Apple fans have been waiting months for this moment, and it’s almost here. On 9 September, the tech giant will unveil the iPhone 17 in what’s tipped to be the biggest upgrade in years. While details remain under wraps, all will be revealed at Apple’s launch event, with rumours pointing to a fresh design, a new camera button and much more.
The tech giant is known for hiding abstract clues in its event invitations, and this year is no different. Tim Cook has teased an “awe-dropping” Apple event, with the logo styled like a thermal camera image. While there’s been no suggestion that a thermal camera is coming to the iPhone 17, fans online are speculating that it could hint at the rumoured vapour-chamber cooling upgrade that could help with thermal management.
There are plenty of other rumours. For months, Apple has been expected to introduce an ultra-thin iPhone 17 Air, which is likely to replace the Plus model in the line-up. It’s predicted to be just 5.5mm thick, which is even thinner than the recently released Samsung Galaxy S25 Edge. On top of that, there are whispers that Apple is completely redesigning the rear of the iPhone 17 Pro, kitting it out with a horizontal camera bar that resembles the new Google Pixel 10.
Naturally, some under-the-hood upgrades are also expected. Rumours point to major camera improvements, including 8x optical zoom for the Pro models and a significantly enhanced 24MP front-facing camera across the line-up. Simultaneous recording with both front and rear cameras is also a possibility. Set to be announced this September alongside the Apple Watch Series 11 and AirPods Pro 3, here’s everything we know about the upcoming handsets, from release date, price and design to specs, battery life and camera.
Apple iPhone 17 release date: When will the new smartphones launch?
Apple has announced it will be hosting an “awe-dropping” event on Tuesday 9 September. The launch will take place at Apple Park in Cupertino, where the company is expected to unveil the iPhone 17 alongside other new products. The keynote will start at 6pm in the UK, and you’ll be able to watch it live on Apple’s website, the Apple TV app and on YouTube.
Based on previous launches, pre-orders will probably go live that same week on Friday 12 September, with the handsets then shipping out and arriving in shops on Friday 19 September.
Apple iPhone 17 price: How much could the new handsets cost?
While we won’t know the price of the iPhone 17 until 9 September, there are already plenty of rumours out there. Still, iPhone pricing rumours are never all that reliable. Every year, leakers and analysts predict a price hike, and every year, Apple tends to hold firm. However, that might finally change in 2025.
In a May post on Truth Social, President Trump threatened to impose a 25 per cent tariff on all iPhones manufactured outside the US. Apple had already begun shifting some production to India in 2020, helping it avoid earlier tariffs, but this latest threat could still affect global pricing by the time the iPhone 17 launches.
In a report in mid-August, Bloomberg claimed that Apple was planning to manufacture all four US-bound iPhone 17 models in India, which is the first time shipments of an entire new lineup will come from India at launch. The move is reportedly designed to reduce Apple’s reliance on China and could help soften the impact of potential tariffs, at least in the near term. According to Bloomberg, factories run by Tata Group, an Indian multinational conglomerate, are expected to handle around half of India’s iPhone output within two years, alongside Apple’s long-time partner Foxconn.
In May, The Wall Street Journal claimed that Apple was planning to raise iPhone prices this September. The tech giant reportedly intends to attribute the hike to new features and design changes, rather than tariffs, in a bid to avoid political backlash.
On 13 August, reliable Weibo leaker Instant Digital claimed that the iPhone 17 Pro will increase in price by $50 to $1,050 in the US, but the base storage will also be doubled from 128GB to 256GB, and the lower tier dropped entirely. Last week, analyst Jeff Pu claimed that iPhone 17 models will likely be more expensive than the iPhone 16 range due to US tariffs on devices assembled in China and India.
Instant Digital isn’t the only one touting a $50 increase. In a July research note, Jefferies analyst Edison Lee stated that Apple is expected to hike every iPhone 17 model by $50 as a way to offset China tariffs and the cost of components. The rumoured price hike would apply to the iPhone 17, iPhone 17 Air, iPhone 17 Pro and iPhone 17 Pro Max.
That said, Bloomberg’s Mark Gurman reported in March that the iPhone 17 Air, which is expected to replace the Plus model, will cost the same as the iPhone 16 Plus: $899 in the US and £899 in the UK, so we’ll just have to wait and see.
Apple iPhone 17 camera
Details about the iPhone 17’s camera are still being kept firmly under wraps, and while the Apple logo looks like it’s being viewed through a thermal camera, it’s a feature that has not been rumoured.
In an August 2024 report, Jeff Pu claimed in a research note that all four iPhone 17 models will feature a 24MP front-facing camera – a better lens than the 12MP front-facing camera on the iPhone 16. It’s a rumour seconded by reliable leaker Ming-Chi Kuo in January 2024. In October 2024, Pu added that the iPhone 17 Pro would feature a 48MP telephoto snapper with 3.5x optical zoom and a redesigned triple camera array that runs horizontally across the rear.
