Apple fans are in a lather, following the launch of the iPhone 17 Pro and Pro Max. The new high-end smartphones feature a new aluminium design, A19 Pro chip, record battery life and the company’s most advanced camera system yet. The Cupertino colossus also unveiled AirPods Pro 3 earbuds with improved noise cancellation, redesigned fit, heart-rate tracking and Live Translation.
Core to the performance of both the iPhone 17 Pro and iPhone 17 Pro Max is the new A19 Pro chip, which has been paired with an Apple-designed vapour chamber for advanced thermal management. This combo enables higher sustained performance and extends battery life, says the company, particularly in the larger Pro Max model.
The design itself has been reworked, now built around a lightweight aerospace-grade aluminium unibody. The refreshed structure accommodates a larger battery and integrates antennas around the chassis for improved connectivity. Ceramic Shield 2 now protects both the front and the back, with improved scratch and crack resistance.
The screen has also had an upgrade. Available in 6.3-inch and 6.9-inch models, the Super Retina XDR display reaches 3,000 nits of peak outdoor brightness, making this the brightest iPhone screen yet. ProMotion up to 120Hz and Always-On display features remain.
The new models are available in fashionable cosmic orange, deep blue, and silver finishes.
Both models introduce three 48MP Fusion cameras, including an all-new telephoto system. The 8x optical-quality zoom is the longest on any iPhone…
Camera system expands creative options
Both models introduce three 48MP Fusion cameras, including an all-new telephoto system. The 8x optical-quality zoom is the longest on any iPhone, with additional benefits for portrait photography at 100mm. The new 18MP Centre Stage front camera expands field of view and detail, while AI-driven framing ensures stability and flexibility for selfies, group shots, and video calls.
For video creators, Apple has added ProRes RAW, Apple Log 2, and genlock, features typically reserved for professional equipment. These make the iPhone 17 Pro and Pro Max more viable in film and broadcast production workflows.
The A19 Pro is said to deliver up to 40 per cent better sustained performance than its predecessor, supporting advanced gaming and machine learning tasks. The integrated GPU includes Neural Accelerators, and the 16-core Neural Engine powers Apple Intelligence features on-device.
Wireless capabilities are boosted by the N1 chip, enabling Wi-Fi 7, Bluetooth 6, and Thread. Improvements to Personal Hotspot and AirDrop also stem from the new chip design.
“iPhone 17 Pro is by far the most powerful iPhone we’ve ever made, with a stunning new design rebuilt from the inside out to maximise performance and deliver an enormous leap in battery life,” says Greg Joswiak, Apple’s senior vice president of Worldwide Marketing. “With three 48MP Fusion cameras, a new Centre Stage front camera experience, and pro-level video features, the creative opportunities are endless. iPhone 17 Pro sets a new standard for the smartphone industry and is a massive upgrade for our most demanding users.”
Let’s not forget the iPhone Air
In related news, Apple has also launched the iPhone Air, its thinnest and lightest smartphone to date. Only 5.6mm thick, this new model features a lightweight titanium frame and relies on digital eSIM technology, rather than a physical SIM card. It runs a smaller battery than its iPhone 17 stablemates, although should still last a day, says Apple, and has a single 48-megapixel Fusion rear camera, with a 18MP Centre Stage Front camera.
The display is a 6.5-inch Super Retina XDR with ProMotion up to 120Hz, and a peak brightness of 3,000 nits. It’s available in space black, cloud white, light gold, and sky blue.
AirPods Pro 3 offer improved fit, sound, and features
Simultaneously, Apple has unveiled the AirPods Pro 3, featuring a redesigned fit, andIP57 water and sweat resistance.
Sound quality is said to be better, thanks to a clever multiport acoustic design and Adaptive EQ. Apple claims AirPods Pro 3 deliver up to twice the noise cancellation of the previous generation, and four times that of the original model.
For the first time, AirPods include health-tracking features. A heart rate sensor enables workout tracking across 50 activity types, integrated into Apple’s Fitness app. Battery life extends to eight hours of playback with ANC enabled.
AirPods Pro 3 also debut Live Translation, allowing real-time conversations across multiple languages. This feature works hands-free when both participants wear AirPods, or via an iPhone screen when only one user is equipped.
Pricing starts at £1,099 for the iPhone 17 Pro and £1,199 for the iPhone 17 Pro Max. Storage options now extend up to 2TB for the Max. The iPhone Air is priced from £999. AirPods Pro 3 sell for £219.
The Audio-Technica Hotaru is a music system like no other. This limited-edition turntable combines analogue vinyl playback with magnetic levitation and reactive lighting. Only 1,000 units have been made, each priced at €9,999. The design is intended as both a high-end music system and a sculptural object d’art. The Hotaru uses a floating structure and…
Now here’s something you don’t see every day: a £35,000 sound system built from a real Lamborghini supercar exhaust. The iXOOST ESAVOX isn’t a concept or a marketing gimmick. It’s a fully functional Bluetooth sound system handcrafted in Italy from genuine Lamborghini components, complete with a working start/stop button that powers on the system, much…
Bang & Olufsen is marking a century of design and acoustic innovation with the launch of The Centennial Collection, a trio of special-edition audio products that blend archival detail with modern craftsmanship. The limited series reimagines three of its most recognisable creations: the Beoplay H100 headphones, Beosound A5 portable speaker, and Beosound A9 5th Generation.…
The Luxe Review 
Apple fans are in a lather, following the launch of the iPhone 17 Pro and Pro Max. The new high-end smartphones feature a new aluminium design, A19 Pro chip, record battery life and the company’s most advanced camera system yet. The Cupertino colossus also unveiled AirPods Pro 3 earbuds with improved noise cancellation, redesigned fit, heart-rate tracking and Live Translation.
