4 explanation why I by no means purchase an iPhone Professional Max (and why it won’t be best for you, both)

An more and more widespread tactic in loads of industries, not simply smartphones, is to create an “ultra-premium” product. Most of your prospects will not be capable of afford it, however the ones who can will greater than make up for it. Within the free-to-play sport business, these individuals are generally known as “whales.” You won’t be spending something by yourself Fortnite account, however the household subsequent door is holding the lights on at Epic by shopping for lots of of {dollars} in character skins.

Apple has a number of ultra-premium merchandise, none extra vital for the time being than the iPhone 17 Pro Max. I will allow you to in on a secret, nonetheless — I’ve by no means purchased a Professional Max, regardless of being each a long-term iPhone consumer and a tech journalist. There are a number of explanation why, all of which ought to most likely level you in the direction of a 17 or 17 Professional until cash is not any object.

The batteries in different iPhones are adequate

For many customers, anyway

There are two key promoting factors to Max fashions: the largest display screen and the largest battery. I will get to the display screen tech in a minute, however as for battery life, I’ve by no means had an incident the place different iPhones could not make the minimize. I’d’ve needed to put my cellphone into Low Energy Mode for some time, or use a conveyable battery pack, however that was sufficient to make it to a charger with a little bit of juice to spare.

Let’s take a look at the onerous numbers for the present era. The iPhone Air has the weakest battery life, rated for 27 hours of continuous video playback — in sensible actuality, sufficient to get most individuals to the top of the day, albeit working on fumes generally. The iPhone 17 does higher at 30 hours, whereas the 17 Professional and Professional Max ship 33 and 39 hours, respectively. Likelihood is that the bottom iPhone 17 will probably be greater than sufficient, since even my 16 Professional is supposedly no higher than the Air.

There are solely a handful of instances the place a Max’s battery life would possibly legitimately be crucial. One is for those who’re a global traveler who can go a whole day with out significant time to cost. Alternately, you is likely to be a service technician (or different skilled) utilizing their gadget for work, or a resident of a disaster-prone space who cannot assure how lengthy the ability will probably be out. Even underneath these circumstances, a MagSafe battery is likely to be probably the most sensible strategy.

A wierd middle-ground

The massive show on a Max is clearly the very first thing you discover, and I am not resistant to its enchantment. It makes some text-based duties simpler, resembling typing, net looking, or checking e mail and social media. If you happen to watch video frequently, extra actual property is all the time welcome — though you will by no means appease the spirit of David Lynch.

My difficulty is that it is usually a marginal achieve, primarily based on my hands-on time. You are still nicely wanting the room on an 8.3-inch iPad mini, not to mention a full-sized iPad, so it isn’t such as you’ll be cranking out work assignments with nothing greater than your cellphone and a Bluetooth keyboard. Apple does not even help a number of app home windows on Maxes, which you’d suppose can be pure on condition that it has been an possibility for years on similarly-sized Samsung gadgets. Who is aware of, possibly that can change after iOS 27 and the primary foldable iPhone.

There is likely to be one thing to be stated for individuals who discover telephones onerous to learn and sort on normally, however iPhones have been rising in measurement for a very long time. You’ll be able to’t purchase a brand new one which measures lower than 6.1 inches, and most at the moment are 6.3. If you happen to’re nonetheless having hassle, you will most likely be higher served by tweaking iOS’s accessibility settings.

The scale is usually a downside

Holy gigantic cellphone, Batman

Normally, I am not one to complain in regards to the measurement of telephones, tablets, or laptops. I’ve obtained reasonably-sized arms, and on condition that my important passion is weightlifting, it could be ridiculous if I could not deal with a cellular gadget for a couple of minutes. With a Max, nonetheless, pocketability is a reliable concern. I generally fumble a bit placing my 16 Professional into my pocket and taking it out — one thing the dimensions of a 17 Professional Max would be sure that occurs much more. And I am a person, fortunate sufficient to have giant pockets on most of my garments. Girls generally get tiny pockets, if any. Solidarity, sisters.

I truly ought to take a second to acknowledge the importance of weight for different individuals. A 17 Professional Max would possibly solely be 8.22 ounces (233 grams), but for some, that is nonetheless going to be sufficient to make it uncomfortable to carry for lengthy stretches of time. If you happen to’ve had points with the scale of different smartphones prior to now, I strongly suggest testing the Max for a couple of minutes the following time you are at an Apple Retailer or different electronics retailer. Belief your instincts if it feels awkward.

It is about what you are able to do, not simply the way you do it

One thing that may shock a few of you is that, in a means, I remorse shopping for a 16 Professional. Not for its specs — the cellphone is nice, the usefulness of its telephoto camera apart. Moderately, it is that the common iPhone 16 is nice sufficient that I’d’ve obtained extra out of spending the financial savings elsewhere, like a set of AirPods Professionals, or a second MagSafe charger. The primary factor I get pleasure from in regards to the 16 Professional is its always-on show, which is not that particular now that AOD tech is inventory on each iPhone 17.

A working theme of each level I’ve made right here is that you might want to take into account a Max’s worth to you in real-world conditions. Sure, it is nice to stare at an enormous show and by no means fear about battery life, however that may not make you a lot happier or extra productive. Conversely, you’ll discover an adjunct that permits you to do one thing you were not capable of earlier than, or which removes some type of ache level.

I would argue that loads of 17 Professional Max patrons can be higher off getting the bottom 17 and placing the remainder of the money in the direction of an Apple Watch SE or Collection 11, if they do not have already got a smartwatch. With the ability to examine notifications out of your wrist is liberating, and I’ve heard too many anecdotes of individuals efficiently utilizing an Apple Watch to get in form. You will really feel loads higher about your self in a 12 months for closing your rings every single day than you’ll for having one thing barely greater to observe TikTok on.