iPhone 17 Pro Max: 4 upgrades that we think can make the 'phone of the year' | Mint

It is only February, and rumors about the next Mainline iPhone – especially the iPhone 17 Pro – begin to arise. Fortunately, some of these leaks suggest that this time we finally get a fresh, new design, indicating the end of the years of incremental upgrades.

That said, there are a few important areas where the iPhone 17 Pro, in particular the iPhone 17 Pro Max, must improve. The Max variant is considerably larger than the Standard Pro, and we believe it should do much more. We have seen phones such as Samsung's Ultra models, including the Galaxy S25 Ultra and are predecessors, which offer many more functions compared to their vanilla opposite hangers. Apple should follow a similar approach and still push more expensive hardware in its maximum variants.

With that in mind, here are the most important upgrades that we would like to see in the iPhone 17 Pro Max. Of course these are simply wish list items and non -confirmed functions.

1. A better counting camera, possibly with an extra lens

The Ultra models from Samsung, including the Galaxy S25 Ultra, have consistently characterized four cameras, with two special telephoto lenses. But why are two telephone cameras so important? Well, unlike zoom lenses in DSLR and mirror -free cameras, smartphone cameras have fixed focal length – such as 24 mm, 28 mm, 75 mm or 125 mm, depending on the manufacturer's approach. This means that unless Apple adds an intermediate Telefoto -lens, each hem is between 1x and 5x pure digital.

Apple's 'Fusion Camera' technology enables the main sensor to arouse for optical quality zoom, but let's be honestly not a real replacement for a special optical lens. For example, the Galaxy S25 Ultra has a 3x telephoto lens to bridge the gap between 1x and 5x Zoom.

We would like to see Apple uses a similar approach by adding an extra telephoto lens, improving the overall zoom quality and reducing the sound in low light conditions.

While we are busy, we would also like the 5x iPhone telephoto camera improvements. Because, although decent, it is struggling with challenging lighting scenarios and falls short of competitors such as the VIVO X200 Pro, which excels in sharp, detailed nocturnal portraits.

2. A much larger battery

Don't get us wrong – the maximum variant of the iPhone already offers some of the best battery life in every smartphone. For example, the iPhone 16 Pro Max is a two -day phone for most users. Despite its impressive efficiency, the battery capacity – on a sensible 4,685 mAh – could be further increased.

Given the size of the Pro Max, Apple could easily fit, say, a 5,500 mAh battery inside, combined with its highly optimized A-series chipset and iOS. Combine that with faster charging, and we would have an absolute battery of powerhouse.

3. Software optimizations for the larger screen

So far, the only real advantage of the larger 6.9-inch display of the Pro Max is a more compelling media experience. Otherwise, the software experience remains identical to the smaller 6.3-inch Pro model-it has just been scaled up. Apple has to inspire itself by Samsung, which offers extra multitasking functions on devices with a larger screen.

4. A new new design

Since the iPhone 12 Pro, Apple's Pro models have almost looked identical. If you compare an iPhone 13 Pro in the same color with an iPhone 15 Pro, it is almost impossible to keep them apart at a glance. The symmetrical cameralay out, flat sides and the overall design language have largely remained unchanged.

Although the current design is undoubtedly premium, it is getting old. Fortunately, leaking leaks that the iPhone 17 Pro models may contain a Google Pixel 9-like camera vizier, with the camera module stretching horizontally at the back. This can add a new visual identity to the iPhone -Line -up, making the device more distinctive and exciting.