Every year, Apple claims the new iPhone is their most powerful ever. And every year, I approach that claim cautiously. But after spending weeks with the iPhone 17 Pro Max, I can confidently say this year feels different. This isn’t just about raw speed or marketing hyperbole—this is a phone that handles AAA gaming in a way I didn’t expect and does it while doubling as an exceptional content creation tool. I’ve tried gaming phones like the ROG Phone 9 and Redmagic 11 extensively, and while they have their strengths, they feel like devices designed for a singular purpose.
The new iPhone 17 Pro Max on the other hand, doesn’t just play games—it elevates the entire experience of using a high-end phone. This is truly a Pro phone that has been purpose built for ultimate performance —high performance Apple silicon, vapor chamber cooling, a stunning display, pro-grade camera system, all-day battery life and a rock-solid ecosystem. All these things, just happen to also make it a really great gaming device.
Design and hardware finally favour gamers
The first thing that struck me was holding it. Apple has refined the 17 Pro Max’s brushed aluminum frame, trimmed the bezels, and slightly reduced weight to 240 grams, making it far more comfortable in long landscape sessions. It’s technically heavier than the 16 Pro Max but oddly feels lighter in the hand. The display is a 6.9-inch Super Retina XDR OLED with ProMotion LTPO technology, delivering up to 120Hz refresh and peak brightness of 2,500 nits. After an hour of holding it in landscape mode during extended sessions, my hands felt far less fatigued than with previous iPhones or even some gaming phones with bulkier frames.
There has been some chatter about “scratch-gate” regarding the aluminum chassis. Minor hairline scratches can appear more easily than on previous stainless steel models, and for the first time in years, I’ve been worried about going caseless. My 16 Pro Max survived a whole year mostly careless with nary a scratch or ding but I don’t expect that to be the same with the 17 Pro Max. I’ve gone about a month without a case (for science) and so far, no signs of scratches or dings.
The real hardware upgrade is internal. Apple has finally introduced a proper vapor chamber cooling system combined with a heat-spreader, which distributes heat more effectively and keeps the device cooler even during long AAA gaming sessions. I noticed it almost immediately: after playing Diablo Immortal for 40 minutes straight, the backplate was warm but never uncomfortable, and performance never dipped.
The new design really aids sustained performance. Make no mistake, the phone does get warm, just not toasty like its predecessor. There was one exception where I was playing Resident Evil Village — which looks so good its hard to believe its running natively on an iPhone — where the phone did get uncomfortably hot. Outside of that specific game, I never noticed such heating.
Storage options range from 256GB to 1TB, which is more than enough for AAA titles and video projects, and RAM sits at 12GB, giving the phone plenty of headroom for multitasking. Battery capacity is 4,800mAh, which is slightly higher than last year and gives me around 6-7 hours of heavy gaming with peak brightness and 120Hz enabled. Comparing that to something like the ROG Xbox Ally, its clear that the iPhone is the longer lasting device when gaming.
But to be fair, the 17 Pro Max is much more expensive than most handheld consoles. The base 256GB model starts at AUD $2,099, the 512GB at $2,399, and the 1TB variant at $2,799. It is more expensive than most gaming phones, which often start below $1,500, not to mention even the best handheld gaming PC’s like the ROG Xbox Ally X. But the iPhone justifies the premium by combining flagship gaming performance, pro-level camera and video capabilities, and daily usability in a single device. For me, the cost is worth it given that it replaces multiple devices I would otherwise need.
Gaming feels console-level
The A19 Pro chip is a beast, featuring a 6-core CPU with 3 high-performance cores, 3 efficiency cores, a 12-core GPU, and a 16-core Neural Engine. It also supports advanced memory bandwidth and faster caching, making it ideal for handling complex AAA games and high-frame-rate mobile experiences. In standard benchmark tests, the A19 Pro scores top marks. In 3DMark suite, the A19 Pro outclassed the A18 Pro by an average of 28% and that older chip was one of the best mobile chips last year.
Resident Evil Village, Death Stranding, Assassin’s Creed Mirage—these run at console-level smoothness, and the vapor chamber keeps the phone quiet and thermally stable. I could play for long stretches without throttling or fan noise. The GPU delivers an impressive 3.5 teraflops of performance, which is on par with some handheld consoles, and the Neural Engine handles AI features and advanced rendering in games seamlessly.
