Apple has unveiled the next generation of its Pro smartphones: the iPhone 17 Pro and iPhone 17 Pro Max. With the new A19 Pro chip, innovative cooling technology and a completely revised aluminum unibody design, Apple is setting new standards in terms of performance, camera quality and battery life. The new generation also brings decisive improvements for gamers, content creators and frequent travelers.
- A19 Pro chip with up to 40% more consistent performance
- New aluminum unibody design with integrated steam chamber
- Triple 48 MP camera system with up to 8x optical zoom
- Ceramic Shield 2 front and rear with up to 4x higher breakage protection
New design with focus on performance and battery life
The iPhone 17 Pro comes with a unibody housing made of 7,000 series aluminum, which achieves space-age quality and above all offers thermal advantages. For the first time, a vapor chamber developed by Apple is integrated directly into the housing, which efficiently distributes waste heat. The result: the device remains cool even under maximum load, while performance is kept stable at a high level.
Furthermore, the newly forged chassis creates additional space for a larger battery. Together with the optimized power management of the A19 Pro and iOS 26, the iPhone 17 Pro Max delivers the best battery life in an iPhone to date. The charging speed has also been increased – the optional 40W charger can charge the smartphone to 50 percent in just 20 minutes.
A19 Pro: Apple’s most powerful chip to date
At the heart of the new models is the A19 Pro, which not only integrates the fastest iPhone CPU, but also a significantly improved GPU. With 6 cores, an expanded memory cache and a new 16-core Neural Engine, Apple is taking on-device AI processing to a new level. Gaming fans benefit from hardware-accelerated ray tracing and more stable frame rates in AAA games. Apple is also introducing Wi-Fi 7 and Bluetooth 6 for the first time with the N1 chip, which also significantly improves data exchange via AirDrop and the personal hotspot.
Camera system with up to 200 mm optical zoom
The camera is one of the biggest highlights of the iPhone 17 Pro. The system consists of three 48 MP Fusion sensors, which include a main, ultra-wide-angle and telephoto camera. The latter offers the largest optical zoom in an iPhone to date: up to 8x with a focal length of 200 mm. Content creators in particular will benefit from extended possibilities for close-up and portrait shots, complemented by a greatly revised photonic engine that reduces noise and reproduces colors more naturally.
The 18 MP “Center Stage” front camera with square sensor is also new. It automatically adjusts the image section and allows high-resolution videos in 4K HDR, ideal for video calls or social media recordings that can simultaneously include the front and rear cameras.
Display and durability
The Super Retina XDR display is available in 6.3 and 6.9 inches and achieves an impressive 3,000 nits peak brightness. With ProMotion (up to 120 Hz) and Always-On-Display, it is perfect for multimedia and productive work. The new Ceramic Shield 2 ensures three times better scratch resistance and also offers protection for the back for the first time – a decisive difference compared to previous generations.
New professional features for video and iOS 26 with Apple Intelligence
For professional users, Apple is introducing ProRes RAW, Log 2 and Genlock. This allows video projects to be realized at the highest production level directly with the iPhone. Thanks to support from Final Cut Camera and Blackmagic Tools, the smartphone is becoming a serious tool for film studios.
iOS 26 also brings the so-called “Liquid Glass” design and Apple Intelligence, which enables real-time translations and smart, privacy-focused functions with on-device AI. Particularly relevant for gamers: the new Apple Games app, which bundles all games centrally.
Prices and availability
The iPhone 17 Pro is available with 256 GB, 512 GB and 1 TB storage. The iPhone 17 Pro Max is also available in a new 2 TB version. The iPhone 17 Pro starts at 1,299 euros and the iPhone 17 Pro Max at 1,449 euros. The color options are deep blue, cosmic orange and silver. Pre-orders begin on September 12, with delivery starting on September 19.
Conclusion
With the iPhone 17 Pro and iPhone 17 Pro Max, Apple is once again raising the bar for high-end smartphones. A revised design, significantly more performance thanks to the A19 Pro and a camera with unprecedented flexibility make the devices serious all-rounders. Gamers, photographers and professional creators in particular are likely to notice the new features immediately. However, given the prices, Apple is clearly targeting users who are looking for uncompromising performance and are willing to invest in the most advanced iPhone line-up currently available.
