The iPhone 17 series launch is inching closer with the expected debut in September. This time, Apple is reportedly introducing a new iPhone 17 Air model that will replace the Plus variant with the same large display but a significantly thinner body. There have been several leaks about the iPhone 17 lineup, especially around the Pro models getting a redesign and rumours of a price hike as well. With around a month to go for the 2025 iPhone launch, here’s a timeline of what was leaked and reported about the iPhone 17 series.
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New iPhone 17 ‘Air’ model
Apple is reportedly planning to introduce a thin and light iPhone, dubbed the iPhone 17 Air, which will replace the Plus model. The iPhone 17 Air is shaping up to be Apple’s slimmest iPhone yet at 5.5mm, even thinner than the iPhone 6’s 6.9mm frame. According to tipster IceUniverse, the 17 Air could measure around 163mm tall and 77.6mm wide, while retaining a large 6.9-inch LTPO Super Retina display with a Dynamic Island notch. Unlike the Pro models, it may skip ProMotion but still offer a 120Hz panel for smoother visuals.
Its thin and lightweight design is expected to come at the cost of battery size, with leaks pointing to a capacity below 3,000mAh. If true, this would be around the 2020 iPhone 12’s 2,815mAh battery. Back then, the iPhone 12 could easily go through a full day and deliver 6-7 hours of screen time on intensive use. Apple is expected to include some optimisation for a longer battery life on the 17 Air. Apple is also reportedly (via) planning to revive the Smart Battery Case, introduced first in 2015 with the iPhone 6s and continued until 2019 with the iPhone 11.
In terms of footprint, the iPhone 17 Air is said to match the height and width of the iPhone 17 Pro Max, but with roughly half the thickness. We get a glimpse of this in a leaked image shared by tipster Majin Bu, where 3D-printed cases of the iPhone 17 Pro and iPhone 17 Air are placed beside each other. Combined with its new camera module, slim body, larger display, and the return of Apple’s battery accessory, the iPhone 17 Air looks set to stand out as a bold new entry in the lineup.
If these leaks hold, the iPhone 17 Air could spark mixed reactions. On one hand, its ultra-thin design would be a standout feature. On the other hand, a sub-3,000mAh battery might worry power users. For those prioritising design over all-day endurance, however, the 17 Air could be preferred.
Redesigned cameras, new colours
Apple appears set to introduce notable changes across the series, particularly in the Pro models. The iPhone 17 Pro and Pro Max are said to drop the familiar squircle camera layout in favour of a new rectangular camera bar that stretches across the top. On the left, the triple-camera setup remains, while the LED flash sits on the right, marking one of the most significant shifts in recent years, as the last major redesign we saw was on the iPhone 11 Pro in 2019.
Interestingly, the iPhone 17 Air is tipped to adopt a similar module, but in a smaller form with just one sensor. As for the vanilla iPhone 17, it looks set to stick with the same vertical dual-camera design introduced on the iPhone 16, a sign that Apple intends to keep that look for another cycle. You can check out the images below shared by tipster Majin Bu to get a better idea of the new designs and colours.
Colour options could also be a major highlight this year. Reports suggest a bold new bright orange for the Pro models, alongside black, white, gray, navy blue, and a fresh Sky Blue finish, previously seen on the M4 MacBook Air. The standard iPhone 17 may launch in black, white, blue, green, and pink, while the Air variant could come in black, white, blue, and yellow.
Apple is also expected to shake up its choice of materials. Unlike previous years, where titanium was exclusive to the Pro series, this time the iPhone 17 Air may get titanium frames, while the rest of the lineup could ship with aluminium, according to analyst Jeff Pu (via MacRumors). This is an interesting choice as Apple has so far reserved the more expensive and stronger titanium material for its Pro models. Titanium was first introduced with the iPhone 15 Pro and iPhone 15 Pro Max.
With a titanium body, the Pro models are more durable but lightweight at the same time. Meanwhile, the Pro models are also rumoured to include a vapour chamber cooling system to better handle heat during gaming, video editing, and other demanding tasks.
If these leaks pan out, the iPhone 17 series could feel fresher than recent upgrades. A bold new design language, eye-catching colours like bright orange and Sky Blue, and even changes in build materials suggest Apple is pushing harder on aesthetics and durability. That said, some may see the titanium frame on the Air model as unusual, especially when aluminium is being reserved for the Pro variants. The vapour chamber cooling, though, feels like a welcome addition for power users who’ve long wanted better thermal management on iPhones.
Major camera upgrades for the entire lineup
The iPhone 17 Pro and Pro Max are tipped to come with support for 8x optical zoom (up from 5x), according to a report by MacRumors. Both phones could also come with 8K video recording, an upgrade from 4K, and a moving lens system for variable zoom with DSLR-like consistency across focal lengths, which would help result in better portrait shots. 8K video recording sounds like a major upgrade for iPhones, but it’s something Samsung has been providing since 2020 with the Galaxy S20 Ultra. It’s interesting to see how Apple plans to optimise it better for iPhones.
The iPhone 17 Pro Max might even house a 48MP triple camera setup, a first for iPhones. Apple is also tipped to upgrade the front camera from 12MP to 24MP across the entire iPhone 17 lineup, according to analyst Jeff Pu (via MacRumors). It’s rumoured that the front camera will be placed more centrally in the Dynamic Island than on the left corner. All four iPhones are also said to finally get dual video recording support, letting you record from the front and back cameras at the same time. Apple may also add a built-in Pro camera app and update the Camera Control button, though it’s unclear if this means a new button or a revamp of the existing one introduced with the iPhone 16 series.
