iPhone 17 Pro: New Design, Camera Upgrades and More

08/30/2025 Mobile

iPhone 17 Pro: What to Expect

The tech world's buzzing about the iPhone 17 Pro, especially with the "Awe Dropping" event slated for September. While the spotlight might be on the iPhone 17 Air, the Pro version is definitely not lagging behind. It's shaping up to have some interesting design tweaks and fresh features.

If you're wondering about size, the iPhone 17 Pro models will likely stick to the 6.3-inch and 6.9-inch options we saw in the iPhone 16 Pro. But here's where it gets interesting: the back of the phone is getting a makeover.

Instead of the titanium frame, Apple might be bringing back aluminum and playing around with glass. Imagine a design that's part aluminum, part glass, ditching the full-glass back we're used to. This could mean a more durable device in our hands. Durability is always a plus, right?

From what I'm hearing, there will be a glass section around the MagSafe charger and the Apple logo, with the rest of the frame being aluminum. It's a smart move, blending aesthetics with practicality.

Camera and Other Potential Changes

Now, let's talk about the camera. The clunky square is out, and a rectangular camera bar is in. The lenses will still be in that familiar triangle, but the flash and LiDAR sensor are moving to the right. This change could even mean the Apple logo shifts down a bit.

Apple might also be tweaking the antenna system. I've heard whispers that the antenna lines might wrap around the rear camera bump, which could boost 5G connectivity. Given that Apple is designing its own Bluetooth and Wi-Fi chip this year, this updated antenna could be all about improving efficiency. On top of this, the phone itself could be a tad thicker – 8.725mm compared to the current 8.25mm. This extra space? Possibly for a bigger battery.

And speaking of aesthetics, color options could be more daring this year. Rumors point to an "orange" shade, which might be more of a copper tone. It's expected to be a bolder choice compared to Apple's usual golds, along with a dark blue, black, white, and gray.

While the OLED display might be the same as the iPhone 16 Pro, the protective glass could be getting an upgrade. Apple's reportedly working on a more durable anti-reflective display. This means fewer reflections, better visibility, and potentially more resistance to scratches and drops. It's not quite like the nano-texture display on Macs and iPads; the iPhone's screen should still have that glossy look.

Under the hood, the iPhone 17 Pro will house the new A19 Pro chip, built using TSMC's 3-nanometer process. While it might not be a massive leap in performance, it should be faster and more efficient than the A18 Pro. Also, Apple's planning to use a metal-covered battery and a vapor chamber cooling system to improve heat dissipation, potentially boosting chip speeds even further. The RAM is also expected to get a bump, going from 8GB to 12GB.

With the iPhone 17 Pro being a bit thicker, there's room for a bigger battery, which means potentially longer battery life. And for the first time, Apple might use a battery over 5,000mAh.

Qi 2.2 support is also on the cards for all iPhone 17 models, allowing the Pro models to charge at 25W on compatible accessories. That's the same speed as MagSafe, but accessory makers will need to roll out new Qi 2.2 chargers.

Finally, the camera design is getting a significant update. The iPhone 17 Pro models should boast an updated 48-megapixel Telephoto lens, meaning all three lenses will be 48 megapixels for the first time. There's talk of the new Telephoto lens supporting up to 8x optical zoom (possibly just on the Pro Max), and the Main camera might have an adjustable aperture. Apple is also planning a dual video recording feature that uses the front and rear cameras at the same time, along with an upgraded 24-megapixel front-facing camera. And, Apple may also add 8K video recording for the first time.

But what about the price? With all the tariff unknowns, it's a bit of a guessing game. Apple's paying a hefty sum in tariffs, and that cost might trickle down to us. So, there could be a price increase, possibly just for the iPhone 17 Pro. If that happens, it might be $50 more expensive, but it could also come with 256GB of storage as the minimum.