The iPhone 17 Pro and Pro Max are slated for their most significant redesign since the iPhone 12 Pro debuted its flat-edged aesthetic in 2020. According to leaks from The Information, Apple is swapping the titanium frame of recent Pro models for aluminum—a lighter, more cost-effective material that could subtly shift the device’s feel in hand. The back, meanwhile, keeps a glass lower half for wireless charging compatibility, but the camera bump is getting a makeover. Gone is the glass square; in its place, a larger, rectangular aluminum module stretches across the top, housing the triple-lens system. This shift not only refreshes the design but also signals Apple’s intent to differentiate the Pro from its standard siblings
Camera Powerhouse
Photography fans have plenty to anticipate. The iPhone 17 Pro is expected to pack three 48-megapixel sensors across its rear cameras—main, ultrawide, and telephoto—marking a big step up from the 12-megapixel telephoto lens on the iPhone 16 Pro. This upgrade, corroborated by analyst Jeff Pu, promises sharper zoomed shots and better low-light performance, areas where the Pro models have occasionally lagged behind rivals. Up front, the selfie camera is reportedly doubling from 12 to 24 megapixels, a boon for video calls and self-portraits. There’s even talk of a variable aperture lens, per The Information, which could give users more control over depth of field—think creamy background blur without relying solely on software.
A new Camera app feature exclusive to the Pro models is also in the works, though specifics remain under wraps. Whether it’s enhanced computational photography or a pro-grade manual mode, it’s clear Apple wants to keep its high-end devices ahead of the curve.
Under the Hood
Powering these enhancements is the A19 Pro chip, built on TSMC’s 3-nanometer process. This isn’t the long-rumored 2nm jump—delays have pushed that to the A20 in 2026—but the N3P process still boosts transistor density for better efficiency and speed. Paired with a rumored 12 gigabytes of RAM (up from 8GB in the iPhone 16 Pro), the iPhone 17 Pro should handle Apple Intelligence tasks—like on-device AI processing—with ease. This memory bump could also future-proof the device for more demanding apps and multitasking, a practical win for power users.
Charging and Display Tweaks
Charging gets a practical upgrade with whispers of faster wired speeds—potentially hitting 40W, per analyst Ming-Chi Kuo—though wireless charging may stay capped at 15W. The display sticks to 6.3 inches for the Pro and 6.9 inches for the Pro Max, but ProMotion’s 120Hz refresh rate will now extend to the base iPhone 17, leveling the playing field. One intriguing rumor: the Pro Max might sport a smaller Dynamic Island, shrinking the pill-shaped cutout for a sleeker look, while the standard Pro keeps the current design.
Why It Matters
These upgrades arrive as Apple faces pressure to reignite iPhone excitement. With consumers holding onto phones longer and competitors like Samsung pushing flashy AI and camera tricks, the iPhone 17 Pro’s blend of refined design and tangible performance gains could hit the mark. It’s not a complete reinvention—foldables and radical form factors are still years off, with 2027 pegged for a bigger shakeup—but it’s a solid evolution. For users on an iPhone 14 or older, the jump in camera quality, processing power, and aesthetics might finally tip the scales.
As Friday, April 11, 2025, nears—the next publication date from today, April 8—these leaks paint a picture of a device that’s less about gimmicks and more about delivering what tech enthusiasts crave: power and polish in a familiar package. Whether that’s enough to reclaim the top spot in a crowded market remains to be seen, but Apple’s clearly not resting on its laurels.
