A well-known leaker on Weibo, Instant Digital, claims that the iPhone 17 Pro and Pro Max will feature major screen upgrades. Apple is reportedly increasing the peak brightness, making it easier for users to see their screens under harsh summer sunlight.

While specific figures remain unconfirmed, any improvement would mark a notable leap forward.

Currently, the iPhone 16 Pro Max supports peak brightness of 2,000 nits, already among the brightest displays in the smartphone market.

If Apple takes this a step further, the iPhone 17 Pro Max could become the ideal device for outdoor work, photography, and entertainment.

Apple is also said to be optimizing the display's refresh rate for smoother and more stable gaming, reducing frame drops during extended play sessions.

Better thermal management, 8K video recording

One long-standing complaint from users of the iPhone Pro series is overheating, especially during high-resolution video recording or intensive gaming.

Leaks suggest that Apple is focusing on improving the thermal system, reducing lag and performance throttling caused by heat.

Notably, the iPhone 17 Pro Max may support 8K video recording even during extended use under the summer sun.

If true, this would be a major win for content creators, as high-resolution video recording often pushes phone temperatures to the limit, degrading performance and video quality.

With better heat stability, the iPhone 17 Pro Max camera system is expected to perform more reliably in extreme environments, potentially rivalling Android flagships known for their advanced cooling systems.

Larger battery, longest iPhone battery life ever

Another major highlight from the leaks concerns battery life. According to Instant Digital, Apple is combining a larger battery with improved power efficiency to deliver the longest battery life in iPhone history.

In August, leaked images claimed to show the iPhone 17 Air’s battery, but were later clarified to be for the iPhone 17 Pro Max.

This strengthens the belief that Apple has significantly invested in battery improvements for this year’s Pro Max model.

Rumors suggest the iPhone 17 Pro Max will feature a battery capacity of 5,000mAh or more. By comparison, the iPhone 16 Pro Max offers 4,685mAh.

If accurate, this marks the first time Apple has crossed the 5,000mAh threshold - matching high-end Android flagships like the Samsung Galaxy S24 Ultra and Google Pixel 9 Pro Max.

With a larger battery and next-gen energy-efficient processor, the iPhone 17 Pro Max is expected to last a full day even with demanding tasks like gaming, photography, and video recording.

Leaks met with skepticism

While these leaks are exciting, it's important to approach them with caution. Sources like Instant Digital often aggregate information from various origins, making accuracy difficult to confirm.

Apple is known for maintaining strict secrecy until launch day. Therefore, display brightness, enhanced battery, and improved video recording features still require official confirmation at the September 9 event.

If these rumored upgrades prove true, the iPhone 17 Pro Max could be more than just another iteration - it could represent a major evolution in two of the most crucial aspects for users: display and battery life.

Its ultra-bright screen could make it the ideal tool for outdoor professionals and content consumers alike.

The record-breaking battery life would finally allow Apple to compete with Android devices that have long dominated in power capacity.

Enhanced thermal management would also satisfy the growing demand among professionals for reliable high-performance video and photography.

In a saturated premium smartphone market, Apple’s focus on real-world user experience - rather than raw performance metrics - may be the key to retaining loyal users and attracting new ones.

All will be revealed in just a few days when Apple officially unveils the iPhone 17 Pro Max to the world.

Hai Phong