Verdict - Apple iPhone 17 Pro Max
In the Apple universe, the iPhone 17 Pro Max sets the benchmark, offering the highest specs in every area: the largest display, the biggest battery, the longest battery life, the highest performance, and, at up to 2 TB, also the most storage.
Apple has once again succeeded in putting together a very convincing overall package with a raft of small improvements over its predecessor. And even though the base version now has twice the storage on offer, the price hasn't increased.
Although the design is a question of taste, the switch from titanium to aluminum for the case leaves a bitter aftertaste. This is partly because it makes the XXL iPhone more scratch-prone than its predecessor. The iPhone also comes in for deserved criticism for its short warranty period and the limited Bluetooth codecs.
Pros
Cons
Price and availability
Apple's asking price for the iPhone 17 Pro Max with 256 GB of storage is $1,199. At the time of this review, the smartphone was available for a marginally lower price on other online stores.
Table of Contents
- Verdict - Apple iPhone 17 Pro Max
- Specifications
- Case - Aluminum again instead of titanium
- Features - The iPhone 17 Pro Max packs up to 2 TB of storage
- Software - The Apple handset comes with iOS 26 and long updates
- Communication and GNSS - WiFi 7 and emergency calls via satellite
- Telephone functions and voice quality
- Cameras - A triple camera with 3x 48MP
- Accessories and warranty - Optional insurance protection
- Input devices and operation - FaceID offers high-level security
- Display - A 6.9-inch 120 Hz LTPO OLED
- Performance - iPhone 17 Pro Max and Apple A19 Pro
- Emissions - More efficient cooling than the predecessor
- Battery runtimes - The Apple smartphone sets new high scores
- Notebookcheck overall rating
- Possible alternatives compared
The iPhone 17 Pro Max positions itself as a significantly revised successor to the iPhone 16 Pro Max. At the same time (and as usual), Apple has given its new flagship iPhone a faster processor.
It now comes equipped with a new telephoto camera and an 18 MP front-facing camera. In addition, the maximum storage capacity has increased to 2 TB, and charging speeds have also improved.
Specifications
Case - Aluminum again instead of titanium
The iPhone 17 Pro Max is available in silver, deep blue and cosmic orange, and viewed from the front, it doesn’t look that much different to the iPhone 16 Pro Max. We're still dealing with a 6.9-inch display, with the same resolution and only slightly narrower bezels. But the changes are even more noticeable on the back.
The camera bump now extends across the entire width of the back cover. The iPhone 17 Pro Max has also said goodbye to its predecessor's titanium frame and now features an aluminum case, which also takes up a large portion of the back. This design feature is only interrupted by a glass element that enables wireless charging.
Features - The iPhone 17 Pro Max packs up to 2 TB of storage
With Wi-Fi 7, Bluetooth 6.0, UWB, satellite communication, and dual eSIM, the iPhone 17 Pro Max is packed with state-of-the-art features. On top of that, you also get MagSafe and Qi2 charging, as well as a fast USB-C port (USB 3.2 Gen. 2).
The iPhone 17 Pro Max comes with 256 GB of storage in its smallest storage variant, and is also available with 512 GB, 1 TB, and, for the first time in an iPhone, 2 TB.
Software - The Apple handset comes with iOS 26 and long updates
Every iPhone 17 model launches with iOS 26, which includes improved Apple AI and the new Liquid Glass design. Further details regarding the new iOS version can be found here.
Apple hasn't provided precise details concerning the support period. However, with the EU requiring at least five years of updates for smartphones after the official end of sales, a six-year update period can be assumed.
Sustainability
According to the sustainability report for the iPhone 17 Pro Max, the smartphone has a 30 percent recycling rate.
Repair manuals and spare parts are available directly from Apple. The manufacturer allows you to trade in old devices, which helps offset the purchase of a new iPhone.
Communication and GNSS - WiFi 7 and emergency calls via satellite
The iPhone 17 Pro Max supports a wide range of cellular frequencies, meaning you should receive a signal almost anywhere. Unlike in the US, satellite communication in Germany is restricted to emergency calls.
