• Unboxing iPhone 17 Pro Max
• iPhone 17 Pro Max Specifications
• iPhone 17 Pro Max Performance
• iPhone 17 Pro Max Battery Test
• iPhone 17 Pro Max Camera
• The Good
• The Bad
• iPhone 17 Pro Max Verdict

iPhone 17 Pro Max Review

Product Name: iPhone 17 Pro Max

Product Description: Apple’s most complete iPhone in years; also the one your fingers will remember.

Brand: Apple

Offer price: 7,999

Currency: MYR

• Appearance - 8.6/10

8.6/10

• Efficiency - 8.6/10

8.6/10

• Features - 8/10

8/10

• Materials - 8.9/10

8.9/10

• Performance - 9/10

9/10

• Portability - 7.6/10

7.6/10

• User Experience (UX) - 8.3/10

8.3/10

• Value - 7.7/10

7.7/10

Summary

There’s a lot to admire about the iPhone 17 Pro Max. It is ridiculously capable, camera-happy, and lasts so long you start forgetting where your charger is. But the moment you pick it up, the reality sets in: this is a heavy phone. Day one, you’ll call it solid; day seven, you’ll call it tiring. Beauty and beast are both here; the bulk is the tax you pay.

Overall

8.3/10

8.3/10

Pros

+ Superb triple-48MP camera system with consistent color and detail across all lenses + Gorgeous 6.9-inch Super Retina XDR display with 3000-nit peak brightness + A19 Pro chip delivers exceptional, sustained performance with improved thermals + Long-lasting battery life with efficient power management + USB-C (USB 3) port with 10Gb/s transfer speeds and external SSD recording for ProRes RAW + Premium heat-forged aluminum frame with improved durability and heat dissipation + Wi-Fi 7 and Ultra Wideband Gen 2 for next-gen connectivity + Smooth software optimization and reliable thermal control during heavy tasks

Cons

– Large and heavy, uncomfortable for long one-hand use – Even bulkier when using Apple’s transparent case; stretches grip uncomfortably – Liquid Glass interface looks fancy but adds unnecessary steps for simple actions – Expensive higher storage tiers; 2TB model priced at RM9,999

• Shopee

Previously, I reviewed the iPhone Air that brings a whole new form factor to the lineup, followed by the iPhone 17 that has actually earned its crown as the best iPhone you can buy in all aspects. Today, we have the top of the line, the mighty iPhone 17 Pro Max that pushes all sliders to the far end whether its size, performance, battery, camera, design, or even price. Is it worthy of your pockets? Let’s find out in our iPhone 17 Pro Max review here today.

Unboxing iPhone 17 Pro Max

Apple iPhone 17 Pro Max Review - Beauty, Beast, and Bulk

Apple keeps it clean and familiar. Inside the flat, eco-conscious packaging, you’ll find the phone itself, a braided USB-C to USB-C cable, and the customary absence of a power adapter. This year, Apple decided to not even include the documentations, so there’s zero paper here.

Apple iPhone 17 Pro Max Review - Beauty, Beast, and Bulk

Lifting the iPhone 17 Pro Max out of the box instantly tells you two things: it’s solid, and it’s heavy. The new heat-forged aluminum unibody feels premium and purposeful, and Apple’s subtle matte finish resists fingerprints better than last year’s titanium model. It looks luxurious, yes, but “Pro Max” has never felt this literal.

While there’s all the craze with the Cosmic Orange this year, I find it way too flashy and have reserved it for the iPhone 17 Pro instead that we will be reviewing next. For the iPhone 17 Pro Max, I picked the variant that you should really check out first – the Deep Blue.

