Apple's phone lineup is usually split between the more-affordable iPhone and the extras-added iPhone Pro models, but this year we could see another split, and I'm not talking about a possible iPhone 17 Air. Whereas the iPhone 16 Pro and iPhone 16 Pro Max are basically the same phones but with different size screens and bodies, the iPhone 17 Pro Max expected to be announced at Apple's "Awe dropping" event next week on Sept. 9 could set itself apart from the regular-size iPhone 17 Pro.
I've always stuck with the standard iPhone Pro, but now I'm not so sure. Here's a rundown of some of the features rumored for the iPhone 17 Pro Max that I'm most curious about.
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Making the case to go larger
The iPhone Pro Max models are tanks compared with the rest of the line -- well, they're not on the toughness level of the Samsung Galaxy XCover 7 Pro, so maybe they're more like solid midsize SUVs. But they're notable for their larger screens, bigger bodies and especially for having room for more of everything in an iPhone.
And that includes a larger battery. The Max models already have more battery space than other models, but the iPhone 17 Pro Max could end up being almost half a millimeter thicker, at 8.725mm, according to a May post by 9to5Mac. Has anyone ever asked for a more bulky iPhone? Actually, yes, yes and yes.
The iPhone 17 Pro Max could get thicker. Apple/Lily Yeh/CNET
Add the new Adaptive Power feature in iOS 26, which uses AI to distribute power more efficiently when demand is high, and we could see a boost in daily use before reaching for a charger. (Then again, Adaptive Power could be a software workaround that could mean longer life using the same physical battery size.)
If you're already committed to carrying a larger iPhone, a tad more thickness and heft isn't too much more to shoulder.
The back of the iPhone 17 Pro case is also rumored to shift the Apple logo down from its current perch. That doesn't seem like a big functional change, but it should help soothe folks who choose to add a clear MagSafe case, since the logo will be centered within the MagSafe area. You can't say Apple doesn't sweat the design details.
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