The iPhone 17 Pro and iPhone 17 Pro Max represent Apple’s biggest leap forward in the Pro line to date: both are powered by the new A19 Pro chip (built on a 3-nm process) and include a vapor-chamber cooling system and an aluminium “camera plateau” rear design that improve heat dissipation and durability.
All three rear cameras — wide, ultra-wide, and telephoto — are now 48 MP fusion sensors, with the telephoto offering up to 8× optical-quality zoom. The front camera is bumped up to 18 MP with support for Center Stage, Dual Capture lets you record with front and back simultaneously, and professional video tools are enhanced with support for ProRes RAW, GenLock, and Log capture.
In terms of display and battery, the Pro keeps its 6.3-inch size and the Pro Max is 6.9-inch (both 120 Hz ProMotion), with battery life now rated up to 39 hours of video playback on the Pro Max — the best yet in iPhone history.
Be sure to read the Cult of Macreview of the iPhone 17 Pro. As our reviewer says, “From better battery life to a powerful camera system and improved thermal performance, the 17 Pro models are the best of the best.”
Apple's most powerful iPhone gets a redesign and impressive new capabilities. The iPhone 17 Pro's aluminum unibody design looks different for sure, with a wider camera plateau. But the big changes are inside: the powerful A19 Pro chip and a vapor chamber to cool it off for maximum performance.
Pros:
Base model jumps to 256GB of storage.
48MP rear cameras, with 8x optical zoom.
18MP Center Stage front camera for better selfies.
Supports ProRes RAW for studio-quality video.
Cons:
Only three colors: silver, deep blue and cosmic orange.
iPhone 18 Pro hardware upgrades will come with a big sticker shock. AI image: ChatGPT/Cult of Mac
The iPhone 17 Pro is barely a year old, but its successor could bring some meaningful upgrades. Rumors point to camera, display and performance improvements for the iPhone 18 Pro, along with a potentially unwelcome price hike.
Here’s how Apple’s next flagship could compare with the iPhone 17 Pro.
Lease now or buy outright? The math tells the real story. AI image: ChatGPT
Apple Upgrade makes getting a new iPhone or Mac look surprisingly affordable. You select your preferred device, lease term and then pay for it in monthly installments. At the end of the lease, you can buy the device outright or upgrade to a newer model.
But is Apple Upgrade really worth leasing your next iPhone or Mac? I did the math to find out.
Robust demand means iPhone 17 remains the world's top-shipping smartphone. Photo: Rubaitul Azad/Pexels
Apple continued to gain ground in the global smartphone market during the second quarter of 2026, according to new data from a market-analysis firm. The iPhone posted another quarter of year-over-year growth, increasing total shipments by 3% while boosting Apple’s global market share to a quarterly record.
The iPhone 17 series continues to experience strong sales, according to the analysts. One main reason for the success might seem surprising, coming from Cupertino: small price tags! Apple maintained iPhone prices while rivals increased theirs due to sharply rising memory costs.
When you watch the match, remember that everything you see came through iPhone 17 Pro (actually many of them). Photo: Apple
This Saturday, Apple TV will make broadcast history when it streams a live Major League Soccer match captured entirely on iPhone 17 Pro. It marks the first use of just a smartphone to shoot a whole major professional live sporting event, the iPhone giant said Thursday.
Apple’s next-generation titanium alloy could improve both durability and cooling. Photo: D. Griffin Jones/Cult of Mac
Apple might be having second thoughts about aluminum on the iPhone. A few months after switching the iPhone 17 Pro away from titanium, the company is now reportedly experimenting with an improved titanium alloy that could fix a huge problem with the metal.
If Apple finds a way to make it practical, we could see titanium return to a future iPhone Pro. But the problem is that titanium isn’t as good as aluminum at transferring heat. Aluminum’s better thermal properties are likely why Apple moved away from titanium in the first place. Also, aluminum is cheaper and easier to recycle.
iPhone 17 Pro particularly excels at wireless charging, according to the tests. AI image: ChatGPT/Cult of Mac
Apple’s flagship handset — iPhone 17 Pro — claimed the crown as the fastest-charging phone in a rigorous new lab test, beating out rivals from Samsung, Google, Motorola, and more, according to a new report.
iPhone 17 is selling like hotcakes! Photo: Ed Hardy/Cult of Mac
iPhone 17 emerged as the world’s best-selling phone in Q1, 2026, according to the latest data from Counterpoint Research. iPhones also continued their dominance, securing the top three spots.
