Every time new iPhone fashions roll round, I ask myself two questions: Should I improve this yr? And, ought to this be the yr I lastly make the soar to the bigger iPhone Pro Max? Some years it is a harder alternative, comparable to when the iPhone 15 Pro Max was the one mannequin with a 5x telephoto digital camera. But as we get nearer to the iPhone 17 bulletins, I simply would possibly make the leap.Here’s a rundown of among the options rumored for the iPhone 17 Pro Max that I’m most interested in. Don’t miss any of CNET’s unbiased tech content material and lab-based evaluations. Add us as a most well-liked 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 degree of the Samsung Galaxy XCover 7 Pro, so perhaps they’re extra like strong midsize SUVs. But they’re notable for his or her bigger screens, greater 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 might find yourself being virtually half a millimeter thicker, at 8.725mm, based on a May publish by 9to5Mac. Has anybody ever requested for a extra cumbersome iPhone? Actually, sure, sure and sure. The iPhone 17 Pro Max might get thicker. Apple/Lily Yeh/CNETAdd the brand new Adaptive Power function in iOS 26, which makes use of AI to distribute energy extra effectively when demand is excessive, and we might see a lift in day by day use earlier than reaching for a charger. (Then once more, Adaptive Power may very well be a software program workaround that would 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 also be rumored to shift the Apple brand down from its present perch. That does not appear to be a giant practical change, however it ought to assist soothe of us who select so as to add a transparent MagSafe case, because the brand will probably be centered inside 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 is not 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 so good pic.twitter.com/P7aFwR5FML— Majin Bu (@MajinBuOfficial) July 10, 2025
Bring on all of the digital camera upgrades We cannot speak in regards to the case with out mentioning the digital camera bump, which might turn out to be a extra expansive digital camera island (or perhaps on the bigger iPhone 17 Pro Max, it will likely be extra like a digital camera continent) that stretches throughout the width of the iPhone again, based on CAD renders by Majin Bu. We even received a glimpse of a potential check iPhone 17 Pro within the wild when somebody snapped an image of what appears to be an Apple worker utilizing a telephone with a design that matches many rumors (by way of Foxy Pupy on X). That expanse might embody an upgraded 48-megapixel telephoto digital camera, which feels overdue for a top-tier digital camera 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 most important Fusion digital camera within the iPhone 16 Pro fashions, the place photographs are “pixel-binned” with a number of pixels grouped collectively to reinforce mild gathering potential. But given the nice outcomes we have seen from the 48-megapixel digital camera within the present fashions — the iPhone 16E leans closely on that decision utilizing its sole rear-facing digital camera — extending it to the telephoto digital camera would undoubtedly be a win for photographers. Will the structure 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 digital camera is predicted, up from 12 megapixels, so maybe my selfies will look higher. More seemingly, it is to spice up the subsequent rumored function.
Check Out the iPhone 16 Pro Max’s Cameras, Display and Colors
See all pictures A movable digital camera lens I’m breaking out this digital camera rumor individually as a result of it might mark an enormous change within the iPhone digital camera system. According to a publish at MacRumors, the iPhone 17 Pro might have an 8x optical zoom. Not solely that, it is stated to have the ability to transfer, so maybe there may very well 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 attain its telephoto vary whereas nonetheless protecting the digital camera bump modest. iPhone 16 Pro 5x telephoto digital camera 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 need to see each side of a dialog. Third-party apps have been capable of faucet into this functionality for a while, however have not been obtainable as a default choice. Not as necessary for on a regular basis use, however fascinating by way of advancing the cutting-edge, the iPhone 17 Pro Max might assist 8K video recording, as speculated by MacRumors after reviews that 8K was examined for the iPhone 16 Pro. The iPhone is swiftly turning right into a manufacturing video digital camera, from options comparable 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 process that results in warmth construct up. In already heat environments, it might even overheat the iPhone and quickly shut it down. So the prospect of a brand new inner cooling structure, whereas being invisible to iPhone homeowners, has me nerding out just a bit. According to Majin Bu and others, the iPhone 17 Pro fashions will function 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 by way of a brand new Apple modem This is extra geeky and fewer apparent to on a regular basis telephone homeowners, however that is additionally form of the purpose. The iPhone 16E shipped with Apple’s C1 mobile modem, Apple’s first homebrew mobile {hardware} it has been attempting to construct so as to wean its dependence on Qualcomm, which has supplied the modem {hardware} in earlier iPhone fashions. However, the C1 lacks a quicker millimeter wave mobile community and does not assist Wi-Fi 7, although it is extra conservative about energy utilization (and nonetheless performs properly), an appropriate trade-off for the funds telephone in Apple’s lineup. The C1 is Apple’s first mobile modem. We might 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 in regards to the subsequent skilled fashions, and an iPhone Pro in 2025 cannot ship with out the newest, quickest wi-fi know-how. It could be extra reasonable to see Apple persist with Qualcomm for the Pro line than embody the C1 — however I believe a C2 is coming. According to MacRumors, the Wi-Fi 7 compatibility may very well be supplied 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 coloration lineup for iPhone 17 Pro fashions, and one in all them is gloriously ginger. Not solely is that this fascinating as a result of orange is orange, however as a result of it might be a departure from Apple’s current line of cool, muted colours for the professional lineup. (There are additionally rumors that the iPhone lineup will embody a brand new sky blue coloration, about which I’ve opinions.) I do not conceal my iPhone in a case, so having the ability to showcase a daring coloration seems like a enjoyable concept. These aren’t the one iPhone 17 Pro rumors we’re monitoring, however proper now they’re those which have me my calendar and wishing September might arrive just a bit quicker. Watch this: 26 More Things Hidden in iOS 26
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