Together with our reference router, the Asus ROG Rapture AXE11000, the iPhone 17 Pro Max achieved high and largely stable transfer speeds. However, they could have been a touch higher in the 6 GHz band.
| Networking | |
| Apple iPhone 17 Pro Max | |
| iperf3 transmit AXE11000 | |
| iperf3 receive AXE11000 | |
| iperf3 transmit AXE11000 6GHz | |
| iperf3 receive AXE11000 6GHz | |
| Apple iPhone 16 Pro Max | |
| iperf3 transmit AXE11000 | |
| iperf3 receive AXE11000 | |
| iperf3 transmit AXE11000 6GHz | |
| iperf3 receive AXE11000 6GHz | |
| Honor Magic7 Pro | |
| iperf3 transmit AXE11000 | |
| iperf3 receive AXE11000 | |
| iperf3 transmit AXE11000 6GHz | |
| iperf3 receive AXE11000 6GHz | |
| Samsung Galaxy S25 Ultra | |
| iperf3 transmit AXE11000 | |
| iperf3 receive AXE11000 | |
| iperf3 transmit AXE11000 6GHz | |
| iperf3 receive AXE11000 6GHz | |
| Xiaomi 15 Ultra | |
| iperf3 transmit AXE11000 | |
| iperf3 receive AXE11000 | |
| iperf3 transmit AXE11000 6GHz | |
| iperf3 receive AXE11000 6GHz | |
| Average 802.11 a/b/g/n/ac/ax/be | |
| iperf3 transmit AXE11000 | |
| iperf3 receive AXE11000 | |
| iperf3 transmit AXE11000 6GHz | |
| iperf3 receive AXE11000 6GHz | |
| Average of class Smartphone | |
| iperf3 transmit AXE11000 | |
| iperf3 receive AXE11000 | |
| iperf3 transmit AXE11000 6GHz | |
| iperf3 receive AXE11000 6GHz | |
The iPhone 17 Pro Max is great for navigation. In our real-life tests, it located us almost as accurately as its comparison device, the Garmin Venu 2 fitness smartwatch - a gadget which can map the route even more precisely.
Telephone functions and voice quality
With the exception of the iPhone Air, every new EU iPhone model continues to be equipped with a physical SIM slot. Alternatively, they can also be used with two eSIMs. VoLTE and Wi-Fi calling are both supported.
The iPhone 17 Pro Max offers good call quality and even manages to reliably filter out loud background noise during calls. When the speakerphone is activated, voices sound a bit tinny, but intelligibility remains high.
Cameras - A triple camera with 3x 48MP
The cameras pack a host of new features. Among others, the iPhone 17 Pro Max features a Center Stage selfie camera. Thanks to its square 18MP sensor, it can also automatically switch between portrait and landscape mode without having to rotate the iPhone.
Now each of the three rear cameras has a resolution of 48MP. The telephoto camera now has a 4x optical zoom, and it's the one that benefits most from this feature. Because the iPhone 17 Pro and iPhone 17 Pro Max cameras are identical, we would like to point you in the direction of our iPhone 17 Pro test. The verdict? The overall image quality is first-class, displaying only a few weaknesses.
Image comparison
Choose a scene and navigate within the first image. One click changes the position on touchscreens. One click on the zoomed-in image opens the original in a new window. The first image shows the scaled photograph of the test device.
Daylight imageDaylight imageUltra-wide angleLow light image
Under controlled lighting conditions, the test chart image is almost entirely sharp. The main lens also performs impressively when it comes to representing the reference colors. Minor deviations from the target values are only observed in some green and blue tones.
Accessories and warranty - Optional insurance protection
Apple includes a USB-C cable and a SIM tool with its iPhone 17 Pro Max.
The Apple phone comes with a 12-month warranty. This can be extended with the help of an AppleCare+ insurance package.
Input devices and operation - FaceID offers high-level security
Biometric authentication is available on the iPhone 17 Pro Max via Face ID. Its 3D facial recognition offers a high level of security and worked flawlessly in our tests.
The Taptic Engine is responsible for vibrations and provides good haptic feedback. You'll recognize the camera button and action button from the predecessor.
