The upcoming iPhone 17 lineup is easily looking like one of the most exciting launch events Apple has put together for several years. Not just because we're seeing a brand new, unique model in the form of iPhone 17 Air, but also because this could be the year the standard iPhone 17 model gets the hardware updates we've been begging Apple to give us for years.
The "Awe Dropping" iPhone 17 launch event kicks off on September 9, but we have heard plenty of rumored specs for all four incoming iPhones. Enough to piece together a pretty solid picture of what these new iPhones offer, and which one might be the right one for you. Let's break down all the rumored specs for iPhone 17 vs iPhone 17 Air vs iPhone 17 Pro.
Rumored Specs
iPhone 17 |
iPhone 17 Air |
iPhone 17 Pro |
iPhone 17 Pro Max |
|
Starting price |
$799 |
$1,099 |
$1,099-$1,199 |
$1,199-$1,299 |
Screen size |
6.3-inch |
6.6-inch |
6.3-inch |
6.9-inch |
Refresh rate |
120Hz |
120Hz |
1-120Hz |
1-120Hz |
Processor |
A19 |
A19 Pro |
A19 Pro |
A19 Pro |
Storage |
128GB / 256GB / 512GB |
256GB / 512GB |
256GB / 512GB / 1TB |
256GB / 512GB / 1TB |
RAM |
8GB |
8GB |
12GB |
12GB |
Rear cameras |
48MP (main), 12MP (ultrawide) |
48MP |
48MP (main), 48MP (ultrawide), 48MP telephoto (3.5x optical zoom) |
48MP (main), 48MP (ultrawide), 48MP telephoto (3.5x optical zoom) |
Front camera |
24MP |
24MP |
24MP |
24MP |
Colors |
Black, White, Steel Gray, Green, Purple Light Blue |
Black, White, Light Gold, Light Blue |
Black, White, Gray, Dark Blue, Orange |
Black, White, Gray, Dark Blue, Orange |
Battery (SIM/eSIM) |
3,692 mAh |
3,036mAh / 3,148mAh |
3,988 mAh / 4,252 mAh |
4,823 mAh / 5,088 mAh |
iPhone 17
While it may not be getting as drastic a change as the Pro models, the iPhone 17 is expected to look a bit different. The most notable of which is a slightly larger camera bump, which could house the flash and microphone alongside both camera lenses. The screen is also expected to grow from 6.1-inches to the same 6.3-inches as the iPhone 17 Pro.
The iPhone 17 is also rumored to come with a 120Hz display. Though it isn't clear if it'll be the same 1-120Hz adaptive refresh rate Apple's Pro models have been enjoying for the past few generations. But it's still a big step up from 60Hz.
From a performance standpoint we're looking at the A19 chipset, and while not as powerful as the A19 Pro expected in the rest of the iPhone 17 lineup, it should offer a marked improvement over the A18 chipset in the iPhone 16. It's rumored that the chip has been made with TSMC's third generation 3nm process, which will apparently offer better transistor density — and that means a boost to performance and energy efficiency.
RAM is expected to be at least 8GB, which is enough to power Apple Intelligence but falls short of the 12GB rumored for the Pro models. It's also expected that this will be the only iPhone 17 model to offer a 128GB storage option, though higher levels will no doubt be available.
There's no rumored changes to the rear cameras this year, so expect the same 48MP main lens paired with a 12MP ultrawide shooter. However, rumor has it that all four iPhone 17 models will pack in a 24MP selfie camera — up from 12MP.
It has been speculated that iPhone 17 could be the first time Apple employs its own batteries — designed to offer improved performance. On top of that, a recent leak revealed the possible battery specs for the phone, with the iPhone 17 reportedly featuring a 3,692 mAh battery.
It's also speculated that we could see an increase in wireless charging speeds to support Qi2.2 which would allow certified chargers to reach the same 25W charging speeds as MagSafe.
The iPhone 17 price is rumored to stay at $799, which would be good news.
iPhone 17 Air
With a brand new design, there's a lot to break down where the iPhone 17 Air is concerned. The most crucial of which is the ultra-thin design and what that means for the rest of the phone. The new look offers a 6.6-inch display, and a frame that is said to be as sleek as 5.5mm at its thinnest point.
While the rumors haven't said as much, we can assume that the 17 Air will offer at least a 120Hz refresh rate — to match the iPhone 17. However, it's equally unclear whether it'll be a static refresh rate, or the same adaptive 1-120Hz ProMotion display as a Pro model
Some rumors also claim that the 17 Air may be the only new iPhone to feature a titanium frame. It's speculated that this is to offer a lightweight design while offering improved durability compared to the aluminum on the iPhone 17 and 17 Pro.
