iPhone 17 launch 3 months away: Expected price, leaked design changes and full specs

Apple's next big iPhone refresh is still a few months away, but the buzz around the iPhone 17 lineup has already picked up pace. From whispers of an all-new ultra-thin model to major design changes and better hardware, the upcoming iPhone 17 series could be Apple’s most dramatic shake-up in years. While nothing is official yet, early leaks and reports are giving us a good sense of what to expect — and there’s plenty to look forward to.

Four models, but a new approach

This year, Apple is expected to refresh its iPhone lineup with four new models, but with one notable change: the Plus model is reportedly on its way out. In its place, Apple might introduce a slimmer, lighter variant — possibly named iPhone 17 Air — aimed at users looking for a more compact and ultra-thin device.

The standard iPhone 17 is said to stick with a 6.1-inch display, while the iPhone 17 Air could feature a slightly larger 6.6-inch screen, but with a much thinner form factor. The Pro and Pro Max models may come with 6.3-inch and 6.9-inch displays, respectively.

The Air model in particular is drawing a lot of attention due to its ultra-thin profile — so thin, in fact, that Apple reportedly had to change the USB-C port slightly off-centre and may even have had to compromise on including a second speaker or a dual-camera setup. But nothing is confirmed.

Major design tweaks and new materials

One of the biggest changes in the iPhone 17 series could come in the form of build materials. While the iPhone 15 and 16 Pro models used titanium, reports suggest Apple might bring aluminum frames to the entire iPhone 17 lineup this year — except the Air model, which may use a special titanium-aluminum alloy. The decision is said to be driven by Apple's sustainability goals, as aluminum has a lower carbon footprint than titanium.

In terms of design changes, leaked dummy models and prototypes hint that Apple may ditch the squircle camera island in favour of a rectangular, aluminum-encased camera module. The iPhone 17 Pro Max might also sport a smaller Dynamic Island, thanks to a new proximity sensor technology called metalens, which allows Apple to shrink the Face ID module. There are also reports of Pro models having an under-display

Display and camera upgrades across the board

All four iPhone 17 models are expected to finally adopt 120Hz LTPO OLED displays — something previously limited to the Pro models. This means Always-On Display support could finally become standard across the entire lineup. Chinese panel maker BOE is reportedly in the running to supply these upgraded displays, along with Samsung and LG.

Ross Young and Jeff Pu both suggest Apple may use Samsung’s M14 OLED panels across all models. These displays offer improved power efficiency and durability, along with higher brightness levels.

For the selfie camera, Apple is said to be making a rare jump: from 12-megapixel to 24-megapixel across all models. On the rear, the biggest leap is expected on the Pro Max, which might get a 48-megapixel tetraprism telephoto camera, potentially making it the most capable iPhone camera setup yet. The Air model, however, could settle for a single 48-megapixel wide sensor — similar to what we saw on the iPhone 16e.

There are also whispers of a new variable aperture system making its way to at least one iPhone 17 model, though there’s no clarity yet on which one will get it or how advanced the implementation might be.

Apple’s own chips — not just for performance

The A19 chip is expected to power the iPhone 17 and iPhone 17 Air, while the Pro models will likely ship with the A19 Pro chipset. RAM could also get a boost, with at least three of the four models tipped to offer 12GB RAM — a jump from the current 8GB.

But it’s not just the performance chip that’s changing. The iPhone 17 Air and possibly other models could also debut Apple’s in-house 5G modem. Apple already took the first step in this direction with the iPhone 16e, and the iPhone 17 series may continue that trend by phasing out Qualcomm modems, at least for some variants.

Thinner body, new cooling

The iPhone 17 Pro Max may get a new cooling system that combines vapour chamber cooling with traditional graphite sheets. Some leaks claim all four models might switch to vapour chambers, but others suggest it’s limited to the Pro models.

The iPhone 17 Air is also reportedly challenging Apple’s engineers. Fitting components like a battery, speaker and camera into such a slim chassis is proving difficult, which could explain some of the compromises in hardware.

Battery, charging and what’s missing

Battery capacities haven’t leaked in full yet, but reports suggest the Air could have something between 3,000mAh and 4,000mAh — not huge, but acceptable if the phone remains energy efficient. Apple is also testing reverse wireless charging for the Pro models, though there’s no confirmation on whether it will make the cut. On the bright side, wired charging across all models could go up to 35W, bringing them closer to their Android rivals.

iPhone 17 series: Expected price and launch

Of course, there’s no official word on pricing yet because it is too early for the brand to confirm details. But if Apple follows its usual strategy, the iPhone 17 could start around the same price as its predecessor. The iPhone 16 was launched at Rs 79,900, so if the company decides to retain the price then the iPhone 17 series could start from this. However, the introduction of a new Air model could slightly alter the pricing ladder, depending on where Apple decides to position it. Although, Bloomberg has suggested that the price of the iPhone 17 Air could be same as the Plus models.

"The price of the new Air may be roughly $900, I’m told, putting it around the same level as the iPhone 16 Plus," Mark Gurman said.

The iPhone 17 series is expected to launch in September 2025, keeping with Apple’s traditional release cycle. With a thinner design, better displays, more powerful cameras and Apple’s own modem tech, the iPhone 17 lineup may just mark one of the most meaningful updates in years. These upgrades also suggest that Aple could increase the prices this year, something which leaks have also suggested. But we’ll have to wait until the official launch to see how much of these leaks turn into reality.