Although a lot of ink was spilled last year over the difficult choice between multiple iPhone models, as soon as I saw the September iPhone announcement, I knew which one I would buy: the 17 Pro Max.
For me, it was simple. Regardless of battery life, thinness, or whatever else, the iPhone is primarily a camera. I’ve tried taking photos with a dedicated camera, but if it’s not an iPhone, I don’t take photos. Simple as that.
The only hesitation was whether to get the Pro or Pro Max. But again, the Pro only became heavier, so my thinking from previous years remained the same: the Pro model still isn’t suitable for one-handed use, so why compromise?
Last year, I got the top-of-the-line model: the 1 TB 16 Pro Max. But my photo library kept growing, and by the very end, I couldn’t fit everything on the phone, so I turned on the Optimise iPhone Storage option for Photos. It actually works much better than I expected, so I went with the 512 GB version this year. I could have gone the other way and bought the 2 TB version, but the price is way too high, considering I buy a new phone every year.
Why Not Air?
Before buying the Pro, I went to the store to pick up the Air and play around with it. Actually, the first time I did that, it felt underwhelming. I didn’t get the “wow” feeling I was expecting. The last time I’d had that feeling with an Apple device was with the thin iPad Pro, but with that, there are no compromises. Here, the whole idea of the phone is a compromise. One camera, battery life… It’s just beautiful to hold.
Throughout the year, I saw more and more people with the iPhone Air (coincidentally, most of them seem to have Whoops and Rolexes, somehow), and every time I went into an Apple Store, I wanted to play with the Air. It’s nice, and it feels luxurious, but it’s not for me, mostly because of the camera.
Design
For a long time, I was one of the critics of Apple’s Pro phone colours (or lack thereof), so of course I had to buy the orange one. And it was definitely the right choice. I just like looking at it.
But I can also see where Apple was coming from. It does look less “Pro”. It feels more like a toy, something fun, and that’s not a bad thing.
I think the addition of the Air, which is a more luxurious-looking option, has given Apple the freedom to experiment a bit with the Pro. It made it heavier, bulkier and, well, orangier.
The things you read online about aluminium being prone to scratches are true. Over the course of the year, the phone got scratched a couple of times, and you can see the bare aluminium underneath. It’s to be expected, but this wasn’t an issue with previous models.
Maybe, just maybe, if I were buying a phone again, I would have gone with the silver one. There are A LOT of orange iPhones around. (I believe Apple played the long game here, so now you can easily spot those who haven’t upgraded.) It seems like everyone who went for a Pro went for the orange one. I’ve seen a few blue ones and only a handful of silver ones.
Otherwise, I don’t care that the plateau is now bigger or that it scratches easily. I’ve just accepted that a phone is a tool, and if you use a tool a lot, it will show some wear. Besides, I love holding it without a case, so that’s a plus.
Camera
I love it. Simple as that.
I’ve always loved the telephoto lens, and this year it’s amazing. Not so much at 8x, although it’s fun to experiment with sometimes, but 4x is just great. I use it all the time. The quality is excellent, and it somehow fits my style.
There have been a couple of times when it felt like the iPhone camera took a step backwards with a new model. This year is different: the camera on the 17 Pro Max is definitely better than the one on the 16 Pro Max.
Battery
Surprisingly, I wasn’t impressed by the battery life. Even though it’s a Max model, I still had to charge it at least a little during the day, despite charging it every night. It was somehow disappointing to walk around with this huge phone that couldn’t last the whole day.
The thermals, on the other hand, have improved dramatically. Not once during my usual use did it get really hot. It was always pleasant to hold.
Conclusion
Sometimes, when you get a new phone, you go back to the old one just to hold it in your hand and feel… feelings.
That was the case for me last year. I didn’t love the 16 Pro Max.
I love the 17 Pro Max.