Display - A 6.9-inch 120 Hz LTPO OLED
The iPhone 17 Pro Max's OLED screen supports every common HDR standard and is reported to be even brighter than its predecessor:
According to Apple, a brightness of up to 3,000 nits is possible, but our test device's display hit a maximum brightness of 2,344 cd/m², which is still remarkably bright.
| |||||||||||||||||||||||||
Brightness Distribution: 93 %
Center on Battery: 1054 cd/m²
Contrast: ∞:1 (Black: 0 cd/m²)
ΔE ColorChecker Calman: 1.57 | ∀{0.5-29.43 Ø4.79}
ΔE Greyscale Calman: 1.7 | ∀{0.09-98 Ø5}
99.9% sRGB (Calman 2D)
Gamma: 2.32
CCT: 6993 K
| Apple iPhone 17 Pro Max OLED, 2868x1320, 6.9" | Apple iPhone 16 Pro Max Super Retina XDR OLED, 2868x1320, 6.9" | Honor Magic7 Pro OLED, 2800x1280, 6.8" | Samsung Galaxy S25 Ultra Dynamic AMOLED 2X, 3120x1440, 6.9" | Xiaomi 15 Ultra AMOLED, 3200x1440, 6.7" | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Screen | -17% | 31% | -23% | 5% | |
| Brightness middle (cd/m²) | 1054 | 1055 0% | 1607 52% | 1357 29% | 1041 -1% |
| Brightness (cd/m²) | 1059 | 1061 0% | 1609 52% | 1350 27% | 1059 0% |
| Brightness Distribution (%) | 93 | 93 0% | 95 2% | 94 1% | 96 3% |
| Black Level * (cd/m²) | |||||
| Colorchecker dE 2000 * | 1.57 | 1.5 4% | 0.9 43% | 3.1 -97% | 1 36% |
| Colorchecker dE 2000 max. * | 2.8 | 4.7 -68% | 1.8 36% | 4.7 -68% | 2.7 4% |
| Greyscale dE 2000 * | 1.7 | 2.3 -35% | 1.7 -0% | 2.2 -29% | 1.9 -12% |
| Gamma | 2.32 95% | 2.21 100% | 2.24 98% | 2 110% | 2.23 99% |
| CCT | 6993 93% | 6625 98% | 6346 102% | 6391 102% | 6697 97% |
* ... smaller is better
Screen Flickering / PWM (Pulse-Width Modulation)
| Screen flickering / PWM detected | 240 Hz Amplitude: 17 % |  | |
The display backlight flickers at 240 Hz (worst case, e.g., utilizing PWM) . The frequency of 240 Hz is relatively low, so sensitive users will likely notice flickering and experience eyestrain at the stated brightness setting and below. In comparison: 53 % of all tested devices do not use PWM to dim the display. If PWM was detected, an average of 8167 (minimum: 5 - maximum: 343500) Hz was measured. | |||
A series of measurements with a fixed zoom level and different brightness settings (The amplitude curve at minimum brightness appears flat, but this is due to the scaling. The enlarged version of the amplitude at minimum brightness can be seen in the info box.)
The OLED display is very evenly illuminated and displays colors very accurately. However, its 240 Hz PWM frequency isn't particularly high. While display pulse smoothing can be activated in the accessibility options (ensuring a flatter amplitude response). Before purchasing, PWM-sensitive users should take a look at the device to see if it actually alleviates this issue.
Display Response Times
| ↔ Response Time Black to White | ||
|---|---|---|
| 0.6 ms ... rise ↗ and fall ↘ combined | ↗ 0.3 ms rise |  |
| ↘ 0.3 ms fall | ||
| The screen shows very fast response rates in our tests and should be very well suited for fast-paced gaming. In comparison, all tested devices range from 0.1 (minimum) to 240 (maximum) ms. » 1 % of all devices are better. This means that the measured response time is better than the average of all tested devices (20.3 ms). | ||
| ↔ Response Time 50% Grey to 80% Grey | ||
| 0.6 ms ... rise ↗ and fall ↘ combined | ↗ 0.3 ms rise |  |
| ↘ 0.3 ms fall | ||
| The screen shows very fast response rates in our tests and should be very well suited for fast-paced gaming. In comparison, all tested devices range from 0.165 (minimum) to 636 (maximum) ms. » 1 % of all devices are better. This means that the measured response time is better than the average of all tested devices (31.7 ms). | ||
With a display surface less reflective than its predecessor, the iPhone 17 Pro Max is ideal for outdoor use. Despite this, the iPhone is still some way off from the anti-reflective coating seen on the Galaxy S25 Ultra.
