Is the aluminum frame durable?

Evaluation of iPhone 17 Pro Max after 3 months shows impressive Ceramic Shield 2 screen durability, cooler device thanks to vapor chamber cooling and strong battery.

Three months have passed since the iPhone 17 Pro Max officially hit the shelves, bringing with it much controversy over the new aluminum frame design and changed camera cluster.

After 90 days of continuous use as a main device, overcoming the initial “honeymoon” phase, it is now time for us to take a fair look at the durability, performance and real-life experiences that this flagship brings.

Is giving up the luxurious material Titanium to return to aluminum a step backwards? And is the 2nd generation Ceramic Shield screen really “invincible” as advertised?

If you love the latest models from Apple, here are suggestions for you:

Controversial design but incredible screen durability

Apple’s switch from Titanium to aluminum frames on the Pro Max line this year has created many mixed opinions.

Actual use shows that the grip feeling is still very good thanks to the soft curved edges, but the elegance and “grip” feeling is definitely not as good as the previous generation.

In terms of durability, the aluminum frame is softer so it is more susceptible to scratches or slight dents if there is a strong impact, something users need to keep in mind if they have the habit of using bare machines.

However, scratches due to daily use are unavoidable on any material.

The biggest and most commendable highlight is the 2nd generation Ceramic Shield screen. After 3 months of use completely without tempered glass, the screen of the iPhone 17 Pro Max still retains its glossiness, without even the slightest scratch.

This is a huge improvement compared to the iPhone 16 Pro Max, which is very susceptible to scratches after just a few weeks. The ability to withstand drops has also been significantly improved, helping users feel more secure during use.

Super-fast 5G/Wi-Fi connection and convenient Camera Control

In terms of connectivity, iPhone 17 Pro Max shows superiority thanks to Qualcomm’s new modem chip and Apple’s N1 network chip.

5G speed is much more stable and powerful, even in weak signal areas. Wi-Fi 7 delivers download speeds of up to 1000Mbps, making game streaming or large data downloads happen in the blink of an eye.

Camera Control button – new hardware feature continues to divide users. For some people, this is a convenient shortcut to quickly open the camera.

But for others, pressing this physical button sometimes causes the camera to shake, causing blurry photos, and they still prefer the traditional screen touch operation.

However, it cannot be denied its convenience in zooming or switching shooting modes professionally.

Strong performance but still needs software optimization

The power of the A19 Pro chip is unquestionable. All tasks from heavy gaming like Minecraft, Genshin Impact to video editing are handled significantly smoother and faster than older models.

In particular, the new vapor chamber cooling system works extremely effectively. The device always maintains a cool temperature even when playing games for long periods of time or using it outdoors in hot weather, completely overcoming the overheating weakness on the 15 and 16 Pro Max series.

However, the problem of RAM management on iOS 26 still has some problems. Despite having 12GB of RAM, users sometimes still encounter applications being reloaded when multitasking.

Transition effects sometimes still appear slightly jerky (stutter) when first turning on the device. Hopefully upcoming software updates such as iOS 26.3 or 26.4 will completely solve this problem to bring the most perfect experience.

Should I buy or wait?

After 3 months, iPhone 17 Pro Max has proven its position as a comprehensive flagship. If you are using older models like iPhone 13, iPhone 14 Pro Max or lower, this is an extremely valuable upgrade with a durable screen, strong battery, cool device and top-notch camera.

If you are satisfied with the iPhone 16 Pro Max, the difference may not be big enough to convince you to “upgrade” immediately, unless you really need a device that operates cooler and connects to the network faster.