The iPhone 16 series has been on the market for a long time and is actively popular with buyers. The new iPhone 16 models confidently compete with such flagships as Pixel 9 and Galaxy S25. However, if you decide to hold off on the update, then in 2025 we advise you to take a closer look at the iPhone 17 series, which is already the subject of many rumors. Below are all the known leaks about the new generation iPhone.
Will there be an iPhone 17?
iPhones remain the most popular smartphones in the world, and this is unlikely to change in the foreseeable future. Although Apple has not officially announced the iPhone 17, it is safe to assume that it will appear. The latest generations – iPhone 12, 13, 14, 15 and even the latest iPhone 16 – have received a warm welcome from fans of the brand. This makes it highly unlikely that the line will be abandoned, given its importance to the company’s revenue.
iPhone 17 release date?
The iPhone 16 series was unveiled on September 9, 2024, the iPhone 15 on September 12, 2023, and the iPhone 14 on September 7, 2022. Apple traditionally announces new iPhone models in early September. Pre-orders usually open the following Friday, with official sales starting a week later.
There is no reason to believe that the company will deviate from this established pattern with the release of the iPhone 17. Therefore, it is highly likely that the new series will be announced in early September 2025 and sales will begin closer to the middle of the month. Although the exact dates have not yet been announced, the most likely option seems to be September 8 or 9.
iPhone 17 Model Range
Analyst Jeff Pu suggests that the iPhone 17 lineup could undergo significant changes. According to him, the series could consist of the following models:
- iPhone 17
- iPhone 17 Air
- iPhone 17 Pro
- iPhone 17 Pro Max
Some dubious leaks claim that the iPhone 17 Pro Max could be renamed to iPhone 17 Ultra to match Apple’s chip naming style.
What are the expected specs and features of the iPhone 17?
One of the first rumors about the iPhone 17 series came from renowned analyst and Apple specialist Ming-Chi Kuo. He suggested that the company could start using its own 5G modems by 2025. This was confirmed by the release of the iPhone 16e, which features the Apple C1 modem, the company’s first modem to support 5G but without mmWave support.
In July 2024, Kuo also reported that Apple might equip the iPhone 17 Air with its own modem.
Analyst Jeff Pu in his note to investors said that expected specifications of the iPhone 17 series could include:
iPhone 17 and iPhone 17 Air:
- 8GB RAM
- Chip A18 or A19
iPhone 17 Pro and iPhone 17 Pro Max:
- 12GB RAM
- A19 Pro chip
At the same time, Kuo notes that the iPhone 17 Air may receive the A19 chip. He also claimed that only the iPhone 17 Pro Max will be equipped with 12 GB of RAM, while the rest of the models will remain with 8 GB. However, he later clarified that at least three devices in the lineup may receive 12 GB of RAM, and the base model will most likely retain 8 GB.
Back in January 2023, Mark Gurman reported that Apple plans to abandon Broadcom chips for wireless communications in 2025, working on its own solution for Wi-Fi and Bluetooth. Kuo later clarified that he was talking only about the Wi-Fi chip, and its development was suspended. In December 2023, Jeff Pu said that the iPhone 17 Pro models would most likely receive Apple’s proprietary chip with support for Wi-Fi 7. At the same time, the iPhone 16 Pro series already supports Wi-Fi 7, although it is unknown whether it uses a chip of its own production.
iPhone 17 Design
Analysts’ opinions on the cases differ. According to one version, only the Pro Max model will receive a titanium case, and the other three will have a more complex aluminum design, while all models will retain the Dynamic Island.
However, in a later note, Pu himself contradicts this, stating that only the iPhone 17 Air will have a titanium case, and all the others, including the Pro and Pro Max, will receive an aluminum frame.
This is allegedly due to Apple’s environmental initiative – aluminum has a smaller carbon footprint, which will help the company move towards the goal of carbon-neutral production by 2030. In this context, the iPhone 17 may become the first “green” iPhone.
According to another source – The Information – both the iPhone 17 Pro and Pro Max may use aluminum frames. It is also reported that the new devices will become lighter, and the protrusion of the rear camera may change shape: instead of a square glass block – a rectangular aluminum platform. The back panel of the Pro and Pro Max models will remain glass – this is necessary to support wireless charging.
The iPhone 17 Pro Max, among other things, may get a more compact version of Dynamic Island due to the use of new “metalens” technology for the proximity sensor, which will reduce the size of the Face ID components.
Separately, it is worth noting that the iPhone 17 Plus model, according to rumors, will be replaced by a thinner version with a smaller screen – about 6.6 inches. This corresponds to the characteristics of the alleged iPhone 17 Air, which Pu wrote about earlier.
Analyst Ross Young confirms this information and adds that:
- iPhone 17 Pro and Pro Max will receive an under-screen Face ID system and a hole for the camera;
- The standard iPhone 17 models will feature a 120Hz LTPO display.
According to Mark Gurman, Apple is planning to release a significantly thinner iPhone by 2025, which is part of an overall strategy to reduce the size of devices, including the MacBook Pro and Apple Watch.
