Apple is reportedly changing its priorities with the upcoming iPhone 17 Pro Max, focusing more on battery life than making the phone thinner.
New leaks suggest the iPhone 17 Pro Max will be thicker than the iPhone 16 Pro Max, increasing from 8.25mm to 8.725mm. While this difference seems small, it signals a big change in Apple’s design strategy.
For years, Apple focused on making sleek and slim devices, often sacrificing battery performance. But now, the company seems ready to prioritize power over thinness, giving users longer-lasting devices.
The increased size is expected to make room for a larger battery — something Apple hasn’t done in its Pro Max line since the iPhone X. If the leak is accurate, the iPhone 17 Pro Max could offer the best battery life ever in an iPhone.
Meanwhile, the regular iPhone 17 Pro is expected to stay the same in size, which may highlight more differences between the Pro and Pro Max models beyond just screen size or price.
Apple’s current iPhone 16 Pro Max offers up to 33 hours of video playback and 105 hours of audio. With the iPhone 17 Pro Max getting a bigger battery, these numbers could go even higher.
Another notable change is that no major camera upgrade is expected for the Pro Max model this year. In the past, Apple often used advanced camera features to set the Max apart. Now, battery and practicality might be the main selling points.
This design change may mark a new direction for Apple — one that focuses on performance and real-world usage instead of just keeping phones slim. In a market full of ultra-thin devices, Apple’s thicker iPhone 17 Pro Max could stand out by offering more power, not less.
