Apple iPhone 17: Expected specifications, camera features, colours, and more

Apple iPhone

Apple is reportedly gearing up to unveil its iPhone 17 lineup in early September 2025, with leaks pointing to a launch event between September 8 and 10. Bloomberg’s Mark Gurman suggests the keynote will likely fall on Tuesday, 9 September, or Wednesday, 10 September, in line with Apple’s long-standing tradition of releasing new iPhones in the second week of September.

The lineup this year is expected to include four models: iPhone 17, iPhone 17 Air, iPhone 17 Pro, and iPhone 17 Pro Max. The Air will be a slimmer variant, while the Pro models will offer higher-end performance and imaging capabilities.

Launch Timeline
If Apple sticks to its typical rollout, pre-orders could open by Friday, 12 September, with retail availability starting on 19 September 2025.

Performance and chipset
All four models are expected to be powered by the new A19 chipset, built on TSMC’s third-gen 3nm process. The Pro and Pro Max will use the more powerful A19 Pro variant. RAM is also getting a boost: 12GB for Pro models and 8GB for the standard variants. These upgrades are said to support new Apple Intelligence features and improve thermal efficiency, possibly aided by a new vapor chamber cooling system in the Pro models.

Battery and charging
The iPhone 17 Air may feature a reduced battery capacity due to its ultra-thin profile. However, Apple is rumoured to use a high-density silicon-anode battery developed by TDK. While battery life might be acceptable for most users, leaks suggest only 60–70% could make it through a full day on a single charge. Apple may also offer a dedicated battery case. All iPhone 17 models are expected to support Wi-Fi 7 and include Apple’s in-house C1 modem.

Display and design changes
Display sizes are expected to remain similar to the iPhone 16 series: 6.1-inch for the base model, 6.3-inch for the Pro, and 6.9-inch for the Pro Max. The iPhone 17 Air is tipped to feature a 6.6-inch OLED display with ProMotion and Dynamic Island. It could also be Apple’s slimmest iPhone ever at just 5.5mm thickness.

Design tweaks include a new aluminium chassis, repositioned Apple logo, and softer colour palettes. The Pro models may adopt a horizontally-aligned camera module and an aluminium-glass hybrid back.

Camera upgrades
All iPhone 17 models are expected to feature a new 24MP front-facing camera—double the resolution of the iPhone 16’s. The base iPhone 17 may offer a dual rear setup (48MP wide + 12MP ultra-wide). The Pro will get a new triple-lens system with a 48MP telephoto offering 3.5x zoom. The Pro Max is likely to retain its periscope lens, while the Air will feature a single 48MP wide camera. Dual-camera video recording from both front and rear cameras may also be exclusive to the Pro models.

Colour options
Apple is reportedly testing pastel finishes for the iPhone 17 series. The standard variants could arrive in pastel purple and green, while the Pro models might debut in a refined “sky blue” tone.