Apple iPhone 17 Pro Max Review

https://www.thurrott.com/mobile/ios/333552/apple-iphone-17-pro-max-review

Publish Date: 2026-03-10 14:48:00

The iPhone 17 Pro Max provides significant upgrades over its predecessor and a new Pixel-like design I really like.

Design

The iPhone 17 Pro Max is instantly recognizable out in the world thanks to a new design with a prominent camera “plateau” that’s similar to the iconic Pixel camera bar but even bigger. I like it a lot: There’s a visual similarity to previous iPhone Pros, with the three rear camera lenses in the familiar triangular pattern. But it’s also unique from previous iPhones and the competition.

The iPhone 17 Pro Max doesn’t just look different, it’s now made of aluminum instead of titanium, as with previous Pro models, allowing Apple to improve thermals via a new unibody design. I’m mixed on the new colors, though, and I’ve experienced the same chipping issues with the anodized color coating (paint) of the Deep Blue I chose. This is also a problem with Cosmic Orange, which I assume is the most popular color. And a reminder that plain jane Silver is most likely the safest option in this regard, with the understanding that you can easily add color using a case. Ah well.

That new unibody design allowed Apple to create a large passthrough area on the back of the phone for the MagSafe magnetic wireless charging capabilities. And while this is subtle on my Deep Blue model, there’s a nice two-tone effect there, since the passthrough area is a slightly different color than the rest of the phone. This has bothered some, apparently, and it’s possible that Apple will try to better color match the pieces in the next model year. But I really like it and wish it wasn’t hidden by most cases, including the two I’ve used.

The new camera plateau brings a functional improvement, too, though it’s one Pixel owners have enjoyed for years: There’s no more wobble when you use the iPhone 17 Pro Max on a table, even without a case. Nice.