iPhone 17 Pro Max Specifications

CPU	Apple A19 3nm TSMC 2 x performance cores up to 4.26GHz 4 x efficiency cores up to 2.6GHz 16-cores Neural Engine
GPU	6-cores GPU with Neural Accelerators
RAM	12GB LPDDR5X
Display	6.9″ 1320 x 2868 (460ppi) LTPO Super Retina XDR 120Hz OLED with Dolby Vision, 19.5:9 ratio 120Hz ProMotion adaptive refresh rate HDR10, True Tone, P3 Wide Color, 1000nits typical, 1600nits HDR, 3000 nits max brightness, 1nit minimum on AOD Dynamic Island Always On Display (AOD) 2,000,000:1 contrast ratio Fingerprint-resistant oleophobic and anti-reflective coating Ceramic Shield 2
Storage	256GB, 512GB, 1TB, 2TB
Audio	Stereo Speakers 4x Microphones
Camera	48MP Fusion Main48MP (Fusion), f/1.8, 24mm, 1/1.28″, 1.22µm, dual pixel PDAF, sensor-shift OISAlso enables 12MP optical-quality 2x Telephoto: 48mm, f/1.78 aperture, sensor-shift OIS48MP Fusion Ultra Wide 48MP (Fusion), 120º ultra wide, f/2.2, 13mm, 1/2.55″, 0.7µm, PDAF48MP Fusion Telephoto 48 MP, f/2.8, 100mm (periscope telephoto), 1/2.55″, 0.7µm, PDAF, 3D sensor‑shift OIS, 4x optical zoomAlso enables 12MP optical-quality 8x Telephoto: 200mm, f/2.8 aperture, sensor‑shift OIS8x optical-quality zoom in, 2x optical zoom out; 16x optical-quality zoom range Digital zoom up to 40x Sapphire crystal lens coverTOF 3D LiDARStills True Tone Flash, Photonic Engine, Deep Fusion, Smart HDR 5, Focus & Depth Control Portraits, Portrait Lighting with 6 effects, Night Mode, 63MP Panorama, Spatial Photos, Burst Mode, 48MP Macro, ProRAWVideo Up to 4K120 Dolby Vision Up to 1080p120 Dolby Vision 720p30 Dolby Vision 4K30 Cinematic Dolby Vision 2.8K60 Dolby Vision Action mode 1080p30 Spatial Video 4K120 ProRes ProRes RAW Apple Log 2 Genlock support Macro video recording including slo-mo and time-lapse Up to 1080p240 and 4K120 Slow-mo 4K30 Dolby Vision Dual Capture Time-lapse with stabilization and Night Mode 4K60 Dolby Vision QuickTake Sensor-shift OIS for video (Main and Telephoto) 15x digital zoom Audio zoom True Tone flash Up to 4K Cinematic video stabilization 8MP still image while capturing 4K video Spatial Audio and stereo recording Wind noise reduction Audio Mix
Selfie Camera	18MP Center Stage Camera, f/1.9, 20mm (ultrawide), PDAF Up to 4K60 Dolby Vision video recording Up to 1080p60 Dolby Vision video recording 4K30 Cinematic Dolby Vision 1080p120 Slow-mo video 4K60 Dolby Vision QuickTake video Center Stage for photos and videos Ultra-stabilized videos Dual capture Photonic Engine Deep Fusion Smart HDR 5 Portraits with Focus and Depth Control Animoji and Memoji ProRAW ProRes Video Recording (4K60) ProRes RAW Apple Log 2 Night Mode Lens Correction Burst Mode Time-lapse video Spatial audio and stereo recording Wind noise reduction Audio Mix
Connectivity	SIM card + eSIMModel A3523 and A3526** FDD-5G NR (Bands n1, n2, n3, n5, n7, n8, n12, n20, n25, n26, n28, n30, n66, n70, n75) TDD-5G NR (Bands n38, n40, n41, n48, n53, n77, n78, n79) FDD-LTE (Bands 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 7, 8, 12, 13, 17, 18, 19, 20, 25, 26, 28, 30, 32, 66) TDD-LTE (Bands 34, 38, 39, 40, 41, 42, 48, 53) UMTS/HSPA+/DC-HSDPA (850, 900, 1700/2100, 1900, 2100 MHz) GSM/EDGE (850, 900, 1800, 1900 MHz) 5G (sub-6 GHz) with 4×4 MIMO Gigabit LTE with 4×4 MIMOApple N1 wireless networking chip** Wi‑Fi 7 (802.11be) with 2×2 MIMO Bluetooth 6 Thread networking technologyApple second-generation Ultra Wideband chipNFC with reader mode Express Cards with power reserve GPS, GLONASS, Galileo, QZSS, BeiDou and NavIC iBeacon micro-locationType-C USB 3 (up to 10 Gbps) with DisplayPort support
Software	iOS 26.0.1
Battery	Li-ion 4823mAh, non-removable PD3.2 25W wireless MagSafe/Qi2 4.5W reverse wired
Dimensions	163.4 x 78 x 8.8 mm
Weight	233g
Ingress Protection	IP68 (maximum depth of 6 metres up to 30 minutes) under IEC standard 60529

