iPhone 17 Pro Max GSMArena review is out

[jntdroid]

Have a 16P and 17P here (16P is pretty new as well). I don't game, but under normal loads my 17P is not getting near as warm as my 16P gets on the regular, even during initial setup/restore, even without a case on vs my 16P which is in a thin case. I've also seen numerous reviews that show that yes, the 17P can still get hot, but the heat is spread more evenly and not as concentrated.

My 17P is definitely stronger in the battery department as well (I do have the U.S. e-sim version, which helps). Most days on my 16P I'm at 20-40% by the end of the day (usage dependant), but so far on my 17P I've been ending anywhere between 40-60%. Obviously those larger %'s are lighter days, but still. My 16P still has 100% battery health as well.

I know I'm just one person and it's anecdotal, but sometimes it feels like people are just waiting for something negative around a new thing, and as soon as a review comes out that "confirms" it for them, they jump on it. For me, the 17P has some notable improvements over my 16P, and I've seen a lot of balanced reviews showing similar info. So I have a hard time taking a single review with anything more than a grain of salt.

Edit: Oh I'll also add that the zoom camera on the 17P is definitely an improvement. Sure, there are some scenarios where they're similar, others where it's only subjectively better, but then there are some definite scenarios where it outpaces the 16P by a pretty good margin. I don't even care about focal length and all of that; but strictly from a quality standpoint between the two, the larger sensor and higher resolution (plus their software tweaks) definitely helps overall.

 

[MaxVerstappen]

You know what I find hilarious is the people who criticize Apple endlessly no matter what they do. They are quick to write their endless dribble about how Apple has failed the consumer, and then oddly their website is down for the month that Apple does something good.

I have no problem criticizing Apple, but there is almost no balance left. It's all negative all the time. The abuse that Tim Cook gets, on this very site - a Mac fan site no less, tells you all you need to know. According to that crowd Cook has never done a single thing right. Ever. He just constantly fails.

That's pathetic.

👏👏

Well said. Post of the month.

 

[Lounge vibes 05]

It is an anti-consumer practice and I believe EU should step in and demand them to put it there. Imagine if laptop manufacturers do that because all new laptops charge with USB-C.

Apple did this with argumentation that “chargers are unneeded e-waste”. In my life I had never thrown away any charging brick, I have all of them, and all of them find use in my house.

Sure competitors also do that, but I still want them to put at least some sort of charger in the box

the EU prefers no charger in the box, so I have no idea what you are on about.

European Union: it's officially the end of the charger in the smartphone box - GEARRICE

For once the European Union is in agreement with Apple. From tomorrow, any smartphone sold in Europe will no longer have a charger in the box. An “ecological”

www.gearrice.com

Literally the same law that demanded USB-C also demanded phone customers be able to purchase a phone without a charger included, to decrease E-waste. They are literally on the same side as Apple when it comes to this argument.
That’s the thing about the EU interfering, people are happy and push them to do more… Until it’s something they disagree with.
And even more to your point, it is *very likely*, if not certain, that the days of chargers coming with laptops are numbered as well.
But sure, the EU will always be around to save the day when Apple does thing you don’t like.

 

[conmee]

They forgot to list “no headphone jack” and “no micro-SD slot” as cons.

 

[ayephoner]

They forgot to list “no headphone jack” and “no micro-SD slot” as cons.

Lacks removable battery

(oh wait... that is coming back, right?)

 

[digimc]

They forgot to list “no headphone jack” and “no micro-SD slot” as cons.

No Apple stickers in the box either.

I can't believe the 'Apple Fanboys' are letting that slide.

 

[Cuesca]

Lacks removable battery

(oh wait... that is coming back, right?)

Per the EU, yes. Apple is exempt for their phones due to IP68. But their iPads and MacBooks needs to be redesigned before 2027. Memory and storage upgrade regulations are also coming down the pipe IIRC.

 

[Lounge vibes 05]

Per the EU, yes. Apple is exempt for their phones due to IP68. But their iPads and MacBooks needs to be redesigned before 2027. Memory and storage upgrade regulations are also coming down the pipe IIRC.

Apple is more likely to make their iPads and MacBooks water resistant.
Also my understanding is, the interpretation of that law is very broad and for the most part, Apple is already following it.
By removable batteries, they do not mean like, old flip phones where you had a big ol’ compartment that held the battery and you could just pop the back off.

 

[C. Robert]

Still listing as a Cons the lack of charger in 2025 its wild!!!!

