The iPhone 17 Pro is almost here, as Apple has sent out invites for an event on September 9 where we’re sure to see it.
But as usual we already have a good idea of what to expect, as dozens of claimed leaks and rumors have emerged over the last few months.
These rumors point to a phone that should be a major upgrade over the iPhone 16 Pro, so below, we’ve detailed five ways that the iPhone 17 Pro is likely to have its predecessor bettered.
1. Upgraded cameras
It seems the cameras might be a big focus for Apple this year, as multiple rumors have suggested the iPhone 17 Pro could have a 48-megapixel telephoto camera.
That would be a big jump from the 12MP telephoto snapper on the current model, and would mean all three rear cameras would be 48MP (as the iPhone 16 Pro’s 48MP main and ultra-wide snappers reportedly won’t be changed).
Multiple sources have also pointed to a 24MP front-facing camera, which would again be up from 12MP currently. So no lenses might feel lacking for megapixels on the iPhone 17 Pro.
On top of that, there’s also a chance the iPhone 17 Pro could have a mechanical aperture, allowing you to adjust the aperture and depth of field, as well as support for 8K video recording (up from 4K on the current model).
We’re less sure these two things will feature as they haven’t been tipped by as many sources, but even if we just get the extra megapixels, that could make for a notable improvement.
2. Even more power
Every new Pro iPhone model comes with a new, more powerful chipset than the one before, and the iPhone 17 Pro is unlikely to be an exception, with numerous leaks pointing to an A19 Pro chipset.
That would be up from an A18 Pro chipset in the iPhone 16 Pro, and while we don’t know how much better the new chipset will be, it’s sure to lead to even smoother, faster performance – which is impressive given that the iPhone 16 Pro is still one of the most powerful phones you can buy.
The iPhone 17 Pro might also have 12GB of RAM, which would give it 4GB more than the iPhone 16 Pro, and should further improve its performance.
3. A new design
The most immediately obvious upgrade – or at least change – with the iPhone 17 Pro could be its design, as the consensus among leakers is that this phone will be getting a whole new look.
Most of the changes will likely be to the back of the phone, which will reportedly have a large camera block running horizontally across it, for a design that could be somewhat reminiscent of the Google Pixel 10, albeit with the camera block here probably being even bigger.
We imagine not everyone will love this look, but it should certainly freshen up a handset that could otherwise risk looking a bit stale.
4. Reverse wireless charging
It’s unclear whether the iPhone 17 Pro will have a bigger battery than the iPhone 16 Pro, but either way it might have a new charging trick, as multiple sources have claimed that Apple is testing the phone with reverse wireless charging.
That would let you use the handset as a wireless charging pad, so you could place – for example – your AirPods or Apple Watch on the back, and have them charge up, while draining some amount of the phone’s (much larger) battery.
That said, just because Apple has apparently tested a feature, that doesn’t mean it will launch, so we’re unsure whether reverse wireless charging will actually be included or not.
5. A vapor chamber
Finally, the iPhone 17 Pro could also have a vapor chamber, which could help keep the phone cool when it’s carrying out demanding tasks, like running high-end mobile games.
By keeping it cooler, the phone would also be able to sustain its peak performance for longer, and this could additionally give the battery life a boost, even if the iPhone 17 Pro doesn’t have a bigger battery than the iPhone 16 Pro.
Combined with a new chipset and more RAM, a vapor chamber could make this phone feel substantially speedier than the already-fast iPhone 16 Pro.
