Now that now we have a confirmed Sept. 9 date for when Apple will introduce the subsequent fleet of iPhone fashions, it is time to get critical about about making ready for a telephone swap. Do I maintain onto my present iPhone Pro or leap to the most recent iPhone 17 Pro based mostly on what I’m listening to from the rumor mill? And simply as necessary: If I do get a brand new iPhone, do I am going for the bigger iPhone 17 Pro Max mannequin? Here’s a rundown of a few of the options rumored for the iPhone 17 Pro Max that I’m most inquisitive about. Don’t miss any of our unbiased tech content material and lab-based opinions. Add CNET as a most popular Google supply on Chrome. Making the case to go bigger The iPhone Pro Max fashions are tanks in contrast with the remainder of the road — properly, they don’t seem to be on the toughness stage of the Samsung Galaxy XCover 7 Pro, so possibly they’re extra like strong midsize SUVs. But they’re notable for his or her bigger screens, larger our bodies and particularly for having room for extra of all the pieces in an iPhone. And that features a bigger battery. The Max fashions have already got extra battery house than different fashions, however the iPhone 17 Pro Max may find yourself being virtually half a millimeter thicker, at 8.725mm, in line with a May submit by 9to5Mac. Has anybody ever requested for a extra cumbersome iPhone? Actually, sure, sure and sure. The iPhone 17 Pro Max may get thicker. Apple/Lily Yeh/CNETAdd the brand new Adaptive Power characteristic in iOS 26, which makes use of AI to distribute energy extra effectively when demand is excessive, and we may see a lift in every day use earlier than reaching for a charger. (Then once more, Adaptive Power might be a software program workaround that might imply longer life utilizing the identical bodily battery dimension.) If you are already dedicated to carrying a bigger iPhone, a tad extra thickness and heft is not an excessive amount of extra to shoulder. The again of the iPhone 17 Pro case can be rumored to shift the Apple emblem down from its present perch. That does not look like an enormous practical change, nevertheless it ought to assist soothe people who select so as to add a transparent MagSafe case, for the reason that emblem will probably be centered throughout the MagSafe space. You cannot say Apple does not sweat the design particulars. A leak on X from Majin Bu purports to indicate an iPhone 17 Pro case, although it isn’t clear whether or not that is one thing assembled by hand to match rumored specs or is a few iPhone knockoff. iPhone 17 Pro appears to be like so good pic.twitter.com/P7aFwR5FML— Majin Bu (@MajinBuOfficial) July 10, 2025
Top up equipment with reverse wi-fi chargingThis rumor may resolve an issue I run into far too usually: If I neglect to cost my Apple Watch at house or my AirPods Pro are operating low, there is not a lot I can do except I’ve packed a conveyable charger. Even although energy banks are reasonably priced and sometimes compact, it is nonetheless yet another factor to convey alongside.But think about the iPhone that’s at all times with me. When you have a look at its innards, most of what takes up house is battery. What if I may use the iPhone’s battery as an influence supply for recharging my equipment, with out the effort of a cable? 9to5Mac surfaced a rumor that the iPhone 17 Pro and iPhone 17 Pro Max fashions would possibly incorporate reverse wi-fi charging. In addition to with the ability to cost the iPhone’s battery utilizing MagSafe on the again, I may put my watch or AirPods case, which each cost wirelessly already, on the iPhone to share a few of the juice from its bigger battery.The Samsung S-series telephones already implement this characteristic, so it is actually doable. The Apple Watch nonetheless makes use of a proprietary charger form, so maybe it would not work flush with the iPhone’s again, however I may see case makers provide designs with a delicate indentation that will match the watch. Bring on all of the digicam upgrades We cannot discuss concerning the case with out mentioning the digicam bump, which may develop into a extra expansive digicam island (or possibly on the bigger iPhone 17 Pro Max, it will likely be extra like a digicam continent) that stretches throughout the width of the iPhone again, in line with CAD renders by Majin Bu. We even obtained a glimpse of a potential check iPhone 17 Pro within the wild when somebody snapped an image of what appears to be like to be an Apple worker utilizing a telephone with a design that matches many rumors (through Foxy Pupy on X). That expanse could embrace an upgraded 48-megapixel telephoto digicam, which feels overdue for a top-tier digicam system. Granted, it’s going to most likely take additional steps to seize pictures within the full 48-megapixel decision, as is the case with the present principal Fusion digicam within the iPhone 16 Pro fashions, the place photographs are “pixel-binned” with a number of pixels grouped collectively to boost gentle gathering skill. But given the good outcomes we have seen from the 48-megapixel digicam within the present fashions — the iPhone 16E leans closely on that decision utilizing its sole rear-facing digicam — extending it to the telephoto digicam would positively be a win for photographers. Will the format and configuration of the cameras change from the iPhone 16 Pro proven right here within the new iPhone 17 Pro Max? James Martin/CNETSpeaking of decision, a 24-megapixel front-facing digicam is predicted, up from 12 megapixels, so maybe my selfies will look higher. More probably, it is to spice up the subsequent rumored characteristic.
