iPhone 17 Pro vs Pro Max — My Brutally Honest Review After One Month

9to5Mac October 18, 2025
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9to5Mac covers the latest in Apple News, Tutorials, and Reviews. Specifically, we focus on iPhone and iOS, iPad and iPadOS, Mac and macOS, Apple Watch and watchOS, and much more.

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After years of always choosing Apple’s biggest iPhones — from the XS Max to last year’s 16 Pro Max — I decided to switch things up and go with the smaller iPhone 17 Pro this year. And honestly, it completely changed how I use my phone. In this long-term review, I break down what it’s been like using both the iPhone 17 Pro and 17 Pro Max for a month — covering design, performance, battery life, cameras, and overall usability. With both models now sharing identical specs — from the A19 Pro chip, 48MP triple camera system, vapor cooling, and Apple Intelligence support — the only real difference is size and battery. So is the extra screen and weight of the Pro Max worth it anymore? Let’s find out.. Best accessories: ESR Clear Case for iPhone Air: https://amzn.to/4pq3Lig (Under $10!) ESR Color matching iPhone 17 Pro/Max Case: https://amzn.to/3JXkCIV (Under $13!) Ultra Slim Thinborne Case: https://thinborne.com/NANDOPRINCE93 Spigen MagSafe Case for all iPhone 17: https://amzn.to/4glfFpr (Under $22!) Favorite Magsafe battery: https://kuxiu.co/products/kuxiu-s2-power-bank?ref=bjyfkxdn Subscribe to our Podcast https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLP3DOW_eX2AwO_whrINOi-TuAdgsSR83i https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/9to5mac-overtime/id1727206360 Subscribe to the channel! https://youtube.com/@9to5Mac?sub_confirmation=1 Follow me on X: @nandoprince93 📦 Other tech I like: The $2 Airtag: https://9to5toys.com/2024/11/25/heres-how-to-get-an-airtag-for-just-2/ iMac mini m4: https://amzn.to/3B5Kleg ($529, Normally $599) M2 MacBook Air: https://amzn.to/3VcDlTq ($749, normally $999) M3 Macbook Air: https://amzn.to/3ZcWrtX ($844, normally $1099) M4 MacBook Pro 14: https://amzn.to/3B1CjD6 ($1749, Normally $1999) iPad 10th Gen: https://amzn.to/49bKkC6 ($259, Normally $349) iPad mini 7th Gen: https://amzn.to/3ZrPVkd ($459, Normally $499) iPad Air 11: https://amzn.to/415W6vP ($499, $599) Apple Pencil: Apple Watch SE: https://amzn.to/4idQDJc ($149, Normally $249) Series 10: https://amzn.to/3CQ3ZLM ($359, Normally $429) AW Ultra Ocean: https://amzn.to/3ZqPbvM ($719, Normally $800) AirPods Pro: https://amzn.to/4i7na3H ($153, Normally $249) AirTags: https://amzn.to/3Z9RpP0 ($72, Normally $99) ⏱ Timestamps: 00:00 – Intro: Why I switched 01:00 – Pro vs Pro Max history 02:00 – Size & ergonomics 04:30 – Design and camera plateau 06:00 – Performance and vapor cooling 08:00 – Camera upgrades 10:00 – Battery life & efficiency 12:30 – Final thoughts

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