According to a YouTube video from FrontPageTech released in April, the Pro models may also gain a new video recording feature, allowing users to capture footage from both the front and rear cameras at the same time. It’s rumoured that it would let you overlay a selfie shot over outward-facing footage – a useful tool for vloggers or creators.
In February 2025, Majin Bu showed more renders of the iPhone 17 lineup, this time of the camera array. In the renders, the iPhone 17 Pro and iPhone 17 Pro Max can be seen with a triple camera system placed horizontally across the top. The base iPhone 17 will stick to its two vertical cameras, and the iPhone 17 Air will feature just one camera. Mark Gurman claimed in March 2025 that this will be a 48MP camera on the iPhone 17 Air.
According to Bloomberg’s Mark Gurman, Apple plans to emphasise improved video recording this year to better appeal to creators and vloggers, something he suggested in a PowerOn newsletter in February.
In July 2025, an anonymous tipster told MacRumors that the iPhone 17 Pro would receive an upgraded telephoto lens with up to 8x optical zoom, a notable jump from the iPhone 16 Pro’s 5x. The same source claimed the lens would support continuous optical zoom across focal lengths by physically shifting position. Apple is also reportedly working on a new pro camera app designed to rival third-party tools like Halide and Filmic Pro, though it’s unclear if it will be exclusive to the Pro models.
The anonymous tipster also claimed that a second dedicated camera control button will be added to the top edge of the iPhone 17, complementing the existing one on the side.
Apple iPhone 17 design and display
There have been so many credible iPhone 17 design leaks over the past few months that it feels like we already know what the upcoming handset is going to look like.
The biggest design overhaul looks set to arrive with the iPhone 17 Air. In March, notorious leaker IceUniverse claimed that the phone could be just 5.5mm thick – thinner than any iPhone Apple has ever released.
Apple analyst Ming-Chi Kuo said last year that it will feature just a single 48MP rear camera in a new horizontal pill-shaped camera bar, and unusually, Apple Track claimed in late April 2025 that it will feature a USB-C port that’s slightly off-centre to accommodate the slimmer chassis. The device is also rumoured to feature a 6.6in OLED display with ProMotion, Dynamic Island and Face ID.
On 28 July, a prototype of the iPhone 17 Pro was spotted in the wild and posted to X. In the pictures, you can see the rumoured iPhone 17 Pro in a bulky case, with a visible horizontal camera bar. Gurman publicly reacted to the images, adding a bit of extra credibility to the leak.
Majin Bu also claimed back in September 2024 that Apple was prototyping an iPhone with the volume and action buttons unified into one single button. It could work similarly to the capacitive camera control button seen on the iPhone 16 Pro.
As for the rest of the range, a really early rumour from Haitong International Securities analyst Jeff Pu, published in May last year, claimed that the iPhone 17, iPhone 17 Air and iPhone 17 Pro will use a complex aluminium design instead of the titanium frame found on the 16 Pro. The 16 and 16 Plus already use aluminium, but the 16 Pro doesn’t. Pu did suggest the iPhone 17 Pro Max could maintain the titanium frame, however.
It’s a downgrade in materials that I’m hoping won’t come to fruition, but another report published by The Information in September adds credence to the leak and suggests that all four handsets will have an aluminium frame. The report states that the iPhone 17 Pro and iPhone 17 Pro Max will also boast an aluminium upper back half, while the bottom half will be glass, reportedly because wireless charging doesn’t work with a metal rear. In February, Weibo leaker Instant Digital claimed that Apple was testing reverse wireless charging, which would let you charge your AirPods and other accessories wirelessly.
Again, it would be a step backwards from the all-glass rear on the iPhone 16 Pro line right now, depending on how it’s implemented. There will also be a larger rectangular camera bump, making the 17 Pro look more like a Google Pixel. In December, a semiconductor insider shared a render of what the new frame could look like on X.
Jeff Pu claimed in his May 2024 report that, with the exception of the iPhone 17 Air, the iPhone 17 lineup will feature the same display dimensions as the iPhone 16. If true, that means the iPhone 17’s display will measure 6.1in, the iPhone 17 Pro will feature the same 6.3in display, and the iPhone 17 Pro Max will still measure 6.9in. Pu claims that the iPhone 17 displays will be more scratch-resistant and boast a more anti-reflective coating, but that rumour has since been walked back due to reported production issues.
One early 2024 rumour from The Elec, a media outlet specialising in Korean electronics, claims that the non-Pro models will receive the Pro’s always-on display for the first time and that they’ll also get ProMotion LPTO technology, giving them a dynamic refresh rate.
Apple is also reportedly shifting the positioning of the Apple logo to sit lower on the back of the iPhone 17 Pro to accommodate a new full-width camera bar. This would be the first major repositioning since the iPhone 11. Leaked renders, shared by Bu in late June, suggest the redesign may centre the logo within a glass cutout below the aluminium camera bump, preserving wireless charging while changing how MagSafe accessories align. Accessory makers are reportedly already adapting their gear for this redesign, though it’s unclear if the internal magnet placement will also change.
