iPhone 17 Pro and Pro Max revealed — release date, specs, price, cameras, colors and more

iPhone 17 Pro lineup
(Image credit: Apple)

Going into the "Awe Dropping" event, we knew there would be Pro versions of Apple's next iPhone.

As expected, the company unveiled the iPhone 17 Pro and iPhone 17 Pro Max with "the best-ever performance, camera systems, and battery life in an iPhone."

Apple aimed to "redefine the Pro," and these phones pack some impressive features to justify the company's goal, including an aluminum frame, the A19 Pro camera system, 6.3-inch and 6.9-inch displays (the same as last year) and much more.

After all, they had to take some of the attention away from the iPhone Air.

As is typical for Apple events, the company didn't reveal the exact size of the battery, but it did promise impressive battery life, largely thanks to the powerful A19 Pro chip. It'll stay cool with a new Apple-designed vapor chamber.

iPhone 17 Pro pricing

(Image credit: Apple)

Cameras have been improved with three 48MP Fusion Cameras and an 18MP Center Stage front-facing camera.

Apple Intelligence is integrated throughout the phone, and there's much more to look forward to, much of which was teased in the rumors.

iPhone 17 Pro & iPhone 17 Pro Max Highlights

  • Powered by A19 Pro chip
  • All new vapor chamber cooling system
  • New rear design
  • Apple-designed vapor chamber
  • Anodized aluminum alloy
  • 40% better sustained performance than iPhone 16 Pro
  • Ceramic Shield on the back — 4X more durable than iPhone 16 Pro
  • Ceramic Shield 2 on the front — 3x more scratch resistant and more readable in bright lights (3,000 nits peak outdoor brightness)
  • 39 hours of video playback on a charge
  • 18MP Center Stage front-facing camera
  • Three 48MP Fusion cameras on the rear
    • 4x zoom
    • 8x zoom at 200mm
  • Support for ProRES Raw Capture video

iPhone 17 Pro and Pro Max Price and availability

Apple announced that prices of the Pro iPhone models are staying the same — $1,099 / AU$1,999 for the iPhone 17 Pro and $1,199 / AU$2,199 for the iPhone 17 Pro Max. Some were worried the phones would see a price increase, so it's good news to see that things remain unchanged.

As far as availability, Apple announced that phones would go up for pre-order on September 12 and would ship on September 19.

iPhone 17: Display and Design

iPhone 17 Pro plateau closeup

(Image credit: Apple)

The iPhone 17 Pro and iPhone 16 Pro Max have 6.3-inch and 6.9-inch displays, respectively. Both models feature Pro Motion displays that offer an adaptive refresh rate ranging from 120Hz to 1Hz.

Brightness shouldn't be a concern with any of the new iPhone models. These devices reach a peak brightness of 3,000 nits, which means you should be able to see them clearly in the sun.

A Pro Outlook

The iPhone 17 Pro and Pro Max seem to be built on the foundation laid by the high-end devices Apple has released before. But, based on the announcement, it doesn't seem to be just small iterations, as the company is shifting things forward inside with the cooling system and extra performance.

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Dave LeClair
Senior News Editor

Dave LeClair is the Senior News Editor for Tom's Guide, keeping his finger on the pulse of all things technology. He loves taking the complicated happenings in the tech world and explaining why they matter. Whether Apple is announcing the next big thing in the mobile space or a small startup advancing generative AI, Dave will apply his experience to help you figure out what's happening and why it's relevant to your life.

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