iPhone 17 Pro Max vs iPhone 16 Pro Max: 5 Biggest Upgrades to Expect on September 9

Apple is gearing up for its much-awaited “Awe Dropping” event on September 9, 2025, where the spotlight will be on the iPhone 17 Pro Max—the successor to last year’s iPhone 16 Pro Max. With a fresh design, powerful new chip, upgraded cameras, and a bigger battery, Apple’s next flagship is expected to set new standards.

Here are the five biggest differences between the iPhone 17 Pro Max and the iPhone 16 Pro Max.

1. Major Design Overhaul

Apple might finally shake things up in terms of design. The iPhone 17 Pro Max is rumored to feature:

A horizontal camera layout (instead of the square bump on the 16 Pro Max)

A glass-aluminium frame replacing titanium

A brand-new orange color option, a bold departure from Apple’s usual muted tones

This would give the iPhone 17 Pro Max a fresh identity and more personality compared to its predecessor.

2. Faster A19 Pro Chipset

Under the hood, the iPhone 17 Pro Max will be powered by the all-new A19 Pro chip, built on a 3nm process for better performance and energy efficiency.

Key upgrades include:

12GB RAM (up from 8GB on iPhone 16 Pro Max)

Smoother multitasking and gaming performance

Improved battery management thanks to efficiency gains

3. Triple 48MP Rear Camera Setup

Photography lovers are in for a treat. While the iPhone 16 Pro Max had a 48MP main + 12MP telephoto + 12MP ultra-wide, the iPhone 17 Pro Max is expected to feature a triple 48MP setup across all lenses.

Benefits:

Sharper zoom with the upgraded telephoto lens

Better low-light photography

Consistent detail across all three lenses

This marks one of the biggest camera leaps Apple has made in years.

4. New 24MP Selfie Camera

Selfie fans will notice a big jump. Apple is expected to double the resolution of the front-facing camera, going from 12MP on the 16 Pro Max to 24MP on the 17 Pro Max.

Why it matters:

Sharper, more detailed selfies

2x digital crop support without losing quality

Better low-light and video call performance

5. Biggest iPhone Battery Ever

Battery life has always been a big deal, and the iPhone 17 Pro Max could bring the largest battery Apple has ever used in an iPhone.

5000 mAh battery (vs 4676 mAh on iPhone 16 Pro Max)

Slightly thicker body (8.75mm vs 8.25mm)

Longer life for gamers, binge-watchers, and power users

The iPhone 17 Pro Max is shaping up to be a major upgrade over the iPhone 16 Pro Max, with a new design, a faster chipset, improved cameras, and a bigger battery. For those considering an upgrade, this year’s flagship could be one of the most compelling reasons to switch.