Performance - iPhone 17 Pro Max and Apple A19 Pro
Aided by 12 GB of RAM, the XXL iPhone is powered by the new Apple A19 Pro. Even though it beats the Snapdragon 8 Elite for Galaxy when it comes to CPU performance, it isn't quite as fast in GPU tests. All in all, the A19 Pro is still one of the fastest smartphone SoCs, and is a processor that is also well-equipped for AI tasks.
| Geekbench AI | |
| Single Precision NPU 1.5 | |
| Average Apple A19 Pro (5143 - 5210, n=3) | |
| Apple iPhone 17 Pro Max | |
| Average of class Smartphone (81 - 5210, n=44, last 2 years) | |
| Half Precision NPU 1.5 | |
| Apple iPhone 17 Pro Max | |
| Average Apple A19 Pro (35152 - 36297, n=3) | |
| Average of class Smartphone (80 - 36297, n=44, last 2 years) | |
| Quantized NPU 1.5 | |
| Average Apple A19 Pro (48126 - 49889, n=3) | |
| Apple iPhone 17 Pro Max | |
| Average of class Smartphone (133 - 49889, n=44, last 2 years) | |
GFXBench (DX / GLBenchmark) 2.7: T-Rex Onscreen | 1920x1080 T-Rex Offscreen
GFXBench 3.0: on screen Manhattan Onscreen OGL | 1920x1080 1080p Manhattan Offscreen
GFXBench 3.1: on screen Manhattan ES 3.1 Onscreen | 1920x1080 Manhattan ES 3.1 Offscreen
GFXBench: on screen Car Chase Onscreen | 1920x1080 Car Chase Offscreen | on screen Aztec Ruins High Tier Onscreen | 2560x1440 Aztec Ruins High Tier Offscreen | on screen Aztec Ruins Normal Tier Onscreen | 1920x1080 Aztec Ruins Normal Tier Offscreen | 3840x2160 4K Aztec Ruins High Tier Offscreen
| 3DMark / Wild Life Extreme Unlimited | |
| Samsung Galaxy S25 Ultra | |
| Apple iPhone 17 Pro Max | |
| Honor Magic7 Pro | |
| Xiaomi 15 Ultra | |
| Apple iPhone 16 Pro Max | |
| 3DMark / Wild Life Extreme | |
| Samsung Galaxy S25 Ultra | |
| Apple iPhone 17 Pro Max | |
| Xiaomi 15 Ultra | |
| Honor Magic7 Pro | |
| Apple iPhone 16 Pro Max | |
| 3DMark / Wild Life Unlimited Score | |
| Samsung Galaxy S25 Ultra | |
| Apple iPhone 17 Pro Max | |
| Honor Magic7 Pro | |
| Xiaomi 15 Ultra | |
| Apple iPhone 16 Pro Max | |
| 3DMark / Solar Bay Score | |
| Samsung Galaxy S25 Ultra | |
| Apple iPhone 17 Pro Max | |
| Honor Magic7 Pro | |
| Xiaomi 15 Ultra | |
| Apple iPhone 16 Pro Max | |
| 3DMark / Solar Bay Unlimited Score | |
| Samsung Galaxy S25 Ultra | |
| Apple iPhone 17 Pro Max | |
| Honor Magic7 Pro | |
| Xiaomi 15 Ultra | |
| Apple iPhone 16 Pro Max | |
| 3DMark / Steel Nomad Light Unlimited Score | |
| Apple iPhone 17 Pro Max | |
| Samsung Galaxy S25 Ultra | |
| Xiaomi 15 Ultra | |
| Xiaomi 15 Ultra | |
| Honor Magic7 Pro | |
| Apple iPhone 16 Pro Max | |
| 3DMark / Steel Nomad Light Score | |
| Apple iPhone 17 Pro Max | |
| Samsung Galaxy S25 Ultra | |
| Honor Magic7 Pro | |
| Xiaomi 15 Ultra | |
| Xiaomi 15 Ultra | |
| Apple iPhone 16 Pro Max | |
| GFXBench (DX / GLBenchmark) 2.7 / T-Rex Onscreen | |
| Xiaomi 15 Ultra | |
| Samsung Galaxy S25 Ultra | |
| Honor Magic7 Pro | |
| Apple iPhone 16 Pro Max | |
| Apple iPhone 17 Pro Max | |
| GFXBench (DX / GLBenchmark) 2.7 / T-Rex Offscreen | |
| Apple iPhone 17 Pro Max | |
| Xiaomi 15 Ultra | |
| Samsung Galaxy S25 Ultra | |
