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iPhone 17 Pro: The Unibody iPhone!
In Cupertino’s latest reveal, the iPhone 17 Pro is touted as the first-ever Unibody iPhone—a term previously coined for MacBook designs—crafted from a single piece of aluminum (farewell titanium). In a novel design twist, the camera area now houses the antennas. The OLED Super Retina XDR display (ProMotion with a variable refresh rate from 1 Hz to 120 Hz and always-on mode) boasts an outdoor brightness of up to 3,000 nits and benefits from enhanced protection thanks to the new Ceramic Shield 2.
The iPhone 17 Pro features the A19 Pro chip (with six CPU cores and six GPU cores, one more than the iPhone Air, which also uses the A19 Pro) and introduces a novel vapor chamber cooling system, potentially offering improved heat resistance during intense use. Apple also boasts a 40% performance increase over the iPhone 16 Pro. Wi-Fi 7 support is enabled by the custom N1 network chip, which also supports Bluetooth 6 and Thread. In addition to the latest generation of wireless technologies, the N1 chip enhances the performance and reliability of features such as Personal Hotspot and AirDrop.
Enhanced Durability and Cooling
Apple emphasizes the durability of its new iPhone 17 and 17 Pro models, an appealing feature for those brave enough to use these pricey devices without a case. Notably, the back is now ceramic instead of glass, which the company claims is far more durable.
The reconfigured camera area has also made room for a larger battery, leading to a video playback battery life of 39 hours. This impressive number suggests the potential for watching an entire season of a show on a single charge, though real-world usage will ultimately determine the actual improvements in this area.
Enhanced Photo and Video Capabilities
As with every new model, Apple continues to enhance the photo and video capabilities of its high-end iPhones. The iPhone 17 Pro features three 48-megapixel sensors. The zoom capabilities have been increased to 4x (100mm) and even 8x (200mm), with 4x on the main sensor (in-sensor zoom) and 8x on the optical zoom! Apple notes that the zoom sensor is 56% larger. The 18 MP front camera offers stabilized 4K HDR recording, and the Center Stage mode (keeping the subject in frame). It will also be possible to record with both the front and rear cameras simultaneously using the Dual Capture feature.
The iPhone 17 Pro can record in ProRes RAW, providing a format that is suitable for post-production, supported by Final Cut Camera and Black Magic Camera (including Genlock support for synchronization). Formats like Dolby Vision HDR, 4K120, ProRes Los, and ACES are also supported.
Storage, Pricing, and Availability
Good news, the base model of the iPhone 17 Pro now starts with 256GB of internal storage. The iPhone 17 Pro and 17 Pro Max will be available for pre-order in three colors (Cosmic Orange, Deep Blue, and Silver) starting next Friday, with the first shipments scheduled for September 19. Prices remain unchanged, starting at $1,329 for the Pro and $1,479 for the Pro Max.