As a result of pictures is essential to me, I’ve at all times picked the iPhone Professional with its telephoto digicam over the common iPhone fashions. However every year I am pulled in two instructions: Decide the standard-sized iPhone Professional or the bigger iPhone Professional Max? Some years the latter consists of picture options not discovered on the common iPhone Professional, such because the 5x zoom that was unique to the iPhone 15 Professional Max. And as we strategy the reveal of the next iPhone 17 lineup, I am as soon as once more waffling between sizes. And primarily based on I am listening to, this is likely to be the yr to go to the Max. (And this additionally reinforces that now is not the time to purchase a brand new iPhone.)
This is a rundown of a few of the options rumored for the iPhone 17 Professional Max that I am most interested in.
Making the case to go bigger
The iPhone Professional Max fashions are tanks in comparison with the remainder of the road — properly, they are not on the toughness degree of the Samsung Galaxy XCover 7 Pro, so perhaps they’re extra like stable midsize SUVs. However they’re notable for his or her bigger screens, larger our bodies and particularly for having room for extra of every little thing in an iPhone.
And that features a bigger battery. The Max fashions have already got extra battery area than different fashions, however the iPhone 17 Professional Max might find yourself being virtually half a millimeter thicker, at 8.725mm, in line with a May post by 9to5Mac. Has anybody ever requested for a extra cumbersome iPhone? Really, yes, yes and yes.
The iPhone 17 Professional Max might get thicker.
Add the brand new Adaptive Power function in iOS 26, which makes use of AI to distribute energy extra effectively when demand is excessive, and we might see a lift in every day use earlier than reaching for a charger. (Then once more, Adaptive Energy might be a software program workaround that might imply longer life utilizing the identical bodily battery measurement.)
When you’re already dedicated to carrying a bigger iPhone, a tad extra thickness and heft is not an excessive amount of extra to shoulder.
The again of the iPhone 17 Professional case can also be rumored to shift the Apple logo down from its present perch. That does not appear to be an enormous practical change, but it surely ought to assist soothe people who select so as to add a transparent MagSafe case, because the emblem shall be centered throughout the MagSafe space. You may’t say Apple would not sweat the design particulars.
A leak on X from Majin Bu purports to point out an iPhone 17 Professional case, although it is not clear whether or not that is one thing assembled by hand to match rumored specs or is a few iPhone knockoff.
iPhone 17 Professional seems to be so good pic.twitter.com/P7aFwR5FML
— Majin Bu (@MajinBuOfficial) July 10, 2025
Deliver on all of the digicam upgrades
We will not discuss in regards to the case with out mentioning the digicam bump, which might change into a extra expansive digicam island (or perhaps on the bigger iPhone 17 Professional Max, will probably be extra like a digicam continent) that stretches throughout the width of the iPhone again, in line with CAD renders by Majin Bu. We even bought a glimpse of a attainable check iPhone 17 Professional within the wild when somebody snapped a picture of what seems to be to be an Apple worker utilizing a telephone with a design that matches many rumors (by way of Cunning Pupy on X).
That expanse might embody an upgraded 48-megapixel telephoto camera, which feels overdue for a top-tier camera system. Granted, it can in all probability take additional steps to seize pictures within the full 48-megapixel decision, as is the case with the present major Fusion digicam within the iPhone 16 Professional fashions, the place photographs are “pixel-binned” with a number of pixels grouped collectively to reinforce gentle gathering means. However given the good outcomes we have seen from the 48-megapixel digicam within the present fashions — the iPhone 16E leans closely on that decision utilizing its sole rear-facing digicam — extending it to the telephoto digicam would undoubtedly be a win for photographers.
Will the format and configuration of the cameras change from the iPhone 16 Professional proven right here within the new iPhone 17 Professional Max?
Talking of decision, a 24-megapixel front-facing digicam is anticipated, up from 12 megapixels, so maybe my selfies will look higher. Extra possible, it is to spice up the subsequent rumored function.
