Apple’s iPhone 17 series, expected to launch in mid-September 2025, is shaping up to be a significant leap forward. With a new ultra-thin model and a host of technological advancements, those who skipped the iPhone 16 may find this lineup worth the wait.

1. iPhone 17 “Air” model

Apple is set to debut a new, much thinner model reportedly named iPhone 17 Air. According to analyst Ming-Chi Kuo, it will feature a rear camera bar, a narrower Dynamic Island, and a redesigned aluminum body. The phone may measure just 5.5mm at its thinnest point and sport a 6.6-inch display, effectively replacing the Plus model.

2. New aluminum frame design

Apple plans to unify its design language by using aluminum frames across the entire iPhone 17 lineup, including premium models, marking a departure from stainless steel and titanium in past Pro models.

3. Completely redesigned rear cameras

The iPhone 17 Pro and Pro Max will ditch the familiar square camera layout for a horizontal aluminum camera bar, color-matched to the frame. The upper rear panel will be aluminum, while the bottom will remain glass for wireless charging.

4. New screen sizes

Apple is expected to bring the 6.27-inch screen size of the iPhone 16 Pro to the standard iPhone 17. The iPhone 17 Air may debut a brand-new size.

5. ProMotion 120Hz displays on all models

All iPhone 17 models are rumored to include ProMotion 120Hz displays. However, only the Pro models may support variable refresh rates down to 1Hz for Always-On Display.

6. Apple-designed Wi-Fi 7 chip

The iPhone 17 Pro and Pro Max will reportedly be the first to support Wi-Fi 7, using an Apple-designed chip for faster and lower-latency connections.

7. 48MP telephoto lens

The iPhone 17 Pro will get a 48MP telephoto lens, completing a trio of 48MP rear cameras. Although optical zoom might drop to 3.5x from 5x, digital zoom quality will improve via cropping.

8. 8K video recording

The iPhone 17 Pro could finally introduce 8K video recording, offering enhanced editing flexibility and ultra-high-resolution content.

9. 24MP front camera

The front-facing camera will be upgraded to 24MP across the lineup, with a six-element lens for sharper selfies, video calls, and Face ID.

10. Anti-glare, scratch-resistant display

Apple is reportedly working on new coatings for better glare reduction and scratch resistance, potentially replacing Ceramic Shield. However, plans to use Gorilla Glass Armor may have been canceled.

11. More RAM

Sources suggest the iPhone 17 base models will have 8GB RAM, while the Pro models may get up to 12GB, improving multitasking and on-device AI capabilities.

12. Smaller Dynamic Island

Thanks to metalens technology, the iPhone 17 Pro Max will have a slimmer Dynamic Island, reducing visual footprint while retaining Face ID functionality.

13. New A19 and A19 Pro chips

All iPhone 17 models will use the A19 chip built on TSMC’s N3P 3nm process, with the Pro and Pro Max using a more powerful A19 Pro variant.

14. Vapor chamber cooling

To prevent overheating and performance throttling, all iPhone 17 models may adopt vapor chamber cooling - common in high-end Android phones.

15. Reverse wireless charging

The iPhone 17 Pro and Pro Max could support 7.5W reverse wireless charging, useful for topping up AirPods, Apple Watch, or MagSafe accessories.

16. Bigger batteries

The iPhone 17 Pro Max is expected to be 0.475mm thicker than its predecessor, likely to accommodate a larger battery and longer battery life.

17. Qi 2.2 wireless charging up to 50W

For the first time, iPhones may support Qi 2.2 wireless charging with speeds up to 50W, dramatically faster than the current 15W standard, along with better alignment and efficiency.

Apple is expected to unveil the full iPhone 17 lineup this fall, including the standard iPhone 17, iPhone 17 Pro, iPhone 17 Pro Max, and the ultra-thin iPhone 17 Air - with the Pro models featuring the most significant upgrades.

Hai Phong (Macrumors, 9to5Mac)