iPhone 17 Pro Max Performance

The A19 Pro chip brings Apple’s biggest leap in sustained performance since the A17 Pro. Built on a refined 3 nm process and paired with a vapor-chamber cooling system which is the first time ever in iPhones, this phone runs cooler and faster for longer. Let’s look at the real-world numbers from our tests.

iPhone 17 Pro Max Review – Antutu V10 Benchmark

AnTuTu measures everything; CPU, GPU, memory, and UX. The iPhone 17 Pro Max easily claims a top-tier score, placing it ahead of most flagships. What’s impressive is the consistency across repeated runs; Apple’s new cooling system keeps thermals stable, translating to fewer slow-downs under continuous load. This is essentially brute force paired with composure.

iPhone 17 Pro Max Review – Antutu V10 Breakdown

The iPhone 17 Pro Max definitely carries its crown with pride. If you pit it against any iPhones that have ever existed, the iPhone 17 Pro Max will nail it down mercilessly. The CPU, the GPU, the Memory, the UX, the iPhone 17 Pro Max left no chance for its siblings or predecessors to even beg. We’re off to a great start, now lets dig deeper.

iPhone 17 Pro Max – Geekbench 6 Benchmark

In Geekbench 6, the iPhone 17 Pro Max once again flexes its A19 Pro chip, scoring 3748 (single-core) and 9717 (multi-core). The single-core score sits among the highest we’ve seen on any smartphone today, showing that Apple’s performance cores remain incredibly efficient in day-to-day tasks.

Multi-core performance, however, tells an even more interesting story. The 17 Pro Max closes the gap with Qualcomm’s latest flagship, trailing by less than 150 points while maintaining much better thermal consistency. Compared to last year’s iPhone 16 Pro Max (8637), the improvement is notable, roughly 12% gain in multi-core throughput.

What this means in practice is that the iPhone 17 Pro Max feels effortlessly fast, whether you’re rendering 4K HDR video, compiling large RAW photo batches, or even running local AI workflows through Core ML. It’s not just about peak performance, but rather how long it can hold that speed without slowing down and in that regard, Apple still sets the benchmark.

iPhone 17 Pro Max Review – 3DMark Stability Test

3DMark chart here measures performance consistency over time rather than just peak power – the higher the percentage, the better the sustained performance. In the 3DMark Wild Life Stress Test, the iPhone 17 Pro Max achieved an impressive 99.8% stability, matching the iPhone Air’s near-perfect record.

That means even after looping through heavy GPU workloads for extended periods, the A19 Pro chip barely drops in performance, maintaining almost identical frame rates from start to finish.

Apple’s new heat-forged aluminum chassis with integrated vapor chamber clearly pays off here. It doesn’t only keep things cool, its about keeping consistent power delivery without thermal throttling. The iPhone 17 Pro Max effectively joins the iPhone Air at the top of our charts, proving that Apple’s silicon is not only fast but also remarkably reliable under pressure.