Its not, consumers have accepted it but its an issue and should come with a complete charging system

 

[Cuesca]

Apple is more likely to make their iPads and MacBooks water resistant.
Also my understanding is, the interpretation of that law is very broad and for the most part, Apple is already following it.
By removable batteries, they do not mean like, old flip phones where you had a big ol’ compartment that held the battery and you could just pop the back off.

The regulation is strict in demanding toolless battery removable and replacement. And I don't know from an engineering perspective how they can make a MacBook IP68 water resistant, but it would be very cool to be able to dive underwater with a laptop.

 

[ayephoner]

Its not, consumers have accepted it but its an issue and should come with a complete charging system

No. Just stop.

Almost everyone already has a way to charge their phone. It's not just about waste, it's about cost. I don't need a new charger with every phone i buy (or watch or tablet or airpods, etc).

If you need/want a charger, buy one.

 

[macsince2008]

You know what I find hilarious is the people who criticize Apple endlessly no matter what they do. They are quick to write their endless dribble about how Apple has failed the consumer, and then oddly their website is down for the month that Apple does something good.

I have no problem criticizing Apple, but there is almost no balance left. It's all negative all the time. The abuse that Tim Cook gets, on this very site - a Mac fan site no less, tells you all you need to know. According to that crowd Cook has never done a single thing right. Ever. He just constantly fails.

That's pathetic.

Exactly my point, rather than discussing the flaws, bring in history, their CEO and unrelated nonsense.

 

[sleeptodream]

@Sheepish-Lord Telephoto lens actually is a downgrade capped at 4x optical zoom (and 8x "optical quality" zoom).

Not in my opinion. It has a larger sensor, so I’m guessing if you compared them at the same zoom level, the 17 pro would have better image quality

It will also have better quality at zooms between 4x and 5x, as previously those were just using digital zoom from the main sensor, and I would think people would have a lot of use for that range, maybe more than the really high zoom levels

 

[C. Robert]

The criticism is valid. Apple is selling you a premium product that isn't premium in anyway. There is no innovation, some software tweaks, downgrade of materials, and a design that isn't really good looking. The pros need to stop growing in dimensions and weight. Apple needs to make them the envy of the smartphone market just like the MacBook pros. I love apple and my entire ecosystem is apple but this year's pro aren't an upgrade in anyway, sorry.

 

[Cuesca]

Exactly my point, rather than discussing the flaws, bring in history, their CEO and unrelated nonsense.

Honestly I don't think we were being too negative in the first place, and I don't think a lot of these reviewers are being negative on them either. To me IOS26 and its poor implementation of AI is a major flaw, but most of the reviewers seem to have cut them some slack. If I were to give a short concise aggregate of the 17PM is that it's the best phone to come out in 2025 if you want to stick to the Apple ecosystem.

 

[PBG4 Dude]

No Apple stickers in the box either.

I can't believe the 'Apple Fanboys' are letting that slide.

If I ever find a use for the stack of Apple stickers I have, then I’ll get upset.

 

[macsince2008]

The criticism is valid. Apple is selling you a premium product that isn't premium in anyway. There is no innovation, some software tweaks, downgrade of materials, and a design that isn't really good looking. The pros need to stop growing in dimensions and weight. Apple needs to make them the envy of the smartphone market just like the MacBook pros. I love apple and my entire ecosystem is apple but this year's pro aren't an upgrade in anyway, sorry.

This is what I meant exactly. And I can correctly guess the exact usernames of the people who are gonna criticise you with the most useless points. They do that on every single thread.

 

[macsince2008]

👏👏

Well said. Post of the month.

Now I know my point has hit the bullseye.

 

[macsince2008]

No. Just stop.

Almost everyone already has a way to charge their phone. It's not just about waste, it's about cost. I don't need a new charger with every phone i buy (or watch or tablet or airpods, etc).

If you need/want a charger, buy one.

Again your personal opinion. They came up with a new charger specifically for this series, they should include it in the box, or at the very least make it available globally.

 

[klasma]

(oh wait... that is coming back, right?)

It’s not. Smartphones and tablets are exempted when their battery meets the requirements of the Ecodesign Regulation.

 

[neuropsychguy]

a con isn’t about what you personally care about...Design is a con if it turns people off, telephoto is a con if users wanted more reach, iOS matters because hardware and software are inseparable, and the charger is a con because Apple created that pain point in the first place, and it is not available everywhere.

