Apple iPhone 17 Pro, 17 Pro Max: First impressions

Apple unveiled its much-awaited iPhone 17 series of smartphones at its ‘Awe Dropping’ event on September 9. The company has launched three new smartphones under the series — iPhone 17, iPhone 17 Pro, and iPhone 17 Pro Max. We got our hands on the two Pro models and we spent some time with them. Here is our hands-on experience with the two new iPhone 17 Pro models.

Design and Display

The iPhone 17 Pro and iPhone 17 Pro Max stick closely to Apple’s signature design language, but with subtle refinements. The company has replaced the titanium frame from the iPhone 16 Pro model and has introduced a new aerospace-grade aluminum enclosure in the iPhone 17 Pro model. The aluminum frame is said to improve the heat dissipation and also reduce the weight of the smartphones. On the back, the plateau creates additional space for internal components — making room for a larger battery. The antennas are integrated around the perimeter. The camera plateau of the rear of the smartphone is a bold new horizontal camera bump stretched across the back, housing three massive 48MP sensors.


The front and back of both the iPhone 17 Pro models come with Ceramic Shield 2 which promise to offer 3x better scratch resistance and 4x better crack resistance as compared to previous generation models. The right side of the smartphone houses the power button and the new camera control button which allows the users to quickly access the camera and take photos or start video recording. The left has the volume buttons and the same Action Button which the company introduced with the iPhone 15 Pro models. The USB Type-C charging port is placed at the bottom.

Coming to the display, the Apple iPhone 17 Pro and iPhone 17 Pro Max come with 6.3-inch and 6.9-inch sizes. The Super Retina XDR display is protected by Ceramic Shield 2. The displays also feature ProMotion up to 120Hz, Always-On, and 3000 nits of peak outdoor brightness — the highest ever on iPhone — and 2x better outdoor contrast.

Hardware and Camera

Under the hood, the iPhone 17 Pro and iPhone 17 Pro Max are powered by Apple’s new A19 Pro chipset, built on a 3nm process. The company claims that the chipset delivers up to 40 percent better sustained performance than the previous generation — ideal for gaming, video editing, and running large local language models. iPhones have consistently held the top spot in performance, and the iPhone 17 Pro and iPhone 17 Pro Max are no exception. Apps open instantly, and multitasking feels effortless. You will have to wait for our complete review to read about the gaming capabilities of the A19 Pro chipset.


Both the models run iOS 26 operating system. The new iteration of the operating system brings new design, powerful Apple Intelligence capabilities, and meaningful improvements to the apps users rely on every day. The new design with Liquid Glass makes apps and system experiences more expressive. Apple Intelligence now translates text and audio on the go with Live Translation, helping users communicate across languages in Messages, FaceTime, and Phone.


Both the iPhone 17 Pro models house triple rear camera setup with 48MP Fusion wide-angle (f/1.78) camera, 48MP Fusion120° Ultra Wide (f/2.2) autofocus secondary camera and 48MP Fusion Telephoto (ƒ/2.8) camera. There’s also an 18MP (ƒ/1.9) centre stage front camera. The new 4x optical zoom at 100mm offers a classic lens for portraiture, while the 8x optical zoom at 200mm, the longest ever on iPhone, provides longer reach and more creative choice.


With features like Dolby Vision HDR recording, 4K120 fps, ProRes Log, and support for ACES, iPhone is somewhat a filmmaker’s dream. The Center Stage front camera features the first square front camera sensor on iPhone, offering a wide field of view and capturing photos up to 18MP. The new centre-stage camera setup prevents the users from the hassle of rotating the phone every time they take a selfie.

Users can take photos and videos in portrait or landscape while holding their iPhone vertically. For group shots, Center Stage for photos uses AI to automatically expand the field of view and can rotate from portrait to landscape to include everyone in the frame.


However, we still need to thoroughly test the iPhone 16 Pro’s cameras to provide a verdict.

What we think

Overall, the iPhone 17 Pro and iPhone 17 Pro Max offer impressive upgrades in every department. Whether it’s the sleek design, powerful hardware, or cutting-edge camera system. The iPhone 17 Pro starts at Rs 1,34,900 whereas the iPhone 17 Pro Max starts at Rs 1,49,900. Apple seems to have hit the mark with the iPhone 17 Pro series. But are the new iPhones worth the upgrade? Stay tuned for our comprehensive review.