iPhone 17 series: In summary
- Four iPhone 17 models are expected, including the new Air
- Estimated announcement date of 8, 9 or 10 September
- Colour options for the models have now been confirmed
The rumour mill never rests when it comes to Apple’s iPhones.
The iPhone 16 series has been out for over nine months, and interest in the iPhone 17 is reaching fever pitch, with a launch expected in two months. As Apple is notoriously secretive, we don’t expect to get any official news but rumours are delivering more and more concrete information, thanks to specs leaks, renders and images of dummy phones.
Here’s a round-up of everything we know so far about the entire lineup. Remember, however, that nothing is set in stone until Apple announces it.
When will the iPhone 17 be released?
In summary
- iPhone 17 lineup expected to be announced on 8, 9 or 10 September
- Pre-orders likely to open the Friday afterwards
- Devices are expected to ship a week later
Apple typically unveils its new iPhone lineup in September, usually the week after Labor Day. As we’d expect Apple to avoid an 11 September launch, and it doesn’t tend to opt for Friday launches, the most likely launch days are: Monday, 8 September; Tuesday, 9 September; or Wednesday, 10 September.
Pre-orders usually open on the Friday following the announcement, with devices shipping a week later. Occasionally, specific models may experience slight delays due to production issues.
Here’s a look at the release dates of recent iPhones:
- iPhone 16: 9 September 2024
- iPhone 15: 12 September 2023
- iPhone 14: 7 September 2022
- iPhone 13: 14 September 2021
- iPhone 12: 13 October 2020 (delayed due to Covid)
Source: Bloomberg
Jason Cross / Foundry
How much will the iPhone 17 cost?
In summary
- Prices are currently speculative
- The Plus model is expected to be replaced by the Air
- Prices for the lineup could increase from last year
Pricing details for the iPhone 17 remain speculative. The ‘Plus’, the lineup’s least popular model, is likely to be replaced by a new ‘Air’ model.
The expected pricing is as follows:
- iPhone 17: 6.27-inch, A19/8GB (£799/$799)
- iPhone 17 Air: 6.65-inch, A19/8GB (£899/$899)
- iPhone 17 Pro: 6.27-inch, A19 Pro/12GB (£1,099/$1,099)
- iPhone 17 Pro Max: 6.86-inch, A19 Pro/12GB (£1,199/$1,199)
If these rumours hold true, we could see an increase in cost, with the Pro model’s price rising by £100/$100.
What specs and features will the iPhone 17 have?
In summary
- Pro models will almost definitely feature LTPO displays – but other models may as well
- All but the Pro Max expected to stick with 8GB of RAM
- Selfie cameras likely to get a bump to 24MP, from 12MP
- iPhone 17 Air may be less than 5.6mm thick
iPhone 17 Air
The iPhone 17 Air, previously referred to as the iPhone 17 Slim, is expected to replace the Plus as a mid-tier model in Apple’s lineup, positioned between the iPhone 17 and iPhone 17 Pro.
It’s been termed “unbelievably thin”, with an alleged thickness of less than 5.6mm, which makes it even slimmer than the 5.8mm Samsung S25 Galaxy Edge, and lighter at 145g.
The Air is expected to be the only model in the lineup to feature titanium in its build, with a titanium-aluminium alloy metal frame. The titanium content is thought to be lower than in the current Pro and Pro Max frames, which makes sense as titanium is heavier than aluminium, and the Air is a light phone. It’s speculated that the titanium will help to reinforce the ultra-thin phone and prevent it from bending.
It’s thought to feature a new, ultra-thin OLED display, made possible by Novatek’s TDDI (Touch and Display Driver Integration) OLED panel, which integrates the touch sensor and display driver into one layer.
To achieve its ultra-thin form, the iPhone 17 Air is likely to feature a tiny 2,800mAh battery, certainly no physical SIM card slot, and only a single 48Mp rear camera. To help with battery life issues, Apple is expected to sell a battery case for the model, which, by making it thicker and heavier, would somewhat negate its key selling point.
Sonny Dickson
Having seen photos of the models, we now know that the iPhone 17 Air is smaller than the 6.33-inch iPhone 16 Plus.
Majin Bu
It’s also expected to include a 6.6-inch display (slightly smaller than the iPhone Plus models), Face ID and a Dynamic Island cutout.
The iPhone 17 Air is expected to run on the A19 chip (not the A19 Pro), have 8GB of RAM, and feature a 24MP front-facing camera, making it a strong contender for users who want premium features without the high price of the Pro models.
Sources: MacRumors | GSMArena | Medium | DigiTimes | GSMArena (2) | Majin Bu on X | 9to5mac
Design
A leaked image of dummy models of the iPhone 17 lineup provided the first concrete information on lens placement and the design of the camera modules.
Sonny Dickson
The designs pictured above received confirmation when a video of a dummy Pro Max model was shown on X. It appears identical to the first model in the above lineup, with a camera module that stretches across the entire back of the handset.
This panel, which appears to be glass, is the biggest new design element we’ve seen to iPhone handsets in years, echoing the “Liquid Glass” redesign coming in iOS 26.
