Apple iPhone 17 Pro Max
Buy it
Good value at this price
The short answer
If you want Apple's top-performing smartphone with outstanding battery life and cutting-edge cameras, the iPhone 17 Pro Max delivers. Just be aware of potential paint chipping on darker color finishes unless you use a case. It is expensive, but it offers a premier flagship experience.
Is the price fair?
Fair for an ultra-premium flagship, offering top-tier performance and battery improvements for the high price.
Buy during major carrier trade-in events or Black Friday sales to get significant credit for your old phone.
Pros & cons
- Incredible battery life and improved thermal management
- Redesigned camera system with outstanding performance
- Sturdy aluminum unibody structure with MagSafe support
- Anodized color finishes like Deep Blue and Cosmic Orange tend to chip
- Very expensive baseline price tag
- Polarizing two-tone rear design and prominent camera plateau
What reviewers say
- “Battery life is incredible and thermal performance is noticeably improved over previous titanium models.”
- “The paint on the colored aluminum models like Deep Blue chips surprisingly easily around the edges.”
- “The bold new camera plateau design looks distinct, but the two-tone MagSafe back divides opinions.”
Consider instead
Samsung Galaxy S25 Ultra
$1,300Top Android flagship alternative featuring an integrated stylus and strong camera capabilities.
Tap to check this one
Google Pixel 9 Pro XL
$1,099Excellent camera system and clean software experience with a similar camera bar aesthetic.
Tap to check this one
Apple iPhone 17 Pro
$1,000Provides nearly identical pro camera capabilities and performance in a smaller size for less money.
Tap to check this one
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