Tag: Pro

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iPhone 17 Pro (Cosmic Orange, 256GB, 2025)

The iPhone 17 Pro was introduced on September 9, 2025, during a pre-recorded Apple event titled “Awe Dropping” that featured an animated/interactive Apple logo on a black background. The Apple logo resembled a thermal image, perhaps hinting that one of the products introduced might feature a new type of cooling system. That idea became a reality with the iPhone 17 Pro’s new “vapor chamber that is laser-welded into a strong, light, and thermally conductive aluminum unibody” was introduced.

Other iPhone 17 Pro features highlighted in the press release included:

  • “Both models feature A19 Pro, the most powerful and efficient chip for iPhone yet, enabling the advanced camera systems, next-level mobile gaming, and Apple Intelligence.”
  • “Three 48MP Fusion cameras — Main, Ultra Wide, and an all-new Telephoto — offer the equivalent of eight lenses, including the longest optical-quality zoom ever on iPhone at 8x, and the innovative 18MP Center Stage front camera takes selfies to the next level.”
  • “Both models feature the Ceramic Shield 2 front cover with 3x better scratch resistance, and for the first time, Ceramic Shield protects the back of iPhone.”

The iPhone 17 Pro (and Pro Max) featured new colors including a silver that uses two “refined” tones with the camera body and ceramic shield, an “elegant” deep blue, and a “bold” cosmic orange.

I found the cosmic orange option difficult to resist because previous Pro-model iPhone devices have not been available in colors that were not dark, desaturated, or otherwise dull.

This event included Apple’s first mention of the “plateau” that houses the camera on the back of the phone—previously informally referred to as the “camera bump.” (The plateau was also mentioned in the introduction of the iPhone Air in this Apple event.) Apple explained the protruding feature on the iPhone 17 Pro: “On the back, the plateau creates additional space for internal components — making room for a larger battery.”

Apple further described the vapor chamber cooling system:

“Deionized water is sealed inside the vapor chamber, which is laser-welded into the aluminum chassis to move heat away from the powerful A19 Pro, allowing it to operate at even higher performance levels. The heat is carried into the forged aluminum unibody, where it is distributed evenly through the system, managing power and surface temperatures to deliver incredible performance while remaining comfortable to hold.”

The display of the iPhone 17 Pro is described as a Super Retina XDR display in 6.3-inch and 6.9-inch sizes. It includes a new protective layer called Ceramic Shield 2 that Apple describes as “tougher than any smartphone glass or glass-ceramic, with…3x better scratch resistance and improved anti-reflection to reduce glare.” The display is an Always-On ProMotion (up to 120Hz) delivering up to 3000 nits of brightness. The same Ceramic Shield technology on the display is also on the back of the device, delivering a stronger finish that allows better conductivity for the MagSafe connector.

In addition to the new A19 Pro chip that is up to 40% more powerful than the previous generation Pro chips, the device contains the N1, “a new Apple-designed wireless networking chip that enables Wi-Fi 7, Bluetooth 6, and Thread.”

Like many previous iPhone releases, the camera system was touted significantly throughout the release. Apple noted that the iPhone 17 Pro delivers “eight pro lenses in a user’s pocket.”

Back cameras:

  • 3 48MP Fusion cameras for sharper, more detailed images
  • 1 48MP Telephoto camera with a sensor 56% percent larger than the previous generation for brighter/more detailed photos
  • 1 4x 100mm optical zoom lens
  • 1 8x 200mm optical zoom lens

Front camera:
1 Center Stage front camera with “the first square front camera sensor on iPhone, offering a wider field of view and higher resolution — up to 18MP for photos — to capture more detail.”