If true, these upgrades could finally give the iPhone camera system a big leap rather than the usual incremental boost. An 8x zoom and 8K video would bring Apple closer to competing with Android flagships in sheer versatility. The jump to a 24MP front camera also feels overdue, especially as selfies and video calls dominate social use. The real game-changer could be the Pro camera app; if Apple nails the interface, it could bridge the gap for creators who currently turn to third-party apps for advanced controls.
Vanilla iPhone 17 could finally get a 120Hz display
Apple is expected to finally bring a display upgrade to its vanilla models, according to information revealed by Weibo tipster Fixed Focal Digital. The iPhone 17 and iPhone 17 Air are tipped to feature 120Hz screens, a significant jump from the 60Hz panels on their predecessors. However, they may miss out on ProMotion, Apple’s adaptive refresh rate technology that balances smoothness with power efficiency. Even so, the move to 120Hz alone would mark a major improvement for the standard models.
Another change could be the iPhone 17 featuring a bigger 6.3-inch display (6.27-inch) than the iPhone 16’s 6.1-inch screen. This might remove the compact form factor for the vanilla iPhone, but it would still match smaller Android phones like the OnePlus 13s and Vivo X200 FE. It would also make it the same size as the iPhone 17 Pro, which is rumoured to get a 6.3-inch display as well, according to an Amazon listing spotted by GSMArena. The iPhone 17 Pro Max and iPhone 17 Air will offer the biggest displays, with 6.9-inch and 6.6-inch screens, respectively.
A 120Hz refresh rate finally arriving on the non-Pro iPhones will undoubtedly be a major upgrade. On the other hand, losing the smaller 6.1-inch option might disappoint users who still value compact phones. With the iPhone 17 and 17 Pro now the same size, Apple seems to be nudging users toward choosing based on features rather than form factor. The question is, will fans of smaller iPhones feel left out?
New chipsets, 12GB RAM?
Analyst Ming-Chi Kuo predicts that at least three iPhone 17 models will get 12GB of RAM. These models could be the iPhone 17 Pro, iPhone 17 Pro Max, and the iPhone 17 Air. The vanilla iPhone 17 is also expected to launch with 12GB RAM, but supply chain shortages might affect it. Apple doesn’t reveal RAM capacities officially, but the iPhone 16 lineup is known to be equipped with 8GB RAM. If the rumour is true, this would mean a massive performance upgrade for the iPhone 17 series.
The iPhone 17 is expected to get the A19 chip, while the Pro models will most likely receive the A19 Pro chip. The 17 Air is also tipped to get the A19 Pro, but a toned-down version of the chipset, according to Weibo tipster Front Focus Digital.
A move to 12GB RAM across the lineup would finally put iPhones closer to their Android rivals in terms of memory, especially as many flagships already ship with 12GB or even 16GB. The real intrigue is the iPhone 17 Air; if it gets a modified A19 Pro, it could strike a balance between power and efficiency.
Biggest battery ever on an iPhone
The iPhone 17 Pro Max is tipped to house the largest battery ever on an iPhone, with a 5,000mAh cell, up from 4,685mAh on the iPhone 16 Pro, according to Weibo tipster Instant Digital. In comparison, the iPhone 17 and iPhone 17 Pro may stick to familiar territory with 3,561mAh and 3,582mAh batteries, respectively. The iPhone 17 Air, however, could be the weakest in this department, reportedly carrying a battery under 3,000mAh, likely around 2,800mAh, according to a tipster on Naver. Given its slim profile, this compromise may leave users reaching for the charger before the day ends.
The new iPhones could also bring faster charging speeds. While the iPhone 16 lineup topped out at 27W wired charging, with some models reportedly managing up to 30W, the iPhone 17 series is expected to push beyond this limit.
Bigger batteries and faster charging are welcome upgrades, especially since iPhones have often lagged behind Android rivals in this area. A 5,000mAh cell on the Pro Max should finally put it on par with flagship competition, but the iPhone 17 Air’s sub-3,000mAh battery feels like a step backwards, even if thinness is the trade-off. The hope is that Apple’s optimisations, along with improved charging speeds, will soften the blow, but heavy users may still find themselves carrying a power bank.
When will the iPhone 17 launch, and how much could it cost?
Apple announces its iPhone launch event just days before the big day, but this doesn’t stop rumours and predictions. This year, the iPhone 17 launch event will reportedly take place on September 9th, according to internal documents held by carriers. It may also have been accidentally revealed by Apple through the AppleTV App, as spotted by AppleLeaker on Twitter.
The iPhone 17 Pro and Pro Max models could see a price hike this year, reportedly due to rising component and production costs. In India, the iPhone 16 Pro lineup started at Rs 1,19,900, and its successors may launch at a higher price. In the US, the Pro Max could be priced between $1,249 and $1,299, up from $1,199, after a $50 price hike predicted by analysts. The standard iPhone 17 is expected to cost around $899, while the new iPhone 17 Air may come in at roughly $900.
If these prices hold, Apple may face a tough balancing act, especially with Android rivals offering aggressive specs at lower prices. On the flip side, the iPhone 17 Air at $900 could be tricky as it sits uncomfortably close to the standard iPhone 17. Since these are only speculations, we should wait for the official prices, but also prepare for a hike at the same time.
A month away from answers
The iPhone 17 lineup is shaping up to be one of Apple’s most intriguing launches in years. Between the bold new colours, a slimmer Air model, design overhauls on the Pro series, and improved cameras and battery life, Apple seems to be setting the stage for a meaningful refresh, but whether that translates into a meaningful upgrade for buyers is something we’ll be able to determine in our detailed review. With the launch just weeks away, buyers won’t have to wait long to see which of these leaks turn into reality, and whether the iPhone 17 series can live up to the hype.
