iPhone 17 Pro Max: Three new upgrades that could be hard to resist

In just one month, Apple will unveil its full iPhone 17 lineup. The brand new Air model will get a lot of attention, but Apple also has big changes coming for iPhone 17 Pro Max. I’m tentatively planning to buy a 17 Air, but there are three Pro Max features in particular that could make Apple’s premium iPhone hard to resist.

#1: Anti-reflective display

I love a sunny day. More so than the average person, my mood depends heavily on how much sunshine there is, and my ability to get out and enjoy the sun.

So I became very excited by the rumor that iPhone 17 Pro and Pro Max will pack a new, anti-reflective display.

Depending on how much of a difference Apple’s anti-reflective tech makes, I could see this feature being hugely influential in my iPhone purchase decision.

For days in the sun, an iPhone 17 Pro Max with anti-reflective display would be fantastic. Plus, I’d be able to keep brightness cranked up due to this next feature.

#2: Biggest battery ever

Battery anxiety, for me at least, has mostly become a thing of the past. Last year’s iPhone 16 Pro brought enough battery improvements that even on the most demanding days, I’ve rarely needed to worry about charging up.

iPhone 17 Pro Max is expected to improve things even further. Even though Apple’s Pro Max model always offers the best battery life, this year’s 17 Pro Max is getting thicker than ever to pack an even bigger battery.

Even though I’ve been leaning toward an iPhone 17 Air this year, battery struggles on the iOS 26 beta have me second-guessing that choice. I’m sure iOS battery performance will improve before the public launch. But the thought of getting the best battery life ever in an iPhone is now suddenly more appealing.

#3: Camera upgrades

iPhone cameras are at the point where they can be used to shoot major Hollywood blockbusters. Yet Apple continues making big and small improvements every single year.

With iPhone 17 Pro Max, there are potentially a lot of camera upgrades coming. Two solid bets:

• 24MP TrueDepth front facing camera (up from 12MP)
• 48MP Telephoto lens (up from 12MP)

Outside of these sensor changes, which supply chain leaks have made all but certain, there are a variety of other possible improvements.

Rumors include: a second Camera Control button, multi-cam video recording, 8x optical zoom, and a pro camera app. None of these seem as solidly supported as the sensor changes, but they’re certainly possible.

Which iPhone 17 Pro Max features are you most excited about? Let us know in the comments.

Featured image source: Majin Bu

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