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I’m really happy with my Pro Max Cosmic Orange 2TB. It looks so much better than the pictures depicted it. This is my first iPhone since the 7 that I’m not using a case. Just less glass than the X era of iPhones.

What are you planning on doing with that much storage out of curiosity?
 
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Delighted with my Air.
I kept my old 12 pro around for LiDAR but haven’t used it once.
 
I love the Air. The battery lasts longer than my 15P did when new-I'm tired of hearing people who don't own it say the battery is compromised. It's superior to any iPhone I've owned. Yes, it is less long-lasting than the Pro Max but I didn't buy one of those. It is light, fast, and I'm not having any FOMO related to the cameras. Pictures so far have been great and I guess I will be putting some actual effort into the composition of my shots. I have the original MagSafe battery but haven't needed it and that is saying something considering that I live in a rural area where signal is often weak. I'll have moved on to the next life before mmWave is a thing out here so I don't miss what I've never had. If I used the speaker, I would be on the side of those that are accurately reporting that it is weak and not nearly loud enough (all true). iPhone is such a mature product now that I have 0 excitement about them or even watching the keynotes anymore. I'm happy for all the Pro/Pro Max users that they have improvements worth paying for and I'm happy for me that I get to be excited about another device (X and 13mini were my absolute favorites).

I agree. I went from a 15 pro and the battery so far has impressed.

After 6 hours and set up, downloading all apps it’s only down to 68%. Doing this as well as initial indexing etc in the background.

I feel because it has the weakest battery of this years range people are just saying it’s bad with no experience using it themselves but when compared to older models or even the base 17 it’s very impressive for such a thin phone.
 
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Going in, I was a little worried about the added weight vs the 16 Pro Max. It didn't help that the first two cases I got were a bit bulkier than I would have liked. I had a clear one that felt cheap, and then an Elago silicone case which was sturdy but had this weird texturing on the sides which made the phone feel super bulky. I finally got a Spigen one which covers the entire plateau and has texturing on the sides so there's good grip, but it's still easy to hold and light. Now I don't feel much of a weight difference. Took the 17PM to a festival outdoors and the screen was still very readable. Getting 5G speeds between 100-200Mbps despite thousands of people milling around, using their phones. I played some Persona 5 The Phantom X on this phone, and the phone stayed noticeably cooler. If I boot up the game on iPad or my 16 Pro Max, they start heating up very quickly.
 
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I’m very happy with my Deep Blue 17 Pro Max and know it’ll serve me well the next 4 - 5 years 🙂

Upgrading from my 13 Pro Max allowed me the following benefits:
  • 12gb RAM (fantastic to not run out of memory and have to reload apps, but also as a buffer for long term performance so future iOS updates don’t cause planned obsolescence)
  • 5,000+ mAh battery (great amount so when you keep it long term and the battery wears down, you still have lots of buffer for good battery life)
  • USB-C (I can finally have just 1 cable for everything)
  • Brighter display outdoors for visibility (3000 nits)
  • Aluminum body + vapor chamber for better heat transfer, sustained performance, and less screen dimming
  • Smaller bezels for a more immersive screen
  • Latest A19 chip with years of software support and faster performance
  • Better photo & video quality with all 3 back cameras now having upgraded 48mp sensors
  • 8x telephoto camera
  • Action mode recording
  • Much improved front camera for FaceTime calls
  • Matte metal frame (no shiny frame like 13 PM has with tons of fingerprints)
  • Apps ability to use the Dynamic Island
  • 80% charge limit (better long term battery health)
  • Smarter Siri in the future or other AI software features
  • Crash detection in case I’m involved in a car accident and need help but incapacitated.
  • Satellite communication in case I go through an area with no Verizon signal (like when I drive to my mother’s house who lives in another state) and I need roadside assistance.
  • On a side note: finding a case that provides good protection, has a tight fit, feels nice in the hand, and doesn’t show any fingerprints is a big deal for me in regards to the overall experience of a phone. The TechWoven case has been perfect for me and really increases my overall satisfaction of my 17 Pro Max.
The 17 Pro is a remarkable device this year, and a great jump from 13 Pro. Although I would buy the regular 17, as it has all the specs I would want or need.

But the 17 Pro with that A19 Pro, 12GB of RAM and those new cameras, is a beast! And the deep blue the prettiest color this year.
 
I’m really happy with my Pro Max Cosmic Orange 2TB. It looks so much better than the pictures depicted it. This is my first iPhone since the 7 that I’m not using a case. Just less glass than the X era of iPhones.
Be careful, the aluminum body of the Pro series dent easily and the case easily scratches. If you desire to keep the finish of your $2k Pro Max looking fresh you might want to get a case for it.
 