In simpler terms, if you game for long stretches, edit videos on the go, or record 4K HDR footage, this level of stability ensures performance never dips and that is exactly what you expect from a Pro Max-class device.

iPhone 17 Pro Max Review – 3DMark Mobile Benchmark

When it comes to raw graphics horsepower, the iPhone 17 Pro Max absolutely dominates the field. Scoring 26,234 in Wild Life Unlimited, 5,431 in Wild Life Extreme Unlimited, 10,001 in Solar Bay, and 2,292 in Steel Nomad Light, it clearly sits at the top of the pack, outpacing even the HONOR Magic7 Pro and Galaxy S25 Ultra in the lighter and balanced workloads.

The new 6-core GPU inside the A19 Pro is both faster and far more efficient. Even under sustained load, it manages to maintain consistent frame delivery, which you can actually feel when gaming.

For context, the iPhone 16 Pro Max previously scored 17,189 in Wild Life Unlimited, meaning the new chip delivers roughly a 52 percent uplift in heavy graphics workloads. The additional Metal optimization and improved shader throughput clearly pay off here.

It’s not just about higher frame rates either. Apple’s rendering efficiency shines in Solar Bay and Steel Nomad Light, which simulate modern ray-tracing and Vulkan-based gaming scenarios. The iPhone 17 Pro Max’s results prove that Apple’s GPU is engineered for stable, real-world performance that stays smooth long after other phones start throttling.

If you’re a mobile gamer or creative professional relying on GPU-intensive apps, this is easily one of the most stable and capable mobile graphics systems you can buy today.

iPhone 17 Pro Max Review – GPUScore Sacred Path Benchmark

Sacred Path is one of the most modern GPU benchmarks around, built to evaluate real-world rendering efficiency using complex shading and lighting workloads. It includes three subtests, Official, Native, and VRS (Variable Rate Shading) though Apple devices skip VRS since Metal doesn’t support it in this benchmark.

In the chart, the iPhone 17 Pro Max (A19 Pro 6-core GPU) delivers 3,857 points in Official and 3,778 in Native, which is outstanding given the lack of VRS optimization. That’s a massive leap from the iPhone 16 Pro Max’s 2,843 / 3,008, showing roughly a 33% improvement in rendering performance. Even when compared to the best Android flagships, Apple holds its ground remarkably well where the Galaxy S25 Ultra (Snapdragon 8 Elite) reaches 3,998 (Official) but dips to 3,009 (Native), indicating stronger cross-platform performance on Apple’s side.

What’s even more impressive is efficiency. The iPhone 17 Pro Max doesn’t rely on hardware tricks like variable shading yet still competes with, and in some cases surpasses, devices that do. It proves that Apple’s Metal API and A19 Pro GPU are tuned for real rendering workloads rather than synthetic peaks. The result is smooth, consistent frame delivery across graphically demanding titles and creative apps.

iPhone 17 Pro Max Battery Test

Since PCMark’s Battery Test isn’t available on iOS (for obvious reasons), I always rely on real-world testing when it comes to iPhone reviews. And that’s never as straightforward as it sounds. Everyone’s usage is different; screen time, app habits, background refreshes, brightness levels, and even network strength all affect how far a single charge goes.

Apple iPhone 17 Pro Max Review - Beauty, Beast, and Bulk

For reference, even the iPhone Air I reviewed previously managed to last me through an entire day comfortably. My daily use revolves mostly around communication, social media, productivity, and work-related tasks. I don’t game on my primary phone; that’s a job reserved for my ROG Phone, which helps keep the iPhone’s battery stress-free.

With that in mind, the iPhone 17 Pro Max should, in theory, exceed my expectations. Its larger battery and improved power management easily make it one of the most enduring iPhones ever and for a user like me, it should be almost overkill.

As usual, I started my battery test at noon, letting it run through a full cycle of typical daily use including a mix of working hours where I actively use the phone, and idle periods overnight while I sleep. This gives a more realistic gauge of endurance instead of continuous stress testing.

