Apple has officially launched the much-anticipated iPhone 17 Pro Max, and it is already creating a buzz among smartphone enthusiasts in Pakistan.
The premium flagship is expected to be priced at around PKR 550,000, while its official international price is set at USD 1,199. However, buyers in Pakistan must also factor in PTA taxes, which significantly increase the final cost of ownership.
According to PTA’s latest tax structure, the iPhone 17 Pro Max tax on Passport is Rs. 182,700, while the tax on CNIC reaches Rs. 213,600. This makes the device even more expensive for those purchasing it locally. For comparison, the base iPhone 17 incurs a PTA tax of Rs. 128,800 on Passport and Rs. 154,300 on CNIC.
The iPhone 17 Pro Max introduces notable upgrades in design, performance, and camera capabilities. Apple has returned to an aluminum unibody frame crafted from Series 7000 aluminum, improving both strength and durability. The device comes in stunning new shades: deep blue, cosmic orange, and silver.
On the display side, the Pro Max boasts a 6.9-inch Super Retina XDR panel with ProMotion 120Hz refresh rate and up to 3,000 nits peak brightness—one of the brightest displays ever on a smartphone. The new Ceramic Shield 2 provides three times better scratch resistance and four times higher crack resistance than before.
Photography enthusiasts will love the 48MP telephoto Fusion sensor with a 100mm f/2.8 lens and 8x digital zoom. The wide and ultrawide lenses also feature 48MP sensors, while the 18MP front camera with Center Stage ensures crystal-clear selfies and video calls.
Powering the device is the A19 Pro chipset, featuring a 6-core CPU, 6-core GPU with hardware ray tracing, and a 16-core Neural Engine for enhanced AI performance. Apple has also added a vapor chamber cooling system for sustained performance.
With Wi-Fi 7, Bluetooth 6, and extended eSIM support, the iPhone 17 Pro Max promises seamless connectivity. Apple further claims it delivers the longest battery life ever in an iPhone, lasting up to 39 hours of video playback.
Pre-orders began on September 12, with shipments starting on September 19 worldwide.