| Honor Magic7 Pro | |
| Apple iPhone 16 Pro Max | |
| GFXBench 3.0 / Manhattan Onscreen OGL | |
| Xiaomi 15 Ultra | |
| Samsung Galaxy S25 Ultra | |
| Honor Magic7 Pro | |
| Apple iPhone 16 Pro Max | |
| Apple iPhone 17 Pro Max | |
| GFXBench 3.0 / 1080p Manhattan Offscreen | |
| Samsung Galaxy S25 Ultra | |
| Xiaomi 15 Ultra | |
| Apple iPhone 17 Pro Max | |
| Honor Magic7 Pro | |
| Apple iPhone 16 Pro Max | |
| GFXBench 3.1 / Manhattan ES 3.1 Onscreen | |
| Xiaomi 15 Ultra | |
| Samsung Galaxy S25 Ultra | |
| Honor Magic7 Pro | |
| Apple iPhone 16 Pro Max | |
| Apple iPhone 17 Pro Max | |
| GFXBench 3.1 / Manhattan ES 3.1 Offscreen | |
| Honor Magic7 Pro | |
| Xiaomi 15 Ultra | |
| Samsung Galaxy S25 Ultra | |
| Apple iPhone 17 Pro Max | |
| Apple iPhone 16 Pro Max | |
| GFXBench / Car Chase Onscreen | |
| Honor Magic7 Pro | |
| Samsung Galaxy S25 Ultra | |
| Xiaomi 15 Ultra | |
| Apple iPhone 16 Pro Max | |
| Apple iPhone 17 Pro Max | |
| GFXBench / Car Chase Offscreen | |
| Apple iPhone 17 Pro Max | |
| Xiaomi 15 Ultra | |
| Honor Magic7 Pro | |
| Samsung Galaxy S25 Ultra | |
| Apple iPhone 16 Pro Max | |
| GFXBench / Aztec Ruins High Tier Onscreen | |
| Honor Magic7 Pro | |
| Samsung Galaxy S25 Ultra | |
| Xiaomi 15 Ultra | |
| Apple iPhone 16 Pro Max | |
| Apple iPhone 17 Pro Max | |
| GFXBench / Aztec Ruins High Tier Offscreen | |
| Samsung Galaxy S25 Ultra | |
| Xiaomi 15 Ultra | |
| Honor Magic7 Pro | |
| Apple iPhone 17 Pro Max | |
| Apple iPhone 16 Pro Max | |
| GFXBench / Aztec Ruins Normal Tier Onscreen | |
| Xiaomi 15 Ultra | |
| Samsung Galaxy S25 Ultra | |
| Honor Magic7 Pro | |
| Apple iPhone 16 Pro Max | |
| Apple iPhone 17 Pro Max | |
| GFXBench / Aztec Ruins Normal Tier Offscreen | |
| Xiaomi 15 Ultra | |
| Honor Magic7 Pro | |
| Apple iPhone 17 Pro Max | |
| Samsung Galaxy S25 Ultra | |
| Apple iPhone 16 Pro Max | |
| GFXBench / 4K Aztec Ruins High Tier Offscreen | |
| Samsung Galaxy S25 Ultra | |
| Xiaomi 15 Ultra | |
| Honor Magic7 Pro | |
| Apple iPhone 17 Pro Max | |
| Apple iPhone 16 Pro Max | |
| Jetstream 2 - 2.0 Total Score | |
| Apple iPhone 17 Pro Max (Safari Mobile 26.0) | |
| Apple iPhone 16 Pro Max (Safari Mobile 18.0.1) | |
| Average Apple A19 Pro (327 - 358, n=3) | |
| Samsung Galaxy S25 Ultra (Chrome 132) | |
| Honor Magic7 Pro (Chrome 131) | |
| Xiaomi 15 Ultra (Chrome 132) | |
| Average of class Smartphone (23.8 - 387, n=154, last 2 years) | |
| Speedometer 2.0 - Result 2.0 | |
| Apple iPhone 17 Pro Max (Safari Mobile 26.0) | |
| Average Apple A19 Pro (598 - 643, n=3) | |
| Apple iPhone 16 Pro Max (Safari Mobile 18.0.1) | |
| Samsung Galaxy S25 Ultra (Chrome 132) | |
| Honor Magic7 Pro (Chrome 131) | |
| Xiaomi 15 Ultra (Chrome 132) | |
| Average of class Smartphone (15.2 - 643, n=131, last 2 years) | |
| Speedometer 3 - Score 3.0 | |
| Apple iPhone 17 Pro Max (Safari Mobile 26.0) | |
| Average Apple A19 Pro (40.7 - 42.8, n=3) | |
| Apple iPhone 16 Pro Max (Safari Mobile 18.0.1) | |
| Samsung Galaxy S25 Ultra (Chrome 132) | |
| Honor Magic7 Pro (Chrome 131) | |
| Xiaomi 15 Ultra | |
