I wonder what Jony Ive thinks of these new Pro iPhones lol
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iPhone 17 Pro Max iPhone 17 Pro Max is here! First impressions and photos thread
- Thread starter Boardiesboi
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Loving the blue PM so far. The color is a lot nicer IRL than in pictures. The back looks a little goofy but the geek in me appreciates the design choices and rationale behind them. Overall it feels maybe a bit more fragile than the 14 PM I’m coming from. I’m actually a little nervous about using it the next couple days before my case gets here. Just going to have to be careful. I can’t believe how small the bezels are, this is quite the upgrade! See you guys in another 3 years. 🤣
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I love the orange color. Not sure if it's the aluminum or the unibody, but this is the least premium feeling iPhone that I can remember.
I would say both. I looked at the Pros in the store today and thought to myself that without the multiple camera lenses there would be no way of telling by looking at it that this is the Pro iPhone. It has never looked or felt less premium.
Another thing that came to mind is that the Pro really needs a black color, because this less-than-appealing new design screams for a black option. I think Apple will release one mid-cycle, to boost sales.
I went to the store to check them out in person and here are my impressions, that no one asked for:
Of the Pro's I thought the best color was the Orange. It's hard to really say because the Apple Store doesn't really allow you to see things in all lighting conditions but it felt the most memorable of the 3. The silver and blue are really flat.
Every single deep blue iPhone Pro on display was scratched. And all in the same place. The ceramic shield. I'm not sure why this is, or why one color would scratch more than the other as the material is the same. Or why they claim the ceramic shield is more durable.
There was wear on some of the orange one's too, also in a specific spot—not the glass back—but on the lip of the camera bar. Not the part where the camera is. But the thin bit that raises off the back, that small height protrusion.
The AIR was impressively thin. I would say my impression of it was the word, delicate. It just felt very delicate, like you would break it touching it. I think part of this has not only to do with the thinness but also the screen size. I've been using a PM for years so the smaller screen definately contributed to that impression.
Of the Pro's I thought the best color was the Orange. It's hard to really say because the Apple Store doesn't really allow you to see things in all lighting conditions but it felt the most memorable of the 3. The silver and blue are really flat.
Every single deep blue iPhone Pro on display was scratched. And all in the same place. The ceramic shield. I'm not sure why this is, or why one color would scratch more than the other as the material is the same. Or why they claim the ceramic shield is more durable.
There was wear on some of the orange one's too, also in a specific spot—not the glass back—but on the lip of the camera bar. Not the part where the camera is. But the thin bit that raises off the back, that small height protrusion.
The AIR was impressively thin. I would say my impression of it was the word, delicate. It just felt very delicate, like you would break it touching it. I think part of this has not only to do with the thinness but also the screen size. I've been using a PM for years so the smaller screen definately contributed to that impression.
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Coming from someone whose had aluminum iPhones before, unless you’re going to put the new Pros in a defender style case, go with the silver. Yes, that orange is sexy but the silver color isn’t anodized and won’t show nicks nearly as much as the orange and blue will. Anodized aluminum nicks super easily and looks terrible after a while. It’s far worse than you think.
Thank you for posting! Do you mind share if the top edge of the phone have that mmWave antenna cutout? I’m curious if the cutout is only present on U.S. models or if it is universal. If only models outside the U.S. supported mmWave, that would be so nice.
I believe it's only on US models. They also don't get a physical SIM slot, but make up for it with a larger battery.
just opened up my 17 Pro Max (in silver) and the first thing that surprised me the most is how much cooler the 17PM is compared to my 16PM
while transferring around 200gb from my 16PM to the 17PM, the 17PM was a bit warm around the camera plateau but that’s about it. the 16PM was literally dangerous to touch. i had to find places around my desk so the 16PM would have something cool to cool off on.
Second was when the transfer completed and the 17 Pro Max started downloading all of my apps. I also noticed it was getting warm so i do my usual where i put the device on my kitchens granite counter and see how it cools down. on my 16PM it usually takes a good few minutes for it to cool down to the temp of the granite. the 17PM cooled in under 15 seconds. I was shocked. It could be the combination of the phone running cooler and the vapor chamber.
Very pleasantly surprised.
while transferring around 200gb from my 16PM to the 17PM, the 17PM was a bit warm around the camera plateau but that’s about it. the 16PM was literally dangerous to touch. i had to find places around my desk so the 16PM would have something cool to cool off on.
