The iPhone 17 Pro has been officially unveiled as part of September’s “Awe Dropping” event alongside the base iPhone 17 and the super-skinny new iPhone Air. While the new Cosmic Orange color is certainly the eye-catching update to the Pro line, Apple’s new flagships feature upgrades all around, including a new super-cleared A19 Pro processor and a longer 8x zoom camera.
The iPhone 17 Pro will go on sale with 256GB of storage and a starting price of $1,099 (£1,099, AU$1,999), while the larger iPhone 17 Pro Max will start at $1,199. The previous iPhone 17 Pro and iPhone 17 Pro Max are now available.
The iPhone 17 Pro has seen a slight price increase over the past year from the iPhone 16 Pro’s $999 starting price. It now has double the storage and effectively costs the same as the equivalent 256GB iPhone 16 Pro, putting to rest concerns of significant price increases due to Trump tariffs for now.
Watch this: iPhone 17 Pro and Pro Max: All the new features you need to know
iPhone 17 Pro: Design and display
The biggest physical change is on the back of the phone. The camera module now stretches across the entire top of the phone, rather than just occupying a small square in the corner. The cameras themselves are still grouped in the same place as before, though Apple says the expanded space makes more room for the batteries and an updated telephoto zoom camera, which I’ll get to later.
The Pro models are now made of aluminum instead of the titanium frames that debuted on the iPhone 15 Pro. It’s a unibody construction that should make it extra durable — as is the new “Ceramic Shield” tempered glass on the front and back, which Apple says is 3x more scratch-resistant. From the front, the phones remain almost indistinguishable from previous models, with only the dynamic frost breaking up the display in the small notch opposite. Apple has yet to confirm the phones’ water resistance ratings, but it’s pretty safe to assume they’ll still be rated IP68, as has been the case with almost all iPhones since 2018.
The new range brings some new colours; however, the vibrant-looking orange model is my personal favourite. I’ve found that the pro iPhone range often takes itself a bit too seriously, relying on darker or more muted tones. This new life-affirming orange looks right up my street.
iPhone 17 Pro: Cameras
The Pro cameras have seen a number of significant improvements. The optical zoom now goes to 8X, doubling the zoom range on the last model. This offers a 200mm equivalent focal length, which will be great for photographers who want to really get into the action from a distance. The telephoto camera sensor is 56% larger than before and offers 48 megapixels of resolution.
The other camera hardware is largely unchanged, however, with no physical changes to the sensors in the main or ultrawide cameras, and all three cameras offer 48 megapixels. The front camera, however, has been updated with a new square-shaped 18 megapixel sensor that allows for horizontal or landscape orientation and better digital stabilization for video.
Video shooters haven’t been forgotten either; the Pro phones can now shoot in Apple’s ProRes Raw codec, an update to the existing ProRes codec that captures much more data at the point of capture, allowing for deeper and more precise post-processing. ProRes Raw, as Apple explains, is the industry standard for professional cinematic productions, and seeing it on a phone is wild. As a photographer, video producer, and YouTuber, I’m excited.
iPhone 17 Pro: A19 Pro processor
The A19 Pro processor features an improved CPU and GPU that Apple says can deliver 40% better performance than the iPhone 16 Pro. Case Cooling is a new thermal management system that includes a vapor chamber that uses deionized water to actively cool the phone when it gets hot. The aluminum alloy also supposedly dissipates heat 20x better than the titanium design of previous models.
iPhone 17 Pro: iOS 26
The iPhone 17 range will launch with the latest iOS 26 software on board. We’ve been playing around with iOS 26 in its early beta form, and the biggest change is the look of the software. Apple’s new “liquid glass” design brings a glass-like transparency to its menus and notification panels for a brighter, more modern look.
From the images I’ve seen so far, I’m pretty intrigued by the style. CNET’s Blake Stimac has tested the beta version and says, “Underneath all that liquid glass, it’s not reinventing the wheel, and that’s a good thing.” I find that encouraging. I can’t wait to learn my way around a whole new operating system, but I’m happy to see any tweaks that make it feel fresh.
iPhone 17 Pro: battery
Apple says the iPhone 17 Pro packs the largest battery ever in an iPhone, resulting in the best battery life ever of any iPhone. The company hasn’t been specific about how big that battery is, but as always, we’ll be eager to see how it performs.
The iPhone Pro was launched alongside other new Apple products, including the skinny iPhone Air, the latest AirPods Pro 3 with Live View and translation, and the Apple Watch Series 11. The iPhone SE 3 and Watch Ultra 3. Don’t shoot for the iPhone Pro? Apple also took the wraps off the base iPhone 17 in the area.
Watch this: Everything announced at Apple’s iPhone 17 event in 7 minutes
This is a developing story. Follow all of CNET’s live coverage of the 2025 Apple event, hands-on impressions, and other announcements as they unfold.
