The New iPhone 17 Models

What we’re expecting:

• iPhone 17, 17 Pro, 17 Pro Max
• The long-rumored iPhone 17 Air for iPhone 16

First up: We’re expecting the standard iPhone 17 plus its Pro and Pro Max siblings, following the pattern set since the iPhone 16. Things heat up with the iPhone 17 Air – that’s what insiders now call the previous “Plus” model. It’s more than just a thinner or bigger version; the Air is positioned as a distinct category, competing with Samsung’s foldables like the Galaxy S25 Edge (which is itself just 5.8mm thick).

iPhone 17 Release Date

The party is scheduled for sometime around September 8th – probably Tuesday, Sept. 9th, based on Apple’s historical rhythm. Keep an eye out for the official launch event and the Friday afterward, typically Sept. 19th, for the official debut when iOS 26 rolls out.

iPhone 17 Specs That Might Be True

Speculation is flying, but nothing is set in stone until September. What we know so far:

• Display Refresh Rates: Bigger news than ever before is that the non-Pro models – including the Air – could finally get those buttery-smooth 120Hz displays. Long live Pro, the fanbase has been waiting for this.

• Powering the New iPhones: Anticipate the new A19-series chips. Expect a regular A19 in the base model, and enhanced A19 Pro versions in the Pro and Pro Max. Some leakers suggest the Air might use an upgraded version of A19 Pro over a full base A19 chip for a slight performance lift.

Don’t count out the camera system upgrades either. While the Air keeps things relatively simple, the Pro models seem poised to step up their game, with some rumors even mentioning an upgrade to 48-megapixel sensors across the lineup this time around.

New Camera Features

Camera nerds, you’ll want to pay attention to these:

• Front Camera Upgrade: Yeah, that selfie camera matters. Expect those to jump from 12MP to 24MP on the iPhone 17 series, giving you way more detail when sharing photos.

• Back Camera Improvements: The Pro models are expected to maintain a three-lens setup, potentially with that previously missing telephoto lens bumping up to a professional-grade 48MP sensor. Meanwhile, the simpler iPhone 17 Air supposedly sticks with a single rear shooter similar to the iPhone SE line.

Colors for the 2025 iPhones

The new color schemes you’ll want to see:

The Pro models are rumored to debut a striking new orange option alongside the traditional black, white, and blue choices. Meanwhile, the standard iPhone 17 appears to be arriving in fairly mild colors like black, white, light blue, and pink – nothing too flashy compared to the Pro lineup.

Other Things to Expect at
the September Event

Okay, let’s be real. The iPhone is the centerpiece, but Apple is expected to throw in a few surprises. Anticipate new AirPods Pro and Apple Watch announcements, plus reports suggest HomePod and Apple TV updates are cooking. And let’s not forget – expect announcements around Apple’s new artificial intelligence platform, Apple Intelligence.