| Average of class Smartphone (1.03 - 42.8, n=121, last 2 years) | |
| WebXPRT 4 - Overall | |
| Apple iPhone 17 Pro Max (Safari Mobile 26.0) | |
| Average Apple A19 Pro (297 - 306, n=3) | |
| Apple iPhone 16 Pro Max (Safari Mobile 18.0.1) | |
| Samsung Galaxy S25 Ultra (Chrome 132) | |
| Honor Magic7 Pro (Chrome 131) | |
| Xiaomi 15 Ultra (Chrome 132) | |
| Average of class Smartphone (27 - 306, n=147, last 2 years) | |
| Octane V2 - Total Score | |
| Apple iPhone 17 Pro Max (Safari Mobile 26.0) | |
| Average Apple A19 Pro (115463 - 121337, n=3) | |
| Apple iPhone 16 Pro Max (Safari Mobile 18.0.1) | |
| Samsung Galaxy S25 Ultra (Chrome 132) | |
| Honor Magic7 Pro (Chrome 131) | |
| Xiaomi 15 Ultra (Chrome 132) | |
| Average of class Smartphone (2228 - 121337, n=200, last 2 years) | |
| Mozilla Kraken 1.1 - Total | |
| Average of class Smartphone (257 - 28190, n=155, last 2 years) | |
| Xiaomi 15 Ultra (Chrome 132) | |
| Honor Magic7 Pro (Chrome 131) | |
| Samsung Galaxy S25 Ultra (Chrome 132) | |
| Apple iPhone 16 Pro Max (Safari Mobile 18.0.1) | |
| Average Apple A19 Pro (257 - 280, n=3) | |
| Apple iPhone 17 Pro Max (Safari Mobile 26.0) | |
* ... smaller is better
Emissions - More efficient cooling than the predecessor
Temperature
During normal use, the iPhone 17 Pro Max remains pleasantly cool, but under maximum load, surface temperatures increase to up to 42°C. While this feels warm to the touch, it is still thermally safe.
Under load, the iPhone 16 Pro Max's improved cooling flexes its muscles – the keywords here being vapor chamber. Depending on the 3DMark scenario, the performance throttling is sometimes significantly less pronounced, and interestingly, the predecessor still scores better in the Steel Nomad test.
(±) The maximum temperature on the upper side is 42 °C / 108 F, compared to the average of 35.2 °C / 95 F, ranging from 21.9 to 247 °C for the class Smartphone.
(±) The bottom heats up to a maximum of 42.3 °C / 108 F, compared to the average of 34 °C / 93 F
(+) In idle usage, the average temperature for the upper side is 25.5 °C / 78 F, compared to the device average of 32.9 °C / 91 F.
3DMark Stress Tests
| 3DMark | |
| Wild Life Stress Test Stability | |
| Apple iPhone 17 Pro Max | |
| Apple iPhone 16 Pro Max | |
| Xiaomi 15 Ultra | |
| Honor Magic7 Pro | |
| Samsung Galaxy S25 Ultra | |
| Wild Life Extreme Stress Test | |
| Apple iPhone 17 Pro Max | |
| Xiaomi 15 Ultra | |
| Apple iPhone 16 Pro Max | |
| Samsung Galaxy S25 Ultra | |
| Solar Bay Stress Test Stability | |
| Apple iPhone 16 Pro Max | |
| Apple iPhone 17 Pro Max | |
| Xiaomi 15 Ultra | |
| Samsung Galaxy S25 Ultra | |
| Honor Magic7 Pro | |
| Steel Nomad Light Stress Test Stability | |
| Apple iPhone 16 Pro Max | |
| Honor Magic7 Pro | |
| Xiaomi 15 Ultra | |
| Apple iPhone 17 Pro Max | |
| Samsung Galaxy S25 Ultra | |
Speakers
The great-sounding stereo speakers impressed us with very linear highs and mids. However, as expected, they barely convey any bass. You can connect external audio devices via USB-C and Bluetooth 6.0.
