Apple’s iPhone 17 lineup will be unveiled in just a few weeks. And one question on many shoppers’ minds each year involves the Pro models: what’s different between the two? Here’s how Apple plans to differentiate the iPhone 17 Pro Max vs iPhone 17 Pro this year.
What to expect from iPhone 17 Pro Max vs iPhone 17 Pro
This year’s iPhone 17 Pro and Pro Max will have the same screen sizes as last year: 6.3 inches on the Pro, 6.9 inches on the Pro Max.
Aside from size, Apple sometimes differentiates its Pro models through a special camera feature.
The Pro Max model, at times, gets a new camera capability a year or more ahead of its smaller sibling.
For example, the iPhone 15 Pro Max offered 5x telephoto zoom, but the smaller Pro model only had 3x until Apple upgraded it a year later on the iPhone 16 Pro.
It now looks possible that iPhone 17 Pro Max will have a better telephoto lens than iPhone 17 Pro in some way, but details are unknown. At one point rumors also pointed to a smaller Dynamic Island on the Pro Max, but that now seems unlikely.
Whatever happens with cameras and the Dynamic Island, however, there’s an even bigger change coming that will give the Pro Max a strong lead in one key area: battery life.
Apple’s Pro Max model always has better battery life than its Pro sibling, but that’s set to be even more true this year.
iPhone 17 Pro Max will extend its lead in offering best battery life
In a unique move, this year the iPhone 17 Pro Max is reportedly getting even thicker for the purpose of fitting more battery.
Leaked product dimensions have confirmed the size increase, which hands-on videos have shown off.
Here’s the year-over-year change:
- iPhone 16 Pro Max: 8.25mm thick
- iPhone 17 Pro Max: 8.725mm thick
Meanwhile, the iPhone 17 Pro isn’t changing size at all.
Aside from a larger camera bump ‘island’ design on the back, the new Pro model will have the same basic dimensions as last year’s iPhone 16 Pro.
Which means the Pro Max’s battery life advantage—which was already significant—is growing even more.
Here are current Apple benchmarks:
- iPhone 16 Pro Max
- Up to 33 hours video playback
- Up to 29 hours streamed video playback
- Up to 105 hours audio playback
- iPhone 16 Pro
- Up to 27 hours video playback
- Up to 22 hours streamed video playback
- Up to 85 hours audio playback
Expect to see iPhone 17 Pro Max boast higher battery life estimates than any iPhone has before. Meanwhile, the iPhone 17 Pro should offer about the same runtime as last year.
On the positive side, iPhone 17 Pro should still have much better battery than what’s found in the ultra-thin new iPhone 17 Air.
Will the iPhone 17 Pro Max’s battery advantage vs 17 Pro make a difference to you? Let us know in the comments.
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