Check Out the iPhone 16 Pro Max’s Cameras, Display and Colors
See all pictures A movable digicam lens I’m breaking out this digicam rumor individually as a result of it might mark an enormous change within the iPhone digicam system. According to a submit at MacRumors, the iPhone 17 Pro may have an 8x optical zoom. Not solely that, it is stated to have the ability to transfer, so maybe there might be a variety of zoom between 5x and 8x that’s all optical (versus counting on digital zoom to crop and enlarge the picture to suit the identical area of view). The 5x zoom within the present iPhone 15 Pro Max, iPhone 16 and iPhone 16 Pro Max makes use of a “tetraprism” design to realize its telephoto vary whereas nonetheless preserving the digicam bump modest. iPhone 16 Pro 5x telephoto digicam Patrick Holland/CNET Video recording makes a leap Cameras on each side will reportedly work along with twin video recording utilizing the built-in Camera app, a boon for conducting interviews or making response movies the place you wish to see each side of a dialog. Third-party apps have been in a position to faucet into this functionality for a while, however have not been obtainable as a default possibility. Not as necessary for on a regular basis use, however attention-grabbing when it comes to advancing the cutting-edge, the iPhone 17 Pro Max may help 8K video recording, as speculated by MacRumors after experiences that 8K was examined for the iPhone 16 Pro. The iPhone is swiftly turning right into a manufacturing video digicam, from options akin to 28 Years Later to customized cameras constructed from iPhone tech within the F1 film. An improved cooling system Recording video in 4K decision, a lot much less 8K, is a demanding, power-hungry job that results in warmth construct up. In already heat environments, it will probably even overheat the iPhone and briefly shut it down. So the prospect of a brand new inside cooling structure, whereas being invisible to iPhone house owners, has me nerding out just a bit. According to Majin Bu and others, the iPhone 17 Pro fashions will characteristic a “vapor chamber” cooling system. As the processor heats up, a small quantity of liquid within the chamber evaporates and condenses in cooler areas and is then handed again to the new areas. Wi-Fi 7 and quick mobile through a brand new Apple modem This is extra geeky and fewer apparent to on a regular basis telephone house owners, however that is additionally type of the purpose. The iPhone 16E shipped with Apple’s C1 mobile modem, Apple’s first homebrew mobile {hardware} it has been making an attempt to construct in an effort to wean its dependence on Qualcomm, which has offered the modem {hardware} in earlier iPhone fashions. However, the C1 lacks a quicker millimeter wave mobile community and does not help Wi-Fi 7, although it is extra conservative about energy utilization (and nonetheless performs properly), an appropriate trade-off for the price range telephone in Apple’s lineup. The C1 is Apple’s first mobile modem. We may see a extra succesful C2 chip within the iPhone 17 Pro fashions. Apple/Screenshot by CNETBut for the iPhone 17 Pro Max, we’re speaking concerning the subsequent skilled fashions, and an iPhone Pro in 2025 cannot ship with out the most recent, quickest wi-fi expertise. It could be extra real looking to see Apple stick to Qualcomm for the Pro line than embrace the C1 — however I believe a C2 is coming. According to MacRumors, the Wi-Fi 7 compatibility might be offered by a separate devoted chip designed by Apple. An orange iPhone 17 Pro Max You do not should be an ardent fan of the Netherlands nationwide soccer group to understand the colour orange. Leaker Majin Bu posted renders of the brand new colour lineup for iPhone 17 Pro fashions, and one in every of them is gloriously ginger. Not solely is that this attention-grabbing as a result of orange is orange, however as a result of it might be a departure from Apple’s latest line of cool, muted colours for the professional lineup. (There are additionally rumors that the iPhone lineup will embrace a brand new sky blue colour, about which I’ve opinions.) I do not conceal my iPhone in a case, so with the ability to showcase a daring colour appears like a enjoyable thought. These aren’t the one iPhone 17 Pro rumors we’re monitoring, however proper now they’re those which have me taking a look at my calendar and wishing September may arrive just a bit quicker. Watch this: 26 More Things Hidden in iOS 26
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