In this round, I ran the iPhone 17 Pro Max down to 2%, and it finally powered off around 9 PM the next day, clocking in an impressive 33 hours of total battery life. That includes messaging, emails, social media, light photography, and the usual background syncs throughout the day. For a device this powerful with a 6.9-inch display, the result is nothing short of excellent. But this is my basic normal day use case.

Here’s where I decided to go tough on the iPhone 17 Pro Max. As usual, I unplugged the device around noon, but this time I had a rather heavy task ahead. At about 8 PM, I went live on Facebook and kept the stream running for almost two hours straight. You can clearly see the surge in usage during that period – camera on, display active, and the network working continuously to keep the stream smooth.

By the time I wrapped up, I still had around 35% battery left. That means the two-hour livestream consumed close to half the total capacity, which is genuinely impressive given how demanding live sessions are. The fact that it held its ground without throttling or heating up excessively shows how efficient the new thermal system really is. Simply put, the battery on the iPhone 17 Pro Max is one of the strongest reasons to go for this model.

Charging performance is no slouch either. Using my 100W GaN charger, the phone intelligently limits itself to 40W, optimizing for both speed and longevity. From my tests, it consistently reached 80% in about an hour, before trickling the rest to full charge close to my usual bedtime. If you prefer a cable-free setup, MagSafe and Qi2 wireless charging are also supported at up to 25W, which makes it just as convenient as it is capable.

iPhone 17 Pro Max Camera

This is the real Pro in the iPhone 17 Pro Max – the camera. Apple decided to redefine the camera narrative this time around by refining nearly every piece of the imaging pipeline. For the first time, all three rear lenses feature 48-megapixel sensors, which means consistent detail and color across every focal length. You no longer get that “main lens magic” followed by a sharp drop in quality when switching to ultra-wide or telephoto. Everything feels cohesive now as if the phone finally speaks one visual language.

Apple iPhone 17 Pro Max Review - Beauty, Beast, and Bulk

The new main camera captures an incredible level of depth and texture. Even without toggling RAW or Pro mode, photos look balanced and true to life. Skin tones are natural, highlights behave predictably, and Apple’s new Smart HDR 7 manages to keep dynamic scenes under control without overcooking the contrast. The Deep Fusion and adaptive Photonic Engine now work together more seamlessly, especially under tricky lighting bringing cleaner midtones and less haloing around bright objects.

Low-light shots show noticeable improvement too. The larger pixel pitch, combined with smarter exposure blending, means less grain and more preserved color at night. Where the older iPhones tended to lift shadows aggressively, the 17 Pro Max keeps the scene moodier and more realistic closer to what your eyes actually saw.

Apple iPhone 17 Pro Max Review - Beauty, Beast, and Bulk

The ultra-wide camera benefits from the same 48 MP treatment, finally delivering detail that doesn’t fall apart at the edges. It’s great for architecture and landscape shots, with distortion well under control. And then there’s the 5× periscope telephoto that is easily the star of the show. At 120 mm equivalent, it’s a sweet spot for portraits and long-range compositions. The optical performance holds up well even at 8× hybrid zoom, with Apple’s multi-frame fusion keeping fine detail intact. You’ll notice minimal fringing and very little noise, even when shooting handheld.

Apple iPhone 17 Pro Max Review - Beauty, Beast, and Bulk

Video remains Apple’s stronghold. The iPhone 17 Pro Max shoots 4K 60 HDR and ProRes RAW, and it allows direct recording to an external SSD through USB-C. Focus transitions are buttery smooth, stabilization feels gimbal-like, and colors are accurate enough for professional workflows without heavy grading. Dolby Vision HDR playback on the display looks jaw-droppingly good, matching what you’d see on a reference monitor.

For creators who use iPhones as part of their production setups, Apple even added genlock support and tighter integration with the Blackmagic Camera app, allowing multi-camera sync straight from the phone. Meanwhile, the new 18 MP Center Stage front camera offers wider framing and better tracking for vlogs and video calls, maintaining clarity even in dim lighting which has been my favourite feature this year and I have sing songs in all my past reviews too.