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I was perfectly happy with my black Air, until I discovered a tiny scratch on the back, exactly on the edge on the opposite side of the cam. Don’t know where it came from, handled that phone like an egg. Never experienced this with my Pros, which I used without a case also.
Long story short - returned it, but will get a new one. Think of getting the white one instead, cause I can’t stand scratches as well as cases.
Anyone else discovered the black Airs backside to be this vulnerable?!
 
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Still deciding between the Air and Pro. I absolutely love the Air and even though I use my phone very little my decision boils down to;

When I do pickup my phone do I want it to do everything or am I okay with the basics?

On the rare occasion I need a 4x lens is it better to have it or not? Or the one day I’m at an event or traveling where I’m running low on battery life, do I want to worry about that? There’s something to be said for not having to worry about when you use your phone regardless of how often. After all, the one time you need something and it’s missing is the moment you forget all the positives and focus on the negative.

I’ll say as a very happy Air user, if you’re going to get stressed out/worry about battery, you should probably go Pro.

That said, there is something intangible about how much nicer (I think) it feels in the hand. That doesn’t show up on the spec sheets, but in my opinion, it’s the best feeling iPhone in years. I vastly prefer using it than the Pro Max I’m coming from, and makes the lack of telephoto and occasional need to throw on the battery pack well worth it for me.
 
I’ll say as a very happy Air user, if you’re going to get stressed out/worry about battery, you should probably go Pro.

That said, there is something intangible about how much nicer (I think) it feels in the hand. That doesn’t show up on the spec sheets, but in my opinion, it’s the best feeling iPhone in years. I vastly prefer using it than the Pro Max I’m coming from, and makes the lack of telephoto and occasional need to throw on the battery pack well worth it for me.
All the battery test I'm seeing only have the Pro beating the Air by approximately 1hr and that's both eSIM models. Doesn't seem like the Pro is really much better honestly. Now the PM is a different beast.
 
I’m very happy with my Deep Blue 17 Pro Max and know it’ll serve me well the next 4 - 5 years 🙂

Upgrading from my 13 Pro Max allowed me the following benefits:
  • 12gb RAM (fantastic to not run out of memory and have to reload apps, but also as a buffer for long term performance so future iOS updates don’t cause planned obsolescence)
  • 5,000+ mAh battery (great amount so when you keep it long term and the battery wears down, you still have lots of buffer for good battery life)
  • USB-C (I can finally have just 1 cable for everything)
  • Brighter display outdoors for visibility (3000 nits)
  • Aluminum body + vapor chamber for better heat transfer, sustained performance, and less screen dimming
  • Smaller bezels for a more immersive screen
  • Latest A19 chip with years of software support and faster performance
  • Better photo & video quality with all 3 back cameras now having upgraded 48mp sensors
  • 8x telephoto camera
  • Action mode recording
  • Much improved front camera for FaceTime calls
  • Matte metal frame (no shiny frame like 13 PM has with tons of fingerprints)
  • Apps ability to use the Dynamic Island
  • 80% charge limit (better long term battery health)
  • Smarter Siri in the future or other AI software features
  • Crash detection in case I’m involved in a car accident and need help but incapacitated.
  • Satellite communication in case I go through an area with no Verizon signal (like when I drive to my mother’s house who lives in another state) and I need roadside assistance.
  • On a side note: finding a case that provides good protection, has a tight fit, feels nice in the hand, and doesn’t show any fingerprints is a big deal for me in regards to the overall experience of a phone. The TechWoven case has been perfect for me and really increases my overall satisfaction of my 17 Pro Max.
  • Matte metal frame (no shiny frame like 13 PM has with tons of fingerprints)
This is something I suddenly appreciated yesterday when I realized I didn’t have smudges all over the sides!

I really like my orange 17PM: it’s the first iPhone in a while that people have noticed and complimented the color. It’s nice to finally have a bright color for a Pro iPhone.
 
Yes, I'm happy with the 17 Pro orange Dreamsicle. The phone is fast, which probably doesn't matter much to me, but it has relieved my frustration with my deteriorating hearing.

I am hard of hearing and have music and TV streamed directly to my hearing aids by the Oticon Companion app. I thought that difficulties with phone and TV audio were tolerable and unavoidable. I am over 80 years old and have familial hearing loss on both sides of the family. I had held onto the iPhone Pro 13 (88% battery remaining), planning to go another 1-2 years before "upgrading."

About a month ago, Verizon solicited me with a $1000 trade-in toward a new iPhone 16 Pro, with a net cost to me of $5 after various allowances. Okay, since $5 is cheaper than a new battery I might have needed for the 13, I exchanged it for the 16 Pro. The difference in phone call audio clarity, actually hearing voices at a normal level, was almost joyful. TV and music sounded notably better, as well.

