Apple's Upcoming iPhone 17 Series: Insights Into Its Daring Design Shifts Yet Revealed
The much-anticipated iPhone 17 series is set to make a significant impact, with a range of confirmed and rumoured features across its lineup. The upcoming models are expected to redefine the smartphone experience, boasting advancements in display, camera design, internal specs, Face ID, AI functionality, battery life, charging, and colour options.
### Display and Refresh Rate
The iPhone 17 base model will reportedly feature a larger 6.3-inch display, a boost from the 6.1-inch screen on the iPhone 16. The iPhone 17 Air might sport a 6.6-inch display, while the iPhone 17 Pro will retain the 6.3-inch screen, and the Pro Max is expected to boast a 6.9-inch screen. A 120Hz refresh rate is rumoured for all iPhone 17 models, although the adaptive refresh rate (ProMotion) might be limited to the Pro variants.
### Camera Redesign and Specs
The iPhone 17 Pro models are rumoured to feature a new wide camera bar spanning the phone's width, a departure from previous camera island designs. This redesign might also affect the placement of the Apple logo and MagSafe ring. The front camera for the base iPhone 17 is expected to upgrade to a 24MP sensor from the 12MP used previously. Camera specs on Pro and Pro Max models could include a 48MP main sensor, 48MP ultra-wide, and a 12MP telephoto lens with 5x zoom, plus a 24MP front camera.
### Internal Upgrades
The Pro models are expected to feature the Apple A19 Pro chip with 12GB RAM and storage options ranging from 256GB up to 2TB. The standard iPhone 17 might continue with the A18 chip and 8GB of RAM. Modem upgrades could include the Snapdragon X80 modem for enhanced connectivity.
### Face ID and AI Features
Apple is rumoured to enhance Face ID, potentially with AI-powered safety features integrated into FaceTime and sleep detection improvements. iOS 26 will introduce AI capabilities around FaceTime, battery health optimization, and sleep detection, which will be available on the iPhone 17 series.
### Battery Life and Charging
The iPhone 17 Pro Max could come with a 5,000mAh battery, the largest ever in an iPhone, potentially delivering up to 35 hours of battery life. The Pro model may have around a 3,600mAh battery, while the Pro Max is expected near 4,700mAh. A redesigned MagSafe system with a new open circle magnet layout is expected, possibly enabling faster charging speeds. The logo will be repositioned, and MagSafe magnets relocated, impacting accessory design.
### Color Options and Design Changes
Besides the new camera bar, the Apple logo is rumoured to move lower on the back, breaking alignment with the MagSafe ring. The overall design of the base iPhone 17 will largely remain similar to previous models, while Pro models see more changes. There is no confirmed information yet about new colour options.
The following table provides an overview of the expected iPhone 17 lineup:
| Model | Display Size | Chip | RAM | Battery (mAh) | Camera Highlights | |----------------|--------------|--------------|------|---------------|------------------------------| | iPhone 17 | 6.3" | A18 | 8GB | Unknown | 24MP front camera upgrade | | iPhone 17 Air | 6.6" | Unknown | Unknown | Unknown | Possibly similar to base model| | iPhone 17 Pro | 6.3" | A19 Pro | 12GB | ~3,600 | 48MP main, 48MP ultra-wide, 12MP telephoto (5x zoom), 24MP selfie | | iPhone 17 Pro Max | 6.9" | A19 Pro | 12GB | ~5,000 | Same as Pro with enhanced battery |
In summary, the iPhone 17 series is shaping up to include larger displays, especially for the base and Pro Max versions, significant battery life improvements on Pro models, a new camera bar design, upgraded front cameras, and enhancements in AI features and charging technology. The base model will see modest incremental upgrades, while the Pro models receive more substantial hardware redesigns and performance boosts.
Gadgets like the smartphones from the iPhone 17 series, such as the iPhone 17 Pro, will showcase advancements in technology with features like a 48MP main camera, 120Hz refresh rate, and the powerful A19 Pro chip. In addition, smartphones like the iPhone 17 Pro Max will offer cutting-edge improvements in battery life, boasting a 5,000mAh battery that redefines the smartphone experience.