iPhone 17 Pro and Pro Max biggest upgrades just confirmed right before launch

With Apple’s “Awe Dropping” event today, one of the most prolific names in smartphones has detailed some of the features we could expect for the iPhone 17 Pro and iPhone 17 Pro Max.
The list in question comes from Bloomberg’s Mark Gurman, who recently listed some of the expected additions to Apple’s next line of phones in a post on X. For the most part, these match some of the other rumors we have seen, although none of them have been confirmed as of yet.
Firstly, Gurman reiterates the introduction of two new colors for the Pro series: Orange and Blue. While we don't know the exact shade, we recently saw leaked color inserts for the camera module, which showcased a coppery-orange color. On top of that, we also saw leaked images of the entire iPhone 17 series, including an orange iPhone 17 Pro — although that appears brighter than the more metallic look seen in other images.
The Phone 17 Pro series could also feature an improved optical zoom, with a possible 8x magnification. This would be a marked improvement from the iPhone 16 Pro models' 5x zoom. Considering most of the best camera phones limit themselves to 5x zoom, it could be a game-changer.
Gurman also lists the iPhone 17 Pro's rumored vapor chamber cooling system, which has been around for a while now. We’ve even seen leaked diagrams that showcase how large the chamber could be. All in all, the inclusion would certainly help the iPhone 17 Pro series to offer much better protection against excessive heat.
Finally, Gurman details some of the design changes coming for the Pro models, which have been a point of contention for some. Currently, most rumors appear to agree that Apple plans to expand the camera block on the back of the phone. On top of that, other leaks indicate that the back of the iPhone 17 Pro could be comprised of two different materials, creating a two-tone effect.
While not mentioned by Gurman, we have also seen a recent leak regarding the possible battery sizes for the iPhone 17 series. For the most part, it appears that the iPhone 17 series won’t increase the batteries all that much, at least for the models with physical SIM trays.
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However, the leaked image indicates that the iPhone 17 Pro and Pro Max could feature eSIM-only models, with the iPhone 17 Pro Max eSIM battery reportedly reaching over 5,000 mAh.
Row 0 - Cell 0 | Physical SIM | eSIM |
iPhone 17 | 3,692 mAh | (unclear) |
iPhone 17 Air | 3,036 mAh | 3,148 mAh |
iPhone 17 Pro | 3,988 mAh | 4,252 mAh |
iPhone 17 Pro Max | 4,823 mAh | 5,088 mAh |
iPhone 16 | 3,561 mAh | N/A |
iPhone 16 Plus | 4,674 mAh | N/A |
iPhone 16 Pro | 3,582 mAh | N/A |
iPhone 16 Pro Max | 4,685 mAh | N/A |
There’s a lot to be excited about when it comes to Apple’s "Awe-Dropping" event, so make sure you follow our Apple Event Live Blog for all the latest iPhone 17 news and more.
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Josh is a staff writer for Tom's Guide and is based in the UK. He has worked for several publications but now works primarily on mobile phones. Outside of phones, he has a passion for video games, novels, and Warhammer.
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