Apple has raised the curtain on its most powerful iPhone yet with the iPhone 17 Pro Max, a device built for buyers who want more than just everyday performance.
The new flagship pushes forward with a bigger battery, brighter display, and the most advanced camera system Apple has ever put in a phone.
Alongside fresh design tweaks and the latest A19 Pro chip, it is positioned as the model for users who demand long endurance, professional-grade video tools, and serious computing power on the go.
Price in India, variants, and availability
Apple’s top iPhone now starts at ₹1,49,900 in India for 256GB, with 512GB at ₹1,69,900, 1TB at ₹1,89,900, and a new 2TB at ₹2,29,900. It comes in Cosmic Orange, Deep Blue, and Silver.
The phone went on sale in India on September 19, 2025, after pre-orders opened at 5:30 pm IST on September 12.
You can buy it from the Apple Online Store, Apple BKC/Saket, and authorised retailers across India.
What’s New At a Glance
Apple has rebuilt the Pro Max around performance, battery life, and camera reach. The A19 Pro chip sits under an aluminum unibody with a laser-welded vapor chamber to keep sustained speeds high.
There’s a 6.9-inch Super Retina XDR panel with ProMotion 120 Hz and 3,000 nits peak outdoor brightness, plus Ceramic Shield 2 on the front and the back for better scratch resistance.
The rear camera block is now an all-48MP Pro Fusion trio with the longest optical-quality zoom yet on iPhone: up to 8x. Apple also adds an 18MP Center Stage front camera for smarter framing in selfies and video calls.
Design and Build: Tougher glass, Cooler core
The Pro Max switches to a forged aluminum unibody that doubles as a heat spreader.
Apple’s vapor chamber is sealed inside and routes heat away from A19 Pro, allowing the phone to hold peak performance longer during gaming, video edits, or heavy AI features.
The new Ceramic Shield 2 front cover claims 3x better scratch resistance, and for the first time the back also uses Ceramic Shield.
The chassis houses a larger battery than last year, without adding bulk: 163.4 × 78.0 × 8.75 mm, 233 g. IP68 rating remains for dust and water resistance.
How it helps: sustained performance means fewer frame-rate dips in long sessions, cooler hands during 4K capture, and faster exports for creators. The tougher glass reduces scuffs from daily use and the occasional scrape with keys.
Also read: Google Pixel 9a Finally Lands in India with Gemini Features and a Clean Smooth UI
Display: Brighter Outdoors, Smoother Everywhere
You get a 6.9-inch OLED at 2868 × 1320, 460 ppi, with ProMotion up to 120 Hz, Always-On, and True Tone. Peak outdoor brightness hits 3,000 nits, which is noticeable under Delhi afternoon sun.
Minimum brightness drops to 1 nit for night reading. The panel supports HDR (Dolby Vision) and the usual Apple color accuracy.
Outdoor visibility for maps and camera previews, buttery scrolling in UIs and games, and cleaner HDR playback when you stream.
Cameras: 8 “pro Lenses” In Your Pocket
The 48MP Pro Fusion system covers Main (24 mm, f/1.78), Ultra-wide (13 mm, f/2.2), and a new Telephoto with tetraprism. Apple enables optical-quality 4x (100 mm) and 8x (200 mm) tele options, with 3D sensor-shift OIS and autofocus on the tele lens.
You also get 48MP macro, ProRAW, and a deep video toolbox: ProRes RAW, Apple Log 2, genlock, and Dolby Vision up to 4K/120 with external recorders.
On the front, the 18MP Center Stage camera brings smarter framing, ultra-stabilised video, and Dual Capture for creator-style shots.
8x optical-quality reach shrinks distance at concerts or sports; Apple Log 2 and genlock make the phone slot into pro shoots; macro at 48MP is great for product detail and food close-ups; Dual Capture records you and the scene for travel vlogs.
Performance and Storage
The A19 Pro CPU/GPU architecture plus Neural Accelerators in each GPU core aims at higher sustained throughput.
Apple quotes up to 40% better sustained performance versus last gen when paired with the vapor chamber.
Storage options go 256GB to 2TB. (Apple doesn’t disclose RAM or storage interface, but in practice iPhones use fast NVMe-class storage and aggressive memory management.)
Console-like ray-traced effects in supported games, quicker 4K multi-cam edits, and faster on-device AI features inside Photos, Notes, and Siri.
Battery, Charging, and Ports
Apple won’t quote mAh, but does rate the Pro Max for up to 39 hours video playback.
The headline is 0–50% in 20 minutes with Apple’s new 40W Dynamic Power Adapter (sold separately).
USB-C now supports USB 3 up to 10 Gb/s and DisplayPort; MagSafe/Qi2 wireless charging goes up to 25W.
Connectivity for India: Wi-Fi 7, Bluetooth 6, and NavIC
There’s a new Apple N1 wireless chip that enables Wi-Fi 7, Bluetooth 6, and Thread for smart-home gear, plus second-gen Ultra Wideband for precise finding.
Cellular support covers India’s common sub-6 5G bands like n1/n3/n5/n8/n28/n40/n41/n77/n78, among many others.
Navigation includes GPS, GLONASS, Galileo, QZSS, BeiDou, and NavIC, which improves accuracy for Indian maps and ride-hailing.
Software and Intelligence
It ships with iOS 26 and Apple Intelligence in beta, bringing writing tools, image features, and a more helpful Siri. Availability varies by language and region; more languages are rolling out this year.
Emergency SOS, Roadside Assistance, Messages, and Find My via satellite are supported where enabled.
SAR values
For buyers who check radiation numbers, iPhone 17 Pro Max posts measured SAR of 1.19 W/kg (head) and 1.19 W/kg (body) for cellular transmission, with simultaneous transmission values up to ~1.59 W/kg.
These figures comply with India’s 1.6 W/kg over 1 g limit.
India Price, Offers, and Where To Buy
MRP starts at ₹1,49,900. Expect no-cost EMI, cashback on select bank cards, and trade-in offers through Apple’s channels and major retail partners.
Buy from Apple Online Store, Apple BKC and Apple Saket, and authorised resellers nationwide.
If you need one quickly, note that launch-week demand led to local mark-ups at some offline stores; official channels are safer for price transparency and warranty.
Also Read: Infinix Note 50s 5G Plus brings a curved AMOLED screen and strong battery under fifteen thousand
How The Specs Help In Daily Use
- Creators: 4K/120 Dolby Vision with external SSDs over USB-C and Apple Log 2 gives real grading latitude. Genlock keeps multi-cam rigs in sync.
- Mobile gamers: sustained clocks plus vapor cooling reduce throttling mid-match, while 120 Hz keeps touch response crisp.
- Travel and city life: 8x optical-quality reach is useful at monuments and concerts; NavIC boosts positioning in dense urban areas; satellite features add peace of mind on remote trips.
Competing Phones
- Samsung Galaxy S24 Ultra: still a powerhouse with an S Pen and long zoom. Apple counters with cleaner 8x tele quality, faster on-device video tools, and longer stated battery life.
- Google Pixel 9 Pro XL: excels at still photography and AI features. The iPhone answers with broader pro video and higher sustained performance.
- OnePlus 13 Pro: aggressive pricing and fast charging. The iPhone wins on ecosystem perks, video stack, and longevity of updates.
If you want the longest-lasting battery, the farthest optical-quality zoom, and Apple’s best sustained performance in 2025, the iPhone 17 Pro Max is the one to buy.