The company’s goal is to create the thinnest and lightest devices in their categories. Gurman also notes that a model called the iPhone 17 Air may appear as part of this effort.
Meanwhile, analyst Ming-Chi Kuo reported that Apple has abandoned the use of RCC (resin-coated copper) material for the iPhone 17 logic board due to its failure to meet quality standards. Although RCC could have reduced internal space and contributed to the creation of thinner devices or increased battery capacity, the company did not take this step.
Kuo also explains that the iPhone 17 Plus model may be excluded from the lineup due to the extremely low share of “plus” sales. However, the ultra-thin iPhone will not be a direct replacement for the Plus. According to the analyst, Apple sees it as an experimental model focused on a new form factor, rather than a competition on technical specifications.
In terms of design, Kuo indicates that the iPhone 17 Air may feature a metal frame made of aluminum-titanium alloy with a smaller proportion of titanium compared to the current Pro models. At the same time, the rest of the iPhone 17 models, including the Pro version, will use aluminum frames.
Only the iPhone 17 Pro Max, according to Kuo, will be equipped with an advanced cooling system with an evaporative chamber and graphite sheets. The other models will only have graphite cooling. At the same time, leaks from Setsuna Digital and MyDrivers indicate that evaporative cooling may be implemented in all Pro models, and possibly even in the entire line.
The ultra-thin design of the iPhone 17 Air is associated with engineering challenges: sources say that due to limited space, engineers have difficulty integrating a physical SIM card slot, a full-fledged battery, and a cooling system.
As a result, the device may have only one speaker and one camera lens.
Finally, tipster Jon Prosser notes that the base iPhone 17 will likely inherit the design of the iPhone 16.
The iPhone 17 Air is said to have a completely new design that could look something like this:
Conceptual designer Asher Dipps has presented a more attractive version of the iPhone 17 Air:
Insider Majin Bu Official reports that the current iPhone 17 Pro prototypes retain the same camera layout, but the size of the camera island, as well as the location of the flash and LiDAR sensor, have changed:
Asher Dipps has reworked the leaked iPhone 17 Pro design:
Tipster Majin Bu also shared an image that is believed to show CAD renders of the entire iPhone 17 lineup. From left to right, it shows the iPhone 17 Air, iPhone 17, iPhone 17 Pro, and iPhone 17 Pro Max.
What will the iPhone 17 display be like?
Apple will likely equip all four iPhone 17 models with LTPO OLED screens, unlike the iPhone 16 and 16 Plus, which use LTPS panels. In the current generation, only the Pro versions support ProMotion technology (variable refresh rate up to 120 Hz on LTPO displays), but the transition of the entire lineup to LTPO could mean that the Always-On Display feature will become available on standard models.
Analyst Ross Young confirmed this information, noting that even the base versions of the iPhone 17, including the alleged Air model, could get a 120 Hz display.
The Elec also reports that Chinese company BOE is claiming to supply LTPO panels, but Apple may choose trusted suppliers such as Samsung or LG Display.
Additionally, an insider from Instant Digital said that Apple purchased special equipment in Japan for applying a protective coating to displays and transferred it to its Chinese manufacturing partners. Rumors suggest that the glass will be made of “super-hard, anti-reflective” glass that is scratch-resistant. However, according to MacRumors (April 2025), the iPhone 17 series will not end up with this coating.
Analyst Jeff Pu lists the following expected screen sizes for the upcoming iPhone 17 lineup:
- iPhone 17 – 6.1 inches
- iPhone 17 Air – 6.6 inches
- iPhone 17 Pro – 6.3 inches
- iPhone 17 Pro Max – 6.9 inches
Ming-Chi Kuo confirms the display size of the ultra-thin iPhone 17 Air model, adding that it may have a resolution of 2740 × 1260 pixels.
According to insider Setsuna Digital, all four iPhone 17 models will feature advanced Samsung M14 OLED displays – the same as in the iPhone 16 Pro. These panels provide 30% more brightness, improved power efficiency, and increased durability compared to the previous M13.
The use of M14 OLEDs is also supported by a report from Electronic Times, which says that Apple plans to use them across the entire iPhone 17 lineup.
In addition, insider Jukanlosreve claims that the iPhone 17 Pro and Pro Max models may receive a new display technology called Low-Dielectric TEE. It is supposed to improve power efficiency, increase display durability, and improve overall performance compared to existing solutions.
Should we expect a camera update?
Ming-Chi Kuo said that the front camera of the entire iPhone 17 lineup will receive a major upgrade: 24 megapixels and a 6-element lens, replacing the current 12-megapixel 5-element camera in the iPhone 16. Analyst Jeff Pu confirmed this data, specifying that all four models – from the base to the Pro Max – will receive a new front camera.
On the back, according to Kuo, only the iPhone 17 Pro Max will be equipped with an improved tetraprism (periscopic camera) with a resolution of 48 MP instead of the previous 12 MP. This should significantly improve image quality, especially with digital zoom.
