All We Know About the iPhone 17 So Far
We’re still a few months away from the debut of the iPhone 17 models, but rumours suggest 2025 will bring one of the biggest updates to the iPhone’s design we’ve seen in years. This roundup summarises the key features and changes expected in the new lineup.
The 2025 iPhone Lineup
Apple is rumoured to be shaking up its iPhone lineup in 2025 by doing away with the “Plus” model. In its place, a new mid-tier device, the iPhone 17 Air, is expected to debut. This new lineup will consist of four models:
- iPhone 17
- iPhone 17 Air
- iPhone 17 Pro
- iPhone 17 Pro Max
The iPhone 17 Air is expected to be a new device option, positioned as a mid-tier offering that is more expensive than the standard model but less expensive than the 17 Pro and Pro Max. It will be comparable to the MacBook Air or iPad Air in its design philosophy.
Design
iPhone 17
The standard iPhone 17 is expected to look similar to the iPhone 16 but with a larger 6.3-inch display, up from the current 6.1 inches. This will make it the same size as the 17 Pro. It is not expected to feature the new camera design of the other models, instead retaining the two vertical rear cameras in a pill-shaped bump. Rumours suggest new green and purple shades could be introduced along with Steel Gray, Light Blue, Black and White.
iPhone 17 ‘Air’
This is the most anticipated new model, rumoured to have a “significantly thinner” design. The chassis could be as thin as 5.5mm, making it the thinnest iPhone to date. According to Bloomberg’s Mark Gurman, the device will be roughly 2mm thinner than the iPhone 16 Pro. The iPhone 17 Air’s rear camera is rumoured to be relocated from the upper-left to a large, centred camera bump on the back. Due to its thinness, the device is also expected to lack a physical SIM card tray entirely.
iPhone 17 Pro and Pro Max
The Pro models may move away from titanium, adopting a half-glass, half-aluminium exterior for improved durability while still supporting wireless charging. The Pro models will also see the integration of a vapour chamber for better thermal performance. The camera bump is also expected to change from a square to a horizontal rectangular bar that houses the three lenses and LiDAR. This new design could also necessitate relocating the Apple logo lower on the device. Both the Pro and pro Max will also introduce a brand new Orange colour followed by Dark Blue, Black, White and Gray.
Display
A major change across the entire lineup is that all four iPhone models are expected to feature ProMotion display technology with a 120Hz refresh rate. This feature, previously limited to the Pro models, will be enabled by the use of LTPO OLED panels in every device. While this technology also enables Always-on display, it is not yet clear if that feature will be available on the standard and Air models. Apple is also rumoured to equip both the Pro and Pro max with an anti-reflective coating for improved viewing under bright envieonments similar to the one found on Android devices like the Samsung Galaxy S25 Ultra.
The display sizes are rumoured to be:
- iPhone 17: 6.3 inches
- iPhone 17 ‘Air’: ~6.6 inches
- iPhone 17 Pro: 6.3 inches
- iPhone 17 Pro Max: 6.9 inches
Dynamic Island
The size of the Dynamic Island is a point of conflicting rumours. Analyst Jeff Pu claims that Apple is using new technology that will allow for a narrower Dynamic Island on all four models. However, analyst Ming-Chi Kuo believes the Dynamic Island will remain “largely unchanged” in size.
A-Series Chip
The iPhone 17 Pro and Pro Max will feature the A19 Pro chip, while the standard 17 and 17 Air will use the standard A19 chip. These new chips are expected to be built on an upgraded 3-nanometre process from TSMC. As mentioned above, Apple will also include a vapour chamber to combat the heat generated by these chips though it’s only going to be on the Pro and Pro Max models.
RAM
The iPhone 17 Pro, 17 Pro Max, and 17 Air are all expected to get a RAM increase to 12GB, a jump from the 8GB in current high-end models. The standard model will likely remain at 8GB RAM.
Connectivity
Apple is rumoured to be testing its own Apple-designed 5G modem chip in the 17 Air, potentially moving away from Qualcomm for this model. This will something similar to the C1 modem found on the iPhone 16e. All four iPhone models are also expected to have a custom-designed Wi-Fi 7 chip, which should bring improvements in efficiency and speed.
Camera Updates
Significant camera upgrades are coming to the entire lineup.
- All models are rumoured to feature a new 24-megapixel front-facing camera, a major upgrade from the current 12-megapixel sensor.
- The 17 Pro Max could be the first iPhone with three 48-megapixel cameras and support for 8K video recording. The Pro Max is also said to feature a telephoto lens with 8x optical zoom capabilities.
- The 17 Air is expected to have a single-lens 48-megapixel rear camera.
- The 17 Pro models may also feature a mechanical aperture, giving users more manual control over depth of field. The Pro is also said to feature the same telephoto lens as the Pro Max.
Launch Date
Leaked information points to a potential launch event on 9 September. Pre-orders would likely follow on 12 September, with a full launch on 19 September.
