{"id":35026,"date":"2026-05-25T15:28:43","date_gmt":"2026-05-25T15:28:43","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.macysdigital.com\/?p=35026"},"modified":"2026-09-02T11:17:33","modified_gmt":"2026-09-02T11:17:33","slug":"iphone-17-pro-max","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.macysdigital.com\/en\/iphone-17-pro-max\/","title":{"rendered":"iPhone 17 Pro Max review: is it worth it in 2026?"},"content":{"rendered":"

The iPhone 17 Pro Max is Apple\u2019s most expensive and most powerful smartphone in 2026. It features an A19 Pro chip, a 6.9-inch display with 2,800 nits, a telephoto lens with 8x optical zoom, a 37-hour battery life and a titanium chassis. But does it justify the \u20ac1,399 price tag in Tenerife? Is it worth upgrading from the 16 Pro Max? This review gives you the answer, free from marketing hype.<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n

<\/div>\n\n\n\n

The key point in a sentence<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

The iPhone 17 Pro Max is the the most comprehensive development in years<\/strong> compared to the 16 Pro Max: larger screen (6.9 vs 6.7 inches), an 18 MP Centre Stage front-facing camera with autofocus, a significantly larger battery (37 hours of video playback), 40W fast charging and an A19 Pro chip with a 16-core Neural Engine optimised for Apple Intelligence. If you\u2019re upgrading from the 15 Pro Max or an earlier model, the improvement is substantial. If you\u2019re upgrading from the 16 Pro Max, the improvement is incremental but real.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Price at Macys Digital Tenerife: from \u20ac1,399<\/strong> (256GB, in stock in Silver, Dark Blue and Cosmic Orange)<\/p>\n\n\n\n

<\/div>\n\n\n\n

iPhone 17 Pro Max specifications<\/h2>\n\n\n\n
Feature<\/th>iPhone 17 Pro Max<\/th><\/tr><\/thead>
Screen<\/strong><\/td>6.9-inch Super Retina XDR, ProMotion 120Hz, 2,800 nits HDR<\/td><\/tr>
Chip<\/strong><\/td>A19 Pro (3nm, 6-core CPU, 6-core GPU, 16-core Neural Engine)<\/td><\/tr>
RAM<\/strong><\/td>12 GB unified<\/td><\/tr>
Storage<\/strong><\/td>256GB \/ 512GB \/ 1TB \/ 2TB<\/td><\/tr>
Rear camera<\/strong><\/td>Triple Fusion: 48 MP main camera + Ultra-wide-angle + 48 MP telephoto lens (8x optical zoom)<\/td><\/tr>
Front camera<\/strong><\/td>18 MP Centre Stage with autofocus<\/td><\/tr>
Battery<\/strong><\/td>Up to 37 hours of video playback<\/td><\/tr>
Charge<\/strong><\/td>40W with cable (50% in 20 mins), MagSafe wireless<\/td><\/tr>
Material<\/strong><\/td>Titanium chassis<\/td><\/tr>
Protection<\/strong><\/td>Ultra-durable Ceramic Shield, IP68<\/td><\/tr>
Connectivity<\/strong><\/td>5G, Wi-Fi 7, Bluetooth 5.4, UWB<\/td><\/tr>
System<\/strong><\/td>iOS 18 with Apple Intelligence<\/td><\/tr>
Colours<\/strong><\/td>Silver, Dark Blue, Cosmic Orange<\/td><\/tr>
Weight<\/strong><\/td>~227 g<\/td><\/tr><\/tbody><\/table><\/figure>\n\n\n\n
<\/div>\n\n\n\n

What the iPhone 17 Pro Max does better than any other mobile phone<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

1. A professional video camera in your pocket<\/h3>\n\n\n\n

The 17 Pro Max\u2019s camera system records in ProRes 4K at 120fps<\/strong> directly from the device. The 48 MP tetraprism telephoto lens with 8x optical zoom captures distant subjects with true sharpness \u2014 not grainy digital zoom. Optical sensor-shift stabilisation keeps video steady even when filming handheld whilst on the move.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

