An Apple Flip phone may not materialize this year, but we do have some iPhone 17 Pro Max leaks to keep us on track with the company’s upcoming releases. New iPhone 17 Pro Max renders have suggested that the device is going to be a thick behemoth to accommodate a larger battery, which sounds like both good news and bad news.
News leaks suggest that the iPhone 17 Pro Max will scale up the depth of the device from 8.25mm to 8.725mm. The difference may sound negligible to some but the iPhone 16 Pro Max is already a little heavy and unwieldy, so even a minute increase in thickness would make it more inconvenient to use. If the iPhone 17 Air’s features are to be believed and it comes out in a sleek and slim form, it could provide potential Pro Max buyers an alternative to consider more easily.
New iPhone 17 Pro Max leaks suggest the smartphone is bulking up. (Image: iPhone 16 Pro Max)
iPhone 17 Pro Max Leaks: Is a Bigger Battery Better?
Chinese leaker Ice Universe was among the first to bring us the iPhone 17 Pro Max leaks on the changing size of the phone. The 0.475mm difference in thickness has not been confirmed to be due to an upgrade in battery but it could be the reason for a change. In all other dimensions, the iPhone 17 Pro Max is expected to be the same as its predecessor.
The iPhone 16 Pro Max came with a 4,685 mAh battery, which was good for an iPhone but not substantial enough for a flagship device considering even mid-range, affordable phones like the Nothing Phone (3a) Pro and Samsung Galaxy A56 come with a 5,000 mAh battery without being bulky.
Obviously, the battery capacity isn’t the only factor to consider since all the specs come together to offer almost 18 hours of use on the iPhone 16 Pro Max, so any upgrade in the next generation would make it worth consideration. Still, the iPhone 17 Pro Max’s battery life would have to be really impressive for it to still be worth a purchase with such a change in size.
iPhone 17 Air: New Features To Expect
Ice Universe, who provided the iPhone 17 Pro Max leaks on change in thickness, also suggested that the device specs could be the same on the iPhone 17 Air, except for the change in size. This could be Apple’s way of diversifying its product line with minor differences, giving users the illusion of choice by encouraging them to buy the thinnest Apple phone on offer for the same specs. We don’t think the iPhone 17 Air will have all the top features of the Pro models, however, considering we expect it to feature the A19 chip and a single camera.
Expert analyst Ming-Chi Kuo has suggested that the thinnest part of the iPhone 17 Air will be just 5.5mm, which is a big difference from the rumored size of the 17 Pro Max. Even the iPhone 16 base model is 7.8mm thick. The display is also expected to be 6.6 inches which would put it in between the iPhone 17 Pro and Pro Max display sizes of 6.3-inch and 6.9-inch respectively.
iPhone 17 Air and iPhone 16 Pro Max in comparison pic.twitter.com/JlFBH4eUV0
— Majin Bu (@MajinBuOfficial) March 10, 2025
With the possible inclusion of the full 120Hz ProMotion feature and the C1 modem, the iPhone 17 Air could be the most appealing purchase in the 2025 lineup, although it doesn’t seem likely that it will get the A19 Pro chip that the Pro models will. The iPhone 17 Air currently feels like a build-up towards an eventual foldable release, but that likely isn’t happening in 2025.
Will the iPhone 17 Air be able to bring up interest in the smartphone? Or will the iPhone 17 Pro Max lead the way? (Image: iPhone 16 Pro Max)
iPhone 17 Pro Max Latest News: Other Rumors from Around Town
The thickness of the iPhone 17 Pro Max is one rumor we’ve heard, but there are a few other factors to consider for Apple’s 2025 flagships. The device is expected to have a rectangular cutout or bump around the camera module and flashlight instead of the left-aligned square we saw last year. The triangular layout of the camera modules within the cutout should remain the same, but some leakers indicate they will be laid out horizontally. We’re also expecting a 24MP front camera this time.
iPhone 17 Series CAD
1. iPhone 17 Pro Max
2. iPhone 17 Pro
3. iPhone 17
4. iPhone 17 Air pic.twitter.com/7k8fbpOF3I— Apple Club (@applesclubs) February 24, 2025
Meet the upcoming iPhone 17 Pro! Here’s everything we know, based on leaks:
– Launch in September 2025⁰
– New dual-tone back design (2 thirds glass and 1 third aluminium) ⁰
– A new horizontal camera module design ⁰
– Nano-Texture display option ⁰
– New 48MP Telephoto, up… pic.twitter.com/ltx3J5swsV
— Daniel (@ZONEofTECH) January 2, 2025
The iPhone 17 Pro Max leaks also suggest that there may be some differentiating factors from the other 17 Pro model this time, like a shrunken Dynamic Island segment and an upgraded vapor chamber cooling system to help maintain the device’s temperature and stability. 9to5Mac suggests these changes could lead Apple to rebrand the model as the iPhone 17 Ultra instead of the Pro Max, but we’ll have to see how that pans out.
Early iPhone 17 Pro Max renders and word from leakers also indicate that the company will switch from a titanium frame to an aluminum one. The rear covers are also expected to see a part-aluminum, part-glass, so we’re waiting to see how this affects the phone structure and design aesthetic overall. All iPhone 17 models are rumored to feature the Samsung M14 OLED panel for the display, which is a big win for the base model.
iPhone 17 Lineup to Feature Apple’s First Ever Self-Developed 5G Modem
The iPhone 17 series is expected to feature Apple’s Wi-Fi chip instead of the Broadcom chips currently used by Apple. Analyst Kuo also shared this information, hinting at the possibility of including the new 5G modem. The iPhone 17 Air will take things one step further, including the Apple C1 modem we saw launched with the iPhone 16E. One would assume the iPhone 17 Pro Max would also get this internal upgrade but it appears to be unlikely.
The rest of the iPhone 17 lineup is expected to stick to the Qualcomm modems with Apple’s Wi-Fi chip. Apple is still in the early stages of producing and prioritizing its own chips so we’ll have to wait a while yet for its integration of the in-house components in more devices.
The iPhone 17 Pro Max May be What Apple Needs to Restore Faith in the Brand
The AI upgrades to Siri that have been discussed since 2024 have been delayed until 2026. Apple stocks took a huge hit following the announcement and while that wasn’t the only reason for the decline, it’s still notable that one of the primary selling points of the Apple smartphones right now isn’t being upgraded at a steady pace.
The newly released iPad Air M3, Mac Studio M3 Ultra, and MacBook Air M4 did help boost faith in the company, but it may not be enough. Apple is also working on a Smart Home Hub that could bring back some attention to its products, but the general attitude towards the brand remains lukewarm for now.
iPhone 17 Pro Max getting thicker and heavier will make it one of the most uncomfortable phones to hold this year
iPhone 16 Pro Max is already not that easy so I’m a little scared by the 17 Pro Max
Also a huge change after getting used to the S25 Ultra pic.twitter.com/V7li8fjvVO
— Anthony (@TheGalox_) March 7, 2025
The iPhone 17 Pro Max leaks paint a decent picture of the upcoming smartphone and the 17 Air also has fans excited, but will the physical modifications be enough to convince users to invest in the phone? We’re not sure. Apple Intelligence has been the main marketing point for smartphones recently, but without anything substantial to offer in this regard either, the sales of the iPhone 17 lineup may not be as impressive.
Does the iPhone 17 Pro Max and the latest news surrounding it impress you? We’re curious to know how fans and haters are feeling right now. For more news on the tech world, subscribe to Technowize and we’ll ensure you stay up-to-date.