iPhone 17 Pro and iPhone 17 Pro Max are a couple of months away from the launch. In the 2nd week of September 2025, Apple will announce the iPhone 17 series if everything goes well. Based on internet gossip, several features of the iPhone 17 Pro models are already drawing public attention. Let’s see what to expect.
In this article
New Design | Primary Shooters | Selfie Shooter | Variable Aperture | Hardware & Software | Battery Capacity
Variable aperture — a mechanical component that works like a human eye!
New Design
After the iPhone 11 Pro and iPhone 11 Pro Max from 2019, Apple has decided to change the design of the camera module with the iPhone 17 Pro models this year. The iconic triangular 3-camera module is going to be replaced by a huge horizontal camera visor, with the triangular 3-camera module being on the left side of the camera visor. Apple may need this design change to incorporate variable aperture, as discussed later.
Apart from the new camera module, the back panel is getting more design changes according to rumors, consisting of glass and aluminum. The Apple logo might be repositioned as well, which will interact with MagSafe accessories. There are no changes to the front panel. Worth mentioning that the frame will be made of aluminum instead of titanium this year for its durability and reliability.
New Shooters
Apple has been working on improving its camera modules and image processing units constantly over the years. iPhones are well-known and popular for taking great pictures, if not the best. When other companies are rocking 200 MP shooters, Apple decided to make some changes in their camera department this year as well, in 2025.
Primary Shooters
Leaks suggest that the iPhone 17 Pro and iPhone 17 Pro Max will come with a new 48 MP Fusion shooter, a 48 MP ultra-wide angle shooter, and a 48 MP telephoto shooter. Therefore, the 12 MP, f/2.8, 120 mm (periscope telephoto) shooter will be decommissioned. A dual video recording feature will be there for vloggers this time. It will be integrated as a new video-capturing mode in the iPhone 17 Pro models only. Furthermore, variable aperture might be there on these Pro models.
Selfie Shooter
Speaking of dual video recording, it is also rumored that the 12 MP, f/1.9, 23 mm (wide-angle) selfie shooter will get upgraded to a 24 MP wide-angle selfie shooter. However, based on Apple’s history, the iPhone 17 Pro models may not get both camera upgrades in the same year.
Variable Aperture
As mentioned above, Apple may introduce the variable aperture with the iPhone 17 Pro models. Variable aperture is similar to the human eye. Like a human eye, the variable aperture allows or restricts the light coming to the lens based on different lighting conditions.
In a darker place, the aperture will open widely (i.e., low f-number). As a result, more light can hit the lens to generate a brighter picture. In a bright environment, the aperture will allow less light (i.e., high f-number). Therefore, the image will not look burned or faded. This will result in better portrait images with depth control as well as enhanced night photography.
Till now, the amount of light coming to the lens of an iPhone is digitally managed. With the iPhone 17 Pro models, the variable aperture will be a mechanical component installed with the rear shooters to be controlled electronically. And, this is when the horizontal camera housing leak looks promising.
Hardware & Software
Like every year, there will be a new SoC (Apple A19 Pro) to power the iPhone 17 Pro models. People are expecting 12 GB RAM on the iPhone 17 Pro and iPhone 17 Pro Max, which is probably not what Apple is considering for 2025.
However, the new Apple-made C1 modem is going to be incorporated into the iPhone 17 series. Also, all the iPhone 17 devices will get Wi-Fi 7 and possibly Bluetooth 5.4. Thus, good connectivity is expected with precise accuracy in GPS tracking. This will also significantly improve satellite connectivity and battery life.
Battery Capacity
Regarding battery life, only the upcoming iPhone 17 Pro Max will come with a larger battery to improve screen time. Here is a table showing how Apple improved the iPhone Pro Max’s battery life over the past few years by increasing the battery capacity.
| iPhone Model | Battery Capacity | Video Playback Time |
|---|---|---|
| iPhone 17 Pro Max | ~ 5,000 mAH | ~ 35 hours |
| iPhone 16 Pro Max | 4,676 mAH | 33 hours |
| iPhone 15 Pro Max | 4,422 mAH | 29 hours |
| iPhone 14 Pro Max | 4,323 mAH | 29 hours |
| iPhone 13 Pro Max | 4,352 mAH | 28 hours |
On the other hand, the iPhone 17 Pro will not get a bigger battery compared to the iPhone 16 Pro. Nevertheless, the screen time will improve due to Apple’s new in-house C1 modem.
Wrapping Up
Apart from a newly designed camera module, the iPhone 17 Pro and iPhone 17 Pro Max will debut with several exciting features. The new iOS has a lot of new surprises as well. On top of everything, Apple Intelligence is pushing the boundaries. Therefore, the iPhone 17 Pro models would be a very significant upgrade for whoever is planning to change their smartphone and switch to a new iPhone this year. Keep an eye on this article to get updates on the upcoming features of the iPhone 17 Pro and iPhone 17 Pro Max.
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