iPhone 17 Pro

iPhone 17 Pro

The iPhone 17 Pro, unveiled by Apple on September 9, 2025, and released on September 19, 2025, represents the nineteenth generation of the iPhone. It introduces several significant changes and improvements over its predecessors.

Release Date

Announcement: September 9, 2025

Pre-orders: September 12, 2025

Availability: September 19, 2025

 Features & Benefits

Design: A notable departure from previous Pro models, the iPhone 17 Pro features a new aluminum unibody chassis, replacing the titanium used in the iPhone 15 Pro and 16 Pro. The design is described as more "utilitarian" and is available in three new colors: Cosmic Orange, Deep Blue, and Silver.

Display: The 6.3-inch Super Retina XDR OLED display now has a peak brightness of 3,000 nits for improved outdoor visibility. It is protected by a new Ceramic Shield 2, which Apple claims offers three times better scratch resistance.

Performance: The phone is powered by the new Apple A19 Pro chip, built on a 3nm process. This chip, along with a new vapor chamber cooling system and an aluminum frame, allows for up to 40% faster sustained performance compared to the A18 Pro. It also includes Neural Accelerators for on-device AI tasks.

Camera System:

Rear Cameras: The iPhone 17 Pro features a triple 48MP camera system, which includes a Main, Ultra-Wide, and Telephoto lens. A new "plateau camera" design houses these components.

Telephoto Lens: The telephoto lens is a 4x "tetraprism" camera, a change from the 5x on the iPhone 16 Pro. However, a new 48MP sensor allows for a higher-quality, optical-quality 8x zoom by using a sensor crop. The camera system now offers a remarkable 8x optical-quality zoom range.

Front Camera: The front-facing camera is an 18MP Center Stage camera with a square sensor, which allows users to capture both landscape and portrait photos without rotating the phone. It also supports new features like Dual Capture, which records video from both front and rear cameras simultaneously.

Battery and Charging: The iPhone 17 Pro has a larger battery (3,988 mAh in the global model, 4,252 mAh in the US eSIM model), offering better battery life than previous models. It supports faster wired charging at up to 40W and MagSafe/Qi2 charging at 25W.

Connectivity: It includes a new Apple-designed N1 networking chip, supporting Wi-Fi 7, Bluetooth 6, and improved 5G performance.

iOS 26: The iPhone 17 Pro comes with iOS 26, which introduces a new "Liquid Glass" design, a more vibrant Lock Screen with 3D effects, and new features like Call Screening and Hold Assist.

Potential Drawbacks & Criticisms

"Scratchgate" Concerns: Some early reports and reviews raised concerns about the durability of the new aluminum frame, with demo units and some personal devices showing scuffs and scratches. Apple has responded by attributing some of this to worn-out retail display stands and stating that the material is not scratched but rather a material transfer that can be cleaned. However, some durability trade-offs compared to the previous titanium frame have been noted.

Price: As with any new Pro model, the iPhone 17 Pro is an expensive device, and many reviewers suggest that the standard iPhone 17 offers a better value for most users.

Camera Plateau: The new, wider camera "plateau" is a significant visual design element that might not be to everyone's taste.

Color Options: The lack of a true black color option, a staple in previous generations, has been noted by some users.

Heavier Weight: The iPhone 17 Pro is a full ounce heavier than the standard iPhone 17

 Specifications

Display: 6.3-inch Super Retina XDR OLED, 120Hz ProMotion, 3000 nits peak brightness

Processor: Apple A19 Pro

RAM: 12 GB

Storage: 256GB, 512GB, 1TB, 2TB options

Rear Cameras: 48MP Main, 48MP Ultra-Wide, 48MP Telephoto (4x optical, 8x optical-quality)

Front Camera: 18MP Center Stage

Operating System: iOS 26

Connectivity: Wi-Fi 7, Bluetooth 6, 5G

Battery: 3988 mAh (global), 4252 mAh (US)

Colors: Cosmic Orange, Deep Blue, Silver