Apple is likely to unveil its iPhone 17 series in the first half of September 2025. According to Bloomberg’s Mark Gurman, the official launch event is expected to take place sometime between September 8 and 10. After the announcement, pre-orders are projected to begin by Friday, September 12, with worldwide sales and deliveries starting approximately a week later, around September 19. Apple’s upcoming iPhone 17 lineup is expected to appeal to a wide range of users, offering four unique variants: the base iPhone 17, the ultra-slim iPhone 17 Air, the high-performance iPhone 17 Pro, and the premium flagship model, the iPhone 17 Pro Max. Here’s an in-depth breakdown of what to anticipate from Apple’s soon-to-be-released iPhone 17 Pro and iPhone 17 Pro Max models.
iPhone 17 Pro and iPhone 17 Pro Max camera:
Apple’s upcoming iPhone 17 Pro lineup is expected to introduce several major upgrades focused on photography, according to a source who shared details anonymously. One of the standout enhancements is an improved Telephoto lens that could support up to 8× optical zoom—an increase from the 5× zoom found on the iPhone 16 Pro models. Notably, the lens is rumored to offer variable zoom capabilities, enabling smooth optical adjustments across different focal lengths.
In addition, Apple is reportedly working on a brand-new professional camera app designed for both photo and video capture. This new software could compete with popular third-party apps like Halide, Kino, and Filmic Pro. However, it’s still uncertain whether this advanced app will be exclusive to the iPhone 17 Pro models.
Another hardware change may include a new Camera Control button positioned along the top edge of the device. This would offer instant access to camera functions and settings, acting as a companion to the existing Camera Control button located on the lower-right side of the iPhone 16 series.
iPhone 17 Pro and iPhone 17 Pro Max design:
The iPhone 17 Pro and iPhone 17 Pro Max are expected to undergo a notable redesign on the rear, based on insights from industry experts like Ming-Chi Kuo and Sonny Dickson. Reports suggest that Apple may introduce a new back panel made from a combination of aluminum and glass, signaling a shift away from the all-titanium construction used in the iPhone 16 Pro lineup.
This change in materials is believed to be aimed at enhancing durability in specific areas while still supporting wireless charging functionality. Alongside the material overhaul, leaks also point to a revamped camera module—larger and more rectangular in shape with rounded edges—resembling the camera layout found on some of Google’s Pixel devices.
iPhone 17 Pro and iPhone 17 Pro Max chipset:
There’s been ongoing speculation regarding the chipset powering the rest of the iPhone 17 series, but one detail has remained steady—both the iPhone 17 Pro and Pro Max are expected to feature Apple’s upcoming A19 Pro chip. In a recent update, MacRumors highlighted a claim from the Weibo account “Fixed Focus Digital,” which suggests that the iPhone 17 Air might also be equipped with the same A19 Pro processor. However, according to the leak, the Air model would include a 5-core GPU, while the Pro and Pro Max variants would boast a more powerful 6-core GPU. This enhanced graphics engine could deliver noticeable improvements in visual performance and video processing.
