Apple launched the iPhone 17 Pro and iPhone 17 Pro Max today, introducing a fresh new design and a significantly upgraded camera system. The devices are powered by the new A19 Pro chipset and feature a larger battery. Apple noted that eSIM-only models will have a slightly larger battery compared to Pro models equipped with a physical SIM slot.
A major design shift sees the new Pro phones constructed with an aluminum unibody, moving away from the titanium used in the previous year’s iPhone. To complement this change, the company designed a new vapor chamber thermal system for improved heat management. For protection, the front features the new Ceramic Shield 2, while the back retains the previous generation of Ceramic Shield.
The camera system receives a substantial upgrade. The telephoto camera has been upgraded from a 12-megapixel sensor to a powerful 48-megapixel sensor. This change enables an impressive 8x optical zoom, placing it among the highest optical zoom capacities available on the market. For even closer shots, Apple is offering 40x digital zoom. All of this is housed within a new rectangular camera bar that spans the entire width of the phone’s back, a design Apple has chosen to call the “Plateau.”
The front camera is also getting an upgrade, moving from a 12-megapixel to an 18-megapixel sensor. A new video feature will now allow users to record from both the front and rear cameras simultaneously.
The iPhone 17 Pro starts at $1,099, and the iPhone 17 Pro Max starts at $1,199. Both models now begin with 256GB of base storage, and the company is also offering a 2TB model for the 17 Pro Max. The devices will be available for pre-order this Friday and will be released on September 19.