Apple iPhone 17 Pro Max Silver 512GB

The iPhone 17 Pro Max is a battery and camera monster wrapped in a tough new aluminum body. It's the best iPhone ever, but that 233g weight and 8GB RAM keep it from being perfect.

The A19 Pro chip with vapor cooling is the real deal. Apple claims up to 40 percent better sustained performance, and our database puts this thing in the 91st percentile for raw performance, which is elite territory. Gaming, photography, and even budget scores all land in the mid-80s, which tells you this phone does almost everything well. The 8GB of RAM feels a little stingy for a flagship in this price range, but iOS 26 manages it efficiently enough that you won't notice unless you're a serious multitasker.

The Samsung Galaxy S24 Ultra is the obvious Android rival, and it still beats the iPhone on zoom reach with its 10x optical lens, though the iPhone's 8x is no slouch. The Google Pixel 9 Pro XL remains the pick for pure computational photography and cleaner Android software. The OnePlus 13 undercuts the iPhone on price while offering faster charging, but it can't match Apple's lock-in or that 99th percentile social proof. If you want a foldable, the Motorola Razr Ultra 2025 is a completely different beast, but it's not a direct competitor for most buyers.

At USD 1,375 to USD 1,534 depending on the vendor, this is a serious investment. The spread across 7 US listings means you should shop around, and Best Buy's refurbished units are the smart play if you want to save a few hundred without giving up much. For what you get, the battery and camera upgrades justify the price if you're coming from an iPhone 14 or older. But if you're on a 15 or 16 Pro Max, this is a harder sell.

The iPhone 17 Pro Max is Apple swinging for the fences, and mostly connecting. The headline here is the new aluminum unibody design paired with a massive 4900mAh battery, which Apple claims delivers up to 39 hours of video playback. That's a real jump, and it finally puts battery anxiety to bed for even the heaviest users. The camera system also got a serious glow-up with all three rear shooters now at 48MP and 8x optical zoom, which is the widest zoom range ever in an iPhone.

If you want a phone that fits in your pocket and doesn't feel like a dumbbell, this isn't it. Go get the regular iPhone 17 or a Pixel 9 instead. And if you're not already deep in the Apple world, the OnePlus 13 gives you faster charging and a lighter build for less money.

The iPhone 17 Pro Max is the best iPhone Apple has ever made, and it's not particularly close. The battery life alone is worth the upgrade for anyone who's ever watched their phone die before dinner. The camera system is finally competitive with the best Android flagships, and the A19 Pro chip means this thing will stay fast for years. If you're in the Apple world and want the biggest, longest-lasting iPhone, this is the one to get.