Overall, the iPhone 17 Pro Max’s camera system doesn’t scream for attention with flashy saturation or exaggerated sharpness. Instead, it wins you over quietly through reliability, consistency, and results that look professional straight out of the phone. It’s the kind of camera setup that makes you want to shoot more, not because it’s trendy, but because you trust it to deliver every single time. This is what makes the iPhone 17 Pro Max, an iPhone 17 Pro Max. If you are a heavy photography and videography user, you just can’t go wrong with the iPhone 17 Pro Max.

iPhone 17 Pro Max Review – Night Shot

The night mode shot? Incredible! This shot of my son sleeping was taken in pitch darkness with a very light silhouette of baby light. The iPhone 17 Pro Max managed to capture it so beautifully without the need of a tripod or flash making it look like as if he was sleeping in a brightly lit room.

Zooming at 8x on 48MP HEIC In reality, it’s 48MP compressed into a 12MP

Okay, it all sounds good and dandy, but let me be a little critical here. First, I noticed that the optical magnification has been reduced down to 4x instead of 5x in Telephoto. Its tricky to notice because the Telephoto does get bumped up to 48MP, far from the 12MP in the previous generation. It doesn’t stop there. When I heard about 8x optical-quality zoom, it made me jump for a while, until I got my hands on it myself and had to re-read the specifications and fine prints carefully. That 8x optical-quality is basically that, optical-quality. Its not real optical 8x. What you will get is actually a 48MP image that gets cropped down to 12MP to achieve the so called “optical-quality”.

See, I’m not a fan of super zoom really. You could have up to 200x zoom but I will almost never use that. But I take my zooming seriously and I do compensate object shots with zooms up to 3x especially in Telephoto shots and that’s about it. So having 8x is nice but to trick digital zoom by calling it optical quality to a certain extent highly misleading. Especially when its not even upscaled back to a 48MP and perhaps doing pixel merging to at least try to compensate the “optical-quality” terminology.

Apple iPhone 17 Pro Max Review - Beauty, Beast, and Bulk

If you also read clearly in the specifications above, you will notice that both the Main Camera and Telephoto Camera has telephoto capabilities. At a certain distance, it will be noticeable that the camera switches back and forth between the two cameras. I’m guessing the Telephoto Camera is unable to focus at this point and resorts to the Main Camera to get the job done. Only problem is, you get swapped between the optical focus to digital one instead.

That said, feast your eyes with some of the pictures that I took with the iPhone 17 Pro Max. Note that the images have been converted into browser compatibility format so there might be degradation of quality as the originals were all shot in HEIC. I have taken as much steps as possible to mirror close to the real photos.

The Good

The iPhone 17 Pro Max is a joy to toy around with. There’s a lot of goodness going on and some of the changes that made me lift my eyebrows initially, turned out to resonate with the reasons they were implemented. Let’s go through each of them.

Apple iPhone 17 Pro Max Review - Beauty, Beast, and Bulk

First up, Apple’s 6.9-inch Super Retina XDR display on the iPhone 17 Pro Max is simply a joy to look at. The LTPO OLED panel offers vibrant but accurate colors, buttery-smooth 120Hz ProMotion refresh, and enough brightness to comfortably use under direct sunlight. That 3000-nit peak HDR brightness makes HDR videos truly pop without crushing shadows, and outdoor legibility is unmatched. Editing photos, streaming Dolby Vision content, or simply scrolling through social feeds, the iPhone 17 Pro Max makes the experience feels premium, polished, and fluid. It’s easily one of the best smartphone displays in the market today.

Secondly, the A19 Pro chip continues Apple’s dominance in mobile performance as I have shared in the performance section above. Built on a 3 nm process, it combines raw speed with impressive efficiency. It breezes through anything, from 4K HDR video editing to console-tier gaming while staying surprisingly cool, thanks to the new heat-forged aluminum chassis with integrated vapor chamber cooling. What really stands out isn’t just the peak numbers in benchmarks, but how well the phone maintains that power over time. There’s practically no throttling even during heavy multitasking or extended gaming. In short, this is performance that feels effortless, giving power that you never have to think about.

