Key Takeaways
- Apple’s iPhone 17 series will be released in September 2025, with prices starting at $799
- The display is expected to grow to as much as 6.9 inches.
- ProMotion 120Hz will be available on all models, along with new chips and increased RAM.
Expectations for new iPhones have calmed down a bit since the 2010s, but hopes for what’s coming next are still high, even if only to decide whether to wait a year or two before upgrading.
In fact, the iPhone 16 hasn’t even been released yet, but we’re already receiving early news about the iPhone 17. This is down to Apple’s lengthy development cycle, so what do we know about the iPhone 17 lineup at this point?
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iPhone 17 release date and price
Apple’s next iPhone series will be released sooner than expected
The iPhone 17 lineup will almost certainly be announced at a September 2025 press conference and shipped during the same month. September has long been Apple’s iPhone launch window, so much so that it would be shocking for the company to deviate from it. While it’s theoretically possible for one or more models to ship in October, this is unlikely unless there are serious shipping or production bottlenecks.
Popular Weibo leaker Ice Universe claims that the base iPhone 17 model will cost $799, the iPhone 17 Pro will cost $1,099, and the Pro Max will cost $1,119. Notably, Ice Universe also hints that there will also be an additional $1,299 model, which could be the “Ultra” iPhone that’s been rumored for a while now. More on that shortly.
Keep in mind there’s no sign of an iPhone 17 Plus. Ice Universe and The Information both suggest that Apple plans to discontinue the Plus model, which isn’t selling particularly well. The Plus model will have a Pro Max-sized screen and battery, but will otherwise be the same as the base iPhone and won’t cost much more than the Pro.
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iPhone 17 design
Apple’s 2024 iPhone could have a bigger display
Another reason Apple may be ditching the Plus is its overall shift to bigger sizes. If rumors are correct, the iPhone 17 and 17 Pro could have displays between 6.1 and 6.3 inches, respectively. Meanwhile, the 17 Pro Max is set to be Apple’s biggest iPhone ever, at around 6.9 inches, roughly the size of some Android tablets.
The “Ultra” iPhone may be 6.7 inches, but according to The Information, it could also get a major redesign similar to 2017’s iPhone X. That means a slimmer housing, a smaller dynamic island, and the rear camera relocated to the top center instead of the corner. Apple has heavily touted a switch to titanium for the iPhone 15 Pro, but it could also use an aluminum housing.
All models will likely have an Action/Capture button, but for now it’s limited to the iPhone 15 Pro and Pro Max.
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iPhone 17 display
ProMotion 120Hz for Everyone
The big rumor here is that, aside from a switch to larger sizes (discussed in the previous section), Apple plans to use LTPO panels on all models of the iPhone 17. To date, the company has reserved LTPO for its Pro iPhones, meaning even iPhone 15 Plus buyers won’t get 120Hz refresh rates or always-on technology – features that are practically standard on flagship Android smartphones and are increasingly common on mid-range and budget models.
There’s not much more to add, but the lack of always-on support means that some of iOS’s extra features, like lock screen widgets and standby mode, require you to manually wake up the screen, making them less useful for the average iPhone buyer.
iPhone 17 internal specifications
New chips are coming
apple
Predictions are that the iPhone 17 Pro and Pro Max will feature the A19 Pro chip, while the regular 17 will have a scaled-down processor. All chips will use TSMC’s 3nm manufacturing. What’s interesting is that Ice Universe suggests that the “Ultra” will use the non-Pro A19, but this is doubtful unless Apple still has a hidden feature up its sleeve.
The iPhone 17 base and “Ultra” models could come with 8GB of RAM, while the Pro model could have 12GB. While these numbers may seem small compared to many Android phones, iOS tends to use less memory due to Apple’s optimizations.
At least the Pro model will have Wi-Fi 7, which will allow you to use the 2.4, 5, and 6GHz bands simultaneously, but only if you’re connected to a compatible router.
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iPhone 17 camera
The iPhone’s front-facing camera may finally be getting an upgrade
Not much is known about Apple’s planned camera upgrades, but one is rumored to be a 24-megapixel front-facing camera with a six-element lens — the iPhone 15 series uses a 12-megapixel selfie camera.
According to leading analyst Ming-Chi Kuo, the 17 Pro Max could be the first iPhone to feature 48-megapixel sensors for the main, telephoto and ultra-wide cameras, compared to the 15 Pro and Pro Max, which use 12-megapixel telephoto and ultra-wide cameras, reducing the potential for cropping and overall sensitivity.
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What else do we know about the iPhone 17?
New glass is likely to emerge
Apple will employ an “ultra-hard anti-reflective layer” on the iPhone 17’s display, according to Instant Digital, another Weibo leak source. This could mean Corning’s Gorilla Glass Armor, used in the Samsung Galaxy S24 Ultra, or a version of it developed in collaboration with Apple. A similar partnership was also inked for the Ceramic Shield technology used in the iPhone 15s. Perhaps Apple could use this new glass on the back of the iPhone 17s as well as the front.
That’s all we know at this time, please check back for the latest developments.
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