iPhone 17 series: In summary
- Four iPhone 17 models are expected, including the new Air
- Announcement date 9 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 a new weeks. Apple has now announced the date and tagline (“Awe Dropping”) of its keynote at which the iPhone 17 lineup will be announced.
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 confirms it.
When will the iPhone 17 be released?
In summary
- iPhone 17 lineup to be announced on 9 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. And indeed, the brand has now confirmed that its new phone models will be announced during its “awe dropping” keynote on 9 September, 2025. Things will kick off at 10am PT / 1pm ET / 6pm BST at Apple Park and you’ll be able to watch a livestream of the event online.
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)
Sources: Bloomberg | MacRumors
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 expected to be replaced by a new ‘Air’ model.?
No concrete information has been released on pricing but, according to analysts at JPMorgan, Apple is projected to retain the prices of the lineup from last year – with the exception of the Pro model, which could rise to $1,099, while offering more storage.
Here are the starting prices of the iPhone 16 lineup:
- iPhone 16 (128GB) – £799/$799
- iPhone 16 Plus (128GB) – £899/$899
- iPhone 16 Pro (128GB) – £999/$999
- iPhone 16 Pro Max (256GB) – £1,199/$1,199
However, this contradicts an earlier investor note from an analyst at Jeffries, which forecast that the models will cost $50 more than the iPhone 16 models thanks, in part, to new Government tariffs. Assuming the $50 price hike is correct, and that it’s rolled out internationally, the iPhone 17 lineup could be priced as follows:
- iPhone 17 (6.27-inch, A19/8GB) – £850/$850?
- iPhone 17 Air (6.65-inch, A19/8GB) – £950/$950
- iPhone 17 Pro (6.27-inch, A19 Pro/12GB) – £1,050/$1,050?
- iPhone 17 Pro Max (6.86-inch, A19 Pro/12GB) – £1,250/$1,250
Sources: Android Headlines | Android Headlines (2)
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 battery of around 2,900mAh (less than the current iPhone 16 base model), 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.
Dummy models comparedSonny 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.
Apple 17 Air compared with the 16 PlusMajin 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 | GSMArena (3)
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. These designs have since been confirmed by multiple leaks, most recently in a shot of someone testing the phones out on the street.
Note the Air’s single camera moduleSonny Dickson
The designs pictured above received further 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.
Finally, images of cases from well-known brand Urban Armor Gear (UAG) were leaked, showing the back camera design of the iPhone 17 Air and the Pro models.
Evan Blass
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.
It’s possible that iPhone 17 models sold in the EU will lack a SIM card slot for the first time, which has been the case in the US since the launch of the iPhone 14. The evidence for this is that employees at authorised Apple resellers have been asked to complete a training course in iPhone eSIM support. But it’s possible that this will only be the case for the iPhone 17 Air, which is virtually guaranteed to be lacking a SIM tray.
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).
Renders of the 17 Pro in black and orange, courtesy of our sibling publication, MacworldFoundry
Sources: Macworld | Sonny Dickson on X | GSMArena | (2) | (3) | The Information | Majin Bu on X | (2) | Majin Bu | MacRumors | Evan Blass on X
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.
iPhone 15 ProDominik Tomaszewski / Foundry
Sources: The Elec | Ice Universe on Weibo | Digital Chat Station on Weibo | Instant Digital on Weibo | GSMArena | GSMArena (2)
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.
iPhone 15 ProDominik 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 Pro models are thought to feature significant camera upgrades, including improved 8x optical zoom (a big jump from the 5x offered on the iPhone 16 Pro models), an additional camera control button on the top of the device for shooting in portrait mode, and possibly a redesigned camera app. There’s reason to be sceptical about some of these forecasts as dummy models of the phones have not shown cutouts for camera buttons – and, in any case, a redesigned camera app is one of the features of iOS 26.
Earlier reports suggested that the iPhone 17 Pro Max is expected to feature a 48Mp wide camera, a 48Mp ultrawide camera and a 48Mp tetraprism telephoto camera, which would make it the first iPhone to feature three 48Mp cameras.?
iPhone 15 ProDominik Tomaszewski / Foundry
Sources: Ming Chi Kuo on Medium | MacRumors | Ming Chi Kuo on Medium (2) | Ice Universe on Weibo | MacRumors
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. However, the iPhone 17 Air is expected to have a battery of “around 2,900 mAh”, lower than the current regular iPhone 16 model, which has a 3,561 mAh cell. It’ll be encased in steel, to help improve heat dissipation.
Finally, it’s thought that the phones will feature upgraded Qi 2.2 wireless charging, with speeds of up to 25W. Apple is also expected to bring in a 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 projected that existing MagSafe accessories will be compatible with the new design.
Additionally, there was a rumour that the Pro and Pro Max models will have 7.5W reverse charging capabilities, allowing them to charge accessories such as AirPods, an Apple Watch, and even an expected MagSafe battery pack. However, that seems less likely after the Pixel 10 phones launch. The new phones featured Qi2 charging technology, the design of which Pixel based on Apple’s. But the brand was forced to leave out a reverse charging capability as it’s apparently incompatible with the magnets used. So, unless Apple has held back some secret knowledge, we may not see iPhones that are able to charge earbuds and watches just yet.
Source: Majin Bu | GSMArena | GSMArena (2) | GSMArena (3) | Android Headlines | MacRumors
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.
iPhone 15 ProDominik Tomaszewski / Foundry
iPhone 17e
The iPhone 17e is not expected to be launched alongside the other models in September 2025. Instead, it’s rumoured to be arriving in spring 2026. This would be in line with the release of the 16e, which took place on 28 February 2025, after a 19 February announcement.
It’s expected to have an upgraded chipset and a new handset design but otherwise, it’ll be very similar to the 16e. Here are the rumoured specs:
- 6.1-inch OLED screen with 60 Hz refresh rate
- The same Dynamic Island design as its predecessor
- 12 MP front-facing camera with Face ID
- 48 MP rear camera
Source: GSMArena
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. You can also find out everything we know so far about the rumoured iPhone foldable.
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February 21, 2026, 08:31:49 PM