iPhone 17 Pro, iPhone 17 Pro Max with A19 Pro chipset launched: Price, specs

At its recent ‘Awe Dropping’ event, Apple unveiled the highly anticipated iPhone 17 Pro and iPhone 17 Pro Max, showcasing a range of advanced features and an impressive new chipset. Alongside these models, the company also introduced the standard iPhone 17 and the iPhone 17 Air, with availability expected shortly. The standout feature of the Pro models is the A19 Pro processor, Apple's latest high-performance chip, which operates on the new iOS 26. Apple emphasizes that both the iPhone 17 Pro and Pro Max will fully support its suite of artificial intelligence functionalities. Starting at 256GB of storage and going up to 1TB for the Pro, the Pro Max offers an additional 2TB option for the first time. In the United States, prices begin at $1,099 for the Pro and $1,199 for the Pro Max, while in India, the starting prices are set at ₹1,34,900 and ₹1,49,900, respectively. Customers can choose from three color finishes: Cosmic Orange, Deep Blue, and Silver. The devices feature two display sizes of 6.3 and 6.9 inches, continuing the differentiation between the Pro and Pro Max models. Both utilize Super Retina XDR OLED technology, with a remarkable peak outdoor brightness of 3,000 nits, a significant increase from the previous model's limit of 2,000 nits. Users can expect improved outdoor contrast, which has reportedly doubled. For durability, the iPhone 17 Pro and Pro Max are equipped with the new Ceramic Shield 2, a material that enhances scratch and crack resistance. This technology is applied both on the front and back of the devices, offering three times the scratch resistance and four times the crack resistance compared to earlier models. The screens maintain a ProMotion refresh rate of up to 120Hz and feature Always-On capability. In terms of performance, Apple has introduced a novel vapor chamber system to manage heat distribution, enhancing sustained performance by keeping the A19 Pro chip cool. The larger design, combined with the efficient power management of the A19 Pro and iOS 26, allows the iPhone 17 Pro Max to claim the title of the iPhone with the longest battery life yet. The A19 Pro processor is touted as Apple’s most efficient smartphone chip, boasting a six-core CPU optimized for speed, while the GPU features six cores with dedicated neural accelerators. This advanced hardware supports real-time ray tracing, high-quality gaming experiences, and the capability to execute large language models locally. Enhanced by a new 16-core Neural Engine, it also includes the N1 wireless networking component, bringing compatibility with Wi-Fi 7 and Bluetooth 6. Charging capabilities have also seen a boost, with both models able to reach 50% charge in just 20 minutes when used with Apple's new 40W USB-C adapter. Photography enthusiasts will appreciate the three 48-megapixel “Fusion” cameras that include a main wide-angle, an ultra-wide, and a newly designed telephoto lens with a 56% larger sensor than its predecessor. The Pro Max model offers an impressive optical zoom of up to 8x, equivalent to a 200mm lens, and digital zoom capabilities extend to 40x. On the front, users will find an upgraded 18-megapixel “Centre Stage” camera that adjusts its framing automatically during calls or photos, providing versatility for content creators with the ability to capture simultaneous recordings from both front and rear sensors. The Pro models also enhance Apple’s video recording capabilities, now allowing for ProRes RAW recording alongside support for Dolby Vision HDR and 4K at 120 frames per second. Both devices will ship with iOS 26, which features a new aesthetic called “Liquid Glass,” along with robust on-device AI tools under the Apple Intelligence banner. These tools enhance user privacy while offering functionalities like live translation and screenshot recognition. Developers will also have access to APIs for integrating these advanced features into third-party applications. With the launch of the iPhone 17 series, Apple continues to set new standards in the smartphone industry, promising users a blend of cutting-edge technology and unparalleled performance.