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SimplyAmplifying

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What the experts found, in one honest verdict

Apple iPhone 17 Pro Max review roundup: what the experts found

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by

Phone Desk (AI)

in

SimplyAmplifying score: 8.7/10 · Confidence: High · Based on 13 in-depth review(s) from 8 outlets, and 19 article(s) read in full

First published 3 October 2026 · Last updated 4 October 2026 · Updated 6 times as new reviews came in

Reviewers’ own scores: TechRadar 4.5/5 · Tom’s Guide 4.5/5 · 91mobiles 8.6/10 · Android Police 8/10 · MySmartPrice Gear 9/10

The verdict

Across 13 in-depth reviews from 8 outlets, the consensus is strongly positive, and our confidence is high. Battery life, performance and the camera are the clear strengths. Software, design and charging speed draw the most criticism. It suits people who want a large, long-lasting flagship and can live with iOS 26’s rough edges.

Best for: Anyone who wants a large iPhone with excellent battery life, fast performance and a strong camera, especially when upgrading from an older iPhone.
Skip it if: You want the most capable AI features, the fastest charging, or you already own a recent iPhone and would gain little.

Scores by category

CategoryScoreConfidenceOutlets
Camera9.3/10High8
Battery life9.7/10High10
Performance9.7/10High9
Display8.7/10Medium9
Software6.5/10Medium8
Charging7.2/10Medium3
Design & build7.8/10Medium8
Value8.1/10High8

What reviewers liked

  • Excellent battery life, with several outlets measuring results at or near the top of the class
  • A19 Pro chip stays fast without throttling or overheating in sustained tests
  • Very good camera, with a new 4x telephoto, strong video and a well-liked Center Stage selfie camera
  • Brighter display that is easier to see outdoors, thanks to the anti-reflective coating
  • Base price held and storage doubled, according to TechRadar and NotebookCheck

What they didn’t

  • iOS 26’s Liquid Glass design and Apple Intelligence draw criticism for confusion, bugs and limited AI features
  • Aluminum body is more scratch-prone and slippery, and Camera Control gets pressed by accident
  • Charging is improved but not class-leading
  • Zoom and video are rated behind Pixel and Samsung by some outlets

In detail

Camera: 9.3/10

Outlets broadly agree this is a very good camera system. TechRadar found outstanding photos from its three 48MP lenses, including the new 4x telephoto and 8x sensor-crop zoom, and liked Center Stage on the front camera. NotebookCheck called rear image quality first-class under controlled conditions. Tom’s Guide saw better low-light detail and steadier video than the Galaxy S25 Ultra, though zoom loses definition at 10x and 40x. Opinion splits on rivals: 91mobiles put low-light, flare and zoom behind the S25 Ultra and Pixel 10 Pro, and 9to5Google was the most critical, citing skin tones, zoom and video versus the Pixel 10 Pro.

Battery life: 9.7/10

Every outlet that judged battery life called it excellent. NotebookCheck reached nearly 29 hours in testing, a new high for an iPhone. Tom’s Guide found it the longest-lasting iPhone yet, staying above 30% on busy days. TechRadar measured 17 hours 54 minutes of 5G web browsing at 150 nits, ahead of the S25 Ultra and Pixel 10 Pro XL but behind the OnePlus 13’s 19 hours 45 minutes. 9to5Mac cited CNET results placing it first of 35 phones, and Android Police got two full days of modest use. MySmartPrice Gear was more reserved, calling it good.

Performance: 9.7/10

Reviewers agree the A19 Pro is very fast and stays that way. Tom’s Guide recorded Geekbench scores of 3,871 single-core and 9,968 multi-core, ahead of the Galaxy S25 Ultra, plus faster video transcoding. Android Police ran a 20-minute 3DMark stress test with no overheating, and 91mobiles reported no throttling and no lag or crashes after six months. MySmartPrice Gear called it excellent for gaming. Smartprix Bytes noted fewer cores for multitasking. By September 2026, Tom’s Guide also showed the iPhone 18 Pro Max scoring significantly higher, which matters if you compare current models.

Display: 8.7/10

Outlets agree the screen is brighter and easier to read outdoors, helped by a new anti-reflective coating, and that 120Hz is smooth. Measured peaks vary: NotebookCheck got 2,344 nits, Tom’s Guide 1,899 nits, and MySmartPrice Gear only 1,460 nits, while TechRadar cited 3,000 nits. Android Police called the 6.9-inch panel class-leading. NotebookCheck warned that its 240 Hz PWM dimming may bother sensitive eyes. 9to5Google disliked the Dynamic Island and said Privacy Display cuts brightness. TechRadar noted that resolution and technology are essentially unchanged.

Software: 6.5/10

This is the weakest area. TechRadar and 91mobiles describe iOS 26’s Liquid Glass design as sometimes confusing, with a learning curve. Android Police said it obscures buttons and adds extra steps, and both it and 9to5Google reported bugs. Tom’s Guide found Apple Intelligence limited next to Galaxy and Pixel phones, with some AI tools needing separate apps. Smartprix Bytes said headline Siri AI features are delayed to iOS 27. NotebookCheck was more positive about the improved AI and an expected six-year update period, though that is an expectation, not a promise from Apple.

Charging: 7.2/10

Evidence is thinner here, with three outlets weighing in, and all call charging middling. NotebookCheck measured 70% in 40 minutes and a full charge in about 1 hour 25 minutes with a 100W adapter. 91mobiles said the 40W wired and 25W Qi2 wireless charging are much faster than on the predecessor, but slower than OnePlus and Vivo rivals. Tom’s Guide, writing in September 2026, noted that 40W wired charging is significantly slower than the 60W of the iPhone 18 Pro Max. That is a comparison with a newer model, not a measurement.

Design & build: 7.8/10

The aluminum redesign with a wide camera plateau divides reviewers. TechRadar called it distinctive and comfortable, with better Ceramic Shield 2 scratch protection and new anodized finishes. Tom’s Guide praised the premium feel but noted it is slightly thicker and heavier than the 16 Pro Max. NotebookCheck said aluminum makes it more scratch-prone than the titanium predecessor. Android Police found it slippery, reported nicks exposing bare aluminum, and noted accidental Camera Control presses. 91mobiles liked the curves but cited its size, those presses and chipping on dark colors. MySmartPrice Gear said it won’t appeal to everyone.

Value: 8.1/10

Most outlets see it as fairly priced. TechRadar said the base price held at $1,199 despite cost pressures. NotebookCheck noted that the base model doubles its storage with no increase, still 1,449 euros. Tom’s Guide, writing in September 2026, said it offers 90% of the iPhone 18 Pro Max experience at a starting price $100 lower, and MacRumors called it better value than waiting for that model. MySmartPrice Gear flagged limited upgrade value for owners of recent iPhones, and Smartprix Bytes called storage upgrades expensive and noted RAM tops out at 12GB. Several outlets gave no value verdict.

Sources

How we put this together

We read the reviews and articles listed above and weigh each by how much it should count: in-depth, hands-on testing with measurements counts most; launch news and press-release rewrites count least; sponsored content is penalised. Category scores are our trust-weighted summary of what those sources found, set to the same 10-point scale reviewers use; the reviewers’ own scores, where published, are listed above. This page was compiled with AI assistance and checked against the source notes. All findings belong to the outlets credited above; follow the links to read their full reviews. How we score.

Header image: AI illustration by SimplyAmplifying, drawn from several reference photos of the product; scores drawn from this page’s data.

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