The iPhone 17 Pro and iPhone 17 Pro Max are still many months away from their expected launch, but rumors about these devices have already begun circulating. A major change for the upcoming models involves the frame material: unlike the iPhone 15 and iPhone 16 Pro models, which feature titanium frames, the iPhone 17 Pro models are expected to use aluminum frames.
Additionally, the back of the phones is rumored to have a new “part-aluminum, part-glass” design, marking a shift in Apple’s approach to materials for its high-end devices.
Another notable design change for the iPhone 17 Pro models is the introduction of a larger rectangular camera bump, which will be made of aluminum. This change is expected to house an upgraded 48-megapixel telephoto camera, a significant jump from the 12-megapixel telephoto camera found on the iPhone 16 Pro models.
The new iPhones are also expected to have a 24-megapixel front-facing camera, an improvement from the 12-megapixel front camera on the current iPhone 16 models, making the iPhone 17 lineup more competitive in terms of camera technology.
The performance of the iPhone 17 Pro models will see an upgrade as well, with rumors indicating the inclusion of Apple’s new A19 Pro chip. This chip will be manufactured using TSMC’s advanced third-generation 3nm process, which is expected to bring modest performance and power efficiency improvements over the previous generation.
Additionally, at least one of the iPhone 17 models will feature an Apple-designed Wi-Fi 7 chip, replacing the Broadcom chips used in previous models and offering better wireless performance.
Another significant upgrade for the iPhone 17 Pro models is the increase in RAM. Early reports suggest that both the iPhone 17 Pro and iPhone 17 Pro Max will come with 12GB of RAM, a boost from the 8GB found in the iPhone 16 models. This extra memory is expected to improve multitasking performance and enhance the device’s handling of Apple’s AI-driven features, providing a smoother and more responsive user experience.
Finally, the iPhone 17 Pro Max is rumored to feature a smaller Dynamic Island, a change specific to this model. The revised design of the Dynamic Island would result from Apple adopting a new “metalens” for its Face ID system. This change is expected to make the notch area even more compact while maintaining the functionality and security of Face ID. As more details emerge, Apple fans can look forward to further updates on the iPhone 17 lineup in the coming months.
