At its Awe-Dropping Event in Cupertino, Apple announced four new iPhones, including the iPhone 17, iPhone Air and iPhone 17 Pro series. The latter consists of two devices, the 17 Pro and 17 Pro Max and unlike previous years, they aren’t playing it safe. Apple has redesigned its iPhone 17 Pro lineup for its boldest look yet. It might not please everyone but it is a refreshing change.
A Bold Yet Functional Redesign
Apple hadn’t changed the camera module layout since the iPhone 11 Pro. It kept getting bigger to occupy bigger sensors over the years. For the first time since 2019, Apple has redesigned the rear of its Pro iPhones. The company has moved to a brushed aerospace-grade 7000-series aluminium unibody design. And in another first-ever for iPhones, the iPhone 17 Pro and Pro Max feature a laser-welded vapor chamber
This chamber contains deionised water and is engineered to move heat away from the new A19 Pro chipset, allowing the chip to operate at peak performance for longer periods. It is a major leap for sustained performance, especially for heavy tasks like mobile gaming, video editing, or even running on-device AI models. Apple claims that the iPhone 17 Pro and Pro Max offer 40% better performance during sustained workloads.
The display on the iPhone 17 Pro also gets a significant boost. It is available in 6.3-inch and 6.9-inch screen sizes. Both models feature Super Retina XDR displays, with support for ProMotion tech, 3,000 nits peak outdoor brightness and Always-On display. They lie under the protection of Ceramic Shield 2, which is three times better in terms of scratch resistance and offers a 7-layer anti-reflective display. On the back too, you get Ceramic Shield protection, which is claimed to make the phones four times more durable than before.
The Best Battery Life On An iPhone?
The new internal layout also makes room for a larger battery. Coupled with the efficiency of the A19 Pro and iOS 26’s power management, Apple says the iPhone 17 Pro Max delivers the longest battery life ever on an iPhone. I wasn’t impressed with my iPhone 16 Pro’s battery efficiency, and this could be one of the biggest upgrades on the new iPhones.
Apple has also improved the fast charging capabilities. The iPhone 17 Pro and 17 Pro Max can reach 50% charge in just 20 minutes when paired with “high-wattage USB-C power adapter like Apple’s new 40W Dynamic Power Adapter with 60W Max.”
“Most Powerful And Efficient iPhone Chip”
Like the iPhone Air, the iPhone 17 Pro is powered by Apple’s in-house A19 Pro chipset. It is claimed to be the most powerful and efficient iPhone chip to date. Apple says that the “6-core CPU is the fastest in any smartphone” and the 6-core GPU features Neural Accelerators built into each core.
The new 16-core Neural Engine powers “Al models, stunning graphics, and AAA gaming titles like Arknights: Endfield, enabling hardware-accelerated ray tracing and higher frame rates.”
Apple also introduced a new N1 wireless chip supporting Wi-Fi 7, Bluetooth 6, and Thread, improving connectivity and reliability for features like AirDrop, Personal Hotspot, and other wireless tasks.
iPhone 17 Pro Has Plenty Of Camera Upgrades
The iPhone 17 Pro series houses a triple rear camera setup. It is led by a 48MP Fusion camera with 2x “optical-like zoom.” You get another 48MP ultrawide camera with macro shooting capabilities, alongside a 48MP telephoto camera, which sports a tetraprism design and a sensor 56 percent larger than its predecessor. Moreover, it offers 4x optical zoom at 100mm and 8x optical-like zoom at 200mm.
For video creators, the iPhone 17 Pro series supports ProRes RAW, LOG 2, and Genlock to enable professional-level editing by giving more creative control to the creators. You can synchronize multiple cameras and inputs without tedious manual alignment.
On the front lies an upgraded 18MP Center Stage Camera with a wider field of view, and AI-powered framing for group selfies and video calls. You can shoot in portrait or landscape mode while holding the phone vertically and even record simultaneously with the front and rear cameras via Dual Capture.
iPhone 17 Pro: What Else?
The iPhone 17 Pro series runs iOS 26. It brings more Apple Intelligence features like Live Translation across Messages, FaceTime, and Phone. Plus, Visual Intelligence now lets you take action on anything on-screen, like searching text from screenshots or adding events to your Calendar. You still get the Action Button and Camera Control.
Apple is also expanding the iPhone 17 Pro accessory lineup with new TechWoven and Silicone cases as well as a Crossbody Strap made from recycled yarn.
Pre-orders for the iPhone 17 Pro and iPhone 17 Pro Max begin Sept.12, with availability from Sept. 19. There’s no Black color for Pro iPhones this year. The iPhone 17 Pro and 17 Pro Max will be made available in Deep Blue, Cosmic Orange, and Silver color options.
