[thecosmicorange]

It's been a few days since getting my iPhone 17 Pro Max in Cosmic Orange, and I have already been bit by the Cosmic Orange fever. Today, I want to share three accessories purchased to complement my new phone in the hopes I might be able to help other Cosmic Orange owners find accessories that match this new aesthetic.

We'll start with the only official Apple accessory— the Terra Cotta Silicone Case for the iPhone 17 Pro Max. Regularly priced at £49, although available online for £39 (at time of writing), the Terra Cotta colour is a nice contrast to the Cosmic Orange of the phone itself. Apple does also sell an Orange Silicone Case for the Pro iPhones, but I personally prefer the slight contrast with the warmer orange hue.

I'm not normally someone who buys a case for their iPhone. In fact, I've been rocking the caseless life since at least the iPhone X. I've never cracked, scratched, or damaged any of my iPhones, but with reports of the anodisation of the new aluminium unibody scratching, especially around the plateau, I wanted to be overly safe. I don't use the case all the time— in fact, it only goes on when I leave the house. When I'm at home, I'm still loving the design of the phone itself and how it feels in the hand.

That said, the official Apple Silicone cases always feel good. For a couple of years at least. Yes, they're on the more premium side in terms of cost, but it's official Apple, what do you expect? I would actually love to try the Sienna TechWoven Case too, but it's sold out everywhere. Maybe convenience has saved me £10 though, so I can't complain.

To pair with my Terra Cotta Silicone Case, I very nearly purchased the Sienna Crossbody Strap. I was so close. Then I had a revelation.

The Crossbody Strap seems like a great piece of design, and something that I'm sure I'll start seeing adorning the fashion-conscious youth in the coming weeks and months. But, it's single use. It can carry my iPhone, while it's in the case, and that's it. £59 to show off the fact I have a high-cost and in-demand item might not be the most sensible choice. Especially as someone who tends to carry a fair bit with me when I'm out and about. I should be like Apple in 1984 and Think Different.

Think Different I did. Out with the Crossbody Strap and in with a Crossbody Bag. Not a full size one though, I don't want a whole bag to come with me all the time. I did a lot of research on various options, and was ecstatic when I came across the OrbitKey Sling Plus. Like my case, it's also terracotta (although one word rather than Apple's two) and is built just as well as an Apple product.

I'm going to go on a slight tangent to talk about bags, so if that doesn't interest you, please skip the next paragraph— I'll talk more about how I use this with my phone afterwards, I promise!

I've been a huge fan of Bellroy for years. In fact, when I decided to get a sling bag, I assumed it would be a Bellroy. Their quality is impeccable, as is their style. They have a lot of bronze products too, which would have matched the Cosmic Orange iPhone, so why did I choose to jump ship and go to Orbitkey? Being totally honest, I prefer the aesthetics of the Orbitkey Sling Plus, as well as the carry capacity compared to Bellroy's offerings. There's also two smaller options— the Sling, and the Sling Mini. From what I can tell, all options will comfortably fit the 17 Pro Max, so your choice depends on what extras you want to bring with you.

The Sling Plus is almost paradoxically expansive. It has a relatively minimal footprint, yet can hold so much. The first and most important thing it needed to protect is my iPhone, which it does with ease. You have ample pockets to choose from, in three different compartments. I tested what else I could fit into this Sling, and I was shocked. Just keep in mind, this is the Plus size, so you won't fit as much in the smaller models.

Within this Sling, I easily fit my iPhone 17 Pro Max, my AirPods Pro 2, my Kindle Paperwhite, a hefty power bank, the iFi Hip DAC, and my keys. In fact, this haul, which I assumed would be almost filling the Sling, barely touched the sides. In fact, in the main compartment, I could squeeze in a Steam Deck. Sure, it's not the Steam Deck in its own protective case, but if left as the sole item in the middle compartment, there's nothing to damage it as long as you don't throw your bag around. Being honest, I don't carry my Steam Deck around all too often— only if I'm going on a long haul trip and need some distraction. So I tested something less ergonomically designed for the form factor of the sling. My Focal Bathys headphones. I love these headphones so much, they're over-ear and sound far superior (to me) compared to other headphones like AirPods Max and the Sony bunch-of-numbers. The Bathys don't fold down either, the ear cups just swivel to be flat. I was astonished to find they fit too. In their case. That's all I'll ever need to carry in the sling, so it passes the test for being capable of carrying everything I'd need without a bigger bag. I honestly couldn't ask for more.