New hits like Destiny Rising run exceptionally well, consistently hitting the 60fps mark on max settings without any stutter. Genshin Impact, which is still the benchmark for graphically intensive games, runs smoothly at high graphics settings with fluid animation, and Call of Duty: WarZone Mobile also maintains stable frame rates even in intense multiplayer matches. The combination of the A19 Pro chip, 12-core GPU, and efficient thermal management ensures that these demanding games perform at their best for extended sessions.
| Benchmark | iPhone 16 Pro Max | iPhone 17 Pro Max |
| Steel Nomad Light | 1895 | 2238 |
| Wildlife extreme | 4103 | 5012 |
| Solar bay | 7288 | 10286 |
| Solar bay extreme | 1321 | 1713 |
The display elevates the experience further. Motion handling is tight, HDR looks incredible, and colors remain natural even in bright sunlight. Fast-paced shooters and open-world games feel responsive and immersive. Where flashy AMOLED gaming phones rely on saturation and over-the-top colors, the iPhone maintains visual fidelity and accuracy.
Touchscreen controls still have limits. Fast-paced shooters or action RPGs feel far better with physical buttons, and that’s where phones like the ROG Phone 9 and Redmagic 11 shine with ultrasonic triggers and advanced mapping. Apple doesn’t have this natively, but third-party accessories like the Backbone One Pro and Razer Kishi V3 transform the iPhone into a true handheld console. And of course, you can simply pair a standard PlayStation 5 or Xbox controller over Bluetooth for a much better experience.
Apple deserves credit for bringing a huge host of AAA titles to mobile. RE4 Remake, Assassin’s Creed Mirage, Death Stranding—all run beautifully. But even outside of that, there’s so many good games in Apple Arcade, which remains polished and curated, free from microtransactions. That said, most mobile games still rely on grind loops and microtransactions, which don’t match the depth of PC or console titles. But when the top-tier games hit iPhone, the 17 Pro Max delivers an experience that is impressive, often time gobsmacking.
Beyond gaming: why it beats dedicated gaming phones
I’ve spent some time with both Asus ROG and Redmagic phones, and while they’re fun for gaming, they feel limited outside of it. Cameras aren’t flagship-level, software can be busy and buggy, and the designs often bulky. Simply put, they aren’t fun to use as everyday phones. The iPhone 17 Pro Max excels because it’s great at gaming but fantastic at every other thing too. I can game, film TikToks, edit videos, colour-grade RAW photos, design thumbnails, and upload—all from the same device I just used to play Genshin Impact.
The triple-camera system, featuring a 48MP main sensor, 48MP ultrawide, and 120mm periscope telephoto, offers unmatched clarity, dynamic range, and low-light performance. Combined with ProRes 4K60, full Log support, sensor-shift stabilisation, Cinematic Mode, and Action Mode, it allows for professional-level filmmaking on a phone. This year, the Pro in the name feels utterly justified and does in fact, make the iPhone 17 Pro Max too much phone for most people.
The depth of color grading, smooth frame handling, and flexible lens options make it possible to shoot cinematic footage and edit it entirely on-device. Impressive features like Apple ProRes Log 2, GenLock and so many more really bring home the point. No other gaming phone comes close to this level of camera versatility and video quality, making the iPhone a unique hybrid of gaming powerhouse and mobile studio.
The verdict
The iPhone 17 Pro Max doesn’t look like a traditional gaming device. There’s no RGB, no fans, no shoulder triggers—and that’s by design. It delivers console‑level performance, elite thermal stability, polished software, and a professional‑grade creator toolkit that most gaming phones can’t touch. But it isn’t perfect for gamers who care about pure gaming efficiency or budget value. Because it lacks built‑in physical controls, games that rely on precise triggers or analog sticks can feel awkward unless you hook up a gamepad.
Standalone gaming handhelds like the ROG Xbox Ally or budget gaming phones often deliver comparable or even better GPU/performance-per‑dollar ratios — and at a lower entry price. But, but…
No gaming phone can match the iPhone for its versatility and utility and even though handheld PCs maybe better for ergonomic gaming, there’s so many accessories that can enhance the iPhone to console like ability. I would never recommend anyone buy the iPhone 17 Pro Max just to play games but if you are some kind of creative professional who also enjoys gaming, then this could be the best choice for you.
Apple Australia kindly loaned the iPhone 17 Pro Max to PowerUp for the purpose of this review
