These are the four accessories every iPhone 17 Pro Max owner should buy before unboxing. The math is simple: each one prevents a much larger expense or hassle later.
An iPhone 17 Pro Max screen replacement without AppleCare+ runs around $379. A 2-pack of tempered glass protectors runs about $15. The math is obvious. Get a multi-pack so you have backup when one inevitably chips.
Shop Tempered Glass Protectors →Apple's first-party silicone case has the strongest magnet alignment for MagSafe accessories. Spigen Ultra Hybrid is the best third-party value with full MagSafe support and better drop protection. Avoid no-name cheap MagSafe cases — most have weak magnets that fall off after 2-3 months.
Apple stopped including wall adapters years ago. The iPhone 17 Pro Max charges fastest with a 30W USB-C PD adapter — anything less and you lose fast-charge speeds. Anker and UGREEN are the reliable picks under $25.
The cable Apple includes in the box is fine, but it's not braided and frays within a year of daily use. A 6-foot braided USB-C cable lasts 4-5x longer. Anker PowerLine III and UGREEN braided cables are the standard recommendation.
Apple's second-generation MagSafe puck delivers 30W to the iPhone 17 Pro Max — the older first-gen MagSafe caps at 15W on this phone. Belkin makes a comparable MagSafe puck at similar pricing. Get one for your nightstand.
One for your keys, one for your wallet, one for your bag, one for your car. The AirTag 4-pack is the most common Apple accessory we recommend at our shop because customers come in panicked about lost iPhones — and AirTags often help recover them. The 4-pack is the right buy; singles are uneconomical.
If you use CarPlay or follow directions via your phone, a proper MagSafe car mount is much better than the suction-cup mounts. Belkin and ESR make reliable models. The Pro Max is heavy — cheap mounts sag under it.
Apple's MagSafe wallet has Find My location tracking built in — you can locate the wallet even if it's separated from the phone. Spigen and Mujjo make excellent third-party alternatives without Find My but at a lower price.
For travel, long workdays, or backup. A 20,000mAh power bank with at least 30W USB-C PD output charges your iPhone 17 Pro Max about 3 full times. Anker, UGREEN, and Baseus all make reliable options. Avoid no-name brands — they overstate capacity by 30-50%.
If you have an Apple Watch and AirPods, a foldable 3-in-1 MagSafe charger is the best travel accessory you can buy. It's the one purchase that simplifies an entire ecosystem. Anker MagGo 3-in-1 and Belkin BoostCharge Pro are the trusted picks.
The iPhone 17 Pro Max pairs instantly with AirPods Pro 2 via H2 chip. Spatial Audio for movies and FaceTime works only with AirPods. If you commute, fly, or do calls, AirPods Pro 2 are the highest-utility accessory possible.
The biggest quality-of-life upgrade for iPhone users. Apple Watch Series 10 is the right pick for most people; Ultra 2 is for hardcore outdoor / fitness users. Apple Watch SE is the budget version but skips features most owners eventually want.
If you shoot ProRes video on your iPhone 17 Pro Max, you'll burn through storage fast. A USB-C-compatible iXpand drive lets you offload to external storage on the fly. Photographers shooting ProRAW also benefit.
AppleCare+ for iPhone 17 Pro Max runs $13/month or $269 for 2 years. One cracked screen out-of-warranty costs $379 to repair. The math is simple: if there's any chance you'll drop, lose, or get water on the phone, AppleCare+ pays for itself the first time.
If you buy through Apple Card monthly installments, AppleCare+ rolls into the monthly payment automatically — no separate decision.
If you'd rather have a technician do the iCloud restore, eSIM transfer, accessory pairing, and case fitting — mail it in. Same-day turnaround.
Four things on day one: a tempered glass screen protector (~$15), a MagSafe case like Apple's silicone or the Spigen Ultra Hybrid ($25-$50), a 30W USB-C power adapter (Apple doesn't include one in the box), and a braided USB-C cable that outlasts Apple's included cable. Everything else — MagSafe charger, AirTags, car mount, power bank — is a smart add rather than essential.
No — Apple stopped including wall adapters years ago; the box only has a cable. The iPhone 17 Pro Max charges fastest with a 30W USB-C PD adapter, and anything weaker sacrifices fast-charge speeds. Anker and UGREEN make reliable 30W adapters under $25.
AppleCare+ costs $13/month or $269 for two years, while a single out-of-warranty cracked screen costs $379 to repair — so it pays for itself the first time you drop the phone. You must add it within 60 days of purchase; after that it costs more or isn't available.
No. The iPhone 17 Pro Max caps at around 27W over USB-C, so 65W chargers marketed for iPhone are wasted money for iPhone-only use. A quality 30W USB-C PD adapter delivers full fast-charge speed; on MagSafe, the 2nd-gen Apple puck delivers 30W while the older first-gen caps at 15W on this phone.