Apple iPhone 17 Pro and Pro Max review: It’s time for an upgrade

Apple’s Pro iPhones have barely changed since the iPhone 11 Pro launched all the way back in 2019. Yes, they have got faster, stronger and can shoot far better photos, but the overall design has stayed stagnant for years. That’s finally changed, and it’s good news for those who love to show off and let everyone know they have bought the very latest model.

In fact, if you opt for the snazzy Cosmic Orange colour, you’ll find it very hard not to be noticed.

I’ve got to be honest, when I first saw the look of the new iPhone 17 Pro models I wasn’t sure if I loved or loathed them.

Since having both the 17 Pro and Pro Max in my pocket, the two-tone appearance and bigger camera bump concept have definitely grown on me. It’s just nice to see Apple fully refreshing things, and there’s no question you’ll know when someone has splashed out when you see them holding up an iPhone 17 Pro up to snap a selfie.

One thing that you may notice when buying one, is there’s no longer a black option. In fact, the 17 Pro now only comes in three colours: Deep Blue, Silver and that Cosmic Orange shade. This is also the first Pro iPhone to have a unibody aluminium chassis rather than stainless steel or titanium.

That might seem like a strange decision, especially since titanium was introduced on the iPhone 15 in 2023 due to its strength and durability.

That material has now gone (although you will find it on the new iPhone Air), and one of the biggest reasons for the change is an attempt to keep things cooler when placed under pressure. There is also the need for a glass section where the Apple logo is to allow for wireless charging, which cannot work through aluminium.

For the first time, Apple now packs a vapour chamber under the shell of the iPhone 17 Pro models and, mixed with aluminium design, it stops the device from getting so hot when taking on labour-intensive tasks such as movie editing.

Apple is boasting that its new 7000-series aluminium alloy is over 20 times more thermally conductive than before.

Along with video editing, that cool update also improves gaming and you’ll get higher frame rates during long sessions, even with hardware-accelerated ray tracing switched on, a feature that helps run games at their best.

So what about durability? Endless YouTubers will no doubt put the iPhone 17 Pro through its paces, so we’ll wait and see if the lack of titanium has compromised things. What I will say is that the unibody styling looks really nice and feels super premium in the hand. It also makes the Pros a little lighter this year.

Along with the new look and vapour chamber, the Pro features the latest and truly mighty A19 Pro processor. I honestly doubt anyone will get close to pushing this chip to its limit – let’s be honest, last year’s A18 Pro processor was no slouch, and this takes things up another level.

As a guide to how herculean it is, the A19 Pro is around 50 percent faster than the A17 Pro brain in the iPhone 15 Pro – a device that was already ludicrously quick.

Of course, a better processor usually means improved battery life, and the 17 Pro models will easily last a day and beyond.

The standard 17 Pro is really good – I’m getting well over 24 hours of usage – but the Pro Max pushes things even further, and this is definitely the best device for power users.

In fact you could watch movies on two return trips from London to New York and still have power left in the tank – it really is that good.

One of the biggest reasons people go Pro is the camera and things have had a big boost this year.

Tucked in that bigger bar on the back panel are three 48MP snappers with a main, telephoto and ultra-wide lenses..

This device offers everything you’d expect from a Pro and I really have no complaints about the camera set-up.

It will shoot pin-sharp close-ups, great ultra-wide images and the zoom is decent as well. When the sun sets, things are just as impressive thanks to the clever Night Mode. If it’s a video you want to shoot, the iPhone 17 Pro range is the first to support recording in Apple’s ProRes RAW format.

This feature is aimed at professional usage and offers more flexibility in post-production. Studio-quality mics are also included for better sound recording, and the phone can automatically reduce background and wind noise.

Just like all of the other new iPhone models, the Pro and Pro Max get a new front-facing Centre Stage Camera.

This selfie snapper is a game-changer in my opinion.

It adapts the lens automatically depending on how many people are in your shot and widens the frame without you spinning the phone around, so you can landscape selfies while holding the phone vertically.

I think this will be one of the most-used new features on all the new iPhones, especially as it works so seamlessly.

Another bonus is something called Dual Capture, which records using both the front and rear cameras simultaneously. This allows you to film your reaction as well as what’s going on on the other side of the camera.

Just like last year’s iPhones, the Pro models get the Camera Control button on the side that launches the camera app and can act as a shutter button.

It’s not something I use an awful lot but it never gets in the way and I’d rather have it than lose it.

When it’s time to watch the content you’ve snapped, you get a glorious ProMotion display with the usual 120Hz refresh rate, which now gets better anti-reflection for improved viewing outdoors.

The Pro has a 6.3-inch panel while the Max goes super-sized with a 6.9-inch display squeezed into the chassis.

Other features worth mentioning include fast network speeds via Apple N1 chip, there’s quick charging (although this is slower than many Android phones), and you still get features such as Emergency SOS, which uses satellites to call emergency services if you can’t get a mobile signal. There’s Crash Detection as well, which can call for help after an accident.

I can honestly say that there’s not much to hate about the iPhone 17 Pro and Pro Max. My only gripe would be the new price. This device now starts from £1,099 – that’s £300 more than the feature-packed iPhone 17.

With that cheaper iPhone now getting a ProMotion display, more storage, and an improved camera, I’d ask if you really need to go pro this year?

There’s also the iPhone Air to throw into the mix as well. That’s a £999 device that’s just 5.6mm thick and was definitely the star of Apple’s recent launch.

The new iPhone 17 Pro and Pro Max pack quite a punch. They finally look different, get improved processing, longer battery life and will keep cooler under pressure.

The cameras are superb, the screens are sharp, and they offer bonus extras such as professional video recording.

If you love Pro devices this is definitely a year to upgrade as the changes are pretty dramatic over previous models.

Just remember that these are now more expensive, and the cheaper iPhone 17 has had a major upgrade this year.

The Air might also convince you to switch to something slimmer in your pocket.

There’s no question that 17 Pro and 17 Pro Max are the ultimate iPhones, just be prepared to pay a premium to have one in your pocket.