Consensus of 6 reviews (5 scored) from 5 independent publishers. Tom's Guide and TechRadar (both Future plc) count as one voice. How this is calculated.
consensus 85
CNET88
Tech Advisor88
Tom's Guide86
TechRadar84
Android Police78
707580859095
Each dot is one review, adjusted for how that publication usually scores; the line is our consensus. The closer the dots sit to the line, the more the reviewers agree.
Where the reviewers agree
Battery life is a strength, with many reviewers praising it as the best they have seen on an iPhone. — Tech Advisor, TechRadar, Tom's Guide, Android Police, CNET
The display is praised as bright and smooth, with a 120Hz screen reaching about 3,000 nits peak. — Tech Advisor, Tom's Guide, Phonandroid, Android Police, CNET
The phone is large and heavy, and can be tiring or hard to use one-handed. — Tech Advisor, Tom's Guide, Phonandroid, Android Police, CNET
The Center Stage front camera is a useful addition, including landscape selfies. — TechRadar, Tom's Guide, Android Police, CNET
Where they disagree
Reviewers split on the new design: TechRadar and CNET praise the bold styling, while Tech Advisor and CNET flag that the dual-texture or orange look may not suit everyone. — TechRadar, Tech Advisor, CNET
Cameras are rated highly by most, but Phonandroid notes weaker ultra-wide precision and night flare, and Tom's Guide says zoom trails the Galaxy S25 Ultra at high magnification. — Phonandroid, Tom's Guide, Tech Advisor
Software is a concern for TechRadar and Android Police, who cite iOS 26 issues, while Tom's Guide and Android Police say Apple Intelligence lacks standout features. — TechRadar, Android Police, Tom's Guide
Bottom line: Suits buyers who want a large, bright screen, long battery life and strong cameras, and who accept a heavy, costly phone. The main trade-offs are size and weight, price, and an aluminium frame that some find less durable than titanium.
Summarised with AI from the 6 reviews below — each one is linked in full.
Photos belong to the publications credited; each links to the full review.
value801 source
Key specs
Released
September 2025
Launch price (USD)
$1,199
Launch price (UK)
£1,199
Form factor
Standard
OS
iOS
Display
6.9″
Main camera
48 MP
Telephoto lens
Yes
Wired charging
40 W
Chipset
A19 Pro
Base storage
256 GB
Weight
233 g
Water resistance
IP68
Software updates
5 years
Sold in
US, UK
What the reviewers said
CNET US
9.2/10CNET Editors' ChoiceMay 18, 2026
A bold redesign with standout battery life, a brighter screen and a strong telephoto and selfie camera make the iPhone 17 Pro Max one of the best phones available.
Best battery life CNET has tested, topping both benchmark tests
Brighter screen reaching 3,000 nits outdoors
Center Stage selfie camera supports vertical landscape selfies
Improved 48MP telephoto camera with larger sensor
Stays cool during long gaming sessions thanks to vapor chamber
Aluminum chassis is heavier than last year's titanium Pro models
Bold cosmic orange styling may not suit everyone
Telephoto zoom is shorter at 4x than the 16 Pro's 5x
Performance benchmarks were not available at time of review
A stellar big-screen flagship with a stronger zoom camera, better sustained performance, and the longest iPhone battery life, though it is thicker, heavier, and behind on AI.
Stronger sustained performance with vapor chamber cooling
Better 48MP telephoto with up to 8x optical-quality zoom
Brighter, less reflective display
Smart Center Stage front camera with landscape auto-switching
Longest iPhone battery life and faster charging
Thicker and heavier than the iPhone 16 Pro Max
Camera bar design is polarizing
Lacks standout AI features
Zoom trails Galaxy S25 Ultra at high magnification
Apple's iPhone 17 Pro Max refreshes the iconic design with bold colors, a strong A19 Pro, and outstanding cameras, making it a top choice for power users.
Fresh Cosmic Orange color and new design
Outstanding camera array with 4x optical telephoto
A19 Pro chip is powerful
Center Stage front camera is useful
Excellent battery life
Screen resolution and technology essentially unchanged
Verdicts, pros and cons are short summaries in our words of each publisher's review; scores are as the publisher gave them. Specs are taken from the reviews' spec boxes — where they differ, we show the value most of them give; price is the US launch price of the base model. Read the originals for the full picture.
