Although the iPhone 17 Pro and the iPhone 17 Pro Max are still far from their official presentation, even more so from their launch, we already have a substantial body of clues on the new features planned by Apple. If you’re hesitant about getting the iPhone 16 Pro, this article might help you in your decision.
Main features of the iPhone 17 Pro models
Aluminum frame and hybrid design
The iPhone 17 Pros are expected to introduce an aluminum frame, moving away from the titanium frame of the iPhone 15 Pro and 16 Pro, and the stainless steel frame used from the iPhone X to the iPhone 14 Pro. Additionally, these models could feature a new “part aluminum, part glass” rear design. The idea would be to have a lighter material, to reduce the weight of the iPhone.
Rectangular camera bump
The rectangular bump around the rear camera would be larger and made of aluminum, offering a refreshed look and possibly improved durability. An aesthetic detail that will make it easy to differentiate the new models.
A19 Pro chip
The iPhone 17 Pro is said to feature Apple’s next-generation A19 Pro chip, built on TSMC’s advanced third-generation 3nm process. Expect better performance and power efficiency compared to current models, especially for video games.
12 GB of RAM
Initial rumors suggested that only the iPhone 17 Pro Max would get a 12GB RAM upgrade, but later reports indicate that this increase will extend to the iPhone 17 Pro as well. This increase should improve multitasking and support for Apple’s advanced AI capabilities. In comparison, the iPhone 16 range has 8GB of RAM.
Apple-designed Wi-Fi 7 chip
At least one iPhone 17 model is said to feature a Wi-Fi 7 chip designed in-house by Apple, marking a departure from Broadcom components.
5G chip designed by Apple
Similarly, the iPhone 17 Air would be equipped with an in-house 5G modem chip, marking the beginning of the end of the relationship with Qualcomm. The iPhone SE 4 expected for March 2025 could also be the first to benefit from it.
Improved camera
All iPhone 17 models will reportedly feature a 24-megapixel front camera, doubling the resolution of the 12-megapixel cameras in the iPhone 16 line.
The 2025 “Pro” iPhones could include a 48-megapixel telephoto camera, a significant jump from the 12-megapixel version of the iPhone 16 Pro.
Thinner Dynamic Island
Finally, the last important change, the iPhone 17 Pro Max would have a narrower Dynamic Island, made possible by Apple’s adoption of new metal technology for Face ID components.
If all this is only at the rumor stage, the various new features have been announced and detailed by several sources, including Mark Gurman, Ming-Chi Kuo and Jeff Pu.
We will update the article as we go along.
