Apple’s telephone lineup is normally break up between the more-affordable iPhone and the extras-added iPhone Professional fashions, however this yr we might see one other break up, and I am not speaking a few potential iPhone 17 Air. Whereas the iPhone 16 Professional and iPhone 16 Professional Max are mainly the identical telephones however with completely different measurement screens and our bodies, the iPhone 17 Professional Max anticipated to be introduced at Apple’s “Awe dropping” occasion subsequent week on Sept. 9 might set itself aside from the regular-size iPhone 17 Professional.
I’ve at all times caught with the usual iPhone Professional, however now I am not so certain. This is a rundown of a number of the options rumored for the iPhone 17 Professional Max that I am most inquisitive about.
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Making the case to go bigger
The iPhone Professional 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 possibly they’re extra like strong midsize SUVs. However they’re notable for his or her bigger screens, greater our bodies and particularly for having room for extra of all the things in an iPhone.
And that features a bigger battery. The Max fashions have already got extra battery area than different fashions, however the iPhone 17 Professional Max might find yourself being nearly half a millimeter thicker, at 8.725mm, based on a May post by 9to5Mac. Has anybody ever requested for a extra cumbersome iPhone? Truly, yes, yes and yes.
The iPhone 17 Professional Max might get thicker.
Add 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 might see a lift in day by day use earlier than reaching for a charger. (Then once more, Adaptive Energy could possibly be a software program workaround that would imply longer life utilizing the identical bodily battery measurement.)
When you’re 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 Professional case can also be rumored to shift the Apple logo down from its present perch. That does not appear to be an enormous useful change, but it surely ought to assist soothe of us who select so as to add a transparent MagSafe case, because the emblem will probably be centered inside the MagSafe space. You may’t say Apple would not sweat the design particulars.
A leak on X from Majin Bu purports to point out an iPhone 17 Professional 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 Professional seems so good pic.twitter.com/P7aFwR5FML
— Majin Bu (@MajinBuOfficial) July 10, 2025
Prime up equipment with reverse wi-fi charging
This rumor might remedy an issue I run into far too typically: If I neglect to cost my Apple Watch at residence or my AirPods Professional are operating low, there is not a lot I can do except I’ve packed a conveyable charger. Regardless that energy banks are reasonably priced and infrequently compact, it is nonetheless yet another factor to convey alongside.
However contemplate the iPhone that’s at all times with me. If you take a look at its innards, most of what takes up area is battery. What if I might 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 Professional and iPhone 17 Professional Max fashions would possibly incorporate reverse wi-fi charging. Along with with the ability to cost the iPhone’s battery utilizing MagSafe on the again, I might put my watch or AirPods case, which each cost wirelessly already, on the iPhone to share a number 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 might see case makers provide designs with a delicate indentation that may match the watch.
Deliver on all of the digicam upgrades
We won’t discuss in regards to the case with out mentioning the digicam bump, which might change into a extra expansive digicam island (or possibly on the bigger iPhone 17 Professional Max, will probably be extra like a digicam continent) that stretches throughout the width of the iPhone again, based on CAD renders by Majin Bu. We even obtained a glimpse of a potential check iPhone 17 Professional within the wild when somebody snapped a picture of what seems to be an Apple worker utilizing a telephone with a design that matches many rumors (by way of Cunning Pupy on X).
That expanse could embrace an upgraded 48-megapixel telephoto camera, which feels overdue for a top-tier camera system. Granted, it can in all probability take additional steps to seize pictures within the full 48-megapixel decision, as is the case with the present foremost Fusion digicam within the iPhone 16 Professional fashions, the place photographs are “pixel-binned” with a number of pixels grouped collectively to boost gentle gathering means. However 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 undoubtedly be a win for photographers.
Will the structure and configuration of the cameras change from the iPhone 16 Professional proven right here within the new iPhone 17 Professional Max?
Talking of decision, a 24-megapixel front-facing digicam is anticipated, up from 12 megapixels, so maybe my selfies will look higher. Extra probably, it is to spice up the following rumored characteristic.
Examine Out the iPhone 16 Professional Max’s Cameras, Show and Colours
A movable digicam lens
I am breaking out this digicam rumor individually as a result of it could mark an enormous change within the iPhone digicam system. In keeping with a post at MacRumors, the iPhone 17 Professional might have an 8x optical zoom. Not solely that, it is stated to have the ability to transfer, so maybe there could possibly 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 subject of view). The 5x zoom within the present iPhone 15 Professional Max, iPhone 16 and iPhone 16 Professional Max makes use of a “tetraprism” design to realize its telephoto vary whereas nonetheless maintaining the digicam bump modest.
iPhone 16 Professional 5x telephoto digicam
Video recording makes a leap
Cameras on either side will reportedly work along with twin video recording utilizing the built-in Digital camera app, a boon for conducting interviews or making response movies the place you wish to see either side of a dialog. Third-party apps have been capable of tap into this capability for some time, however have not been obtainable as a default possibility.
Not as vital for on a regular basis use, however fascinating when it comes to advancing the state-of-the-art, the iPhone 17 Professional Max might assist 8K video recording, as speculated by MacRumors after reviews that 8K was tested for the iPhone 16 Pro. The iPhone is swiftly turning right into a manufacturing video digicam, from options comparable to 28 Years Later to customized cameras constructed from iPhone tech in the F1 movie.
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 may even overheat the iPhone and quickly 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.
In keeping with Majin Bu and others, the iPhone 17 Professional fashions will characteristic a “vapor chamber” cooling system. Because 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 recent areas.
Wi-Fi 7 and quick mobile by way of a brand new Apple modem
That is extra geeky and fewer apparent to on a regular basis telephone house owners, however that is additionally sort 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.
Nonetheless, the C1 lacks a sooner millimeter wave mobile community and would not assist Wi-Fi 7, though it is extra conservative about energy utilization (and still performs well), a suitable trade-off for the finances 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 Professional fashions.
However for the iPhone 17 Professional Max, we’re speaking in regards to the subsequent skilled fashions, and an iPhone Professional in 2025 cannot ship with out the newest, quickest wi-fi know-how. It will be extra reasonable to see Apple follow Qualcomm for the Professional line than embrace the C1 — however I think a C2 is coming.
In keeping with MacRumors, the Wi-Fi 7 compatibility could possibly be offered by a separate dedicated chip designed by Apple.
An orange iPhone 17 Professional Max
You do not have to be an ardent fan of the Netherlands nationwide soccer crew to understand the colour orange. Leaker Majin Bu posted renders of the new color lineup for iPhone 17 Professional fashions, and considered one of them is gloriously ginger. Not solely is that this fascinating as a result of orange is orange, however as a result of it could 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 coloration, about which I have opinions.) I do not disguise my iPhone in a case, so with the ability to exhibit a daring coloration feels 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 might arrive just a bit sooner.
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