Apple’s product website for the iPhone 17 Pro featured an impressive set of photos illustrating the various native zoom levels and equating them with their “8 pro lenses” claim:

  • 8x = 200mm
  • 4x = 100mm
  • 2x = 48mm
  • 1.5x = 35mm
  • 1.2x = 28mm
  • 1x = 24mm
  • 0.5x = 13mm
  • Macro

The iPhone 17 Pro video capabilities were also discussed with features such as Dolby Vision HDR, 4K 120 fps, ProRes, and support for ACES. In addition, the iPhone 17 Pro now adds ProRes RAW, Log 2, and genlock—a technique to precisely synchronize video across multiple cameras by industry leader Blackmagic.

The iPhone 17 Pro measures 5.91 x 2.83 inches, and is 0.34 inch thick. It weighs 7.27 ounces.

Sources: Apple (press release, product page)

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iPhone 17 Pro Clear Case with MagSafe (2025)

The verbosely named “iPhone 17 Pro Clear Case with MagSafe” is similar to previous Apple Clear Case designs except for the conspicuous bright white, rounded-rectangle that covers the ceramic shield on the back of the iPhone 17 Pro (the same design is used on the iPhone 17 Pro Max version). The white rectangle on the Clear Case includes a light gray Apple logo. Although the rounded-rectangle design feature is not mentioned in the description of the product (and is nearly impossible to notice on the all-white packaging), it is presumably present to hide the MagSafe magnets that were in the shape of the partial circle/bar outline pattern in previous Clear Case models with MagSafe.

Apple describes the iPhone 17 Pro Clear Case with MagSafe:

“Thin, light, and easy to grip — this Apple-designed case shows off the brilliant colored finish of iPhone 17 Pro while providing extra protection. Crafted with a blend of optically clear polycarbonate and flexible materials, the case fits right over the buttons for easy use.”

Like the previous Clear Case, this one includes a sapphire crystal Camera Control button that “communicates finger movements.” Also like the previous Clear Cases, it is made “with a blend of clear polycarbonate and flexible materials with scratch-resistant coating on the interior and exterior.”

As an Apple Clear Case owner since the iPhone 11, this one has the best button design feel among all previous models. For the first time, the buttons do not require additional force to press, and you can feel a pronounced click. Further, the case exterior has an overall “silkier” feel than the previous versions.

And one final note, I have paired this “Clear” case with a Cosmic Orange iPhone 17 Pro. Presumably, at least some buyers of the Cosmic Orange selected the color to enjoy looking at it. Purchasing a Clear Case, as opposed to a different color that would cover the orange, seems like an intentional choice to allow the Cosmic Orange to be seen. According to my calculations, the white rounded-rectangle covers just under 40% of the Cosmic Orange finish of the iPhone. This design seems somewhat counterproductive to the “Clear” concept.

Sources: Apple (product webpage, press release)

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Beats Studio Pro Wireless Headphones (black, 2023)

Beats by Dr. Dre (“Beats”) was founded in 2006 by Dr. Dre and Jimmy lovine. Beats makes a collection of headphones, earphones, and speakers, and aims to “bring the energy, emotion and excitement of playback in the recording studio back to the listening experience for music lovers worldwide.” Beats was acquired by Apple in July 2014.

As a company owned by Apple, Beats have many of the same features found in Apple-branded audio products, but Beats seems to more prominently feature Android compatibility in product specifications (compared to Apple’s AirPods products). The Beats product overview notes:

“The Beats Studio Pro custom acoustic platform delivers an immersive listening experience. Each custom 40mm driver has been engineered for optimal clarity, with near-zero distortion even at high volume – an improvement of up to 80% compared to Beats Studio3, providing increased audio fidelity. An integrated digital processor optimizes the final frequency response for a powerful, yet balanced sound profile crafted to bring out the subtle details of whatever you’re listening to.”

The product packaging touts the following features:

  • Sound that surrounds you with Personalized Spatial Audio and dynamic head tracking
  • Active Noise Cancelling (ANC) for immersive listening
  • Transparency mode blends your listening experience with the world around you
  • Two additional EQ-optimized sound profiles while using USB-C audio
  • Voice targeting mics for clear call performance
  • UltraPlush engineered leather cushions for extended comfort and durability

The “Enhanced Apple Compatibility” features of Beats Studio Pro Wireless Headphones include one-touch pairing with every device in your iCloud account, “Hey Siri” compatibility, Find My suport, and Over-the-air updates.