Apple iPhone 17 Pro Max Review - Beauty, Beast, and Bulk

Third, Apple has finally achieved what photographers have been asking for years, that is, uniform quality across every lens. The iPhone 17 Pro Max uses three 48-megapixel sensors that deliver consistent detail, color balance, and exposure handling from ultra-wide to telephoto. There’s no more drastic shift in tone when switching lenses. The main sensor captures beautiful dynamic range and natural color, while the ultra-wide keeps distortion minimal and sharpness high. The new 5× periscope telephoto lens is genuinely useful, not a gimmick, bringing crisp, stabilized, and confident photography even at 8× hybrid zoom. This is Apple’s most cohesive camera experience to date, making it ideal for both casual shooters and professionals on the move.

Next, battery life has always been a strong suit for the Pro Max series, but the iPhone 17 Pro Max takes it to another level. Between the A19 Pro’s power efficiency, iOS 26’s refined background management, and that massive battery inside, it comfortably lasts over a full day and then some. Even during heavy tasks like streaming or going live for hours, the endurance is remarkable. Add to that Apple’s new thermal system, which keeps the phone cool even while charging or recording 4K footage, and you get one of the most balanced endurance profiles we’ve ever seen on an iPhone. For users who value reliability over raw capacity numbers, this is endurance done right.

Apple iPhone 17 Pro Max Review - Beauty, Beast, and Bulk

Another thing that I liked. Apple’s long-awaited switch to USB-C is finally meaningful. On the Pro models, it supports USB 3.0 transfer speeds up to 10 Gb/s, making it a real tool for creators. You can plug in an external SSD and record ProRes RAW video directly to it, skipping the storage anxiety that used to plague iPhone filmmakers. File transfers to Macs or PCs are dramatically faster now, and accessories like card readers or DACs just plug in and work. This change turns the iPhone 17 Pro Max into a pocket workstation.

Apple iPhone 17 Pro Max Review - Beauty, Beast, and Bulk

Next, Apple’s design refinement this year feels more purposeful than flashy. The heat-forged aluminum frame replaces titanium but doesn’t compromise on strength, in fact, it improves thermals and makes the phone slightly more resistant to surface temperature buildup. The new Ceramic Shield 2 protects both front and back glass, giving the phone better scratch resistance and drop survivability. The refined “plateau” design around the camera island not only looks elegant but also distributes weight slightly better. While it’s still a hefty device, the craftsmanship remains impeccable and everything about it screams precision. Aluminum is not new on the iPhone series. While Apple has been singing songs about Titanium for 2 past generations, they seem to accept the fact that Aluminum is just far more superior than Titanium especially in heat dissipation and I personally believe, its production. I put my bets that Titanium has better environmental values with better recyclability but in every other factor, Aluminum will bring the benefits that the device needs.

Finally, connectivity is another quiet upgrade that matters more than it gets credit for. The inclusion of Wi-Fi 7 ensures lightning-fast wireless speeds and improved latency, making it ideal for high-quality streaming or AirPlay casting. Meanwhile, Ultra Wideband Gen 2 improves spatial awareness, letting you locate other Apple devices with pinpoint precision which is especially useful with AirTags or Find My network. It’s not a flashy headline feature, but it’s one that keeps the iPhone 17 Pro Max ready for the next few years of wireless innovation.

The Bad

There’s no sugarcoating it, the iPhone 17 Pro Max is a beast, and it feels like one. While the new heat-forged aluminum frame helps with cooling and structural integrity, it does little to reduce the weight in hand. Holding it for long stretches, especially one-handed, becomes uncomfortable after a while. You’ll feel the strain when scrolling in bed, replying to messages during commutes, or recording videos for extended periods. It’s not unusable by any means, but compared to sleeker flagships like the Galaxy S25 Ultra or even Apple’s own iPhone 17, the Pro Max demands a little extra muscle. Beauty comes at a cost and in this case, that cost is measured in grams.