Examine Out the iPhone 16 Professional Max’s Cameras, Show and Colours
A movable digicam lens
I am breaking out this digicam rumor individually as a result of it might mark an enormous change within the iPhone digicam system. Based on a post at MacRumors, the iPhone 17 Professional might have an 8x optical zoom. Not solely that, it is stated to have the ability to transfer, so maybe there might be a spread of zoom between 5x and 8x that’s all optical (versus counting on digital zoom to crop and enlarge the picture to suit the identical area of view). The 5x zoom within the present iPhone 15 Professional Max, iPhone 16 and iPhone 16 Professional Max makes use of a “tetraprism” design to realize its telephoto vary whereas nonetheless preserving the digicam bump modest.
iPhone 16 Professional 5x telephoto digicam
Video recording makes a leap
Cameras on each side will reportedly work along with twin video recording utilizing the built-in Digicam app, a boon for conducting interviews or making response movies the place you wish to see each side of a dialog. Third-party apps have been in a position to tap into this capability for some time, however have not been obtainable as a default choice.
Not as essential for on a regular basis use, however fascinating by way of advancing the state-of-the-art, the iPhone 17 Professional Max might assist 8K video recording, as speculated by MacRumors after stories that 8K was tested for the iPhone 16 Pro. The iPhone is swiftly turning right into a manufacturing video digicam, from options akin to 28 Years Later to customized cameras constructed from iPhone tech in the F1 movie.
An improved cooling system
Recording video in 4K decision, a lot much less 8K, is a demanding, power-hungry process that results in warmth construct up. In already heat environments, it will probably even overheat the iPhone and briefly shut it down. So the prospect of a brand new inner cooling structure, whereas being invisible to iPhone house owners, has me nerding out just a bit.
Based on Majin Bu and others, the iPhone 17 Professional fashions will function a “vapor chamber” cooling system. Because the processor heats up, a small quantity of liquid within the chamber evaporates and condenses in cooler areas and is then handed again to the recent areas.
Wi-Fi 7 and quick mobile by way of a brand new Apple modem
That is extra geeky and fewer apparent to on a regular basis telephone house owners, however that is additionally form of the purpose. The iPhone 16E shipped with Apple’s C1 mobile modem, Apple’s first homebrew mobile {hardware} it has been making an attempt to construct to be able to wean its dependence on Qualcomm, which has offered the modem {hardware} in earlier iPhone fashions.
Nonetheless, the C1 lacks a quicker millimeter wave mobile community and would not assist Wi-Fi 7, though it is extra conservative about energy utilization (and still performs well), a suitable trade-off for the price range telephone in Apple’s lineup.
The C1 is Apple’s first mobile modem. We might see a extra succesful C2 chip within the iPhone 17 Professional fashions.
However for the iPhone 17 Professional Max, we’re speaking in regards to the subsequent skilled fashions, and an iPhone Professional in 2025 cannot ship with out the newest, quickest wi-fi expertise. It will be extra real looking to see Apple stick to Qualcomm for the Professional line than embody the C1 — however I think a C2 is coming.
Based on MacRumors, the Wi-Fi 7 compatibility might be offered by a separate dedicated chip designed by Apple.
An orange iPhone 17 Professional Max
You do not have to be an ardent fan of the Netherlands nationwide soccer crew to understand the colour orange. Leaker Majin Bu posted renders of the new color lineup for iPhone 17 Professional fashions, and considered one of them is gloriously ginger. Not solely is that this fascinating as a result of orange is orange, however as a result of it might be a departure from Apple’s latest line of cool, muted colours for the professional lineup. (There are additionally rumors that the iPhone lineup will embody a brand new sky blue colour, about which I have opinions.) I do not conceal my iPhone in a case, so with the ability to exhibit a daring colour seems like a enjoyable concept.
These aren’t the one iPhone 17 Pro rumors we’re monitoring, however proper now they’re those which have me my calendar and wishing September might arrive just a bit quicker.
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