Anyone who saw Apple’s “awe dropping” event this evening, not expecting there to be a fresh crop of iPhones, probably needs to have their head examined. Like clockwork, Apple first unveiled the AirPods Pro 3 before quickly moving on to a new crop of wearables, namely the Watch Ultra 3 and Watch Series 11. Up next came the iPhone Air, all before moving on to the real star of the show: the iPhone 17 Pro.
And, of course, it’s larger-than-life sidekick, the iPhone 17 Pro Max. Doing pretty much everything that the regular Pro can (but with a larger display and bigger battery), Apple introduced the world to a bunch of key upgrades for the iPhone Pro family, including the new A19 Pro chipset, refreshed camera bump, and what Apple claims is the series’ biggest battery to date. Yeah, we’ll see about that.
An aluminium shower
While it might be difficult to tell the iPhone 17 Pro and 17 Pro Max apart from their older brethren, at least when looking at the 6.3/6.9in Super Retina LTPO OLED display (120Hz, HDR10, ProMotion), respectively. But on the rear, it’s a different story. Apple’s taken a swing here, introducing a camera bump that stretches the phone’s width. It’s not quite the major swing we always hope for in these events, but it’s something.
Apple’s also made some significant upgrades to the glass coating, which it’s now calling Ceramic Shield 2, supposedly offering 3x scratch resistance when compared to the 16 Pro. Apple has also ditched the coating of titanium typical for the past few iPhone releases, with the Big Fruit Company officially going back to aluminium this year. It’s also incorporating a CeramicShield 1 glass rear into the mix, where you’ll find the Apple logo.
Fortunately, Apple’s also kept most of the good stuff that made the iPhone 16 Pro such a hit. USB-C makes a return (only because it has to), as does the DSLR-like Camera Control that lives on both devices’ right-hand side, allowing quicker access to the Camera app, as well as a more refined control over how you shoot images. Oh, and you’ll find all the power and volume buttons in their usual places, too.
There’s a choice of three colours to choose from this year: cosmic orange, deep blue, and a plain ol’ silver. Steve Jobs would be so proud.
A19 Pro to the dozen
Arguably, the bit you’re paying the most for in a new iPhone isn’t the really gorgeous display, or even the cameras (though those certainly add a bit). In the case of the iPhone 17 Pro, it’s the new A19 Pro chipset that’s lodged under the hood, supplying owners with smooth scrolling, AAA gaming and, of course, Apple Intelligence.
Storage starts at 256GB for both parties, skipping out on the generally more accessible 128GB model, and ultimately making for a more expensive product all around. It’ll go as high as 2TB on the iPhone 17 Pro Max (1TB on the regular Pro), assuming you’re not a big fan of saving money. Apple decided not to mention what sort of RAM the iPhone 17 Pro is packing, but earlier leaks indicate it has finally been bumped to 12GB, ditching the 8GB that was standard even for Apple’s flagships last year. Fingers crossed, yeah?
Lights, camera, action!
Keeping it simple this year, the iPhone 17 Pro keeps hold of those 48MP wide and ultrawide sensors from last year’s devices, while also bringing the once-12MP telephoto lens up to speed, making this the first iPhone to feature three 48MP shooters on the rear. Oh, and that 48MP sensor might technically be the same, but Apple promises it’s 56% larger than before, allowing more light through for low-light shots.
While we don’t often hear complaints about the selfie camera embedded into the display, Apple has still brought about one of the biggest upgrades for the sensor, throwing in a 18MP front-facer, massively trumping the 12MP in the 16 Pro and Pro Max.
Apple has never been the type to divulge the iPhone’s battery specs, and that hasn’t changed here with the 17 Pro. We simply have to take it on faith that Apple’s upgrades are as extravagant as they appear in the marketing materials, and those don’t lie. According to early leaks of the device, however, the iPhone 17 Pro features a 4,676mAh battery, while the Pro Max makes the jump to a 5,000mAh one. It’s about time, really.
Do you want one? Of course you do. But that’s not what matters most when Apple is involved. It’s more a question of can you afford it? For most, the answer is a big, resounding “no”. While we’re still awaiting news on local pricing and availability, the official American pricing doesn’t exactly inspire confidence. The iPhone 17 Pro will start at $1,100 (∼R19,200) for 256GB, while the larger Pro Max kicks off at $1,200 (∼R21,000). Both devices will launch overseas on 19 September, alongside the rest of the Apple family.
