Early assessments on the iPhone 17 Pro Max have been published: Insights from initial users
The much-anticipated iPhone 17 Pro Max has been released, and early reviews are painting a positive picture.
Cherlynn Low of Engadget was particularly impressed by the new Center Stage selfie camera, praising its functionality in various scenarios, including using it with a timer or remote control. The camera, which can take 18-megapixel selfies and supports horizontal selfies, can auto-rotate and auto-zoom out for group shots.
The Center Stage selfie camera has received particularly positive reviews, with Julian Chokkattu of Wired noting its impressive battery life, allowing for nearly 7 hours of screen-on time on the iPhone 17 Pro. Lance Ulanoff of TechRadar, however, notes that it's too early to make a final assessment on the iPhone 17 Pro Max's battery performance.
The iPhone 17 Pro Max's rear cameras, a trio of 48MP cameras, have also received positive reviews. Mark Spoonauer of Tom's Guide found the redesign to be a payoff, while Patrick Holland of CNET noted improvements to the selfie camera on both Pro models, including the ability for it to zoom out and take bigger group shots.
The iPhone 17 Pro Max's screen is protected by Ceramic Shield 2, and the new aluminum frame should make the phone more durable, according to Cherlynn Low of Engadget. The upgraded battery provides extended battery life, with some reviewers reporting over 5 hours of screen-on time.
In real-world testing, it's possible to get through a day without charging the iPhone 17 Pro Max. However, it's worth noting that the phone has a controversial design, including a horizontal camera plateau and a lack of a black color option.
The iPhone 17 Pro Max runs the iOS 26 operating system and is available for preorder. The author who wrote the first comprehensive review of the iPhone 17 Pro Max for Tom's Guide is Philip Michaels.
It sounds like Apple has made significant improvements to the iPhone 17 Pro Max, according to initial reviews. Whether these improvements are enough to sway users from other smartphone brands remains to be seen, but one thing is certain: the iPhone 17 Pro Max is off to a strong start.
