Apple’s iPhone 17 Pro is here — and it’s the most significant iPhone redesign in years. Swapping out the familiar titanium and glass for a new aluminium unibody, the 17 Pro brings major camera upgrades, improved cooling, and longer battery life.
But with a starting price of £1,099/$1,099, is the new look and zoom worth the premium? Let’s break it down.
🔄 What’s New in the iPhone 17 Pro?
- New aluminium unibody (no more glass back)
- Bold full-width camera bump
- Lighter, softer edges for better grip
- A19 Pro chip with vapor chamber cooling
- Upgraded 4x/8x zoom telephoto lens
- 18MP selfie camera with Centre Stage
- iOS 26 with Liquid Glass UI
📱 Design & Build: A Fresh Look with Practical Edges
The iPhone 17 Pro ditches the all-glass back and titanium sides for a sleek, scratch-prone aluminium unibody. While the aluminium improves drop resistance, it’s more likely to scratch — especially around the camera bump.
- Weight: 204g (5g heavier than last year)
- Comfort: Softer, rounded sides make it easier to hold
- Back panel: A glass inlay for MagSafe and Qi2.2 compatibility
- Camera bump: Larger than ever, inspired by the Pixel’s design
It’s a fresh look — and for many, just having something visibly different is enough of a selling point.
🔋 Battery & Charging: Better Endurance, Faster Charging
With the new A19 Pro chip and vapour chamber cooling, the iPhone 17 Pro runs cooler under pressure — whether gaming or streaming. Battery life has also improved noticeably.
- Battery life: ~42 hours on moderate use (2+ hours longer than iPhone 16 Pro)
- Charging via USB-C:
- 76 mins full charge with 40W adapter
- 70% in 30 minutes
- Wireless charging: 96 mins with 25W Qi2 charger
You’ll likely charge it every other day under typical usage.
🖥️ Display: Stunning Screen, Now with Anti-Glare
While the screen remains the same size and resolution as last year, Apple added a new anti-glare coating and boosted peak brightness.
- 6.3-inch Super Retina XDR OLED
- 120Hz refresh rate
- 460ppi resolution
- Dynamic Island stays
- Improved sunlight visibility with anti-glare glass
It shares the same display as the standard iPhone 17 — a first for the Pro line.
🔧 Performance: A19 Pro Chip + Vapor Cooling = Powerhouse
Apple’s new A19 Pro processor, paired with 12GB RAM, delivers serious performance gains. But what really helps this year is the vapor chamber cooling, which keeps the phone cool even under heavy loads.
- Smooth gaming & multitasking
- Less heat and battery drain
- Top-tier frame rates for gaming
- Excellent thermal management
You’ll notice better consistency in performance compared to previous models, especially during long gaming sessions or 4K video shooting.
📸 Camera System: It’s All About That Zoom
Apple finally caught up in the zoom game — and arguably pulled ahead. The iPhone 17 Pro features three 48MP rear cameras and a new 18MP selfie camera.
Rear Camera Setup:
- Main (48MP): Great detail, excellent in most lighting
- Ultra-Wide (48MP): Solid street and landscape photography
- Telephoto (48MP, 4x optical):
- Better than last year’s 5x at 12MP
- 8x crop zoom looks excellent in good light
- Max 40x digital zoom shows some degradation, but still useful
Front Camera:
- 18MP sensor with Centre Stage for video calls
- Landscape selfies possible in portrait grip
- First selfie upgrade in years — and it shows
Video & Features:
- Simultaneous front and back video recording
- Strong portrait and macro modes
- Cinematic quality video that still leads the market
📱 Software: iOS 26 with a Transparent Twist
iOS 26 introduces Apple’s new “Liquid Glass” UI, a semi-transparent design language. While it looks sleek, it’s caused some usability issues — especially when buttons blend too much into the background.
Still, the system is smooth, modern, and continues Apple’s strong integration between software and hardware.
💚 Sustainability & Repairability
Apple continues its push for sustainability:
- Battery lifespan: 1,000+ full charges with 80% capacity
- Repair scores: iFixit gives it 7/10
- Recycled materials: Over 30% of components
- Repair costs:
- Battery: £109
- Screen: £349
- Apple trade-in & recycling supported, even for non-Apple devices
💸 Price & Comparisons
| Model | Starting Price (GBP) |
|---|---|
| iPhone 17 Pro | £1,099 (256GB) |
| iPhone 17 | £799 |
| iPhone Air | £999 |
| iPhone 16e | £599 |
| iPhone 17 Pro Max | £1,199 |
| Google Pixel 10 Pro | £999 |
| Samsung Galaxy S25 Ultra | £1,099 |
| Fairphone 6 | £499 |
✅ Verdict: A Premium iPhone Focused on Photography
iPhone 17 Pro stands out as Apple’s most visually distinct and camera-focused iPhone in years.
Pros:
✔️ Bold new design
✔️ Excellent camera system (especially zoom)
✔️ Improved selfie camera
✔️ Great battery life
✔️ Cool under pressure with vapor chamber cooling
✔️ USB-C charging
✔️ Long software support
Cons:
❌ Expensive (now over £1,000)
❌ Heavier than older models
❌ No major AI features like Pixel 10
❌ Screen is identical to cheaper iPhone 17
Who should buy it?
If you’re an iPhone user who cares about photography, wants telephoto zoom, and doesn’t mind paying extra for a standout design — this is the phone for you.
If not, the standard iPhone 17 or iPhone Air might offer better value with many of the same features (minus the zoom).
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