From the first plus-sized iPhone Pro Max models, I've stuck with the regular configuration because the size and weight suited me better. But for many of those years I couldn't help but look over at my friends enjoying their larger screens and sometimes exclusive camera features like optical stabilization or the 5x telephoto camera. So as we get quickly closer to September when new iPhone 17 models are expected, several leaks about the iPhone 17 Pro Max have caught my attention and made me reconsider my standard-sized stance. (And this also reinforces that now is not the time to buy a new iPhone.)
Here's a rundown of some of the features rumored for the iPhone 17 Pro Max that I'm most curious about.
Making the case to go larger
The iPhone Pro Max models are tanks compared to 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 8.725 mm, 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.
A new leak on X from Majin Bu purports to show an iPhone 17 Pro case, though it's not clear whether that's something assembled by hand to match rumored specs or is some iPhone knockoff.
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