iPhone 17 Launch Soon: Leaked Design, Price, Display, Battery, and Everything Else to Know
Apple’s iPhone 17 series is generating massive buzz as its expected September 2025 launch approaches. Leaks and rumors suggest this lineup—comprising the iPhone 17, iPhone 17 Air, iPhone 17 Pro, and iPhone 17 Pro Max—could bring some of the most significant upgrades in recent years. From a sleek new design to enhanced displays, cameras, and battery life, here’s a comprehensive look at what’s rumored, based on credible leaks and industry insights.
Launch Timeline
Apple traditionally unveils its iPhones in the second week of September, and 2025 is expected to follow suit. Industry insider Mark Gurman from Bloomberg suggests September 9 or 10, 2025, as likely dates for the announcement, aligning with Apple’s post-Labor Day pattern. Pre-orders typically start a few days later, with sales beginning around September 12 or 19. Alongside the iPhones, Apple is expected to reveal the Apple Watch Series 11, Watch SE 3, and Watch Ultra 3, making it a packed event.
Design Innovations
The iPhone 17 series introduces notable design changes, particularly for the Air and Pro models:
- iPhone 17 Air: Rumored to replace the Plus model, the Air is set to be Apple’s thinnest iPhone ever, potentially as slim as 5.5mm in some areas, compared to the iPhone 16 Pro’s 8.25mm. It’s expected to weigh around 145 grams, similar to the iPhone 13 mini, using a hybrid titanium-aluminum frame and glass back for durability and lightness. The rear camera may shift to a centered, horizontal bar design, a departure from the vertical layout of recent models.
- iPhone 17 Pro and Pro Max: These models may feature a redesigned rectangular camera module spanning the back, with rounded edges and a half-aluminum, half-glass back (aluminum top, glass bottom for wireless charging). The Apple logo might move lower, possibly within a tweaked MagSafe ring. A copper-like orange color could join black, gray, silver, and an iridescent “Liquid Glass” white that reflects iOS 26’s design language.
- Standard iPhone 17: Likely to retain the iPhone 16’s aesthetic, including the USB-C port, Action Button, and dual vertical cameras in a pill-shaped bump. New purple and green color options are rumored.
Display Upgrades
Apple is reportedly expanding screen sizes and bringing ProMotion to all models:
- iPhone 17: The display is expected to grow from 6.1 to 6.27 or 6.3 inches, matching the iPhone 16 Pro’s size for better media consumption.
- iPhone 17 Air: Anticipated to feature a 6.55–6.6-inch OLED display, positioning it between the Pro and Pro Max.
- iPhone 17 Pro and Pro Max: The Pro Max will likely retain its 6.9-inch display, while the Pro could see a slight increase to 6.3 inches.
- ProMotion Across All Models: For the first time, all iPhone 17 models may feature a 120Hz refresh rate for smoother scrolling and animations, previously exclusive to Pro models. However, ProMotion’s adaptive refresh rate (down to 1Hz for always-on display) might remain Pro-exclusive. A new anti-reflective, scratch-resistant coating is also expected to improve visibility in bright sunlight, rivaling Samsung’s Galaxy S series.
Performance and Chipset
The iPhone 17 series is set to deliver a performance boost:
- A19 and A19 Pro Chips: The iPhone 17 and Air are expected to use the A19 chip, while the Pro and Pro Max may get the more powerful A19 Pro, both built on TSMC’s 3nm process for faster speeds and better energy efficiency.
- RAM Upgrades: The Pro Max could feature 12GB of RAM, while the base models and Air may have 8GB, enhancing multitasking and Apple Intelligence features.
- Connectivity: The Air is rumored to debut Apple’s custom 5G modem with sub-6GHz speeds up to 4Gbps, alongside a Wi-Fi 7 chip for faster, more reliable connections. Bluetooth 5.3 is also expected.
Camera Enhancements
Photography and video capabilities are poised for a leap:
- Front Camera: All models are rumored to upgrade from a 12MP to a 24MP selfie camera, promising sharper selfies and better low-light video calls.
- Rear Cameras:
- iPhone 17: Expected to retain a 48MP main sensor with a dual-camera setup, but without the 5x telephoto zoom exclusive to Pro models.
- iPhone 17 Air: May feature a single 48MP wide-angle camera in a horizontal bar to save space.
- iPhone 17 Pro and Pro Max: Likely to include a triple 48MP setup (wide, ultra-wide, telephoto), with the Pro Max potentially offering 8x optical zoom and a mechanical aperture for better light control. A new Pro camera app and 8K video recording are also rumored.
- Camera Control Button: The Pro models may include an additional top-edge button for enhanced photo and video controls, targeting vloggers and content creators.
Battery and Charging
Battery life is a key focus, with trade-offs for the Air model:
- iPhone 17 and Pro: Larger displays suggest increased battery sizes compared to the iPhone 16 Pro’s 3,582mAh. Exact capacities are unconfirmed, but improvements are expected.
- iPhone 17 Air: Rumored to have a 2,800–2,900mAh battery, a significant reduction from the iPhone 16 Plus’s 4,674mAh, due to its ultra-thin design. Apple may counter this with an Adaptive Power Mode in iOS 26 for all-day usage, though only 60–70% of users might get a full day’s charge. A battery case accessory is also rumored.
- iPhone 17 Pro Max: Expected to feature a 5,000mAh battery, the largest in iPhone history, enabled by a slightly thicker 8.725mm chassis. A vapor chamber cooling system and graphite layers will improve thermal performance during heavy tasks like gaming or 4K video editing.
- Charging: All models may support 35W wired charging, up from 20W, and faster Qi2 wireless charging, though still