminium frame — more on this in the design section below.
Indistinguishable performance
Performance feels virtually indistinguishable unless pushing the devices to their absolute limits. The new A19 Pro chip in the 17 Pro Max, combined with advanced vapour chamber cooling, does run cooler and powers through the most demanding games and pro apps with a small but noticeable margin.
Most users, though, won’t feel constrained by the 16 Pro Max’s capabilities, as it remains one of the top phones available and handles iOS 26’s multitasking, video editing, and gaming with ease.
Charging is another subtle upgrade. The 17 Pro Max introduces faster 40W wired charging, shaving a significant chunk off top-up times compared to the 16 Pro Max, which is noticeable if you often need to quickly top up in the middle of your day. MagSafe charging speeds remain identical, so wireless habits won’t feel any different.
Lighter in hand
Design-wise, the 17 Pro Max shifts to a lighter aluminum frame, which is comfortable and looks modern. Both phones continue to feel premium, but the change in materials is something you’ll notice, especially in daily handling or if you go case-free. When it comes to software, both handsets run iOS 26 and offer extremely similar user experiences.
Notably, the flagship Apple Intelligence features still remain largely in development or have limited rollout on both models, so immediate software differentiation is minimal. Despite the sameness, I did notice a bit of delay in responsiveness in 17 Pro Max when using Face ID and other Siri features.
The ultimate choice?
Ultimately, the question of whether to upgrade boils down to priorities. From an experiential standpoint, the gains in battery life, nuanced camera quality, display improvements, and faster charging on the iPhone 17 Pro Max are real but evolutionary.
Those using a 16 Pro Max today will appreciate the refinements only if they push their phone’s stamina, shoot a lot of zoomed photos or 4K video, or crave that little bit of extra screen brightness and charging speed.
For most users, however, the jump is not dramatically life-changing. The 16 Pro Max still feels modern, powerful, and relevant. The 17 Pro Max is absolutely worth considering if your usage is intensive or if you upgrade on a two-year cycle, but one-year jumpers may find a strong use case in the new camera system, which comes with an upgraded 18MP Centre Stage front camera and the Pro-Fusion camera system that comes with 8x optical-quality telephoto zoom. This phone might also be desirable for someone looking for a slightly bigger battery and lighter in-hand experience.