Besides the iPhones, several budget and mid-range Android phones made it to the list, with flagship models missing entirely.
Meet Apple's most popular iPhone lineup ever. Photo: Ian Fuchs/Cult of Mac
Apple reported another bumper quarter, with record revenue and strong iPhone sales. Amid all the numbers, Apple CFO Kevan Parekh revealed that the iPhone 17 series is now the company’s most popular lineup ever.
Strong demand for the iPhone 17 is helping Apple post record revenue and profits every quarter since its launch.
Big camera overhaul coming to future iPhones. AI image: ChatGPT
Apple reportedly plans to make major upgrades to the iPhone’s cameras in the coming years, starting with the introduction of a variable aperture lens on the iPhone 18 Pro this fall.
But that’s just the start. The company eventually plans to utilize a bigger 200MP sensor on its primary camera, with a periscope telephoto lens for better image quality.
Apple's silicone cases feel silky smooth and come in a variety of vibrant colors. Photo: Lewis Wallace/Cult of Mac
Apple’s iPhone cases provide stylish protection, and a new deal cuts $9.01 off the price of various Silicone, Clear and TechWoven models for iPhone 17, iPhone 17e, iPhone 17 Pro and iPhone 17 Pro Max.
As you might expect, the company’s cases fit its smartphones perfectly. This sale applies to cases for various models in multiple colors and sizes. And if you happen to own an iPhone Air, you can currently save a whopping 54% on a bumper case.
Strong iPhone shipments put Apple on top of the world smartphone market. AI image: Apple/ChatGPT/Cult of Mac
Apple once again beat all its rivals to stay the world’s top smartphone vendor, according to new data from a market-research firm, with its latest quarterly performance underscoring the strength of the iPhone lineup. This is the first time the iPhone has led the world in Q1, traditionally a weak quarter for the company.
Apple’s smartphone shipments grew 5% year over year, while all of its top competitors declined.
The iPhone 17 Pro finally brings some chromatic excitement, and extremely pro features to the lineup. Photo: Ian Fuchs/Cult of Mac
Following the success of the cosmic orange iPhone 17 Pro, Apple reportedly plans to unveil the iPhone 18 Pro in a deep red color. It will seemingly be the new flagship color for 2026 Pro iPhones.
The company may also be testing similar hues internally.
Think of your iPhone's camera plateau as a blank canvas ready to be personalized. Screenshot: SK telecom
There’s a fun way to personalize your iPhone 17 Pro: tiny stickers around the camera. Social media is blowing up with pictures from people showing off how cool their handset looks with the new decorations.
The trend may have started in Korea, where it’s part of ponku — personalizing phones, cases, laptops, etc., with stickers. A recent iPhone 17 Pro ad made by a Korean wireless carrier certainly added fuel to the fire.
Apple got a lot right and wrong this year. AI Image: Google Gemini
2025 was a busy year for Apple. The company launched multiple new products, some of which pushed its lineup forward in meaningful ways. However, others left plenty to be desired. Looking back, it’s clear that Apple delivered both standout successes and some head-scratching misses.
Here’s a look at the best and worst Apple products of 2025 — the ones that got everything right, and the ones that missed the mark completely.
Apple may ship a whopping 247 million iPhones in 2025 thanks to the “phenomenal success” of iPhone 17. The new iPhones have also led to Apple reclaiming its lost market share in China.
Post the launch of iPhone 17, Apple grabbed 20% market share in China, “miles ahead of the competition,” says an IDC report.
A red iPhone 17 Pro might look like this. AI image: Grok
Plenty of Apple fans miss red iPhones, if responses to an X.com post Monday from Apple marketing chief Greg Joswiak is anything to go by.
He talked about the company’s donations on World AIDS Day through customer purchases. Joswiak didn’t even mention hardware, but the commenters sure did.
Apple's N1 chip really makes a big difference in Wi-Fi speeds. Image: Apple/Cult of Mac
The iPhone 17’s new N1 wireless chip brings a significant boost in Wi-Fi speeds. Tests conducted by Ookla show the newer iPhone models pulling faster speeds over Wi-Fi than their predecessors.