All models in the new line-up will have a Dynamic Island that’s “largely unchanged” in size from the iPhone 16.
Where build is concerned, a return to aluminium frames is expected, except for the Air model, which is thought to have a titanium frame. It’s possible that the Apple logo on the Pro model will be shifted down to balance out the new camera module. This could also have an effect on MagSafe design.
The latest leaks suggest that Apple will be offering plenty of new colour options for the models. Opt for the iPhone 17 and you’ll be able to choose from black, grey (Pantone 18-4005-TPG), white, light blue (Pantone 658 U), green (Pantone 2282 U) or purple (Pantone 530 U). These last two are pictured below.
GSMArena
The 17 Air will be available in black, white, light blue (Pantone 657 U) and light gold (Pantone 11-0604 TPG Gardenia).
The 17 Pro and the 17 Pro Max will come in black, white, grey, dark blue (Pantone 19-4025 TPG Mood Indigo) and orange (Pantone 1501243 TCX Papaya).
Foundry
Sources: Macworld | Sonny Dickson on X | GSMArena | GSMArena (2) | The Information | Majin Bu on X | Majin Bu on X (2) | Majin Bu | GSMArena (3)
Display
The more expensive models in the iPhone 17 lineup will feature LTPO displays, and there are rumours that it may even be standard across the board. If so, then we can expect all models to get the always-on display feature too: LPTO displays minimise battery usage. Screen sizes will vary between 6.3 inches and 6.9 inches. The 17 and 17 Pro will have 6.3-inch displays, the iPhone 17 Air is expected to have a 6.6-inch display, while the 17 Pro Max will retain the 6.9-inch display.
This would make the iPhone 17 the same size as the iPhone 16 Pro.
The expectation is that the the standard iPhone 17 models will match the Pro’s 120Hz refresh rate, although they’ll lack ProMotion – that’ll only be available on the pricier models. Still, this would mark a notable improvement from the 60Hz screens found in the current non-Pro models, although it comes years after Android rivals.
Dominik Tomaszewski / Foundry
Sources: The Elec | Ice Universe on Weibo | Digital Chat Station on Weibo | Instant Digital on Weibo | GSMArena | GSMArena (2)
Performance
All models of the iPhone 17 will likely be powered by Apple’s A19 chip, although only the Pro and Pro Max variants are expected to get the more powerful A19 Pro.
The iPhone 17 Pro Max is expected to feature 12GB of RAM, while the other models will stick with 8GB of RAM.
Despite Apple’s efforts to develop its own 5G modem, the iPhone 17 series will likely still rely on Qualcomm for cellular connectivity. Wi-Fi 7 support is also anticipated.
Apple is thought to be adopting vapour chamber cooling for the Pro models. Vapour chambers are advanced cooling systems that use a small amount of liquid, typically de-ionised water, to dissipate heat. The heat from the chipset causes the liquid to evaporate, and the vapour spreads across the chamber to cool the device efficiently.
Dominik Tomaszewski / Foundry
Sources: Ming-Chi Kuo on X | GSMArena | Majin Bu
Cameras
A significant upgrade is expected to the front-facing camera, with all models featuring a 24Mp sensor with 6P lens, compared to the current 12Mp selfie camera.
The iPhone 17 Pro Max is expected to feature a 48Mp wide camera, a 48Mp ultrawide camera and a 48Mp tetraprism telephoto camera, which will make it the first iPhone to feature three 48Mp cameras.
Dominik Tomaszewski / Foundry
Sources: Ming Chi Kuo on Medium | MacRumors | Ming Chi Kuo on Medium (2) | Ice Universe on Weibo |
Battery & Charging
Apple is set to introduce an innovative, electrically-induced battery removal technology across the entire iPhone 17 lineup.
This technology reportedly builds on the adhesive mechanism seen in the iPhone 16 and iPhone 16 Plus, which allowed users to detach the battery easily by applying a low-voltage electrical current.
The adhesive softens when connected to a 9V battery, USB-C charger, or other power sources, making battery maintenance and replacement more user-friendly.
In addition, the Pro Max is expected to get a larger battery, making it the first iPhone to reach 5,000 mAh.
Finally, it’s thought that Apple will bring in new MagSafe design for the Pro series phones. Instead of the closed ring, there will now be a ring that’s open at its base. It’s expected that existing MagSafe accessories will be compatible with the new design.
Source: Majin Bu | GSMArena | Android Headlines
Software
The iPhone 17 series will launch with iOS 26, packed with new features and improvements.
iOS 26 will feature a complete design overhaul, known as “Liquid Glass”, featuring translucent, floating menus.
While AI is playing an increasingly central role in phone software, ongoing issues with Apple Intelligence mean that ChatGPT integration will be used as the basis for Visual Intelligence, a feature that allows users to ask questions about onscreen images and find products from Etsy and Google that match items in photos.
There will also be live translation, a new Games app and new features in Messages, Apple Music, Maps, the Phone and Photos apps.
Dominik Tomaszewski / Foundry
That’s all we know at this point about the iPhone 17 series. While we wait for more news, check out what the iPhone 16 series has to offer and where to buy the lineup.