Comply with ZDNET: Add us as a most popular supply on Google.
ZDNET’s key takeaways
- Apple simply launched its iPhone 17 Professional.
- The brand new mannequin consists of some engaging upgrades.
- I’ve had the 16 Professional for one yr, and would possibly commerce it in.
Whereas most individuals select to attend a number of years earlier than upgrading their iPhones, that is a bit more difficult for tech aficionados like myself. I actually wished to carry out on upgrading my every day driver, the iPhone 16 Professional, however after watching the launch occasion and studying concerning the latest iPhone 17 Professional launch in specs, I’m practically satisfied to make the improve.
Additionally: Apple iPhone 17 occasion recap: iPhone Air preorders, Apple Watch 11, AirPods Professional 3, extra
Whereas the flashiest announcement from this week’s product launch is the extremely anticipated iPhone Air, the corporate’s lightest and thinnest telephone up to now, the iPhone 17 Professional bought some vital upgrades that make it one to observe. With a refreshed design, daring colours, and under-the-hood upgrades, it is among the most succesful iPhone fashions up to now.
Listed here are the three main causes I could half methods with my iPhone 16 Professional (with the final motive being my greatest motivator).
1. Digicam upgrades
The largest motive to buy any of the Professional fashions is that you’re an avid photograph taker, reminiscence capturer, or content material creator, and want the superior digital camera system that these phons provide. This yr, that motive looms massive.
Additionally: Apple iPhone 17 Professional vs. iPhone 16 Professional: I in contrast each fashions, and listed here are the variations
The iPhone 17 Professional and iPhone 17 Professional Max characteristic “Apple’s best-ever digital camera programs with higher-resolution sensors back and front – equal to having eight professional lenses in a consumer’s pocket,” based on Apple. Let me break down the precise specs.
For the primary time, the three-camera array consists of three 48MP Fusion cameras, together with the brand new 48MP Telephoto digital camera, which has a sensor that’s 56% bigger than the earlier era. This could contribute to sharper, crisper photographs in each lighter and darker environments, and assist it higher compete with smartphones that do notably nicely with long-distance, such because the Google Pixel 10 Professional.
The declare that there are eight professional lenses in a consumer’s pocket comes from the truth that now they will flex between varied zoom ranges, for instance, 4x optical zoom at 100mm vs 8x optical zoom at 200mm (which Apple says is the longest on an iPhone). On the entrance, the iPhone 17 Professional additionally options an improve with Middle Stage, which supplies it a wider visual field for group selfies and higher decision, as much as 18MP.
Additionally: Why I am breaking the 5-year iPhone improve cycle – and I am not alone
ZDNET’s Editor in Chief Jason Hiner did level out a possible pitfall: “All three iPhone 17 Professional cameras at the moment are 48MP and Fusion cameras, which means they’ve a number of efficient lengths. So the zoom digital camera is now 4x with an 8x ‘optical-quality’ zoom. Meaning Apple has really downgraded the optical zoom from 5x to 4x.”
Nevertheless, the brand new specs look promising, and you’ll actually solely know the way nicely the digital camera performs whenever you use it, however my curiosity is piqued. Preserve an eye fixed out for an in-depth digital camera system evaluation just like the one I did final yr for the iPhone 16 Professional.
2. Battery life
In yet one more daring declare from Apple, the corporate says that the iPhone 17 Professional has the very best battery life in an iPhone. Apple attributes this feat to the unibody design, which permits for the inclusion of a bigger battery, iOS 26 battery-optimizing options, and the brand new A19 Professional chipset. Whereas Apple does not provide the precise battery specs, the corporate says that the telephone helps 33 hours of video playback. By comparability, the iPhone 16 Professional presents as much as 27 hours of video playback.
Additionally: My iPhone 15 Professional Max battery life went from nice to terrible in lower than two years – what occurred?
Despite the fact that I’m happy with the efficiency of the iPhone 16 Professional’s battery life, doubtless as a result of it has solely been a yr, I’m a textbook definition of what you’ll name an influence consumer. I’ll concurrently be on FaceTime, and modifying a video, whereas toggling to a distinct window to reply texts. Even my bedtime routine consists of hours of doomscrolling, and in consequence, I can at all times profit from a greater battery.
3. Strictly aesthetics
Whereas I want I have been kidding, the brand new look and colours of the iPhone 17 Professional play a big function in my resolution to improve. With this iPhone 17 lineup as a complete, it was refreshing to see Apple take extra inventive liberties. Whereas this was exemplified in its most original kind issue, the iPhone Air, the iPhone 17 Professional exhibits off this development too, particularly due to its extra enjoyable colours.
Whereas I’m not an orange individual and personal not one ounce of orange in my wardrobe or equipment, the Cosmic Orange shade is completely gorgeous. As we mentioned within the workplace, the hands-on footage makes it evident that the colour is far much less of a site visitors cone orange and rather more of a copper-like shade. Even the Deep Blue shade, whereas much less eye-catching, remains to be a ravishing shade. Final yr, the three Professional fashions have been all totally different shades of neutrals, various between 4 very fundamental and boring colours.
Additionally: iPhone 17 preorders are open: This is the place you will discover free telephone offers
There’s additionally a slight variation within the precise kind issue. The digital camera bump extends throughout your entire prime of the telephone, much like that of the Google Pixel fashions. There’s additionally a two-tone panel on the again of the telephone, including some visible selection.
