Apple is expected to unveil its new iPhone 17 series during the week of September 8, 2025, with most estimates pointing to either the 9th or 10th of the month. This year, the company is planning a major change in its model lineup, including the introduction of a completely new device – the iPhone 17 Air – which will bring with it a new, ultra-thin, eye-catching design. In addition, the series will include three more models: iPhone 17, iPhone 17 Pro, and iPhone 17 Pro Max, all featuring significant updates in design, technology, and performance.
One of the most intriguing innovations is the iPhone 17 Air, which for the first time offers a model just 5.5 millimeters thick. It will be the thinnest device Apple has ever made, with a luxurious titanium body and a minimalist design that sets it apart from the rest. It’s not expected to compete with the Pro models in terms of power or advanced features, but it will likely draw attention thanks to its unique appearance. This model will completely replace the Plus version from recent years.
Display sizes are also changing: While the regular iPhone 17 will come with a 6.27-inch screen, the Air will feature a 6.6-inch display – larger, though not as large as the Pro Max. The Pro models will retain their familiar large screens, but now all models will include ProMotion technology, not just the Pros.
This upgrade will allow a refresh rate of up to 120Hz, ensuring smoother display performance and improved power efficiency thanks to the ability to drop to 1Hz in Always-On Display mode.
Major changes are also expected in the rear design: The standard iPhone 17 will maintain its familiar vertical camera layout, but the Air and Pro models will adopt a new design inspired by Google Pixel – a rectangular camera bar with rounded corners stretching across the back of the device. Despite the new layout, the Pro models will retain a triple-lens setup within the bar.
The materials used for the devices are also changing: For the first time since 2017, Apple will switch the Pro models to aluminum frames, while retaining glass backs to support wireless charging. The iPhone 17 Air, however, will be the only one to feature a titanium frame. Another major upgrade comes in connectivity: The Pro models will include a new Wi-Fi 7 chip, offering faster and more stable connections across all frequency bands, including 6GHz.
Photography is also getting a boost: The Pro models will receive a new telephoto camera with a 48-megapixel sensor, meaning the entire camera system will consist of 48-megapixel sensors. There’s also a rumor of optical zoom up to 8x.
The iPhone 17 Air will have a single rear camera, also with 48 megapixels. The front camera on all models will be significantly upgraded, with a 24-megapixel sensor and an improved six-element lens.
The Pro models’ screens are expected to feature a new anti-reflective coating that offers greater scratch resistance compared to the current glass protection. While this feature is unlikely to appear in the base model and the Air, it represents a significant step in reducing glare in sunlight.
Performance will be noticeably improved thanks to the A19 and A19 Pro chips, manufactured using TSMC’s third-generation 3nm technology. The Pro, Air, and Pro Max models will come with 12GB of RAM, enabling better performance and especially smooth operation of advanced AI capabilities. The base model will remain with 8GB of RAM.
Among other new features is a possible change in the size of the Dynamic Island interface, first introduced in the iPhone 14 Pro. Conflicting rumors suggest the active area of this feature may shrink, but it’s unclear whether this will happen with the iPhone 17 series or in future models.
The cooling system in all models will be upgraded thanks to vapor chamber cooling technology, already in use in Android-based phones. This will help dissipate heat more efficiently and maintain performance even during extended use.
Another impressive innovation is expected in the video field: The Pro models will support simultaneous recording using the front and rear cameras – a highly requested feature among creators and vloggers. Additionally, Apple is exploring the possibility of recording 8K video and cropping it down to 4K without losing quality.
Charging will also improve, with support for fast wireless charging up to 25 watts, thanks to the new Qi 2.2 standard. This will enhance charging speeds even with third-party chargers. Until now, only Apple’s official chargers allowed such fast wireless charging.
The base model is expected to come in six colors: Black, white, steel gray, green, purple, and light blue. The Air will be available in black, white, light blue, and light gold. The Pro models will come in black, white, gray, dark blue, and orange.
Bottom line: No revolutionary changes are expected in the new phones – unless Tim Cook surprises us at the launch event. In the meantime, users are still waiting for the long-promised upgrade to Siri’s AI capabilities, which was announced for iPhone 15 and newer models but has been delayed indefinitely.