For content creators, journalists, freelance videographers and anyone who shoots professional-quality video on their mobile, there\u2019s nothing else like it on the market. Neither Samsung nor Google \u2013 nor anyone else \u2013 comes close in terms of video quality.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

2. 37-hour battery life<\/h3>\n\n\n\n

Apple made a huge leap forward in battery life with the 17 Pro Max. The 37 hours of video playback isn\u2019t just marketing hype \u2014 in real-world mixed use (social media, web browsing, camera, calls, music), you\u2019ll easily get one and a half to two days<\/strong> without having to charge it. For travellers in Tenerife who spend the day out and about taking photos, going on excursions and sailing, not having to worry about the battery is a game-changer.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Fast charging of 40W<\/strong> It charges the 50% in 20 minutes. It\u2019s not the fastest charging on the market (Xiaomi goes up to 120W) but it\u2019s enough for a quick coffee \u2013 half a charge.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

3. Built-in Apple Intelligence<\/h3>\n\n\n\n

The A19 Pro, with its 16-core Neural Engine, performs functions such as Apple Intelligence<\/strong> directly on the device: text summaries, writing tools, image generation, an enhanced Siri with contextual understanding, automatic transcriptions and natural language processing.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

These features improve with every iOS update and are optimised for the hardware of the 17 Pro Max. They work on the 16 Pro Max, but are slower; on earlier models, some are not available.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

4. Software longevity<\/h3>\n\n\n\n

Apple continues to support iOS for 7+ years<\/strong>. An iPhone 17 Pro Max bought today will receive updates until around 2033. No Android phone offers that \u2014 Samsung promises four years of system updates and five years of security updates, whilst Xiaomi promises two to three years.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

If you spread the cost of the iPhone over 7 years: \u20ac1,399 \/ 7 = \u20ac200 a year<\/strong>. A \u20ac300 Xiaomi that lasts three years works out at \u20ac100 a year. The iPhone is more expensive per year, but the user experience is consistently better for longer.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

5. The Apple ecosystem<\/h3>\n\n\n\n

AirDrop, Continuity, Handoff, Universal Clipboard, iMessage, FaceTime, Find My, Apple Watch \u2014 everything works better with an iPhone. If you already have a Mac or an iPad, the iPhone 17 Pro Max completes the seamless ecosystem.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

<\/div>\n\n\n\n

What it doesn\u2019t do quite so well<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

1. Slow loading compared to the competition<\/h3>\n\n\n\n

40W is fine, but slow compared to Xiaomi (120W, fully charged in 19 minutes) or Samsung (45W). Apple prioritises battery health over charging speed \u2014 a deliberate decision, but frustrating if you\u2019re coming from Android with its ultra-fast charging.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

2. Price<\/h3>\n\n\n\n

\u20ac1,399 for a mobile phone is a lot of money. The Samsung Galaxy S25 Ultra 512GB costs 1.149\u20ac<\/strong> at Macy\u2019s with comparable specifications (and a slightly larger screen, S Pen included, 200 MP camera). The \u20ac250 difference buys you the Apple ecosystem, the longevity of iOS and the video quality \u2014 but it\u2019s a real premium.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

3. USB-C without Thunderbolt<\/h3>\n\n\n\n

Despite using USB-C, the iPhone 17 Pro Max does not support Thunderbolt speeds. Transferring large files is slower than on a MacBook or iPad Pro.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

4. Limited customisation<\/h3>\n\n\n\n

iOS is still iOS. If you value Android\u2019s extensive customisation options (launchers, default apps, sideloading, advanced widgets), the iPhone will frustrate you. Apple Intelligence enhances the experience but does not change the system\u2019s closed philosophy.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