“Enhanced Android Compatibility” features include Google Fast Pair to all Android or Chrome devices registered to a Gmail account, Audio Switch between Android and Chromebook devices, Google Find My Device support, and a Beats app for Android to “unlock access to product customization, software updates, and new features to get the most out of your headphones.”

The headphones measure 7.125 inches high, by 7 inches long, by 3.1 inches wide, and weigh 9.17 ounces. They include a custom-fitted carrying case, USB-C-to-USB-C cable (charging and audio), and a 3.5 mm analog audio cable. Bluetooth (version 5.3) delivers up to 40 hours of listening time and offers a “Fast Fuel” charge that delivers up to 4 hours of playback from a 10-minute charge.

Sources: Beats, Apple

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AirPods Pro (Generation 2, 2022)

Apple announced the Generation 2 version of AirPods Pro on September 7, 2022. Apple described these AirPods as the “most advanced AirPods ever” and reported the product highlights in a press release:

“With the power of the new H2 chip, AirPods Pro unlock breakthrough audio performance — including major upgrades to Active Noise Cancellation and Transparency mode — while also offering a unique way to experience Spatial Audio that’s even more immersive. Now, customers can enjoy Touch control for media playback and volume adjustments directly from the stem, along with longer battery life, a brand-new charging case, and an additional ear tip size for a better fit.”

The H2 chip in the AirPods Pro Generation 2 provided better noise cancellation as the original AirPods Pro and cancelled “up to twice as much noise over the previous generation.” Apple also improved the bass and engineered a “crystal-clear sound across a wider range of frequencies.” To improve the fit of this version of AirPods Pro, Apple included a new extra-small ear tip as a custom size option.

Apple also included a variety of Adaptive Audio features in the AirPods Pro Generation 2. The adaptive features worked by “automatically prioritizing sounds that need your attention as you move through the world. By seamlessly blending pro‑level Active Noise Cancellation with Transparency mode when you need it, Adaptive Audio magically delivers the right mix of sound for any environment.” Other features included:

  • Voice Isolation—Improved the quality of phone calls in loud or windy conditions using advanced computational audio.
  • Personalized Volume—Used machine learning to understand listening preferences in different environments, and automatically adapted sound over time.
  • Conversation Awareness—Automatically lowered the volume of what’s playing when speaking with someone nearby.

Three personalized listening technologies included Personalized Spatial Audio, Dynamic head tracking, and Adaptive EQ. The MagSafe Charging Case that shipped with the AirPods Pro Generation 2 allowed charging with USB‑C, an Apple Watch charger, or a MagSafe charger. The case also included Apple’s U1 chip to allow Find My with Precision Finding. Finally, the new case included a structure for a lanyard loop.

Sources: Apple (Newsroom, Product)

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iPhone 16 Pro Clear Case with MagSafe (2024)

The iPhone 16 Pro Clear Case was released along with the iPhone 16 lineup in September 2024. Apple described the case as “Thin, light, and easy to grip — this Apple-designed case shows off the brilliant colored finish of iPhone 16 Pro while providing extra protection.”

Like the previous versions of Apple’s clear cases, this case uses multiple materials that are molded together to provide protection, grip, and access to buttons, using “a blend of optically clear polycarbonate and flexible materials.”

In addition, this case adds a new button that works “seamlessly with Camera Control. It features a sapphire crystal, coupled to a conductive layer to communicate finger movements to the Camera Control.” Camera Control was a new feature introduced with the iPhone 16 lineup that added one-button access to the camera and its controls using a touch-sensitive side-button. On the Clear Case, the Camera Control button is white (not clear) and made of a conductive material to allow full functionality of the iPhone button.

