Anticipation is building for Apple’s upcoming iPhone 17 series, with exciting rumors swirling about new features and designs. While we typically wait for official releases to compare models, the flood of credible leaks about the iPhone 17 makes an exception worthwhile. Key changes, including potential ultra-thin models like the iPhone 17 Air, give us a peek into what’s to come.
The iPhone 16 series introduced notable upgrades, especially for the Pro models, which gained advanced camera features and better battery life. The standard models also received meaningful updates, including enhanced ultrawide capabilities. This year’s enhancements are expected to follow a similar pattern. Let’s dive into what we might see in the iPhone 17 lineup.
Pricing and Expected Release Date
Typically, Apple hosts its iPhone announcements the first Tuesday after Labor Day, which this year falls on September 9. Official sales generally begin the following Friday, indicating a potential release date for the iPhone 17 on September 12.
Pricing is a bit uncertain due to fluctuating import tariffs. Jefferies analyst Edison Lee predicts a possible $50 price hike across the board. If accurate, that could result in starting prices as follows:
- iPhone 17: $829
- iPhone 17 Air: $979
- iPhone 17 Pro: $1,049
- iPhone 17 Pro Max: $1,249
Design Innovations and Display Enhancements
Rumors suggest a significant redesign in the camera layout, shifting from a square block to a pill-shaped bar across the phone’s back. Leaker Majin Bu shared a CAD render illustrating the anticipated changes. Meanwhile, Dbrand is already preselling cases accommodating this new camera configuration.
Beyond the camera tweaks, a report from Bloomberg indicated that the basic design would remain similar to the iPhone 16 series. Users can expect displays measuring 6.1 inches for the standard model, 6.3 inches for the Pro, and 6.9 inches for the Pro Max. The rumored iPhone 17 Air might follow suit, potentially sporting a 6.7-inch screen.
One exciting change anticipated across all models is the closure of the refresh rate gap, with hopes of a 120Hz max refresh on all iPhones, leveling up the experience from the previously fixed 60Hz on standard models.
Camera Quality and Features
While the camera module’s design is changing, the actual camera upgrades remain unclear for now. The iPhone 17 is expected to retain a dual-camera setup with a 48-megapixel main lens and a 12-megapixel ultrawide. The Pro and Pro Max could innovate further by adopting a third 48-megapixel ultrawide camera, along with a telephoto camera boasting 5x optical zoom. Some leaks even hint at an 8x zoom for the Pro models!
The potential fourth model, likely the iPhone 17 Air, may feature a single 48-megapixel camera, differentiating it from previous models. On the front, users may be pleased to find an upgrade to a 24-megapixel selfie camera.
Specifications and Software Upgrades
Inside the new models, we’re likely to see the latest A19 chip in the Pro variants, while the standard iPhone 17 may carry over last year’s A18 chip. There’s buzz about whether Apple will continue using its C1 chip, introduced earlier in the iPhone 16E, but nothing has been confirmed yet.
While Apple generally keeps RAM specs close to its chest, the trend seems to favor 8GB for all models, supporting enhanced AI functionalities. Storage options are expected to remain the same, with the iPhone 17 offered in 128GB, 256GB, and 512GB. The Pro variants might also include a 1TB option.
Battery life is another area of interest. While no major upgrades are anticipated for the iPhone 17 and Pro models, the Pro Max could see an increase to a 5,000 mAh capacity. The iPhone 17 Air will likely include a smaller battery in line with its thinner body.
All new models are expected to launch running iOS 26, aligning with Apple’s strategy to match software releases to their respective years.