While the hype for newiPhoneshas shrunk a little since the 2010s, there’s still a lot of anticipation for what’s coming next, even if it’s only so people can decide whether to wait a year or two before upgrading.
In fact, while theiPhone 16isn’t even out yet, we’re already receiving early news about the iPhone 17 – something attributable toApple’s years-long development cycle. So what do we know about the iPhone 17 lineup at the moment?
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iPhone 17 release date and price
Apple’s next iPhone line is launching sooner than you might think
The iPhone 17 lineup will almost certainly be announced at a September 2025 press event and ship later the same month. September has been Apple’s iPhone window for a long time, to the point that it’d be shocking if the company deviated. It could hypothetically deliver one or more models in October, but that’s unlikely unless it runs into severe shipping or production bottlenecks.
Ice Universe, a well-known leaker on Weibo, claims that the base iPhone 17 will cost $799, while the iPhone 17 Pro will slot in at $1,099, followed by the Pro Max at $1,119. Notably, Ice Universe also suggests there will be an additional $1,299 model, which could be an “Ultra” iPhone that’s been rumored for a while. More on that in a moment.
Note that there’s no sign of an iPhone 17 Plus. Both Ice Universe andThe Informationsuggest that Apple plans to ditch Plus models, which haven’t sold particularly well. Those offer a Pro Max-sized screen and battery, but are otherwise identical to base iPhones, and aren’t that far off from the price of a Pro.
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iPhone 17 design
Apple’s 2024 iPhones could feature bigger displays
Another reason Apple might be getting rid of the Plus is a shift to larger sizes in general. If rumors are correct, the iPhone 17 and 17 Pro could each sport a 6.3-inch display, up from 6.1 inches. The 17 Pro Max is meanwhile, poised to become Apple’s largest iPhone ever, measuring about 6.9 inches – almost as big as some Android tablets.
The “Ultra” iPhone may slot in at 6.7 inches, but The Information says that it could also incorporate a greater redesign, akin to 2017’s iPhone X. That would translate to a slimmer chassis, a smaller Dynamic Island, and relocated rear cameras, positioned top-center instead of in a corner. It might also use an aluminum chassis, despite Apple making a big deal of theiPhone 15 Pro’s switch to titanium.
All models are likely to have an Action/Capture button, which at the moment is limited to the iPhone 15 Pro and Pro Max.
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iPhone 17 display
ProMotion 120Hz for all
The big rumor here, apart from a switch to larger sizes (covered in the last section), is that Apple intends to use LTPO panels for every iPhone 17 model. To date, the company has reserved LTPO for Pro iPhones, meaning that even someone buying an iPhone 15 Plus doesn’t get 120Hz refresh rates or always-on technology. Those features are de facto on flagship Android phones, and increasingly common on mid-range and budget models.
There’s not much more to add, but the absence of always-on support has made some iOS additions – namely lockscreen widgets andStandBymode – less useful to the average iPhone buyer, since they have to manually wake their screen.
iPhone 17 internal specs
New chips are on the way
The forecast is that the iPhone 17 Pro and Pro Max will feature A19 Pro chips, while the regular 17 will get a scaled-back processor. Every chip should use TSMC’s 3nm fabrication. What’s interesting is that Ice Universe suggests the “Ultra” will use a non-Pro A19, which could be questionable unless Apple still has features hidden up its sleeves.
The base iPhone 17 and the “Ultra” could come equipped with 8GB of RAM, and Pro models with 12GB. Those figures might sound small next to many Android phones, but Apple’s optimizations tend to make iOS less memory-hungry.
Pro models, at least, are expected to be equipped with Wi-Fi 7. That will allow them to use 2.4, 5, and 6GHz bands simultaneously, if only when connected to a compatible router.
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iPhone 17 cameras
The iPhone’s front-facing camera could finally get an upgrade
We don’t know much about Apple’s planned camera upgrades, but one of them is rumored to be a 24-megapixel front-facing camera with a six-element lens. The iPhone 15 lineup uses a 12-megapixel selfie shooter.
The 17 Pro Max could be the first iPhone to offer 48-megapixel sensors across its main, telephoto, and ultra-wide cameras, according to well-connected analystMing-Chi Kuo. The 15 Pro and Pro Max use 12-megapixel telephotos and ultra-wides, reducing their cropping potential and overall sensitivity.
Kuo alsosuggeststhat Apple could start using a 1/2.6-inch Samsung ultra-wide sensor as soon as 2026, though we don’t know if the company would be willing to switch parts before the iPhone 18. Traditionally Apple has relied on Sony sensors.
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What else do we know about the iPhone 17?
New glass is likely coming
Apple is adopting a “super-hard anti-reflective layer” for iPhone 17 displays, or so says another Weibo leaker,Instant Digital. That could mean Corning’s Gorilla Glass Armor, used on theSamsung Galaxy S24 Ultra, or some version of it developed in collaboration with Apple. A similar partnership was struck for the Ceramic Shield technology used on iPhone 15s. Conceivably, Apple could use the new glass on the back of iPhone 17s, not just the front.
That’s all we know at the moment – check back again to see the latest developments.
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