Recent reports suggest that 17 Air will include an A19 Pro chipset, which would give it a performance boost over the iPhone 17. However, those same reports claim the chip may be slightly nerfed, with one less GPU core compared to the iPhone 17 Pro and Pro Max.
Like the iPhone 17, we should see at least 8GB of RAM for Apple Intelligence though it's unlikely we'll get anymore than that. Storage options are expected to start at 256GB, and while a 512GB option is likely it's unclear whether 1TB is on the cards.
Cameras are one of the places where things get rather different, since the 17 Air is only supposed to come with a single rear camera — likely the same 48MP main lens as the iPhone 17. You'll likely get the same upgraded 24MP selfie shooter that's coming to all iPhone 17 models.
The 17 Air may also be unique in the connectivity department, packing Apple's New C1 modem instead of the standard Qualcomm option. It's also claimed that the phone may be eSIM only all over the world, rather than just in the U.S. like other iPhones.
The iPhone 17 Air battery has been the point of some contention recently, with a previous rumor indicating the phone could be limited to a 2,900 mAh battery pack. However, a recent leak has shown the phone with a 3,036 mAh battery. On top of that, the same leak indicates that the version of the phone with only an eSIM will have a larger 3,148mAh battery included.
Batteries take up a lot of space, after all, and space in the Air is at even more of a premium than usual. That said, it's claimed Apple may employ new silicon carbon batteries for greater energy density, and employ various power efficiency tactics to ensure the battery life is "on par" with other iPhones.
The iPhone 17 Air price is rumored to be $1,099, which would be $100 more than the iPhone 17 .
iPhone 17 Pro and Pro Max
We're not expecting any significant size differences in the iPhone 17 Pro and Pro Max, but the design is set to get a pretty serious overhaul. That's thanks to the new full-length camera bar stretching the rear of both phones. While the positioning of the camera itself doesn't appear to have moved, it does give the new phones a very distinct look — totally different from past Pro models.
The Pro models are also getting the biggest camera upgrades, with reports of a 48MP telephoto lens joining the 48MP main and ultrawide cameras. Some rumors claim that this could lead to a loss of optical zoom, from 5x to 3.5x; others suggest it may actually increase to 8x. Like the other two iPhone 17 models, the front camera is expected to increase its resolution to 24MP on 17 Pro and 17 Pro Max.
As for the displays, we're expecting the same 6.3-inch and 6.9-inch displays as last year's models. All complete with an adaptive 1-120Hz ProMotion display. Rumors also point to the Dynamic Island cutout shrinking even more this year, alongside a new display that will better hold up to scratches and glare. We could be seeing brighter panels for both models as well.
Sadly, we may not get titanium this year, which is a shame for anyone that liked the space-age material. Rumor has it that Apple will swap it out for aluminum, the first time we've seen that particular metal on the iPhone since the iPhone 12 Pro switched to stainless steel.
Inside we're looking at an A19 Pro, made with the third generation 3nm process from TSMC — offering improved performance and energy efficiency. Reports also point to both Pro models getting an increased 12GB of RAM, which will no doubt prove beneficial for any on-device AI features Apple has planned.
However, the new vapor cooling chamber might have the most impact. Since high performance typically creates more heat, the iPhone 17 Pro's ability to remove that heat should keep the A19 Pro running harder and for longer. This feature is expected to be Pro-exclusive, and not available on the 17 or 17 Air, further giving them a performance edge.
A recent leak has given us our first look at the possible specs for the iPhone 17 Pro and the iPhone 17 Pro Max. Interestingly, it also claims that both models will feature an eSIM-only model, with larger batteries included. According to the post, the iPhone 17 Pro will feature a 3,988 mAh battery in the normal model and a 4,252 mAh in the eSIM version.
Meanwhile, while the iPhone 17 Pro Max is listed with a 4,823 mAh battery in the SIM tray model and the eSIM model features a 5,088 mAh battery. If this leak is accurate, then it seems we will finally see an iPhone exceed 5,000 mAh, at least for one specific model.
There's also been speculation that the Pro models may increase the wired charging speed to 35W, with wireless charging also gaining support for Qi2.2's MagSafe-matching 15W speeds.
Lastly, the iPhone 17 Pro is rumored for a price hike of at least $100 to $1,099, though we've seen estimates as high as $1,199. This is part due to a bump in starting storage to 256GB.
