• Another batch of iPhone 17 rumors have appeared
  • The iPhone 17 Pro Max model is tipped to get a camera upgrade
  • It seems the SIM card slot is staying in some markets

There are a lot of iPhone 17 rumors and leaks to keep up with at the moment, and the latest to catch our attention have apparently revealed some more details about the most expensive models arriving next month: the iPhone 17 Pro and the iPhone 17 Pro Max.

First up, tipster Majin Bu (via GSMArena) has posted a couple of photos that supposedly shows the SIM card slot for the iPhone 17 Pro. While the iPhones have gone eSIM-only in the US, that’s not the case in international markets, and it looks as though it’s not going to be the case with the 2025 handsets either.

Next, we’ve got images purporting to show the internals of the iPhone 17 Pro Max from well-known leaker Yeux1122 (via Wccftech). We can see the same metal-covered battery design used in last year’s iPhone 16 Pro, which improves thermal management, and the bigger camera module that’s previously been rumored.

Also of note are two different battery shape designs, which are presumably for iPhones with and without physical SIM card slots. It’s a sign of the accommodations Apple has to make for its phones in different markets across the world.

Camera upgrades

Apple iPhone 16 Pro Max REVIEW

The rear cameras on the iPhone 16 Pro Max (Image credit: Future / Lance Ulanoff)

Perhaps the most exciting leak of the latest batch comes from another seasoned tipster, Setsuna Digital (via Notebookcheck), which suggests the iPhone 17 Pro Max will come with the most powerful telephoto camera we’ve seen yet.

It’s not clear if that means the most powerful telephoto camera in the iPhone series or in smartphones in general, but it’s a promising potential upgrade either way. The iPhone 16 Pro Max comes equipped with a triple-lens 48MP+48MP+12MP camera on the back, with 5x optical zoom courtesy of the telephoto lens.

We don’t know how much the optical zoom or the megapixel count might be upgraded this year, but there’s already been talk of 8x optical zoom this year, which is part of the reason for the redesign of the back of the case we’re expecting. Apple might also unveil a pro-level camera app alongside the new phones.

We shouldn’t have too long to wait to see how accurate or otherwise these leaks are: if Apple sticks to its usual schedule, the iPhone 17 series will be announced in September, with Tuesday, September 9 the likely day and date.

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