The upcoming iPhone 17 series has been creating a lot of buzz among Apple fans and tech enthusiasts, and the excitement is growing ahead of its expected debut in September 2025. Apple is likely to unveil four models under the iPhone 17 lineup: the base iPhone 17, a new iPhone 17 Air, along with the iPhone 17 Pro and iPhone 17 Pro Max. Due to low demand, the company is saying goodbye to the Plus variant.
Even though the iPhone 17 Air will have a slimmer and more compact frame, it isn’t positioned as a direct replacement for the Plus model. Instead, it’s being introduced as a completely new addition to Apple’s smartphone lineup.
iPhone 17 Series Expected Launch Timeline
As Apple generally launches its new iPhones in early September, the iPhone 17 series is expected to arrive around the same time. But if predictions from analyst Ming-Chi Kuo and a report by The Information are anything to go by, the iPhone 17E might not arrive with the rest of the lineup and could instead be pushed to early 2026.
Camera
According to reports, Apple is working on a redesigned 24-megapixel front-facing camera with a six-element lens. The iPhone 17 Pro Max is expected to come with a big upgrade: a new 48-megapixel telephoto sensor that replaces the current 12-megapixel module. Meanwhile, the standard model could retain the existing wide-angle and ultra-wide sensors. On the other hand, the new iPhone 17 Air is expected to sport a single 48-megapixel camera at the rear.
Design
Apple is expected to unveil four models in the iPhone 17 series this year — the standard iPhone 17, a new variant called the iPhone 17 Air, along with the iPhone 17 Pro and iPhone 17 Pro Max. Notably, the company is discontinuing the Plus variant, reportedly due to poor sales and limited consumer interest.
The regular iPhone 17 is expected to come with a 6.3-inch display, matching the size seen on the iPhone 16 Pro and the upcoming iPhone 17 Pro. With the Plus model phased out, the base iPhone 17 will become the sole non-Pro option. When it comes to screen sizes, the iPhone 17 and 17 Pro are expected to feature 6.3-inch displays, while the iPhone 17 Air will be slightly larger at 6.6 inches. As for the largest in the lineup, the iPhone 17 Pro Max is said to feature a 6.9-inch display.
Chipset
Some big internal upgrades for the upcoming iPhone 17 Pro series are reportedly part of Apple’s plan, according to recent leaks. Improved thermal management could especially benefit the iPhone 17 Pro Max, which may include enhanced graphite heat dissipation layers and a vapor chamber cooling system to keep the device running efficiently during resource-heavy tasks.
As far as the hardware is concerned, the iPhone 17 Pro models could feature the company’s new A19 Pro chip. Meanwhile, the base iPhone 17 is likely to continue using the current A18 processor. In terms of memory, the Pro Max could come with up to 12GB of RAM, while the non-Pro versions may offer up to 8GB.
Expected India Price
According to a new report by Counterpoint Research, Apple could be planning to increase the prices of its upcoming iPhone 17 series. While the tech giant has maintained stable pricing over the past few generations, this trend could shift due to potential new US tariffs that are expected to raise production costs. Apple has kept the starting price of its entry-level iPhones virtually unchanged in recent years. If that pattern holds, the standard iPhone 17 is expected to launch in India at around Rs 79,900. That said, this remains an early estimate, and pricing could still change when the new models are officially announced.
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