My last, but by certainly no means least recommendation could be considered a niche one for Apple fans. After using Apple Watches since the original released (on my birthday) back in 2015, I have decided to go without for a year as an experiment. If I prefer a traditional watch, I'll stay with it, and use AirPods Pro 3 for tracking workouts.

I got the Hamilton Khaki Automatic watch on a great deal second hand on eBay, with a couple of straps, including a lovely leather one. It's a bit too dressy for my personal day-to-day, and I wanted something fun, easy to put on, and most importantly, comfortable.

That's where WatchGecko comes in, with their Ridge Military Strap in orange. Sure, it's not terracotta like my other accessories, nor is it Cosmic Orange, but it is a beautiful shade. It was super easy to install on my watch, and they come in a range of sizes and shades— I'm sure that there'll be a Ridge Military Strap for any traditional watch you can find.

After a week of wearing the watch on this strap, I'm taken aback by just how comfortable it is. It's breathable, lightweight, and while the colour I chose is bright by design, I think it makes the black dial of my Hamilton really pop. Being made out of nylon, I was slightly worried when I purchased it that it might irritate my skin, but I've had absolutely no issues.

Compared to the Apple Watch Ultra I've been using for the past couple of years, this watch and strap combo is so much lighter, and is in so much of a sleeker profile. I know it's still early doors, but other than sleep tracking, there's nothing I'm massively feeling like I'm missing so far. I'll likely do a much more in-depth dive into my mechanical watch experience in the coming months too.

So, they're the three accessories purchased to complement my Cosmic Orange iPhone. I'm sure more will come in the coming year, and if any are particularly interesting, I'll be sure to share them with you. If you have any suggestions, be sure to let me know too!

Until next time!

—The Cosmic Orange

[thecosmicorange]

It's been 48 hours since I acquired my Cosmic Orange iPhone 17 Pro Max. I have some thoughts. Some ideas. Some considerations. Some aspects of the phone I love, some I want to test further before making an official judgment. Let's get into it, shall we?

First of all, the battery. It's bananas. It's honestly so good. With my 16 Pro, I struggled to get through a full day. I know the battery in this phone will degrade, as all batteries do, but the 17 Pro Max is such a leap. When I got my 16 Pro, it used to last me until about 10PM. Not too shabby, and I was more often than not winding down in my bedroom by that time, so it's no big deal. The 17 Pro Max though? I used it heavily yesterday; YouTube, music, podcasts, gaming, messaging people— all the stuff I do regularly on my phone. By midnight, I still had 35% battery left. If I hadn't have put it on charge overnight, I reckon I could have easily had 8 hours sleep with podcasts playing in the background (which I do every night by the way, I cannot sleep without No Such Thing As A Fish playing), and still have a little battery to spare. That alone makes it worthwhile for me.

Then there's the speakers. I listened to a lot yesterday. Videos, music, podcasts. A span of genres; jazz, musicals, alt, pop-punk. There's no scenario I can think of when I'll ever need to turn the speakers up fully. Around 70% is enough to punch over the noise of the shower. About halfway is ample for casual listening (as long as you're in your own private space, please don't be one of those people who plays their music aloud in public.) Another tick.

As mentioned yesterday, the screen is big and bright and beautiful, and that's not changed. The phone has stayed cool too, which is something I couldn't say for either my Titanium iPhone 15 Pro and 16 Pro. Overall, I'm happy with how this iPhone is working so far.

It doesn't mean it's perfect though.

I'm normally someone who rocks their phone caseless. Some call it insane, some call it risky, some call it "why should I care what you do?". The truth is, these phones are already big and bulky, and have been designed to be used. I'm not saying I don't look after my phone, in fact I really try my best to. I've never cracked a phone screen or back, I've never needed repairs due to cosmetic reasons, I'm just careful. The thing is, with this switch back to aluminium, I'm feeling myself being overly cautious. The Cosmic Orange is beautiful, there's no doubting that— I love this colour— but I am worried it's somehow going to scratch.