Apple iPhone 17 Pro Max Review - Beauty, Beast, and Bulk

Make no mistake, the 6.9-inch display of the iPhone 17 Pro Max is lovely. But combined with the original transparent Apple case, it suddenly feels more like holding a mini tablet than a phone. If you’re using one-handed, scrolling, messaging, grabbing it from your pocket, you’ll find yourself stretching your fingers more than necessary. The slab-design and the case add extra bulk; thing is solid, but the ergonomics drop off in one-hand use. If comfortable grip matters to you, this is a trade-to-know.

Apple iPhone 17 Pro Max Review - Beauty, Beast, and Bulk

Here’s a quirky one. For years, Apple’s logo sat exactly centred on the back panel. With the big camera plateau now dominating the upper third, Apple shifted the logo lower so that it aligns with the part of the back ceramic under the plateau. On the face of it, it’s just a design move but when you apply the Apple FineWoven Case, the logo realigns with the whole phone body and not just the ceramic-shield pancake. For me, that little misalignment sticks out like an itch for the OCD-inclined. If you’re particular about alignment and symmetry, it’s worth noting.

Next, if said this in the past iPhone Air and iPhone 17 reviews and I’ll say it again. Apple’s Liquid Glass UI in iOS 26 is stunning at first glance. It’s full of fluid transitions, reflective layers, and that signature Apple polish that makes you stop and admire. But after the honeymoon period ends, it starts feeling… extra. Actions that used to take one tap now take two. Elements slide and fade beautifully but sometimes get in the way of efficiency. For a company known for simplicity, this version of iOS feels like a designer’s dream more than a user’s. It’s not broken, but it needs refinement. Less art, more function. Please Apple, accept this and change it. You definitely can do better.

Apple iPhone 17 Pro Max Review - Beauty, Beast, and Bulk

Apple has never been shy about premium pricing, but this year the gap between storage tiers feels steeper than ever. The base 256 GB model is reasonable, but stepping up to 512 GB or 1 TB quickly turns into laptop-level money. Considering how ProRes and 4K HDR recording chew through storage, most creators will naturally aim for those higher tiers. The problem isn’t that the phone isn’t worth it but rather, it’s that the entry point for serious users has quietly crept higher. For many, that makes the Pro Max harder to justify despite its excellence.

iPhone 17 Pro Max Verdict

Without a doubt, this is the most powerful, most beautiful, most prestigious iPhone of the year. If you have the money to spend, the iPhone 17 Pro Max is definitely more than just a companion. Everything you can desire in a smartphone is here and it feels complete. I can safely say, it carries Apple’s crown with pride, showing the world how a leader walks more than just talk. For those who can afford the luxury, iPhone 17 Pro Max belongs in your palms.

But let’s be practical here. The iPhone 17 Pro Max doesn’t come cheap. The 256GB model starts at RM5,999, which sounds manageable until you realize it climbs by roughly a thousand ringgit with each storage bump, all the way to RM7,999 for the 1TB version. Apple has kept the same pricing structure as last year, but now there’s a 2TB option that crosses into RM9,999 territory, and that’s where my jaw genuinely dropped. This is a Pro Max, after all. If you’re not planning to use its professional features like ProRes video recording, RAW photography, or external SSD workflows, you’re basically overspending for bragging rights. But if you do intend to use those features properly, you’ll quickly find yourself needing that higher storage tier. The phone’s hardware deserves it; your wallet might not agree.

When I reviewed the iPhone 17, I already predicted that its the best bang for the buck iPhone of all variant. I stand firm on my call especially since it already has most of the basic Pro features on it. But comparing it to the iPhone 17 Pro Max is not even close to fair. The iPhone 17 Pro Max is the epitome of luxury modern smartphones that will not only leave a legacy, it will be followed by others. For the most part, at least its not as boring as the past few iPhone Pro Max has been because I genuinely had a lot of fun with it.