Apple iPhone 17 colours
In April 2025, Majin Bu reported that Apple was testing a new sky blue colourway for the iPhone 17 Pro and Pro Max. However, that finish now appears to have been reassigned.
According to a July report from Macworld, the same sky blue is instead expected to feature on the iPhone 17 Air, reflecting a more muted palette. Majin Bu also stated on 17 July that the earlier sky blue colourway has now been dropped and will be used on the iPhone 17 Air instead.
On 20 June, Bu shared another leak suggesting that Apple was also testing two pastel purple and green colours for the base iPhone 17 models. Both were reportedly still in contention at the time, but only one might make the final cut. These could replace some of the iPhone 16’s brighter colourways, like pink or ultramarine.
More rumours about colours have continued to drop. In a July report, Macworld claims the base iPhone 17 will launch in black and white, carried over from the iPhone 16, as well as steel grey, light blue, green and purple, echoing Bu’s report.
The publication also states that the iPhone 17 Air will also come in black and white, alongside a much paler sky blue and a soft gold finish. The blue is reportedly even lighter than the standard model’s, while the gold is described as a creamier take on last year’s desert titanium.
The iPhone 17 Pro and Pro Max are rumoured to come in black, white, grey (similar to natural titanium), a dark navy blue and a vibrant orange, inspired by the Apple Watch Ultra’s action button. Macworld backed up these colours in its report on 16 July, adding that Apple is expected to switch from titanium to aluminium frames for the new Pro models, a change that may subtly affect how certain colours look in person.
Apple iPhone 17 specs
Leaks about the iPhone 17’s performance have been trickling out for months. According to Gurman, all models (including thce iPhone 17 Air) will feature an A19 chip, while the Pro and Pro Max will get an upgraded A19 Pro chipset. All four phones are also rumoured to ship with 12GB of RAM – a step up from the 8GB found in the iPhone 16 Pro to support future Apple Intelligence features.
The iPhone 17 Air will also reportedly include Apple’s own C1 modem (also found in the iPhone 16e) and won’t have a SIM tray – even outside the US. Wi-Fi 7 support is expected across the entire range. The Pro models could also feature a new vapour chamber cooling system to help with heat dissipation, something perhaps hinted at (in an abstract way) in the Apple event invitation.
On 11 August, Majin Bu claimed the iPhone 17 Pro range will gain an Apple Watch Ultra-style antenna that will wrap around the rear camera bump, something that will improve 5G signal strength and mmWave stability.
Apple iPhone 17 battery life
While you might think that a thinner iPhone 17 Air would mean a worse battery life, Mark Gurman claims that the battery life in the iPhone 17 Air will be “on par with current iPhones”, presumably the entry-level iPhone 16.
This will be achieved, he says, thanks to some hardware and software optimisations, including the use of Apple’s C1 modem – found in the iPhone 16e – a higher-density battery and the removal of an ultrawide camera, providing more room inside the phone for something bigger.
According to a report in The Information, the iPhone 17 Air’s ultra-thin design will come at a cost to battery life, with only 60 to 70 per cent of users expected to make it through a full day without recharging. That’s a sharp drop compared to the 80 to 90 per cent average seen on other models. With a smaller battery packed into its slim chassis, Apple is reportedly preparing to offer a dedicated battery case, potentially an extra (and unwelcome) purchase.
But in May, Bloomberg reported that the iPhone 17 Air could adopt a new silicon-anode battery developed by Apple supplier TDK. The company is expected to begin shipping the upgraded cells by the end of June, ahead of schedule, potentially giving Apple enough time to include them in the slimmer handset. The new tech could help extend battery life despite the smaller physical footprint.
In early February, reliable Weibo leaker Instant Digital claimed that Apple was testing reverse wireless charging for the iPhone 17 line-up. If true, you’d be able to charge your AirPods and other accessories by placing them on the back of the phone – a great feature, albeit one that Android phones have had for years.
The verdict: Apple iPhone 17 rumours
With rumours pointing to a slimmer iPhone 17 Air, design tweaks across the line-up and potential upgrades like a 48MP front camera and ProMotion trickling down to non-Pro models, the iPhone 17 could mark one of the more exciting updates in years – if the leaks are true.
Pricing might not stay flat this year, with reports suggesting increases tied to new design costs and possible US tariffs. The rumoured move back to aluminium on the Pro models also feels like a slight step down, and while a new sky blue colour option could freshen things up, the iPhone 17 Air’s single camera and speaker might not be enough for some. It’s nice to hear that a new silicon-anode battery could help balance out its slimmer build, however.
The biggest unknown remains Apple Intelligence. With many features still delayed until 2026, we should hear more on Tuesday 9 September during the Apple event, and anticipation is high.
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