With just over two months to go until Apple unveils the iPhone 17 series, one perennial question lingers: how do the two Pro models differ?

Sometimes Apple differentiates the Pro models by equipping the Pro Max with more advanced camera features not found on the standard Pro. For example, the iPhone 15 Pro Max had a 5x telephoto zoom lens, while the Pro model only offered 3x - until the iPhone 16 Pro caught up a year later.

This year, however, there have been no credible leaks suggesting the iPhone 17 Pro Max will have exclusive camera capabilities. Previous speculation about a smaller Dynamic Island on the Pro Max also seems less certain.

Yet there is one major difference shaping up to make the iPhone 17 Pro Max clearly superior: battery life.

Historically, the Pro Max model has always offered better battery performance than its smaller Pro counterpart, but this year the gap is expected to widen significantly.

Leaked information suggests the iPhone 17 Pro Max will be thicker to accommodate a larger battery. According to leaked specs and analysis, the iPhone 16 Pro Max measures 8.25mm in thickness, whereas the iPhone 17 Pro Max will increase to 8.725mm.

Meanwhile, the iPhone 17 Pro is expected to retain the same dimensions as the iPhone 16 Pro, aside from a slightly larger rear camera bump. This means the Pro Max’s battery advantage - which is already impressive - will become even more pronounced.

Apple currently lists the iPhone 16 Pro Max battery performance as: up to 33 hours of video playback, up to 29 hours of streamed video, and up to 105 hours of audio playback. In comparison, the iPhone 16 Pro offers up to 27 hours of video, 22 hours of streamed video, and 85 hours of audio.

The iPhone 17 Pro Max is projected to set a new benchmark for iPhone battery life. Meanwhile, the iPhone 17 Pro is expected to deliver similar battery performance as last year’s model.

That said, the iPhone 17 Pro will still outperform the upcoming ultra-thin iPhone 17 Air in battery endurance.

Will the iPhone 17 Pro Max be renamed iPhone 17 Ultra?

With its superior battery and performance, speculation has surfaced that the iPhone 17 Pro Max could be renamed the iPhone 17 Ultra.

Before the launch of the iPhone 15, Bloomberg’s Mark Gurman predicted the Pro Max might be branded as Ultra, though it ultimately wasn’t. Similar speculation emerged in the iPhone 16 rumor cycle, with Gurman suggesting a pricier Ultra variant could debut alongside the Pro and Pro Max models - but again, it didn’t materialize.

In early 2025, chatter about an Ultra model resurfaced. A Korean source known as "yeux1122" on the Naver blog compiled several leaks from Weibo, investment reports, and supply chain trends indicating that the top-tier iPhone in 2025 may indeed be called the iPhone 17 Ultra.

According to "yeux1122," only the iPhone 17 Ultra will feature a smaller Dynamic Island. Due to limited component supply, there may only be enough for one model, likely the Ultra.

Additionally, "yeux1122" claims the Ultra model alone will feature a vapor chamber cooling system, though other reports suggest this feature could extend to both Pro models or even the entire iPhone 17 lineup.

Several other upgrades are rumored to distinguish the iPhone 17 Ultra. Initially, it was believed only the Pro Max would have 12GB of RAM, but later leaks confirmed both Pro models will include it. Similarly, the periscope 48MP camera was first expected to be exclusive to the Pro Max, but now it's rumored both Pro models will sport three 48MP rear cameras.

Adopting the "Ultra" name could help Apple better distinguish its highest-end iPhone and justify a higher price point with more cutting-edge features.

Hai Phong (9to5mac, Forbes)