Apple’s upcoming iPhone 17 Pro and iPhone 17 Pro Max might not look all that different from the models already in your hand — despite months of speculation pointing to a major redesign.
A new report from Bloomberg’s Mark Gurman pours cold water on the idea that Apple’s 2025 Pro iPhones will feature dramatic visual changes like a smaller Dynamic Island or a flashy dual-tone finish. Instead, expect something more familiar — with design tweaks that are meaningful but far from radical.
No Two-Tone, No Shrinking Dynamic Island
Previous leaks had stirred excitement with promises of a two-tone aesthetic and a more compact Dynamic Island, hinting at a visual evolution reminiscent of the iPhone X era. But Gurman, in his latest Power On newsletter, says that’s not happening.
“Some images online even show a two-tone design, with a dark-black camera block on top of a silver iPhone back,” Gurman wrote. “Those are, like many renders on the internet, not an accurate representation of what’s to come.”
Instead, Apple is expected to stick with a single-tone rear casing, keeping the camera bump color-matched to the rest of the phone. As for the front, that pill-shaped cutout known as Dynamic Island? Still there. Still the same size.
Translation: If you were hoping for a dramatic design pivot in 2025, you may need to wait another two years.
Save the Redesign for the iPhone 19
Gurman hints that Apple is saving its big visual reset for 2027 — coinciding with the 20th anniversary of the iPhone. That year could bring the fabled “foldable iPhone” and a bold new Pro design, likely debuting with the iPhone 19 series (assuming Apple sticks to current naming).
Until then, the iPhone 17 Pro will mostly play it safe — at least on the outside.
Camera Hardware Takes the Spotlight
What the iPhone 17 Pro lineup may lack in design flair, it’s aiming to make up for in raw imaging power.
According to multiple reports, Apple is overhauling its telephoto lens. The iPhone 17 Pro and Pro Max are expected to pack a 48-megapixel telephoto camera with an 85mm equivalent focal length. That’s a big jump from the current 12MP telephoto lens on the iPhone 16 Pro, which offers a 120mm focal length.
Here’s the trade-off:
• Max optical zoom drops from 5x to 3.5x.
• But Apple plans to use in-sensor crop zoom to deliver up to 7x “lossless” zoom, minimizing quality loss.
This new 48MP telephoto sensor should also significantly enhance low-light portrait photography. Combined with expected improvements to the main and ultra-wide sensors (also rumored to be 48MP), Apple appears to be pushing for parity across all lenses in the Pro camera array.
Oh, and Selfies Just Got Better
Apple is also rumored to upgrade the front-facing TrueDepth camera from 12MP to 24MP — a long-overdue boost for selfie lovers and FaceTime regulars. Expect sharper, more detailed shots across the board.
Under the Hood: A19 Pro Chip Enters the Chat
As always, a new iPhone Pro means a new chip — and this year, it’s the A19 Pro. Built on TSMC’s next-gen 3nm N3P process, it’s expected to offer notable improvements in both performance and power efficiency. Whether that translates into better battery life or just raw horsepower for apps and games remains to be seen.
But with all three rear cameras potentially boasting 48MP sensors and the AI load increasing, the A19 Pro will need to work harder than ever.
TL;DR
| Feature | iPhone 17 Pro / Pro Max |
|---|---|
| Design | Minimal changes, no dual-tone |
| Dynamic Island | Same size as iPhone 16 Pro |
| Rear Camera | 48MP main, ultra-wide, telephoto |
| Telephoto Zoom | 3.5x optical, up to 7x “lossless” digital |
| Front Camera | 24MP TrueDepth |
| Chipset | A19 Pro (3nm N3P) |
| Launch | Expected September 2025 |
The Bottom Line
For Apple, the iPhone 17 Pro is shaping up to be more of a camera beast than a design revelation. And that may be enough. After all, the current Pro lineup already boasts titanium builds, gorgeous displays, and industry-leading silicon. But with competition heating up in foldables and AI-powered devices, many were hoping for a flashier next-gen leap.
