American technology giants Apple recently debuted the iPhone 17 series which features a fresh design and performance improvements across the board.

The 17 series is only available in Pro and Pro Max versions in New Zealand, but it has everything customers need in a durable mobile device.

Apple has paid more attention to the power under the hood, introducing a battery life that makes the new series the most powerful ever made.

There are also display and software upgrades that will appeal to iPhone lovers and gaming enthusiasts, especially those who visit online casinos.

Read on as we assess whether it is the ideal phone for playing at the best online casinos in New Zealand, starting with its ability to handle high-end games.

Design & Performance

The iPhone 17 Pro series’ 7000-series aluminium alloy unibody design has a sealed vapour chamber, which is a useful feature for gamers.

Playing online casino games can heat up a device quickly, but Apple claims that the vapour chamber distributes heat more efficiently to keep the phone cool even under pressure.

Apple’s new design also made sure the iPhone 17 series is comfortable for gamers. The lighter aluminium design feels smoother in hand, and even the slightly larger Pro Max version is balanced enough for customers to enjoy gaming without any fuss.

Apple’s iPhone 17 Pro series has made headlines with the new A19 Pro chip. Built on a 3-nanometer process, it supports up to 40percent improved sustained performance compared to its predecessor, making it perfect for powerful gaming apps.

That means games wouldn’t drop in frames as much. Gamers can also enjoy better animations and high-end games that would normally only work on consoles.

The A19 Pro chip also has a 6-core CPU and GPU, with Neural Accelerators in each GPU core and additional memory.

With a 16-core Neural Engine also in the mix, gamers will enjoy advanced artificial intelligence (AI) models, graphics and gaming features that include hardware-accelerated ray tracing.

Apple also improved the wireless performance by introducing the N1 chip, allowing gamers to enjoy Wi-Fi 7, Bluetooth 6 and Thread.

As an added bonus, Personal Hotspot and AirDrop have also been made far more reliable.

Display, Durability & Battery Life

The Super Retina XDR display returns, this time at 6.3 inches for the Pro and 6.9 inches for the Pro Max.

Apple has added up to 3000 nits of brightness, which makes it possible for users to enjoy gaming in different conditions without any issues.

The upgraded Ceramic Shield 2 has been added to the front and back of the phone for more protection, with Apple claiming it adds four times more resistance to drops and scratches than previous models.

However, if there is a feature that convinces gamers that the iPhone 17 Pro series is built for iGaming, it’s the new and improved battery life.

The Pro can take up to 33 hours of video playback, while the Pro Max version supports up to 39 hours.

Games can be power-consuming, especially iGaming titles that come with high-end graphics, so gamers will be impressed by the iPhone 17 series extended battery life.

The charging speed is the icing on the cake for gamers. The new series comes with fast charging that takes each one just 20 minutes to reach 50%.

So not only can gamers go an entire day without scrambling for a charger, fast charging also makes sure they are back in the mix in no time when they do need juice.

Apple designed the new phones with 30% recycled content as part of their ongoing commitment to keeping the environment clean. That includes fully recycled cobalt in batteries. 

The new models also come with recycled gold plating in printed circuit boards and 40% renewable electricity in manufacturing.

The 17 Pro Series is Ideal for iGaming

The new models come with the new iOS 26, which takes gaming to a new level with the new Apple Games app, along with improvements in AI-powered translations and other useful tools.

The iPhone 17 Pro series will be in high demand in the United States and around the world. Gamers in countries such as New Zealand will have a field day with the gaming-friendly features in Apple’s latest release.

Android recorded a higher market share in New Zealand in 2024, but iGaming lovers could help Apple close the gap with the iPhone 17 series ticking all the right boxes.

Many of the best online casinos in New Zealand support a wide range of digital devices, but the iPhone 17 series will take the gameplay experience to a new level.

The phone’s engine opens the door for advanced graphics capable of running online casinos without a hitch. The battery life potentially seals the deal, allowing gamers to enjoy their favourite online games for longer than ever before.

For Kiwi gamers who want to share their experiences, the iPhone 17 series has three 48MP Fusion cameras that support ultra-stabilised video in 4K HDR. It also supports Dual Capture for simultaneous front and rear recording.