Apple iPhone 17 Pro Max audio analysis
(+) | speakers can play relatively loud (82.2 dB)
Bass 100 - 315 Hz
(±) | reduced bass - on average 6.6% lower than median
(±) | linearity of bass is average (10.7% delta to prev. frequency)
Mids 400 - 2000 Hz
(+) | balanced mids - only 2.7% away from median
(+) | mids are linear (4.6% delta to prev. frequency)
Highs 2 - 16 kHz
(±) | higher highs - on average 8.3% higher than median
(+) | highs are linear (6% delta to prev. frequency)
Overall 100 - 16.000 Hz
(+) | overall sound is linear (14.2% difference to median)
Compared to same class
» 1% of all tested devices in this class were better, 1% similar, 98% worse
» The best had a delta of 12%, average was 35%, worst was 134%
Compared to all devices tested
» 16% of all tested devices were better, 4% similar, 80% worse
» The best had a delta of 4%, average was 24%, worst was 134%
Samsung Galaxy S25 Ultra audio analysis
(+) | speakers can play relatively loud (93 dB)
Bass 100 - 315 Hz
(-) | nearly no bass - on average 21.5% lower than median
(+) | bass is linear (4.8% delta to prev. frequency)
Mids 400 - 2000 Hz
(+) | balanced mids - only 4.3% away from median
(+) | mids are linear (4.4% delta to prev. frequency)
Highs 2 - 16 kHz
(+) | balanced highs - only 3.3% away from median
(+) | highs are linear (1.4% delta to prev. frequency)
Overall 100 - 16.000 Hz
(+) | overall sound is linear (14.6% difference to median)
Compared to same class
» 1% of all tested devices in this class were better, 2% similar, 97% worse
» The best had a delta of 12%, average was 35%, worst was 134%
Compared to all devices tested
» 18% of all tested devices were better, 4% similar, 78% worse
» The best had a delta of 4%, average was 24%, worst was 134%
Battery runtimes - The Apple smartphone sets new high scores
Power consumption
The iPhone charges at up to 40 watts, although it occasionally managed to exceed this limit in our tests. Wireless charging is possible at up to 25 watts.
A full charging cycle with a third-party power adapter (Anker 317, 100 watts) took approximately 1 hour and 25 minutes. After 40 minutes, the battery was already charged to 70 percent.
| Off / Standby |   0.1 / 0.2 Watt |
| Idle |  0.6 / 1.3 / 1.6 Watt |
| Load |
4.1 / 11.5 Watt |
    
| |
Key:
min: ,
med: ,
max: Metrahit Energy | |
| Apple iPhone 17 Pro Max 4823 mAh | Apple iPhone 16 Pro Max 4685 mAh | Honor Magic7 Pro 5270 mAh | Samsung Galaxy S25 Ultra 5000 mAh | Xiaomi 15 Ultra 5410 mAh | Average Apple A19 Pro | Average of class Smartphone | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Power Consumption | 5% | -48% | -38% | -1% | -32% | -25% | |
| Idle Minimum * (Watt) | 0.6 | 0.42 30% | 0.94 -57% | 0.55 8% | 0.49 18% | 0.56 ? 7% | 0.856 ? -43% |
| Idle Average * (Watt) | 1.3 | 1.55 -19% | 1.5 -15% | 0.77 41% | 0.87 33% | 1.677 ? -29% | 1.437 ? -11% |
| Idle Maximum * (Watt) | 1.6 | 1.58 1% | 1.57 2% | 0.91 43% | 0.94 41% | 1.823 ? -14% | 1.612 ? -1% |
| Load Average * (Watt) | 4.1 | 3.41 17% | 11.03 -169% | 13.81 -237% | 8.82 -115% | 7.92 ? -93% | 7.1 ? -73% |
| Load Maximum * (Watt) | 11.5 | 11.82 -3% | 11.68 -2% | 16.69 -45% | 9.26 19% | 15.1 ? -31% | 11.2 ? 3% |
* ... smaller is better
Power consumption: Geekbench (150 cd/m²)
Power consumption: GFXbench (150 cd/m²)
Battery life
When talking battery life, the Apple phone sets a new benchmark among iPhones. At almost 29 hours, it significantly outperforms not only its predecessor but also its high-end competitors, even though some of them house significantly larger batteries.
