I’ve at all times been on crew Common Measurement on the subject of iPhone Professional fashions, even in years when the bigger Professional Max fashions have gained unique options, just like the 5x telephoto “tetraprism” digital camera within the iPhone 15 Professional Max (which expanded to each fashions within the iPhone 16 Professional). Regardless of the extra expansive display screen measurement, the Max has at all times appeared too cumbersome to hold round all day.
However a bunch of rumored options and design modifications for the upcoming iPhone 17 Professional Max has me weighing the advantages of embracing Apple’s greatest telephone.
I do know it might sound foolish to be eager about the subsequent iPhone fashions within the warmth of the summer time, however here is the factor: September is simply two months away, which suggests now could be the time when individuals begin eager about fall budgets and whether or not the iPhone they have been holding onto could make it by way of another 12 months.
What I am seeing up to now has me very certainly. Now, I am trying ahead to September for greater than merely cooler climate and scorching drinks. This is a rundown of a number of the options rumored for the iPhone 17 Professional Max that I am most interested by.
Making the case to go bigger
The iPhone Professional Max fashions are tanks in comparison with the remainder of the road — nicely, they don’t seem to be on the toughness stage of the Samsung Galaxy XCover 7 Professional, 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 every little thing 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 Professional Max may find yourself being virtually half a millimeter thicker, at 8.725 mm, in line with a Could put up by 9to5Mac. Has anybody ever requested for a extra cumbersome iPhone? Really, sure, sure and sure.
The iPhone 17 Professional Max may get thicker.
Add the brand new Adaptive Energy function in iOS 26, which makes use of AI to distribute energy extra effectively when demand is excessive, and we may 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 might imply longer life utilizing the identical bodily battery measurement.)
In the event 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 emblem down from its present perch. That does not look like a giant purposeful change nevertheless it ought to assist soothe people who select so as to add a transparent MagSafe case, for the reason that emblem might be centered inside the MagSafe space. You may’t say Apple would not sweat the design particulars.
There are additionally rumors that the iPhone lineup will embrace a brand new sky blue colour, about which I’ve opinions.
Carry on all of the digital camera upgrades
We will not discuss concerning the case with out mentioning the digital camera bump, which may turn into a extra expansive digital camera island (or possibly on the bigger iPhone 17 Professional Max, it is going to be extra like a digital camera continent) that stretches throughout the width of the iPhone again, in line with CAD renders by Majin Bu.
That expanse could embrace an upgraded 48-megapixel telephoto digital camera, which feels overdue for a top-tier digital camera system. Granted, it’ll in all probability take additional steps to seize pictures within the full 48-megapixel decision, as is the case with the present principal Fusion digital camera within the iPhone 16 Professional fashions, the place pictures are “pixel-binned” with a number of pixels grouped collectively to reinforce gentle gathering capacity. However given the good 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 positively 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 digital camera is predicted, up from 12 megapixels, so maybe my selfies will look higher. Extra doubtless, it is to spice up the subsequent rumored function.
Examine Out the iPhone 16 Professional Max’s Cameras, Show and Colours
Video recording makes a leap
Cameras on each 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 each side of a dialog. Third-party apps have been capable of faucet into this functionality for a while, however have not been out there as a default choice.
Not as necessary for on a regular basis use, however fascinating by way of advancing the state-of-the-art, the iPhone 17 Professional Max may assist 8K video recording, as speculated by MacRumors after experiences that 8K was examined for the iPhone 16 Professional. 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 may well even overheat the iPhone and briefly 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.
In line with Majin Bu and others, the iPhone 17 Professional fashions will function a “vapor chamber” cooling system. Because the processor heats up, a small quantity of liquid within the chamber evaporates and condenses in cooler areas, then will get handed again to the new 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 homeowners, 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 with a purpose to wean its dependence on Qualcomm, which has supplied the modem {hardware} in earlier iPhone fashions.
Nonetheless, the C1 lacks a sooner millimeter wave mobile community and doesn’t assist Wi-Fi 7, despite the fact that it is extra conservative about energy utilization (and nonetheless performs nicely), an appropriate tradeoff for the price range telephone in Apple’s lineup.
The C1 is Apple’s first mobile modem. We may see a extra succesful C2 chip within the iPhone 17 Professional fashions.
However for the iPhone 17 Professional Max, we’re speaking concerning the subsequent skilled fashions, and an iPhone Professional in 2025 cannot ship with out the most recent, quickest wi-fi expertise. It will be extra real looking to see Apple keep on with Qualcomm for the Professional line than embrace the C1 — however I think a C2 is coming.
In line with MacRumors, the Wi-Fi 7 compatibility could possibly be supplied by a separate devoted chip designed by Apple.
These aren’t the one iPhone 17 Professional rumors we’re monitoring, however proper now they’re those which have me my calendar and wishing September may arrive just a bit sooner.
