The still-rumored iPhone 17 Pro Max will almost certainly be one of the biggest and best phones of 2025, and will star in the iPhone 17 line – which will likely also include the iPhone 17 itself, the iPhone 17 Pro and a new iPhone 17 Air or iPhone 17 Slim model.
That last phone may steal a lot of the attention, but it’s the iPhone 17 Pro Max that will likely have the most impressive specs.
And while we don’t expect it to land until September, leaks and rumors are already popping up – all of which you can find below.
Continue the chase
- What is it? The next top-end iPhone
- When is it out? Probably September 2025
- How much will it cost? Probably more like $1,199 / £1,199 / AU$2,149
Please note in September
- Probably launched in the first half of September
- Will probably cost minimal $1,199 / £1,199 / AU$2,149
The iPhone 17 Pro Max will likely be announced – along with the rest of the iPhone 17 series – in September 2025.
While there’s no news on that front yet, Apple almost without exception launches its new phones in the first half of September, so we can be pretty confident about that.
Prior to the iPhone 16 series, Apple also usually announced the phones on a Tuesday or Wednesday, but with the iPhone 16 it happened on a Monday, so we can’t be as sure of the exact day as in previous years.
Still, the second week of September is the most likely based on the earlier format, i.e. probably Monday September 8, Tuesday September 9 or Wednesday September 10. Thursday or Friday is also possible, but those are not days we normally see Apple leave for.
Either way, pre-orders for the iPhone 17 Pro Max will most likely start on Friday of announcement week, so our best guess for that is Friday, September 12 – although a week earlier on Friday, September 5 is also possible. And the phone will likely ship the following Friday, which probably means September 19th but possibly September 12th.
We have not yet heard anything about the price of the iPhone 17 Pro Max and that is a bit more difficult to predict, since we do not know whether Apple will increase the price from the iPhone 16 Pro Max or not. For reference, the iPhone 16 Pro Max starts at $1,199 / £1,199 / AU$2,149, so it’s likely the iPhone 17 Pro Max will cost at least that much.
Can you trust these rumors?
So far there have been no price or release date leaks, so it’s all just educated guesses, but we’d be surprised if this phone wasn’t announced in September.
One button replaces three
- Can combine the volume and action buttons into one key
- Can be sold in a Teal Titanium shade
- Probably another 6.9-inch screen
So far we don’t expect any drastic changes to the design, but the iPhone 17 Pro Max could at least get a new button – or perhaps more accurately lose some buttons, as a report suggests it will have a single key that controls the replaces two volume buttons. the action button.
Details on this button are light, but if it does pop up we imagine it will have a similar design to the Camera Control key, so you can swipe it to change the volume, or press it to get a custom activate action.
Also on the design front, a source claims that the iPhone 17 Pro Max will be available in one of three colors pictured below. These are apparently called, from left to right, Dark Green Titanium, Teal Titanium and Green Titanium. And apparently all three are being considered, but only one would be used if there is one, with the source speculating that Teal Titanium is the most likely.
We’ve also heard that Apple could hide the Face ID components beneath the iPhone 17 Pro Max’s screen, which could allow for a smaller Dynamic Island, although a smaller Dynamic Island could instead be achieved through a new ‘ Metalens’ technology for the proximity sensor of the iPhone 17 Pro Max.
The source of the Metalens claim also says that it is not surprising that the iPhone 17 Pro Max will have a titanium frame, just like the iPhone 16 Pro Max.
The same source also says to expect a 6.9-inch screen again, and we’ve heard elsewhere that the iPhone 17 Pro Max’s screen may use a type of glass that is less reflective and more resistant to scratches.
Can you trust these rumors?
So far, only one source has mentioned a new button, so we’ll take this with a grain of salt, especially since the Action button is a recent addition, so it would be strange to remove it already. A smaller Dynamic Island is possible and has been leaked several times, but it’s more likely to be achieved through a new proximity sensor design than Face ID under the display.
A new telephoto camera
- Could have a new 48MP telephoto camera
- The front camera can be boosted up to 24 MP
We’ve heard pretty consistent hints about the iPhone 17 Pro Max’s cameras, with the most exciting claim being that the telephoto will have a new 48MP sensor, up from 12MP on the current model. We’ve heard this claim about a 48MP telephoto camera for the iPhone 17 Pro Max from multiple sources, so it’s most likely correct.
However, this snapper will likely still offer 5x optical zoom, and it may be the only rear camera to get a significant upgrade – meaning 48MP main and ultra-wide cameras could make a return.
However, the front camera could also be improved, with one of the same sources saying the iPhone 17 Pro Max will have a 24MP selfie camera, up from 12MP currently.
In even more surprising news, a source has claimed that the iPhone 17 Pro Max could have a mechanical aperture, allowing you to adjust the aperture and change the depth of field in the process.
Can you trust these rumors?
Numerous sources have mentioned a 48MP telephoto camera, so that’s very likely. The 24MP selfie camera hasn’t been leaked that much, so we’ll take that with a grain of salt, but the claim comes from a credible source.
As far as a mechanical aperture goes, we’re skeptical about this, as it sounds like a major yet niche upgrade, but it’s always possible.
A powerful chipset and lots of RAM
- A powerful A19 Pro chipset
- 12GB RAM
The iPhone 17 Pro Max will almost certainly have an A19 Pro chipset – after all, the current model has an A18 Pro. Multiple sources have mentioned an A19 Pro chipset, and they have also said that the iPhone 17 Pro Max will have 12GB of RAM, up from 8GB in the current model.
That could be a big boon for AI capabilities. Although there is some debate as to whether both iPhone 17 Pro models will get 12GB of RAM or if this RAM upgrade will only be for the Pro Max.
We haven’t heard anything about the battery yet, but the iPhone 17 Pro Max could reportedly have a thinner and lighter motherboard than the current model, potentially leaving room for a larger battery.
Can you trust these rumors?
The iPhone 17 Pro Max will almost certainly have an A19 Pro chipset, based on past form, and we’d say an increase to 12GB of RAM is also very credible as this could help with AI.