The iPhone 17 Pro Max is already generating buzz, and while Apple’s Pro Max lineup has consistently delivered top-tier features, there’s still room for improvement. If Apple truly wants to dominate the flagship smartphone market in 2025, these four key upgrades could make the iPhone 17 Pro Max an undeniable ‘Phone of the Year’ contender.
1️⃣ A More Advanced Telephoto Camera – Maybe Even an Extra Lens
Apple has made strides in mobile photography, but when it comes to telephoto zoom, the iPhone still lags behind. Samsung’s Ultra models, including the Galaxy S25 Ultra, boast four cameras, with two dedicated telephoto lenses.
📸 Why Does This Matter?
Unlike DSLRs and mirrorless cameras, smartphones have fixed focal lengths. This means that unless Apple introduces an intermediate telephoto lens, any zoom between 1x and 5x is purely digital—leading to noise, loss of detail, and poor low-light performance.
👉 What We Want to See:
- A 3x telephoto lens, similar to Samsung’s Galaxy S25 Ultra, to bridge the zoom gap between the main and 5x periscope lens.
- Better low-light zoom performance—right now, competitors like the Vivo X200 Pro outperform Apple in night-time photography.
- Improved image processing to deliver sharper, more detailed portraits in challenging lighting conditions.
If Apple introduces an extra telephoto lens, the iPhone 17 Pro Max could finally compete with Samsung and Google in zoom photography.
2️⃣ A Bigger Battery – Because More Power Is Always Better
🔋 The iPhone Pro Max already has some of the best battery life on the market, but there’s room for improvement.
The iPhone 16 Pro Max, with its 4,685mAh battery, can easily last two days for most users. But why stop there? Given the Pro Max’s large form factor, Apple could comfortably fit a 5,500mAh battery without compromising weight or thickness.
⚡ What Would This Mean?
- Even longer battery life—possibly extending beyond two full days on a single charge.
- More efficiency with iOS and the A-series chip, ensuring power management stays optimal.
- Faster charging speeds—Apple still lags behind Android competitors in fast-charging technology.
A larger battery + faster charging would make the iPhone 17 Pro Max the ultimate battery powerhouse.
3️⃣ Software Optimizations for the Larger Display
📱 The iPhone Pro Max’s 6.9-inch display is stunning—but underutilized.
Right now, the only real advantage of the larger display is a more immersive media experience. Otherwise, the iOS experience remains identical to that of the 6.3-inch iPhone 17 Pro.
👨💻 What Apple Needs to Change:
- Advanced multitasking features, similar to Samsung’s One UI, allowing users to run two apps side by side.
- Interactive widgets that take advantage of the extra screen real estate.
- Apple Pencil support—given the larger size, an Apple Pencil Mini could be a game-changer for creatives.
If Apple optimizes iOS for larger screens, the Pro Max could finally become a true productivity powerhouse.
4️⃣ A Fresh, New Design
Since the iPhone 12 Pro, Apple’s Pro models have looked nearly identical. From flat edges to the symmetrical camera module, the design has remained largely unchanged—even the colors are starting to feel repetitive.
📢 Why Apple Needs a New Design:
- The iPhone 13 Pro, 14 Pro, and 15 Pro look almost identical at first glance.
- Competitors like Samsung, Google, and Xiaomi are pushing bold new designs, making iPhones feel stale.
- Leaks suggest the iPhone 17 Pro may feature a Google Pixel 9-inspired horizontal camera bar, making it more distinctive.
✅ What We’d Love to See:
- A new camera module layout for a fresh, modern look.
- Rounded edges or a curved back to improve grip.
- Lighter materials, perhaps using Titanium 2.0 for enhanced durability.
A bold redesign would give the iPhone 17 Pro Max a unique visual identity, setting it apart from its predecessors and the competition.
🔍 Final Thoughts: Can the iPhone 17 Pro Max Be the Best Smartphone of 2025?
The iPhone 17 Pro Max is expected to be Apple’s most powerful iPhone yet, but hardware alone isn’t enough. To truly dominate the flagship market, Apple must embrace innovation.
🚀 What Could Make It the ‘Phone of the Year’?
✅ A superior telephoto camera system—including a second telephoto lens.
✅ A much larger battery, pushing beyond 5,500mAh.
✅ A software experience that fully utilizes the larger display.
✅ A completely new, bold design that feels fresh and exciting.
If Apple delivers on these upgrades, the iPhone 17 Pro Max could easily be the best phone of 2025. But will Apple take the leap? Only time will tell.
Bhupendra Singh Chundawat is a seasoned technology journalist with over 22 years of experience in the media industry. He specializes in covering the global technology landscape, with a deep focus on manufacturing trends and the geopolitical impact on tech companies. Currently serving as the Editor at Udaipur Kiran, his insights are shaped by decades of hands-on reporting and editorial leadership in the fast-evolving world of technology.