Two weeks later came another offer from Verizon, this time for $ 1,100 to trade in my new 16 for a 17. I consulted ChatGPT to determine whether this exchange was worth the hassle. Chat agreed that there was no direct report from Apple or any reviewer on audio improvements from the 16 Pro to the 17 Pro, but mentioned that the new CPU and neural cores could improve sound processing.

I felt a bit foolish, but did the exchange.

Whamo! There was another leap in audio for calls, music, and streaming (all this for $5). I am so glad I played the role of a dedicated consumer and bit, not once, but twice. I had held on to an iPhone 6S Plus for six years and liked the 13 Pro for my previous upgrade (Apple had given me the $29 battery upgrade on the 6S Plus). From now on, I'll be paying closer attention to the yearly arrival of new iPhones. If audio improvements continue, I may spend the money more freely.
 
I was perfectly happy with my black Air, until I discovered a tiny scratch on the back, exactly on the edge on the opposite side of the cam. Don’t know where it came from, handled that phone like an egg. Never experienced this with my Pros, which I used without a case also.
Long story short - returned it, but will get a new one. Think of getting the white one instead, cause I can’t stand scratches as well as cases.
Anyone else discovered the black Airs backside to be this vulnerable?!
Sorry, getting the first scratch is a bummer. I bought the Air case from Apple (not the bumper) and I think it is the best case I have ever had. Super lightweight, protective and shows off the Air.
 
Not me :D I want the iphone air so bad!! I used financing on my 17PM so returning it and buying the air will hurt my credit score a bit more. The pro max looks like a toy to me. I dont need the 3 cameras in the pro so that was a mistake.
 
Very much ecstatic about my 17PM!

IMG_8883.jpeg
 
Wasn’t so happy with the 17 Pro Max, and returned that. Purely stupid reasons. I just didn’t like the way it felt in my hand or the weight in my pocket. I wish I’d just accepted that early on and trusted my first impressions handling it in the store.

17 Air on the other hand…. I’m very happy now. I hope it doesn’t go the way of the 12/13 mini or 14/15/16 plus, because I haven’t been this happy with a new phone in a really long time.

(The air isn’t perfect, but neither is the 17 or the 17 pro/promax…. it’s sorta like buying a MacBook Air instead of a MacBook Pro…not the best, but might be the right fit for a lot casual users)
 
I’ll say as a very happy Air user, if you’re going to get stressed out/worry about battery, you should probably go Pro.

That said, there is something intangible about how much nicer (I think) it feels in the hand. That doesn’t show up on the spec sheets, but in my opinion, it’s the best feeling iPhone in years. I vastly prefer using it than the Pro Max I’m coming from, and makes the lack of telephoto and occasional need to throw on the battery pack well worth it for me.
I did like the "feel" of the Air when I picked my PM up I store, I would have compromised on the slightly smaller screen, but just 1 camera doesn't cut it for me. If it had come with 2 cameras, maybe.
But who knows what it will look like in a year or two?
 
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I'm happy with my Blue 17 ProMax! I came from a Blue 15 ProMax and was able to sell it to put towards the new one.
I don't see huge changes (apart from it staying cooler, which is great). iOS 26 seems to be bringing some great features, but they're available on the older phones too.

When I was setting it up, I mistakenly moved App information from the old to the new and back again because they looked so similar to me.

On Friday I was shocked when several different people all day asked me if I had a new phone! It's never happened before. They were impressed with the weight distribution as it feels much lighter in the hand than it looks. They also were really impressed by the zoom capabilities and the selfie functions.

Luckily, I have a case and a screen cover, so am happy to let people have a quick go if they want to...
 
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I’m happy with the iPhone 17 professional overall

Features I like
  • Round edges - it’s comfy to hold
  • Telephoto - practical for work/documentation
  • Appreciate a better overall camera
  • Doesn’t wobble so much when it layes on a flat hard surface
  • 2 new buttons (compared to compared to iPhone 13 professional)
  • Display brightness - possible to use out of hard sunlight


Things I don’t like
  • Aluminum frame - looks cheap compared to an all glass back, also not looking forward to scratches
  • Sloppy build quality - glass part not level, and not centered
  • Pill cutout

So overall happy. It’s not a big upgrade, but it’s a better phone with a lot of small upgrades that combined makes it worth it, coming from a 13 pro.
But it sure feels weird having a more capable but ugly imo phone, I miss the glass back a lot. I never use a cover, but I’m actually considering one this time, if I can find a practical, slim one with useful features.
 
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From 13 Pro to regular 17.

I am happy although honestly speaking these are very similar in everyday use. I would have assumed that four years of development would feel more different.

Of course the battery is much better.
Overall this feels very safe and familiar device and that’s a very good thing. I am not hating the iOS26 and having the Siri + ChatGPT combo is an improvement (Siri alone is still mostly useless).
 
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