Apple’s iPhone 17 series, set to debut on September 9, 2025, at the company’s “Awe Dropping” event, promises to redefine smartphone design and performance. Based on leaks and insights, the iPhone 17 lineup will consist of four models: iPhone 17, iPhone 17 Air, iPhone 17 Pro, and iPhone 17 Pro Max.
This article dives into the anticipated features, design shifts, and technological advancements that set this lineup apart, including the introduction of the ultra-thin iPhone 17 Air and universal display upgrades.
A Revamped Lineup
Apple is shaking up its lineup by replacing the “Plus” model with the iPhone 17 Air, a sleek, ultra-thin device prioritizing style. The iPhone 17 (base model) will see incremental upgrades, while the iPhone 17 Pro and Pro Max will push boundaries with advanced materials and camera systems. Each model targets distinct user needs, from budget-conscious buyers to power users seeking cutting-edge performance.
Design Innovations
The iPhone 17 lineup introduces bold design changes. The iPhone 17 retains a familiar aluminum chassis and a dual vertical rear camera in a pill-shaped bump, but its display grows to 6.27–6.3 inches (up from 6.1 inches) with slimmer bezels, aligning it closer to Pro models in size. Available colors include Black, White, Blue, Purple, and a new Green shade.
The iPhone 17 Air steals the spotlight with a reported thickness of 5.5–6.25mm, potentially making it Apple’s thinnest iPhone ever (compared to 7.8mm for the iPhone 16). Its titanium frame ensures durability despite the slim profile, and a horizontal camera bar houses a single rear lens, a significant departure from multi-camera setups. Its 6.55–6.7-inch OLED display boasts a 1,290 x 2,796 resolution, and color options include Black, White, Light Blue, and Light Gold.
The iPhone 17 Pro and Pro Max adopt a hybrid chassis—part glass, part aluminum—for enhanced durability while supporting wireless charging. A redesigned horizontal camera bar spans the phone’s width, housing three lenses with increased spacing. The Pro Max may be slightly thicker (8.725mm vs. 8.25mm) to accommodate a larger battery. Colors include Black, Gray, Silver, Dark Blue, and a possible iridescent Orange/Copper. Both Pro models feature anti-reflective, scratch-resistant displays, potentially using a nano-texture-like coating.
Display Upgrades Across the Board
For the first time, all iPhone 17 models will feature LTPO OLED displays with 120Hz ProMotion and always-on display (AOD) capabilities, a feature previously exclusive to Pro models. This ensures smoother scrolling and enhanced visuals for all users. The iPhone 17 sports a 6.3-inch display, the Air a 6.55–6.7-inch panel, the Pro a 6.3-inch screen, and the Pro Max a 6.9-inch display. A smaller Dynamic Island, enabled by metalens Face ID technology, and slimmer bezels further elevate the viewing experience.
Camera Advancements
Camera upgrades are a highlight of the iPhone 17 series. The iPhone 17 retains a dual-camera system (48MP Wide, 12MP Ultra Wide) but upgrades the front-facing camera to 24MP with a six-element lens for superior low-light selfies. The iPhone 17 Air sacrifices versatility for its thin design, featuring a single 48MP rear camera and a 24MP front camera, lacking Ultra Wide or Telephoto lenses.
The iPhone 17 Pro and Pro Max push boundaries with a triple 48MP rear camera system: 48MP Wide, 48MP Ultra Wide, and 48MP Tetraprism Telephoto (up from 12MP Telephoto). Rumors suggest an 8x optical zoom (vs. 5x on iPhone 16 Pro) or a possible 3.5x, alongside 8K video recording and a new pro-level camera app. Dual video recording (front and rear simultaneously) and a potential mechanical aperture for manual light control add professional-grade capabilities.
Performance and Cooling
The iPhone 17 series is powered by Apple’s A19 chips, built on TSMC’s N3P 3nm process. The iPhone 17 features an A19 chip with 8GB of RAM, while the Air uses a modified A19 with 12GB of RAM to support Apple Intelligence. The Pro and Pro Max boast the A19 Pro chip with 12GB of RAM, enhancing CPU, GPU, and Neural Engine performance. A vapor chamber cooling system in the Pro models ensures efficient heat dissipation for gaming and AI tasks.
Battery and Charging
Battery life varies across models. The iPhone 17 maintains a capacity similar to the iPhone 16 (~3,561mAh), while the iPhone 17 Air’s 2,800mAh battery may struggle with all-day usage due to its slim design, possibly prompting Apple to reintroduce a MagSafe battery pack. The Pro Max could reach 5,000mAh (up from 4,676mAh), with the Pro maintaining a similar capacity to its predecessor. All models support faster 35W wired charging (up from 20W) and 25W Qi 2.2 wireless charging.
Connectivity and Software
Connectivity sees upgrades with the iPhone 17 Air using Apple’s in-house C1 5G modem for efficiency, while the other models rely on Qualcomm’s Snapdragon X80 modem. All models feature Apple’s custom Wi-Fi 7 and Bluetooth chip, with Pro models sporting a redesigned antenna system for improved 5G, LTE, and Wi-Fi performance. The lineup ships with iOS 26, introducing a “Liquid Glass” design, revamped Phone and Photos apps, and enhanced Apple Intelligence features like live translation and Adaptive Power for battery optimization.
Pricing and Availability
Pricing remains competitive: the iPhone 17 starts at $799, the iPhone 17 Air at ~$949 (a $50 increase over the iPhone 16 Plus), the Pro at ~$999, and the Pro Max at ~$1,199, potentially with 256GB base storage. Tariffs on Chinese components could drive slight price hikes. Pre-orders are expected to begin shortly after the September 9 event, with availability by late September 2025.
What Sets the iPhone 17 Apart?
The iPhone 17 lineup stands out with the ultra-thin Air model, universal 120Hz ProMotion displays, and triple 48MP cameras on Pro models. However, the Air’s single camera and smaller battery may limit its appeal for power users, while incremental upgrades (e.g., A19 chip, larger displays) may not compel iPhone 16 owners to upgrade. Looking ahead, the iPhone 18 in 2026 is rumored to introduce under-display Face ID and foldable designs, potentially overshadowing this year’s release.
Read About: iOS 26 public beta is now available. Everything you need to know