Second was when the transfer completed and the 17 Pro Max started downloading all of my apps. I also noticed it was getting warm so i do my usual where i put the device on my kitchens granite counter and see how it cools down. on my 16PM it usually takes a good few minutes for it to cool down to the temp of the granite. the 17PM cooled in under 15 seconds. I was shocked. It could be the combination of the phone running cooler and the vapor chamber.
Very pleasantly surprised.
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At the sight of first scratch / bend / dent on that cheap anodized aluminum, minds are going to change pretty quickly. I hope not but it’s a possibility.
I somehow feel like they’ll return to titanium next time around. There’s nothing stopping them from putting vapor chamber in a titanium case.
I somehow feel like they’ll return to titanium next time around. There’s nothing stopping them from putting vapor chamber in a titanium case.
A few hours in with my new 17 Pro Max now.
I’ll start by saying that I do get some of the criticism about the silver color. The glass back looks pretty hideous compared to the rest of the phone. But I put it in a case anyway, so it won’t bother me that much.
The set up process seemed to go smoothly until it didn’t. It took forever to install all the apps. It was 26 GB that had to be restored, but I’ve got pretty stable and fast internet at home, so it did frustrate me a bit.
Fortunately all went well in the end. I’ve been trying out some of the new stuff. Especially the cameras, which have produced great shots so far. The camera control is a nice touch. Takes some getting used to, but I’ll definitely learn. The photographic styles are also pretty cool, I’m using Amber (tone -50, color +30) now.
Although the difference is small and barely noticeable, I like that the screen is a tiny bit larger. But mostly brighter under direct sunlight, and at the same time less bright in dark environments.
Performance is as usual fantastic. Although iOS 26 is definitely plagued with issues that need a fix. But overall things are smooth and well.
Battery life is difficult to judge at this point, as the phone had to restore and is obviously still doing stuff in the background, not even mentioning I’m using it more extensively than I usually would. Will get a better idea the next day, though.
So far I’ve been fairly content with my new phone. Really excited about the cameras and the potential battery life.
I’ll start by saying that I do get some of the criticism about the silver color. The glass back looks pretty hideous compared to the rest of the phone. But I put it in a case anyway, so it won’t bother me that much.
The set up process seemed to go smoothly until it didn’t. It took forever to install all the apps. It was 26 GB that had to be restored, but I’ve got pretty stable and fast internet at home, so it did frustrate me a bit.
Fortunately all went well in the end. I’ve been trying out some of the new stuff. Especially the cameras, which have produced great shots so far. The camera control is a nice touch. Takes some getting used to, but I’ll definitely learn. The photographic styles are also pretty cool, I’m using Amber (tone -50, color +30) now.
Although the difference is small and barely noticeable, I like that the screen is a tiny bit larger. But mostly brighter under direct sunlight, and at the same time less bright in dark environments.
Performance is as usual fantastic. Although iOS 26 is definitely plagued with issues that need a fix. But overall things are smooth and well.
Battery life is difficult to judge at this point, as the phone had to restore and is obviously still doing stuff in the background, not even mentioning I’m using it more extensively than I usually would. Will get a better idea the next day, though.
So far I’ve been fairly content with my new phone. Really excited about the cameras and the potential battery life.
I mentioned upthread I was having heating issues. Looks like it's calmed down. I wonder if it was downloading or setting up something in the background.
They're so beautiful together. They were meant to be with each other. 
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Idk how that would work. Aluminum's heat index is so much better than titanium's. They painted themselves into a thermal corner like they said about the trash can Mac Pro. You basically can't overcome the physics of cooling titanium unless you alloy it with aluminum or copper.
Screen uniformity seems to be a lot better this year, keeping the one on the right for myself. Left one was a good contender but shifted red on tilt. Middle one had a yellow hue to it. Other 2 are going to buddies
These are some of the ugliest phones I’ve seen.
I get it. The colors are so limiting with no gray or equal available that IMO there will be plenty of potential buyers that will wait for the iPhone Pro 18. After handling the 17 Pros and not liking any of the three colors I was also on the verge of canceling except that the new tele lens is a huge upgrade from the 16 Pro. The new tele performance is outstanding, so I am getting a silver 17 iPM.
For me, I’m looking at the screen 99.999% of the time I have my phone so the backside and overall look doesn’t really bother me.
Very nice I just ordered a MagSafe card holder from LV this morning
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Nice. When I was looking for this one for my 16 PM there weren’t anymore available here in the states. My sister was in Japan so she was able to get it for me there.