Core to the performance of both the iPhone 17 Pro and iPhone 17 Pro Max is the new A19 Pro chip, which has been paired with an Apple-designed vapour chamber for advanced thermal management. This combo enables higher sustained performance and extends battery life, says the company, particularly in the larger Pro Max model.
The design itself has been reworked, now built around a lightweight aerospace-grade aluminium unibody. The refreshed structure accommodates a larger battery and integrates antennas around the chassis for improved connectivity. Ceramic Shield 2 now protects both the front and the back, with improved scratch and crack resistance.
The screen has also had an upgrade. Available in 6.3-inch and 6.9-inch models, the Super Retina XDR display reaches 3,000 nits of peak outdoor brightness, making this the brightest iPhone screen yet. ProMotion up to 120Hz and Always-On display features remain.
The new models are available in fashionable cosmic orange, deep blue, and silver finishes.
Camera system expands creative options
Both models introduce three 48MP Fusion cameras, including an all-new telephoto system. The 8x optical-quality zoom is the longest on any iPhone, with additional benefits for portrait photography at 100mm. The new 18MP Centre Stage front camera expands field of view and detail, while AI-driven framing ensures stability and flexibility for selfies, group shots, and video calls.
For video creators, Apple has added ProRes RAW, Apple Log 2, and genlock, features typically reserved for professional equipment. These make the iPhone 17 Pro and Pro Max more viable in film and broadcast production workflows.
The A19 Pro is said to deliver up to 40 per cent better sustained performance than its predecessor, supporting advanced gaming and machine learning tasks. The integrated GPU includes Neural Accelerators, and the 16-core Neural Engine powers Apple Intelligence features on-device.
Wireless capabilities are boosted by the N1 chip, enabling Wi-Fi 7, Bluetooth 6, and Thread. Improvements to Personal Hotspot and AirDrop also stem from the new chip design.
“iPhone 17 Pro is by far the most powerful iPhone we’ve ever made, with a stunning new design rebuilt from the inside out to maximise performance and deliver an enormous leap in battery life,” says Greg Joswiak, Apple’s senior vice president of Worldwide Marketing. “With three 48MP Fusion cameras, a new Centre Stage front camera experience, and pro-level video features, the creative opportunities are endless. iPhone 17 Pro sets a new standard for the smartphone industry and is a massive upgrade for our most demanding users.”
Let’s not forget the iPhone Air
In related news, Apple has also launched the iPhone Air, its thinnest and lightest smartphone to date. Only 5.6mm thick, this new model features a lightweight titanium frame and relies on digital eSIM technology, rather than a physical SIM card. It runs a smaller battery than its iPhone 17 stablemates, although should still last a day, says Apple, and has a single 48-megapixel Fusion rear camera, with a 18MP Centre Stage Front camera.
The display is a 6.5-inch Super Retina XDR with ProMotion up to 120Hz, and a peak brightness of 3,000 nits. It’s available in space black, cloud white, light gold, and sky blue.
AirPods Pro 3 offer improved fit, sound, and features
Simultaneously, Apple has unveiled the AirPods Pro 3, featuring a redesigned fit, andIP57 water and sweat resistance.
Sound quality is said to be better, thanks to a clever multiport acoustic design and Adaptive EQ. Apple claims AirPods Pro 3 deliver up to twice the noise cancellation of the previous generation, and four times that of the original model.
For the first time, AirPods include health-tracking features. A heart rate sensor enables workout tracking across 50 activity types, integrated into Apple’s Fitness app. Battery life extends to eight hours of playback with ANC enabled.
AirPods Pro 3 also debut Live Translation, allowing real-time conversations across multiple languages. This feature works hands-free when both participants wear AirPods, or via an iPhone screen when only one user is equipped.
Pricing starts at £1,099 for the iPhone 17 Pro and £1,199 for the iPhone 17 Pro Max. Storage options now extend up to 2TB for the Max. The iPhone Air is priced from £999. AirPods Pro 3 sell for £219.
Audio-Technica Hotaru first review: floating, glowing turntable elevates vinyl playback
The Audio-Technica Hotaru is a music system like no other. This limited-edition turntable combines analogue vinyl playback with magnetic levitation and reactive lighting. Only 1,000 units have been made, each priced at €9,999. The design is intended as both a high-end music system and a sculptural object d’art. The Hotaru uses a floating structure and…
Introducing the incredible £35,000 Bluetooth speaker built from a real Lamborghini exhaust
Now here’s something you don’t see every day: a £35,000 sound system built from a real Lamborghini supercar exhaust. The iXOOST ESAVOX isn’t a concept or a marketing gimmick. It’s a fully functional Bluetooth sound system handcrafted in Italy from genuine Lamborghini components, complete with a working start/stop button that powers on the system, much…
100 years in the making: Bang & Olufsen limited-edition Centennial audio collection strikes a pose
Bang & Olufsen is marking a century of design and acoustic innovation with the launch of The Centennial Collection, a trio of special-edition audio products that blend archival detail with modern craftsmanship. The limited series reimagines three of its most recognisable creations: the Beoplay H100 headphones, Beosound A5 portable speaker, and Beosound A9 5th Generation.…
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