Hardware

Apple debuts iPhone 17 Pro with new design and 48MP camera

Ken Metral

09 Sep 2025 — 2 min read

Credit: iPhone 17 Pro/Apple, Inc.

Apple today launched the iPhone 17 Pro and iPhone 17 Pro Max, introducing a redesigned body, upgraded camera system, and the company’s latest A19 Pro chipset. The new flagship models also feature larger batteries and start at higher base storage tiers.

New Design and Thermal System

In a departure from last year’s titanium build, Apple has opted for an aluminium unibody on the iPhone 17 Pro line. Alongside the new frame, Apple has integrated a redesigned vapor chamber thermal system to improve cooling. The devices also debut “Ceramic Shield 2” protection on the front, while the back retains the previous generation’s ceramic shield technology.

Camera Overhaul With “Plateau” Module

Apple has significantly upgraded the camera hardware on its Pro models this year. The telephoto lens now features a 48-megapixel sensor, a leap from the previous 12-megapixel unit. This allows up to 8x optical zoom — one of the highest among smartphones, rivaled only by Vivo’s X200 at 8.7x. Digital zoom now extends up to 40x, though Apple hasn’t confirmed whether it uses AI-based image regeneration like Google and Samsung.

The rear cameras are housed in a striking new rectangular module, spanning the entire width of the phone. Apple has branded this design element the “plateau.”

On the front, the selfie camera also sees an upgrade, moving from 12 megapixels to 18 megapixels. Additionally, users can now record video simultaneously from both the front and rear cameras.

Battery and Performance

Both the iPhone 17 Pro and Pro Max run on the A19 Pro chipset, which Apple claims brings performance and efficiency gains over the previous generation. Models that are eSIM-only will include slightly larger batteries compared to their physical SIM counterparts, further extending usage time.

Pricing, Storage, and Availability

Apple is raising the entry-level storage for the Pro lineup: both models now start at 256GB. The iPhone 17 Pro starts at $1,099, while the iPhone 17 Pro Max begins at $1,199. The Pro Max can also be configured with up to 2TB of storage, a first for Apple smartphones.

Pre-orders begin this Friday, with general availability set for September 19.

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