Apple iPhone 17 Series brings A19 Pro and 2TB to Pro Models

Apple iPhone 17 Series brings major camera upgrades, all-day battery, and advanced video tools, making the Pro models ideal for creators on the go.

After a year that saw the iPhone 16 Series refine rather than revolutionise, Apple has returned with a more ambitious upgrade in the form of the iPhone 17 Series.

Building on the steady gains of its predecessor, which introduced incremental camera and display improvements, the new lineup lands with bold design changes, upgraded internals, and headline-grabbing new features. At its core, the iPhone 17 Series is Apple’s latest attempt to balance power, creativity, and long-term durability, and this year, the upgrades feel slightly more substantial.

Unveiled last night, both the standard and Pro models arrive with the new A19 chip, brighter displays, and improved cameras on every side.

Some of the changes are notable, especially for the Pro lineup, but having recently worked through launches from Samsung and HONOR, there was a glaring omission from the Apple event. AI.

Available in a single 6.3-inch size, the 17 Series does not offer a Plus-sized model, the standard iPhone 17 now features Apple’s Super Retina XDR display with ProMotion, offering a peak outdoor brightness of 3000 nits and an adaptive refresh rate up to 120Hz.

It’s thinner-bezeled, brighter, and more responsive than any standard model before it, with the new Ceramic Shield 2 delivering triple the scratch resistance and improved anti-reflection.

The A19 chip, built on a third-gen 3nm process, delivers a major bump in performance and efficiency, bringing features like Apple Intelligence and Adaptive Power Mode to the base model. Battery life sees a substantial improvement, with up to 30 hours of video playback claimed.

Charging speed is also improved, with a 50% charge in 20 minutes using Apple’s new optional 40W Dynamic Power Adapter.

Photography takes a noticeable step forward with a new 48MP Fusion Main camera and 48MP Fusion Ultra Wide, alongside the debut of Apple’s first square front-facing Centre Stage camera.

The selfie camera can shoot up to 18MP and now supports 4K HDR video with ultra-stabilisation, as well as Dual Capture, recording simultaneously on both front and rear cameras. AI-driven framing automatically adjusts for landscape or portrait orientation and expands the field of view to include everyone in the frame.

Photographic Styles also get a refresh, with iOS 26 introducing a new Bright style to enhance vibrancy and skin tones. Apple is clearly pitching the iPhone 17 as an ideal tool for creators on the move, backed up by Dolby Vision 4K60 recording, Spatial Audio capture, and improved wind noise reduction.

And for travellers, the upgraded eSIM experience now supports over 500 carriers globally, including roaming options from home providers or local plans.

Where the iPhone 17 makes some modest gains, the iPhone 17 Pro models go further and bigger.

Available in two sizes, 6.3 inches for the Pro and 6.9 inches for the Pro Max, they feature a redesigned aluminium unibody with an internal vapour chamber for improved thermal performance.

This allows the new A19 Pro chip to push harder for longer, offering up to 40% better sustained performance than last year’s models. Apple says this redesign also makes space for a larger battery, contributing to the best battery life ever in an iPhone, with the Pro Max rated for up to 39 hours of video playback.

The display remains a highlight, with both Pro models sharing the same Super Retina XDR tech, now protected front and back by Ceramic Shield 2, marking the first time Apple’s toughest glass also covers the rear. The ProMotion display remains at 120Hz with Always-On capability, and both sizes retain the 3000-nit peak brightness seen in the standard model.

The larger Pro Max, however, benefits most from the improved cooling and battery space, making it the clear choice for power users.

Camera capabilities are where the Pro models widen the gap. Both feature three 48MP Fusion rear cameras, Main, Ultra Wide, and Telephoto, with the Pro Max introducing a new 8x optical-quality zoom thanks to a tetraprism design.

It’s Apple’s longest ever optical zoom, and the camera system now supports 40x digital zoom, ProRes RAW, Apple Log 2, and genlock support for video synchronisation. The Centre Stage front camera is also included on both models, with identical 18MP resolution and Dual Capture support.

Apple is firmly targeting creators and filmmakers here, and for the first time, the Pro models support ProRes RAW workflows with external accessories like the new Blackmagic ProDock.

Connectivity takes a leap forward across the range thanks to Apple’s new N1 chip, which adds support for Wi-Fi 7, Bluetooth 6, and Thread. On the software side, iOS 26 introduces smarter on-device features, including Live Translation and upgraded visual intelligence, allowing the Pro models to handle more tasks locally without needing a constant cloud connection.

Features	17	17 Pro	17 Pro Max
Dimensions	150×72×8mm	150×72×9mm	163×78×9mm
Weight	177g	206g	233g
Colour Options	Black Lavender Mist Blue Sage White	Cosmic Orange Deep Blue Silver	Cosmic Orange Deep Blue Silver
Display Size	6.3-inch	6.3-inch	6.9-inch
Chip	A19	A19 Pro	A19 Pro
Main Features	ProMotion Ceramic Shield 2 Center Stage Camera	8x Telephoto (Pro Max) Genlock Video RAW & Dolby Vision	8x Telephoto Vapor Chamber 2TB Storage
Rear Cameras	48MP Main 48MP Ultra Wide	48MP Main 48MP Ultra Wide 48MP Telephoto	48MP Main 48MP Ultra Wide 48MP Telephoto (8x)
Front Camera	18MP Center Stage	18MP Center Stage	18MP Center Stage
Connectivity	N1 chip Wi-Fi 7 Bluetooth 6 Thread	N1 chip Wi-Fi 7 Bluetooth 6 Thread	N1 chip Wi-Fi 7 Bluetooth 6 Thread
Satellite	Emergency SOS Crash Detection Roadside Assistance Messages	Emergency SOS Crash Detection Roadside Assistance Messages	Emergency SOS Crash Detection Roadside Assistance Messages
Waterproof Rating	IP68	IP68	IP68
Battery	Up to 30 hrs video	TBC	Up to 39 hrs video
Storage Options	256GB 512GB	256GB 512GB 1TB	256GB 512GB 1TB 2TB
In the Box	iPhone USB-C Cable	iPhone USB-C Cable	iPhone USB-C Cable
Website	apple.com

All four iPhone 17 Series models are now available for pre-order as of Friday, 12 September, with availability beginning Friday, 19 September in over 60 countries, including the US, UK, and Australia. Visit apple.com.

The iPhone 17 starts at $799/£849 for the 256GB model, with a 512GB version also available. The iPhone 17 Pro starts at $1,099/£1,199, and the iPhone 17 Pro Max begins at $1,199/£1,299, now offering up to 2TB of internal storage, a first for iPhone.