In your comment you say a con isn't what someone cares about but you use "con" as anything that anyone might see as a shortcoming, which undermines your comment. Also, some or most of those “cons” really are subjective. Saying they are all inherently valid "cons" also undermines your argument that a con isn't what someone personally cares about (subjectivity).

The charger point is also not particularly solid. Apple did create a precedent by removing it, but saying “it is not available everywhere” is vague. I'm not sure what that means. Also, most people can buy a charger or have chargers. Why include another one? Yes, Apple's chargers are good quality, but if it helps keep the cost of phones lower (in part by smaller packaging, which reduces shipping costs, etc.), it's not inherently a bad thing. People can spend money on a charger if they don't have one.

 

[ayephoner]

Again your personal opinion. They came up with a new charger specifically for this series, they should include it in the box, or at the very least make it available globally.

It's not an opinion. The vast majority of people in the market for a new phone have a charger, likely many of them.

A new charger is great, but including one doesn't need to be mandatory.

It's also not an opinion that including a charger costs more. That cost would be passed on to the consumer somehow. Making that mandatory makes no sense.

 

[C. Robert]

This is what I meant exactly. And I can correctly guess the exact usernames of the people who are gonna criticise you with the most useless points. They do that on every single thread.

It doesn't help to not be honest with your own opinions. I love apple products and always have. My MacBook Air is my prized possession and so is my Apple Watch, iPad Pro, and iPhone air. Apple did nothing meaningful with this update.

 

[digimc]

Exactly my point, rather than discussing the flaws, bring in history, their CEO and unrelated nonsense.

These reports and reviews are mostly focusing on anecdotal evidence and not objective criteria. You and I could own our iPhone 17 Pro for a full year. After that year, mine could look pristine, and yours could end up looking like a child's play toy. The thing is though, that is all anecdotal. There is no way to objectively show how mine ended up pristine and yours did not.

Most 'real professional' reviewers of any products understand that concept. Unfortunately 'real professional' reviewers are disappearing, in their wake, they are being replaced with 'influencers' on YouTube and other websites. These people are so self absorbed into their own world that they think that what happens to them becomes objective data. If an influencer drops their phone and it dents, 'well by gawd that is scientific proof that the new iPhone is junk'.

They make that video, go to bed, and watch the clicks soar. They give it no further thought. In fact less thought, the better.

They are all about making money off clicks.

With that in mind, these influencers have discovered that negativity sells. And why not? People are more likely to complain about something than give somebody praise. Disgust, anger, and controversy sell. These influencers have discovered that if they make an honest, detailed, thorough and objective review it doesn't do so well. But the second one of them tells the internet masses that the sky is falling, boom they got something.

The vast majority of what you now see in tech reviews is what I have just described. If it bleeds, it leads. Negativity and controversy sell, always have.

It's not that they are pointing out the flaws of the new 17 lineup. It's that they don't bother to research how it's happening, and why it's happening. All they care about is it happened.

Taking Apple to task for flaws in their products is more than fine. Very few people are saying that the 17 family is perfect. But their needs to be meaningful criticisms. Complaining that Apple doesn't include a charger in the box anymore is a fair criticism, but explain why they don't include it.

Good tech reviews used to be done to serve consumers, now they are largely done to serve the influencer.

The sad part about it though, is that people who have actually studied, in depth that is, technology are largely being replaced by people who claim to be experts because they have and I quote, "Owned every Apple product ever, and so I definitely know what I am talking about..."

And the world keeps spinning.

 

[neuropsychguy]

Again your personal opinion. They came up with a new charger specifically for this series, they should include it in the box, or at the very least make it available globally.

Just saw this reply to another commenter. You are criticizing someone for an opinion and then offering your own ("they should include it in the box") as if your opinion is somehow more valid than the other commenter's opinion.

Opinions are great to have but let's at least recognize that this whole thread is mostly full of people offering contrasting opinions. The who GSMArena review is also mostly opinion. Again, that's fine, but it's still just the views of one person or a small team of people.

Now, if the review had a scientific survey of people and made a claim like, "Data showed 96% of iPhone users surveyed prefer Apple include their newest charger with a phone purchase" that no longer is opinion but data. That doesn't make the data inherently accurate but a statement like that is not opinion. If the survey was scientifically and statistically valid (e.g., large, representative worldwide sample of people who personally buy iPhones) then a statement like, "It's a con that Apple did not include the newest charger in the box" would be based on opinion (still subjective) but would be backed from data from enough people that it moves more into an objective category.