This represents a noticeable departure from the iPhone 16 Pro Max, which retained the sleek, familiar styling of previous generations.

The new model is expected to be thicker, increasing from 8.25mm to 8.73mm. Users hope this extra space will allow for a larger battery - one of the most requested improvements when design changes are made.

Apple may also switch from titanium back to aluminum in order to reduce both weight and production costs. More importantly, since most global titanium production is concentrated in China, potential trade tensions with the U.S. could make continued use of titanium problematic.

Button placement is expected to remain unchanged, with the Action button on the left and a camera control button on the right, offering improved usability.

Display

The iPhone 17 Pro Max will likely retain the same 6.9-inch Liquid Retina XDR display with a 120Hz ProMotion refresh rate as the iPhone 16 Pro Max.

Photo caption: iPhone 17 Pro Max may not be a massive leap beyond the 16 Pro Max. Photo: PhoneArena

However, the front-facing Dynamic Island may be reduced in size - similar to the way Apple shrank the notch by 20% on the iPhone 13.

Apple could also adopt Samsung’s new M14 OLED panel, pushing peak brightness from 2,000 to nearly 3,000 nits under optimal conditions, while keeping minimum brightness at 1 nit.

Performance and software

The iPhone 17 Pro Max will be powered by the Apple A19 Pro chip. While it’s unclear whether it will be built on an enhanced 3nm process or a brand-new 2nm process, either would result in better performance and energy efficiency.

Apple’s chip partner, TSMC, is reportedly ready to mass-produce 2nm chips, making the iPhone 17 Pro Max a possible debut device for this technology.

RAM is expected to increase from 8GB to 12GB, in line with Apple’s expanding focus on AI and future multitasking capabilities.

On the software side, iPhone 17 Pro Max will ship with iOS 26, which introduces a bold new "Liquid Glass" interface - Apple’s biggest UI overhaul in a decade. Users can activate a "Clear Look" mode for a semi-transparent aesthetic reminiscent of Windows Vista.

The Camera app will be simplified to just photo and video options. The Photos app will feature a cleaner layout. Other updates include AI-powered call screening, live voice translation, group poll features in Messages, and new customizable wallpapers.

Camera

In addition to a visibly larger rear camera array, the standout upgrade will be a new 48MP periscope telephoto lens with 5x optical zoom, replacing the current 12MP version. This allows for superior hybrid zoom performance. Rumors suggest all three rear cameras will now have 48MP sensors.

The front-facing camera will also see a major leap from 12MP to 24MP, enabling significantly better selfies and video calls.

For the first time, iPhones may support 8K video recording - though this feature will likely be exclusive to Pro models.

Battery and charging

The iPhone 16 Pro Max currently boasts the largest iPhone battery ever at 4,685mAh. However, the iPhone 17 Pro Max may surpass this with a capacity exceeding 4,700mAh - possibly nearing 5,000mAh - thanks to its thicker design and stacked battery structure.

That said, charging speeds are expected to remain unchanged: up to 40W wired charging under ideal conditions, and 25W with MagSafe 2.0.

Preliminary spec comparison

Should you upgrade?

Overall, the iPhone 17 Pro Max is a moderate upgrade - not a revolutionary leap from the 16 Pro Max.

If you already own an iPhone 16 Pro Max, there's little justification to upgrade unless you specifically want the new 8K camera, full 48MP sensor array, or enjoy the bold visual changes in iOS 26.

However, for users with an iPhone 14 Pro Max or older, the iPhone 17 Pro Max offers a substantial improvement and is worth serious consideration.

Hai Phong (PhoneArena, CNET, Macrumors)