Like its predecessors, this case has “built-in magnets that align perfectly with iPhone…[offering] a magical attach experience and faster wireless charging, every time. When it’s time to charge, just leave the case on your iPhone and snap on your MagSafe charger.”

Apple also mentions that “all materials and coatings are optimized to prevent yellowing over time,” a claim that, in my experience, has stood the test of time. I first purchased Apple’s Clear Case with my iPhone 11 in September 2019 and it, along with the iPhone 12–15 cases, shows very little evidence of yellowing.

Source: Apple

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iPhone 16 Pro (256GB, black, 2024)

Apple announced the iPhone 16 lineup on September 9, 2024, and the phones were released on Friday, September 20, 2024. In a press release, Apple described the iPhone 16 Pro models:

“Powered by the A18 Pro chip and built for Apple Intelligence, the Pro lineup introduces larger display sizes, Camera Control, innovative pro camera features, and a huge leap in battery life.”

The iPhone 16 Pro, iPhone 16 Pro Max, and also the iPhone 16 and iPhone 16 Max were marketed specifically as “featuring Apple Intelligence.” However, no Apple Intelligence features were available at launch, and no release was was shared. Apple Intelligence, Apple’s name for Artificial Intelligence, was described as different than other versions of AI because it “harnesses the power of Apple silicon and Apple-built generative models to understand and create language and images, take action across apps, and draw from personal context to simplify and accelerate everyday tasks.” Further, Apple Intelligence “maintains the privacy and security of user data with Private Cloud Compute.”

The iPhone 16 Pro (and Pro Max) models were made from titanium with four available finishes: black titanium, natural titanium, white titanium, and desert titanium. The Pro iPhone options offered no colors, just “finishes.” This example is black titanium.

The iPhone 16 Pro featured a 48MP Fusion camera that could record 4K video at 120 fps. The camera was further enhanced with “a new 48MP Ultra Wide camera for higher-resolution photography, including macro; a 5x Telephoto camera on both Pro models; and studio-quality mics to record more true-to-life audio.”

Apple also touted the bezel of the iPhone 16 Pro by saying it had, “the thinnest borders of any Apple product” with sizes including a 6.3 inch display on iPhone 16 Pro and a 6.9 inch display on iPhone 16 Pro Max (“the largest iPhone display ever”). The display on the iPhone 16 Pro was described as the Super Retina XDR display and had 2622 x 1206 pixel resolution at 460 ppi. It used Apple’s “latest-generation Ceramic Shield material that’s two times tougher than any smartphone glass.”

The iPhone 16 line introduced a new Camera Control button on the lower-right side. When turned sideways, the button was positioned in the traditional location of a camera capture button. Pressing the Camera Control button gave immediate access to the camera, and sliding your finger across the surface of the button allowed access to “functions like exposure or depth of field, and toggle through each lens or use digital zoom to frame your shot.” At release, the “two-stage shutter that lets you automatically lock focus and exposure with a light press” was not yet available, but was announced as coming “later this year.”

In addition to advanced camera and video capture, a new Audio Mix technology was also included with three settings that allowed for adjusting the way voices were recorded. According to Apple’s description:

  • In-frame—Only captures the voices of the people on camera, even if people off-camera are talking during the recording.
  • Studio—Makes voices sound like you’re recording in a professional studio equipped with sound-dampening walls.
  • Cinematic—Captures all of the voices around you and consolidates them toward the front of the screen — just like sound is formatted for the movies.

The iPhone 16 Pro measured 5.89 inches high, 2.81 inches wide, and 0.32 inch thick. It weighed 7.03 ounces. All iPhone 16 models used a form of the A18 chip—a major bump from the A16 chip used in the iPhone 15, and an increase from the A17 Pro chip used in the iPhone 15 Pro. Notably, Apple never released an A17 chip (only anA17 Pro)—they apparently skipped it in favor of using A18 generation chips in the iPhone 16 models to power their yet-to-be-delivered-at-launch Apple Intelligence features.

Sources: Apple (Newsroom, product, Specifications)