| Battery runtime - WiFi v1.3 | |
| Apple iPhone 17 Pro Max | |
| Apple iPhone 16 Pro Max | |
| Honor Magic7 Pro | |
| Samsung Galaxy S25 Ultra | |
| Xiaomi 15 Ultra | |
Notebookcheck overall rating
With the iPhone 17 Pro Max, Apple has not reinvented its top-of-the-range smartphone, but, instead, it has improved on the iPhone 16 Pro Max in many areas - and all without increasing the price of its entry-level model. The 6.9-inch device scores particularly well when it comes to battery life, but the design could put off some buyers.
Apple iPhone 17 Pro Max
- 10/27/2025 v8
Manuel Masiero
Total Sustainability Score: Possible alternatives compared
Image | Model / Review | Price | Weight | Drive | Display |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
1. 89.2%  | Apple iPhone 17 Pro Max Apple A19 Pro ⎘ Apple A19 Pro 6-Core GPU ⎘ 12 GB Memory, 256 GB NVMe | Amazon: 1. $59.00 Apple iPhone 17 Pro Max Tech... 2. $37.99 Apple iPhone 17 Pro Max Sili... 3. $8.98 Ailun 3 Pack Screen Protecto... List Price: 1449 Euro | 233 g | 256 GB NVMe | 6.90" 2868x1320 460 PPI OLED |
2. 88.6%  | Apple iPhone 16 Pro Max Apple A18 Pro ⎘ Apple A18 Pro GPU ⎘ 8 GB Memory, 256 GB NVMe | Amazon: 1. $39.99 Apple iPhone 16 Pro Max Sili... 2. $37.99 Apple iPhone 16 Pro Max Clea... 3. $8.98 Ailun 3 Pack Screen Protecto... List Price: 1449€ | 227 g | 256 GB NVMe | 6.90" 2868x1320 458 PPI Super Retina XDR OLED |
3. 89.2%  | Honor Magic7 Pro Qualcomm Snapdragon 8 Elite ⎘ Qualcomm Adreno 830 ⎘ 12 GB Memory, 512 GB | Amazon: 1. $11.99 Ibywind for Honor Magic7 Pro... 2. $9.99 Anbzsign (2+2 Pack) for Hono... 3. $11.99 Charger for Honor Magic 7, 7... List Price: 1300€ | 223 g | 512 GB UFS 4.0 Flash | 6.80" 2800x1280 453 PPI OLED |
4. 89.4%  | Samsung Galaxy S25 Ultra Qualcomm Snapdragon 8 Elite for Galaxy ⎘ Qualcomm Adreno 830 ⎘ 12 GB Memory, 256 GB | Amazon: 1. $1,057.00 SAMSUNG Galaxy S25 Ultra SM-... 2. $1,157.00 SAMSUNG Galaxy S25 Ultra ... 3. $7.57 firtstnow 3 Pack Glass Scree... List Price: 1449€ | 218 g | 256 GB UFS 4.0 Flash | 6.90" 3120x1440 498 PPI Dynamic AMOLED 2X |
5. 89.5%  | Xiaomi 15 Ultra Qualcomm Snapdragon 8 Elite ⎘ Qualcomm Adreno 830 ⎘ 16 GB Memory, 512 GB | Amazon: 1. $11.99 Ibywind for Xiaomi 15 Ultra ... 2. $9.29 Zeking [2 Pack for Xiaomi 15... 3. $8.99 Kicvbnco 3 Pack For Xiaomi 1... List Price: 1499€ | 229 g | 512 GB UFS 4.1 Flash | 6.73" 3200x1440 521 PPI AMOLED |
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The selection of devices to be reviewed is made by our editorial team. The test sample was provided to the author as a loan by the manufacturer or retailer for the purpose of this review. The lender had no influence on this review, nor did the manufacturer receive a copy of this review before publication. There was no obligation to publish this review. As an independent media company, Notebookcheck is not subjected to the authority of manufacturers, retailers or publishers.
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