Rita says: Buy it
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Apple iPhone 17 Pro Max
by Apple
$1,199.00
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Rita's Full Review
The iPhone 17 Pro Max represents Apple's most ambitious smartphone to date, earning near-universal praise from professional reviewers. Tom's Guide awarded it the top spot in its best phones ranking for its A19 Pro chip performance, which dominates every benchmark while staying cooler than its predecessor thanks to a new vapor chamber. The revamped triple-48MP camera system — especially the 8x optical-quality telephoto — is a major step forward for zoom photography and low-light video. Battery life has been a traditional weakness for Pro Max models, but the 17 Pro Max sets a new record approaching 18 hours in standard web-surfing tests. The new unibody 7000-series aluminum design is noticeably sturdier and more refined. The primary criticism is the steep $1,199 entry price, and some marquee Apple Intelligence Siri features remained delayed at launch, though these are expected to roll out throughout 2026.
What Rita liked
- Best sustained performance of any iPhone — A19 Pro delivers 40% faster than A18 Pro
- Exceptional low-light photography and 8x optical-quality zoom
- Longest-ever iPhone battery life in testing (~18 hours)
- New unibody aluminum design with ceramic shield front and back feels premium
What could be better
- Very expensive starting price of $1,199
- Advanced Siri AI features still rolling out through 2026
- Large and heavy — not ideal for one-handed use
Key Specifications
| 6.9-inch Super Retina XDR OLED, 1,899 nits peak brightness, 120Hz ProMotion | |
| A19 Pro chip (3nm), Neural Engine, vapor chamber cooling | |
| Triple 48MP camera system | main + ultrawide + 48MP 8x optical telephoto |
|---|---|
| 18MP square Center Stage front camera, ProRes RAW, Apple Log 2 video | |
| Up to 18 hours web-surfing battery life, 35W wired / 25W MagSafe charging, IP68 | |