Aluminium shows scratches and dings easily, and I've already seen reports from Apple Stores that even the MagSafe charger has somehow caused physical blemishes on the Ceramic Shield back. The last thing I'd want is for this iPhone to scratch or scuff when it's staying in my pocket. So, to be extra cautious, I've purchased an official Apple case. I was tempted to get the Sienna TechWoven case, but it is impossible to get hold of here, so I got the Terracotta Silicone case instead. Plus, Amazon had £10 off of the retail price already. My plan is to exclusively use this case when I go out and about. Just as a precaution. When I'm at home, which I am the majority of the time, I'll stick rock it without a case. All the floors bar the kitchen and bathroom are plush carpet anyway.

I was also tempted to purchase the Apple Crossbody Strap. In fact, I was very close to. Pro Max sized iPhones and regular sized pockets can often be at odds, so having easy access whilst not worrying it'll fall out and hit the ground would be nice. I changed my mind though. Instead, I went for a different option, which I plan on talking about in my next post. This is all about my experience with the iPhone itself, but coming up next time will be the accessories I've personally chosen for the iPhone 17 Pro Max, especially in Cosmic Orange.

Overall, Day Two of owning this phone has still been incredible. It does everything I need to and more. I'm still excited to go out and test the cameras, but that'll have to wait another day or two. I'd like to get out by the end of the week and take some shots, but we shall have to see what the Yorkshire weather decides to do. Regardless, I'll be sure to keep you all posted!

—The Cosmic Orange

[thecosmicorange]

I was lucky enough to receive my Cosmic Orange iPhone 17 Pro Max yesterday, on its official release. The courier even brought it an hour earlier than the designated time. Luckily, I don't leave the house too much, otherwise I'd have been miffed if I'd have missed it.

Upgrading from the iPhone 16 Pro to the 17 Pro Max might seem like a paltry spec bump— heck, the 15 Pro to 16 Pro was. So was the 14 Pro to 15 Pro, even thought he 15 Pro boasted its new shiny titanium design.

Truth being told, as someone who updates his iPhone every year without fail, the past few Pro iPhones have felt more incremental than monumental. Slightly better cameras, slightly better screen, slightly better metal. All in the same shape and pretty much doing the same things as last year.

Apple treated us this year though. Not only did we get the iPhone 17, 17 Pro, and 17 Pro Max as expected, we got substantial changes to all of them.

For the base iPhone 17, you get a slightly bigger screen in the same footprint, thanks to reduced bezels. You also get the much improved selfie camera, which is not only 18MP up from 12, but also features a new Centre Stage. This upgrade came to all the iPhones released yesterday, the 17, 17 Pro and Pro Max, and the Air. Centre Stage on the iPhone basically means that instead of a rectangular sensor for the selfie cam, you now have a square one. It might not seem like that big of a deal, but it means that now you can take portrait or landscape selfies while your phone is in portrait. This will mean your landscape selfies don't look strange with your gaze off to one side, but also means you can fit more people in the frame without having to force the long-armed friend to take the photo. Assuming you have friends... I've yet to test this feature. The other big upgrade for the base iPhone 17 is that you now get the ProMotion display, meaning you can finally have a 120hz screen for buttery animation goodness.

The big talking point of this year's iPhone lineup though is likely the iPhone Air. I genuinely contemplated buying one instead of the Pro, but I listen to music in the shower using my iPhone's speaker, and the Air's single speaker wouldn't pack enough punch to overpower the sound of running water. The Air features a stunningly thin design, the same upgraded selfie camera, a slightly bigger screen, but only one camera and one speaker. I've not seen one in person yet, but I plan to visit the Apple Store to look soon. Maybe then I'll be somewhat more qualified to talk about it. It looks very pretty though, and it nearly got me this year.

Then came the Pro's. A lot changed here. Upgraded selfie camera as mentioned. New aluminium unibody design. New colours. Silver, Deep Blue, and Cosmic Orange. From the name of this site, take a guess as to which one I got. What surprised most people was that there was no Black option this year. Or Space Grey. Or Space Black. Maybe they'd have called it Eclipse this time. It doesn't matter, it's not here. I wouldn't be surprised if we get a spring colour of black next year though to drive another surge in Pro sales.

