Apple’s iPhone 17 Pro Max is here, and as always, the biggest question is: how much better is the camera this time? To find out, we put the iPhone 17 Pro Max against last year’s iPhone 16 Pro Max and the older iPhone 15 Pro Max in a full camera test — covering everything from bright daylight to tricky night scenes.
Daylight Photography
In good lighting, all three iPhones perform exceptionally well, but the iPhone 17 Pro Max delivers noticeably better detail and color balance. Thanks to its new 48MP upgraded main sensor and improved image processing, photos look sharper with more accurate skin tones.
The 16 Pro Max still holds up strong, producing slightly warmer images, while the 15 Pro Max shows more noise and less contrast when zoomed in.
Low-Light & Night Mode
The biggest leap comes in low-light shots. The iPhone 17 Pro Max’s new Photonic Engine 2.0 handles shadows and highlights far better than its predecessors. Night Mode captures more natural colors without the harsh artificial brightness seen on the older models.
The 16 Pro Max performs decently but struggles with motion blur, while the 15 Pro Max often overexposes highlights in darker areas.
Zoom & Portraits
The 17 Pro Max’s 5x periscope zoom lens is the real star here. It delivers clear, detailed results even at maximum zoom — something both the 16 and 15 Pro Max can’t quite match. Portrait mode has also improved, with smoother background blur and better subject separation.
Video Performance
When it comes to video, all three iPhones are impressive, but the 17 Pro Max wins again with enhanced stabilization and richer HDR footage. It’s the best choice for vloggers or mobile filmmakers who want cinematic results straight out of the phone.
iPhone 17 Pro Max Takes the Crown
If you’re upgrading mainly for camera performance, the iPhone 17 Pro Max is a significant step up — especially for low-light, zoom, and video recording. The 16 Pro Max remains a solid option, but the 15 Pro Max now feels dated by comparison.