With the iPhone 17 Pro Max set to launch soon, many Apple users are considering whether it’s time to upgrade from their iPhone 14 Pro Max. Leaks and rumors have revealed much about the new model, offering a glimpse of what to expect when Apple unveils the iPhone 17 lineup at its fall event next month.

The iPhone 14 Pro Max, released in 2022, has remained a standout device. However, after three years, it's beginning to show its age compared to today's flagship smartphones - especially against the upcoming iPhone 17 Pro Max.

So, how far has the iPhone evolved in three years? Let’s compare the iPhone 17 Pro Max with the iPhone 14 Pro Max to find out.

Price and release date

The iPhone 14 Pro Max debuted in September 2022 with a starting price of $1,099 for the 128GB model. While Apple hasn’t announced pricing for the iPhone 17 Pro Max, it is expected to be no less than that.

In 2023, Apple raised the starting price of the iPhone 15 Pro Max to $1,199 and maintained this for the iPhone 16 Pro Max. Optimistically, the iPhone 17 Pro Max may hold this same $1,199 price point, though global economic conditions and tariffs could push it higher.

The good news is Apple has increased base storage. When the price increased, the company eliminated the 128GB option and introduced 256GB as the new standard. The iPhone 17 Pro Max will likely maintain this base storage - double that of the iPhone 14 Pro Max.

Design and display

While Apple’s iPhone design has remained relatively stable in recent years, the iPhone 17 Pro Max may mark a shift.

According to leaks, the iPhone 17 Pro Max could feature a horizontally aligned rear camera array that spans the top third of the phone’s back - unlike the top-corner placement on the iPhone 14 Pro Max. This bold design may not appeal to purists who prefer Apple’s minimalist tradition.

From the iPhone 16 series onward, Apple increased the Pro models’ screen sizes. The iPhone 17 Pro Max is expected to retain its 6.9-inch display, up from the 6.7-inch screen on the 14 Pro Max. The Dynamic Island feature will likely be more compact.

The device is also expected to be slightly larger overall, with dimensions around 6.42 x 3.06 x 0.32 inches, compared to 6.33 x 3.05 x 0.31 inches for the 14 Pro Max.

Camera

The iPhone 14 Pro Max boasts a triple-lens setup: a 48MP main sensor, a 12MP ultra-wide lens, and a 12MP telephoto lens with 3x optical zoom.

At launch, it was cutting-edge. However, since then, Apple’s Pro models have added 5x optical zoom and upgraded ultra-wide sensors. The iPhone 16 Pro, for example, features a 48MP ultra-wide camera.

Leaks suggest the iPhone 17 Pro Max will be Apple’s first phone with a triple 48MP rear camera system - main, telephoto, and ultra-wide. Although telephoto zoom may decrease to 3.5x from 5x on the iPhone 16 Pro Max, it's still an improvement over the 3x zoom on the 14 Pro Max, with higher resolution for zoomed shots.

The front-facing camera will also get a boost, doubling from 12MP on the 14 Pro Max to 24MP on the 17 Pro Max.

Bloomberg’s Mark Gurman has reported that Apple will target filmmakers and content creators with new video features, including dual-camera video recording using both front and rear cameras simultaneously.

Performance

When it launched, the iPhone 14 Pro Max was a powerhouse with the A16 Bionic chip built on a 4nm process. But newer chips, including Apple’s own, have since surpassed it.

Recent iPhones use 3nm chips that offer better performance and energy efficiency. The iPhone 17 Pro Max is expected to feature the A19 Pro chip, built on 3nm technology, and could include a vapor chamber cooling system for stable performance under heavy loads.

RAM will also increase from 6GB on the 14 Pro Max to 12GB on the 17 Pro Max.

Software

The iPhone 14 Pro Max will support iOS 26 (currently in public beta), just like the iPhone 17 at launch. However, only the iPhone 17 Pro and Pro Max are expected to support Apple Intelligence, the company’s new suite of AI features, which require a more powerful chip and higher RAM - features the 14 Pro Max lacks.

Battery and charging

The iPhone 14 Pro Max has a 4,323 mAh battery and lasted 13 hours and 39 minutes in battery tests - impressive at launch. But newer models have raised the bar. The iPhone 16 Pro Max surpassed 17 hours in similar testing.

The iPhone 17 Pro Max is rumored to have a 5,000 mAh battery paired with a more efficient chip, promising outstanding battery life. Support for the Qi2 wireless charging standard, with speeds up to 50W, is also expected.

Three years is a long time in smartphone evolution. The upgrades from the iPhone 14 Pro Max to the 17 Pro Max span not just two generations but introduce entirely new features for 2025.

The iPhone 17 Pro Max is set to offer a more powerful chip, double the RAM, a larger battery with faster charging, an all-48MP rear camera system, a larger display, new design, and exclusive AI functionality.

The remaining question is price - will these upgrades be enough to convince iPhone 14 Pro Max users to invest in a new device? That answer will come when Apple officially unveils the iPhone 17 lineup on September 9.

Hai Phong