As you can see from this photo I took while unboxing my iPhone 17 Pro Max, the Cosmic Orange is very orange. Before the announcement, I was sure I was going to go silver. I've been on the dark colour train for a while now, and I adore how my Mac mini looks, so I was certain I'd get the silver and have a change. Boy, did Apple give me the opportunity to have a big change instead.

Coming from the 16 Pro to the 17 Pro Max, and having read that the 17 Pro lineup would be thicker and heavier than last year's phones all round, I was worried about the weight. Once it was unboxed, I held it in one hand with my soon-to-be recycled 16 Pro in the other. Considering I had a bump in size, I was surprised at just how similar they actually felt in my hand. The worries pretty much vanished for the weight. How it sits in my pocket is another thing entirely.

The iPhone 17 Pro Max must be designed for people who have very deep pockets. Or a nice big bag they can dedicate a compartment to (although if Apple's claims about the glass used on the front of the new Pro's, Ceramic Shield 2 is to be believed, you don't have to worry about scratches). I have neither. I am normally carrying a bag with me when I venture out into the real world, but I like having my phone on my person for ease of use and safety. In the two pairs of pockets I've tried, the Pro Max sticks out more than I'd like, and tends to slip out when I sit down. It's not so much of an issue when I'm at home, but on a bus, in a taxi, or on a train, I'd rather be able to keep it close without having to hold it. Maybe Apple have just sold me on one of their new Crossbody Straps for when I'm adventuring in the great, wide world.

Normally, activating an iPhone is a breeze. I've done it often enough, restoring from an iCloud Backup, and being up and running completely within an hour or so. Not this year though. To be fair, this was not Apple's fault at all, it was down to Sky Broadband. Apparently, they had an issue that would block any Apple Account logins, which you need to do to set up an iPhone, Apple Watch, Mac, or iPad. Not the best issue to have on release day for one of the biggest tech companies in the world. I spent an hour or so on the phone to Apple Support, and we managed to come up with a solution that worked for me. I would go into detail on how to resolve this issue, but having looked online just before writing this article, it seems that Sky have finally resolved the issue. Truth being told, I was just glad it was an issue with the broadband and not my new phone.

After that blip though, I was through to getting my iPhone just how I like it. Everything updated with ease, I logged into all my apps without a hitch, and I paired my Apple Watch to my new iPhone within about an hour and a half. I'm old fashioned, and while I love Apple Music, I still download all of the songs I have on there to my phone. You never know when you're going to be going through a long tunnel, and there's nothing worse than a song stopping mid-chorus while you frantically wait for your data to come back.

It might well be the newness effect, or the fact I'm bumping up in screen size from the 16 Pro to the 17 Pro Max, but my god is the display stunning this year. It seems more vibrant, more responsive, and the colours seem slightly more accurate. The upgrade in speaker quality is insane too. I mentioned earlier in this post that I listen to music while I'm in the shower; on the iPhone 16 Pro, I'd have to bump it to top volume, and sometimes I could barely hear it over the water. The 17 Pro Max has no such problem at all. In fact, I tested just how loud the speakers can go, and the answer is almost too loud. In fact, when I had my shower this morning, I had the volume at around 70% and that was ample.

The battery is also phenomenal. I never really give much thought to battery life on a new device on its first day as it's doing a lot of background tasks and a hell of a lot of downloading, but the 17 Pro Max really surprised me. I started with 70% charge out of the box, and after downloading all my apps, photos, and music, as well as me playing around for a couple of hours in the evening, I was still on 54%. I charged it to full last night, and I'm looking forward to seeing how it fairs today with much more "normal" use.

Overall, I'm really impressed with the iPhone 17 Pro Max so far. I love the Cosmic Orange, it feels incredible in the hand, it's already proving to be a lot cooler than the titanium iPhone 15 Pro and 16 Pro's of years gone by. The weather is due to be shockingly bad where I am for a few days, so I won't be able to test the cameras outside as much as I'd like to, but it's something that is very much on my to-do list.

I plan to write a bit about the iPhone, as well as other Apple goings on, and maybe some stuff outside of that, in the coming days. If you've got any questions about the iPhone 17 Pro Max, please feel free to ask me and I'll do my best to answer them!

— The Cosmic Orange