Thus, the Pro Max will receive all rear cameras with a resolution of 48 MP for the first time, as well as a 24-megapixel front camera, which will make it the flagship with the most advanced photo module among all iPhones.
The Information reports that Apple may implement a variable aperture system in one of the iPhone 17 models. It is not yet known whether it will be a simple system with several fixed values ​​or a more complex, stepless adjustment – like the Xiaomi 14 Ultra.
As for the ultra-thin iPhone 17 Air, according to Kuo, it will have only one main wide-angle camera. Mark
Gurman clarifies that it will be a 48-megapixel sensor, similar to the one installed in the iPhone 16e. The improvements to the cameras in the Air, apparently, will be limited.
Will the battery be changed?
Insider Setsuna Digital reports that Apple has tested 7.5W reverse wireless charging on the iPhone 17 Pro. It is not yet known whether this feature will appear in the final version of the device, but its possible appearance gives hope.
But there is more definite news: analyst Jeff Pu claims that all four iPhone 17 models will support wired charging up to 35W. Apple traditionally does not disclose official charging power values, so this data is based on third-party tests.
For comparison, the iPhone 16 Pro Max is capable of stably charging at 30W with short-term peaks of up to 37W, although it is unclear how long the maximum value is maintained.
The exact battery characteristics of the entire line are not yet known. However, according to Digital Chat Station, the iPhone 17 Air model may receive a battery with a capacity of 3000 to 4000 mAh.
This is quite modest, so you should not expect records in autonomy from this version. However, according to Mark Gurman, the iPhone 17 Air will have battery life comparable to current models, which is especially impressive considering the device will be about 2mm thinner.
iOS 19
When the iPhone 17 goes on sale, it is expected to run iOS 19. The first information about the future version of the system appeared thanks to a leak from Jon Prosser. According to him, the main focus of iOS 19 is on visual changes. The
most noticeable among them is called an updated user interface with more rounded shapes and translucent elements, inspired by the design of visionOS from Vision Pro. This could mean the appearance of floating 3D interfaces and frosted glass effects in apps like Apple Sports and Invites.
The presented mockups demonstrate this visual concept on the lock screen, in the Camera app, and in new settings pop-ups. A floating dock with Apple TV-style icons is also shown, replacing the familiar navigation bar.
However, Mark Gurman questions the veracity of these data. He believes that the images are most likely based on early prototypes or vague descriptions lacking key details. In his opinion, the presented mockups do not reflect the final design of iOS 19 and do not correspond to what will be shown at WWDC.
What will be the price of iPhone 17?
The iPhone 16, like the 15 and 14 series models, starts at $829. Apple has impressively kept the starting price of the base iPhone model the same for several years now.
The prices of the Pro models have also remained largely unchanged, with the iPhone Pro with 128GB of storage starting at $999. The only notable change is the iPhone 15 Pro Max, which starts at $1,199 for the 256GB version, while the iPhone 14 Pro Max cost $1,099 for the 128GB model.
There is no exact information about the prices of the iPhone 17 yet. According to Mark Gurman, the new iPhone 17 Air could cost about the same as the iPhone 16 Plus – around $900.
Apple has been covering the increase in production costs on its own for several years now, but a price increase for the lineup in the future seems quite likely. This is especially true for the Pro models, where the company can justify the increase in price with technological innovations. However, raising the prices of basic models may scare away buyers, because it is through mass-market iPhones that Apple expands the audience of its services.
As for price cuts, you shouldn’t expect this. Apple traditionally doesn’t make its new models cheaper. Instead, the company continues to offer last year’s iPhones at a reduced price, so if you’re on a budget, you can always choose an older model. It’s also worth considering Android alternatives – both flagships and affordable models.
Should we expect the iPhone 17?
The iPhone situation is the same every year: the latest models are always considered the best at the time of their release.
The iPhone 16 is a great device, but its main drawback is the 60Hz display. If smoothness is important to you, it is worth considering that the iPhone 17 is rumored to get a 120Hz display.
This may be a good reason to wait if your current smartphone can still handle tasks. At the same time, if you are considering buying the iPhone 16 Plus, it is worth getting it now – Apple does not plan to release a Plus model in 2025.
As for the iPhone 16 Pro, it is a solid upgrade in terms of performance, and there are no drastic differences from the iPhone 17 Pro, so buying now is quite justified. On the other hand, the iPhone 17 Pro Max is rumored to get more significant improvements, which may again increase the difference between the Pro and Pro Max versions.
Therefore, it makes sense to wait for this model, especially if you are considering the iPhone 16 Pro Max, which will probably be a less profitable purchase in the long run.
If the iPhone 16 series doesn’t excite you, there are alternatives to consider. Google’s Pixel 9 series is one of the iPhone’s most serious competitors. For those who want more options in the Android ecosystem, the Samsung Galaxy S25 series is a great choice. The Galaxy S25 Ultra is a powerful flagship that can compete with the iPhone 16 Pro Max. The Galaxy S25 Plus and Galaxy S25 models compete confidently with more affordable iPhones.