Based on the test data, the iPhone 17 pulled 40% faster Wi-Fi speeds than the iPhone 16.
The iPhone 17 Pro is a bright orange beast. Photo: Cult of Mac
This week on Cult of Mac’s podcast: We dish out our reviews of the iPhone 17 Pro, iPhone Air and AirPods Pro 3.
How’s the battery life? How’s the cosmic orange? How badly does the iPhone 17 Pro scratch? How good is AirPods’ new Live Translation feature?
In this extra-long edition, we go deep on our first impressions of Apple’s latest gear.
Also on The CultCast:
We know Scratchgate is real. And an expert offers an explanation for the iPhone 17 Pro’s problem.
Apple’s new iPhone cases are pretty great — and they’re already on sale.
Listen to this week’s episode of The CultCast in the Podcasts app or your favorite podcast app. (Be sure to subscribe and leave us a review if you like it!) Or watch the video live stream, embedded below.
Four iPhone 17 Pro handsets will capture all sorts of action. Photo: Apple TV+
Apple’s latest smartphone will step into the major leagues Friday night when the iPhone 17 Pro helps capture live footage during a professional sports broadcast for the first time. The Detroit Tigers vs. Boston Red Sox game at Fenway Park, streaming on Apple TV+ as part of Friday Night Baseball, will feature live game footage shot on four iPhone 17 Pro devices, according to MLB.com
And by the way, the game — part of the two teams’ final series of the regular season — has big playoff implications. Apple TV+ subscribers can watch it at no extra cost.
A deep blue iPhone 17 Pro models shows scratches in the store after just a few hours on sale. Photo: @verdeselvans, X.com
Apple officially addressed the iPhone 17‘s Scratchgate issue. It says the problem isn’t due to the new glass-and-aluminum design, blaming worn-out MagSafe risers and chargers in retail displays instead.
iPhone 17’s Scratchgate controversy surfaced just days after it went on sale, sparking widespread concern among early buyers.
The iPhone 17 Pro finally brings some chromatic excitement, and extremely pro features to the lineup. Photo: Ian Fuchs/Cult of Mac
For the first time ever, Apple released a Pro iPhone where “pro” means professional, not premium. The wafer-thin iPhone Air swiped the coveted premium device seat this year, but the iPhone 17 Pro still sits at the head of the table.
With its upgraded pro features and a new, no-nonsense design, the iPhone 17 Pro delivers the goods for people who need maximum power.
Use a case if you don't want your iPhone 17 Pro's camera plateau scratched up. Photo: Lewis Wallace/Cult of Mac
In its iPhone 17 teardown, the iFixit team provides a detailed explanation of why the iPhone 17 Pro scratches so easily. They brought in a materials scientist to get to the heart of what’s causing Scratchgate — and explain how Apple might have avoided the problem.
Which 2025 iPhone is the right pick for you? Photo: Apple/CultOfMac
Apple’s 2025 iPhone lineup is its boldest — and most confusing — yet. It offers three distinct models designed to cater to very different kinds of users. From the slim and stylish iPhone Air to the all-out powerhouse iPhone 17 Pro, with the well-balanced iPhone 17 in between, there’s something here for everyone.
But with overlapping features, similar pricing and Apple blurring the lines between Pro and non-Pro models, choosing the right iPhone isn’t as straightforward as it used to be.
The back of an iPhone Air demo unit already shows extensive scratching. Photo: Leander Kahney/Cult of Mac
SAN FRANCISCO — The iPhone 17 Scratchgate drama is real. Demo units of the new iPhone 17 Pro and iPhone Air models in Apple retail stores are showing scratches on opening weekend. The scratches appeared on their aluminum frames and on the glass panels on their backs.
I examined demo iPhones at Apple Stonestown in San Francisco on Friday (the busy iPhone 17 launch day) and again on Sunday. Many of the new iPhone 17 Pros and iPhone Airs are already scratched, especially the iPhone 17 Pro in deep blue and the iPhone Air in space black. But other colors showed scratches, too, even the iPhone 17 Pro in cosmic orange — the hot color this year.