The BRICS TimesApple introduced the iPhone 17 Pro and iPhone 17 Pro Max at its “Awe Dropping” launch event on September 9.
Apple officially revealed the much-awaited iPhone 17 Pro and iPhone 17 Pro Max at its “Awe Dropping” event on Tuesday. These two flagship models join the standard iPhone 17 and the brand-new iPhone 17 Air, which will arrive in the coming days. Powered by the advanced A19 Pro processor, both Pro models ship with iOS 26. The announcement was made by CEO Tim Cook in a pre-recorded keynote, streamed live on Apple’s website and YouTube channel.
The iPhone 17 Pro lineup builds upon the iPhone 16 Pro series with major design and hardware changes. Apple confirmed that both Pro models fully support the next-generation AI features introduced with the Apple Intelligence suite.
iPhone 17 Pro and iPhone 17 Pro Max Price and Availability
In the US, the iPhone 17 Pro price begins at $1,099 for the 256GB variant, while the iPhone 17 Pro Max starts at $1,199 for the same storage. In India, the iPhone 17 Pro is priced at Rs. 1,34,900, and the iPhone 17 Pro Max comes in at Rs. 1,49,900. Buyers can choose from Cosmic Orange, Deep Blue, and Silver finishes.
Pre-orders for the iPhone 17 Pro series open on September 12, and global sales will kick off on September 19.
iPhone 17 Pro and iPhone 17 Pro Max Features, Specifications
This year, Apple has shifted the Pro models back to an aluminum chassis instead of the titanium seen in the last two generations. Interestingly, the newly introduced iPhone 17 Air is the one to feature a titanium body. The Pro devices now flaunt a unibody frame with a “full-width camera plateau” at the back, giving them a bold new look.
In a first, the iPhone 17 Pro debuts with a vapor chamber cooling system, enabling higher sustained performance during heavy tasks. The iPhone 17 Pro sports a 6.3-inch Super Retina XDR display with 120Hz ProMotion, while the iPhone 17 Pro Max carries a larger 6.9-inch version. Both offer peak outdoor brightness of 3,000 nits and use Ceramic Shield 2 glass, which Apple claims is three times more scratch-resistant.
The A19 Pro chip powers the iPhone 17 Pro lineup, supported by the new vapor cooling system. Apple described it as the “most capable” iPhone processor yet, with up to 40 percent more sustained performance than previous chips. The chipset includes a six-core CPU and GPU, with neural accelerators in each GPU core for better AI performance.
Camera upgrades are one of the biggest highlights. Both Pro models now come with a triple 48-megapixel rear camera system, featuring a primary, ultrawide, and telephoto lens—all with equal resolution. The telephoto lens has seen the biggest leap, replacing the old 12-megapixel sensor with a 48-megapixel unit that is 56 percent larger. It supports 8x optical zoom and 40x digital zoom. On the front, the 18-megapixel selfie camera includes Centre Stage for improved framing.
Running on iOS 26, the iPhone 17 Pro and Pro Max introduce the Liquid Glass UI, along with Apple Intelligence upgrades. Users can access advanced AI tools such as Live Translation in Messages, FaceTime, and Phone, smarter visual recognition, and improved call and message screening.
Battery performance has also seen a boost thanks to the unibody design and efficient A19 Pro chip. Apple claims the iPhone 17 Pro Max delivers the “longest battery life ever in an iPhone.” Both Pro models support high-wattage USB-C charging, reaching 50 percent charge in just 20 minutes.
