Apple has unveiled the iPhone 17 Pro and iPhone 17 Pro Max, the latest additions to its flagship smartphone lineup, featuring a redesigned aerospace-grade aluminum unibody, advanced A19 Pro chip, and enhanced camera capabilities.
The iPhone 17 Pro series introduces a refreshed design with a brushed aerospace-grade aluminum chassis. A notable design change is the raised plateau on the rear, which accommodates a larger battery. To manage heat, Apple has integrated an internal vapor chamber designed to dissipate heat away from the A19 Pro processor, ensuring sustained high performance and improved thermal management. Both models support fast charging, achieving a 50% charge in just 20 minutes when using Apple’s new 40W USB-C adapter.
Both the iPhone 17 Pro and iPhone 17 Pro Max boast 6.3-inch and 6.9-inch Super Retina XDR displays, respectively, with a peak brightness of up to 3000 nits. They also feature 120Hz ProMotion technology and an Always-On display. The devices are protected by Ceramic Shield 2 on both the front and back, which Apple claims provides three times better scratch resistance and four times greater crack resistance compared to previous models.
The A19 Pro chip powers the new iPhones, promising up to 40% better sustained performance compared to the previous generation. This chip incorporates a 6-core CPU, a new 6-core GPU with ray-tracing support, and a 16-core Neural Engine. Apple has also introduced the N1 wireless chip, enabling support for Wi-Fi 7, Bluetooth 6, and Thread for enhanced and more reliable connectivity.
The camera system on the iPhone 17 Pro lineup includes three 48MP Fusion cameras (Main, Ultra-Wide, and Telephoto), providing the equivalent of eight lenses. The new Telephoto sensor offers an 8x optical zoom at 200mm, the longest optical zoom ever featured on an iPhone. The front camera has been upgraded to an 18MP Center Stage camera, providing a wider field of view for selfies, AI-powered group framing, and stabilized 4K HDR video.
For professional video creators, the iPhone 17 Pro now supports ProRes RAW, Apple Log 2, and genlock, facilitating synchronization across multiple cameras. These enhancements integrate with Final Cut Camera and Blackmagic Camera for streamlined professional workflows.
The devices will ship with iOS 26, which introduces Apple Intelligence features such as Live Translation, advanced screenshot search, and on-device foundation models for various applications. Other updates include a redesigned “Liquid Glass” interface, new tools for call and message screening, and expanded CarPlay and Apple Music functionalities.
Pricing for the iPhone 17 Pro starts at $1,099 for the 256GB base storage model, while the iPhone 17 Pro Max starts at $1,199 and is available with up to 2TB of storage for the first time. Both models will be available in cosmic orange, deep blue, and silver finishes.
Apple is continuing its Apple 2030 initiative by using 30% recycled materials, 100% recycled cobalt in the battery, and fiber-based recyclable packaging.
Pre-orders for the new iPhones will commence on September 12, with the official retail availability beginning on September 19.