<\/div>\n\n\n\n

iPhone 17 Pro Max vs iPhone 16 Pro Max: is it worth upgrading?<\/h2>\n\n\n\n
Feature<\/th>iPhone 16 Pro Max<\/th>iPhone 17 Pro Max<\/th><\/tr><\/thead>
Screen<\/strong><\/td>6.7\u2033<\/td>6.9\u2033<\/strong><\/td><\/tr>
HDR brightness<\/strong><\/td>2,000 nits<\/td>2,800 nits<\/strong><\/td><\/tr>
Chip<\/strong><\/td>A18 Pro<\/td>A19 Pro<\/strong><\/td><\/tr>
Front camera<\/strong><\/td>12 MP<\/td>18 MP Centre Stage<\/strong><\/td><\/tr>
Optical zoom<\/strong><\/td>5x<\/td>8x<\/strong><\/td><\/tr>
Battery<\/strong><\/td>Up to 33 hours of video<\/td>Up to 37 hours of video<\/strong><\/td><\/tr>
Fast charging<\/strong><\/td>27W<\/td>40W<\/strong><\/td><\/tr>
Material<\/strong><\/td>Titanium<\/td>Titanium<\/td><\/tr><\/tbody><\/table><\/figure>\n\n\n\n

Should I upgrade from the 16 Pro Max?<\/strong> Only if the improved front-facing camera, 8x zoom, extra battery life and larger screen are important to you in your day-to-day use. If your 16 Pro Max works well and you don\u2019t create professional content, wait for the 18.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Should I upgrade from an iPhone 15 Pro Max or earlier?<\/strong> Yes. The leap in camera quality (8x vs 5x), battery life (37h vs 29h), the chip and Apple Intelligence is a generational one. If your mobile is 2+ years old, the 17 Pro Max is an upgrade you\u2019ll notice every day.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Should I update from an iPhone 14 or earlier model?<\/strong> Absolutely. There\u2019s a huge difference in the camera, screen, battery and performance.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

<\/div>\n\n\n\n

iPhone 17 Pro Max vs Samsung Galaxy S25 Ultra<\/h2>\n\n\n\n
Feature<\/th>iPhone 17 Pro Max<\/th>Samsung Galaxy S25 Ultra<\/th><\/tr><\/thead>
Screen<\/strong><\/td>6.9\u2033 LTPO OLED, 2,800 nits<\/td>6.8\u2033 Dynamic AMOLED 3X, 2,600 nits<\/td><\/tr>
Chip<\/strong><\/td>A19 Pro<\/td>Snapdragon 8 Elite<\/td><\/tr>
Main camera<\/strong><\/td>48 MP<\/td>200 MP<\/td><\/tr>
Optical zoom<\/strong><\/td>8x<\/td>5x<\/td><\/tr>
Front camera<\/strong><\/td>18 MP<\/td>12 MP<\/td><\/tr>
Battery<\/strong><\/td>37 hours of video<\/td>~28 hours of video<\/td><\/tr>
Charge<\/strong><\/td>40W<\/td>45W<\/td><\/tr>
S Pen<\/strong><\/td>\u274c No<\/td>\u2705 Included<\/td><\/tr>
Embedded AI<\/strong><\/td>Apple Intelligence<\/td>Galaxy AI<\/td><\/tr>
Updates<\/strong><\/td>7+ years<\/td>4-year system warranty + 5-year security warranty<\/td><\/tr>
Price at Macy\u2019s<\/strong><\/td>1.399\u20ac<\/strong> (256GB)<\/td>1.149\u20ac<\/strong> (512GB)<\/td><\/tr><\/tbody><\/table><\/figure>\n\n\n\n

The iPhone comes out on top in:<\/strong> video quality, optical zoom (8x vs 5x), battery life, software longevity, the Apple ecosystem, resale value.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Samsung comes out on top in:<\/strong> megapixels (200 vs 48 MP), price (\u20ac250 cheaper with double the storage), S Pen included, Android customisation, slightly wider screen.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The decision:<\/strong> ecosystem. If you\u2019re an Apple user, go for the 17 Pro Max. If you\u2019re on Android or starting from scratch and price is a factor, the S25 Ultra offers more for less.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

<\/div>\n\n\n\n

Who is the iPhone 17 Pro Max for?<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

It\u2019s perfect if:<\/h3>\n\n\n\n