When Apple unveils a new iPhone, the world pays attention.
With the announcement of the iPhone 17 Pro in September 2025, the tech giant delivers a revamped design, groundbreaking cameras, and a silicon powerhouse seemingly plucked from a sci-fi movie.
But does it live up to the hype? Let’s dive into what the iPhone 17 Pro offers with a light tone, but without skipping the details. Spoiler: it’s a beast, but not without flaws.
Design: Elegance Meets Nostalgia
The iPhone 17 Pro boasts a design that feels both fresh and familiar.
Apple swapped the titanium frame for aluminum, offering a lighter and more nostalgic touch reminiscent of classic iPhones.
The rear blends aluminum at the top with glass at the bottom, ensuring wireless charging and exuding a vibe that screams, “premium, but approachable.”
With a 6.3-inch display (and 6.9 inches for the Pro Max), it maintains the size of its predecessor but feels slimmer in hand, thanks to softly curved edges. The new Sky Blue color?
Simply stunning, shimmering differently under various lighting conditions.
- Pros: Lightweight, elegant, and the blue hue is a showstopper. Comfortable grip even without a case.
- Cons: Aluminum, while gorgeous, may not resist scratches like titanium. And yes, it’s still a fingerprint magnet.
The Dynamic Island is slightly smaller thanks to metalens technology for Face ID, but don’t expect a visual revolution.
It’s a subtle refinement noticeable only when compared directly to the iPhone 16 Pro.
Performance: The A19 Pro Chip Is a Rocket
At the heart of the iPhone 17 Pro is the A19 Pro chip, built on a 2nm process (or 3nm, depending on the source).
This chip is a powerhouse, delivering efficiency and performance gains that make everything—from graphically demanding games like Resident Evil 4 to multitasking with memory-heavy apps—fly.
With 12 GB of RAM (up from 8 GB in the iPhone 16 Pro), it’s ready for Apple Intelligence, now featuring real-time translation, call screening, and a smarter Siri.
A new vapor chamber cooling system is a welcome addition, dissipating heat effectively and maintaining stable performance during heavy usage.
We tested the device by editing 4K videos, gaming, and browsing simultaneously, and it barely got warm.
The 4,800mAh battery in the Pro Max model offers up to 28 hours of mixed usage—a notable improvement
Fast charging at 35W (wired) and Qi 2.2 wireless charging (up to 45W) make recharging quick, though we’re still dreaming of the 65W speeds offered by some Android devices.
Cameras: A Studio in Your Pocket
If you rely on your phone as your primary camera, the iPhone 17 Pro will delight you.
For the first time, it features three 48 MP lenses (main, ultra-wide, and telephoto), a massive upgrade from the 12 MP telephoto lens on the iPhone 16 Pro.
The front-facing camera also jumps to 24 MP, perfect for detailed selfies and crystal-clear video calls. 8K video recording is the icing on the cake, catering to content creators who want future-proof footage.
The new Camera Control interface remains intuitive, with simple taps and swipes for zoom, exposure, and depth adjustments.
Apple’s computational photography excels in low-light scenarios, capturing vibrant colors with minimal noise.
While the telephoto lens has improved, it still lags behind competitors like the Galaxy S25 Ultra in optical zoom capabilities.
- Pros: Stellar image quality, 8K recording, and versatility with three 48 MP lenses.
- Cons: Optical zoom still falls short of rivals, and the camera app can be daunting for beginners.
Display: Brightness and Fluidity
The 6.3-inch Super Retina XDR OLED display (or 6.9 inches for the Pro Max) is a visual treat.
With a peak brightness of 2,800 nits, it’s perfect for outdoor use.
The ProMotion adaptive refresh rate (120 Hz, scaling down to 1 Hz) ensures buttery-smooth scrolling while conserving battery life.
Apple touted a new scratch-resistant anti-reflective coating, though recent rumors suggest it may have been delayed until 2026.
Nonetheless, Ceramic Shield continues to excel in protecting against drops.
Notably, all iPhone 17 models, including the base and Air versions, now feature ProMotion. This means fluid performance is no longer exclusive to the Pro lineup. Well done, Apple.
Software: iOS 26 with a Hint of VisionOS
The iPhone 17 Pro ships with iOS 26, which adopts a “Liquid Glass” aesthetic inspired by VisionOS
Rounded icons, smoother brightness and volume controls, and a new Games app enhance the user experience. Apple Intelligence now offers live translation during calls and FaceTime, plus call screening to block spam.
The interface is fluid but feels more like a smart refinement of an already excellent system than a groundbreaking overhaul.
Connectivity: Wi-Fi 7 and In-House Modem
The iPhone 17 Pro debuts Wi-Fi 7 support, combining 2.4 GHz, 5 GHz, and 6 GHz bands for faster speeds and lower latency.
Apple’s proprietary 5G modem, optimized for its ecosystem, ensures more stable connections.
In our tests, performance on congested networks was solid, though your carrier’s infrastructure will still be a limiting factor.
Price: The Elephant in the Room
Here’s the painful part: the iPhone 17 Pro starts at $999, though rumors suggest a potential hike to $1,099 due to tariffs and production costs. The Pro Max may reach $1,299 for the 1TB version. With proposed tariffs on products manufactured outside the U.S., Apple may pass some of these costs to consumers. For those in Brazil, expect even steeper prices as usual.
Verdict: Is the iPhone 17 Pro Apple’s Best Yet? Almost.
The iPhone 17 Pro is a performance juggernaut, boasting cameras that rival professional gear and a design that marries innovation with Apple’s signature style.
The A19 Pro chip, three 48 MP lenses, extended battery life, and Wi-Fi 7 prove Apple isn’t holding back.
However, the higher price, underwhelming optical zoom, and reliance on external tariffs might give you pause.
- Pros:
- 48 MP cameras across all lenses and 8K recording.
- A19 Pro chip with 12 GB RAM for flawless performance.
- Lightweight design featuring the striking Sky Blue color.
- Long battery life and fast charging.
- Cons:
- Potentially higher price.
- Optical zoom isn’t a category leader.
- Aluminum may be less durable than titanium.
Final Score: 8.8/10
The iPhone 17 Pro is among the best smartphones of 2025, but it’s not an impulsive buy.
If you already own an iPhone 16 Pro, the upgrade might not be worth it. However, if you’re looking for Apple’s top-tier device, it delivers—and then some. Curious to learn more?
Stay tuned for Apple’s September event to see if the hype is justified!
