iPhone 17 Release Date & Features: Everything We Know

The new iPhone release is still months away, but everyone is talking about what the future lineup will look like. Apple launches a new iPhone every fall, and between supposedly leaked designs and predictions from Apple experts, here's what we know about the upcoming iPhone 17.

Release Date & Pricing

Apple’s biggest annual event of the year happens in the fall and always includes a new iPhone lineup. We expect to learn all about the iPhone 17 in September, with pre-orders starting on Friday a week or two following the announcement.

In terms of pricing, there have not been a lot of rumors about any price increases, although the USA’s tariff situation might impact the price. Otherwise, we expect the iPhone 17 lineup to be priced similarly to the 2024 iPhone 16s with prices ranging between $799 and $1,599.

However, there are whispers about a potential iPhone Ultra or perhaps a foldable iPhone, both of which would start at an even higher price point. We will be following the event and sharing an article about the latest iPhone model(s) on the day of the announcement, so don’t forget to subscribe to our free Tip of the Day newsletter to stay up to date on all things Apple.

Thicker iPhones, Thinner iPhones, or Both?

A Chinese leaker nicknamed Ice Universe posted on Weibo (China’s popular microblogging platform comparable to Twitter) that the iPhone 17 will be the thickest and thinnest yet! Ice Universe predicts an extra thick iPhone 17 Pro Max that will be 8.725mm deep (the current iPhone 16 Pro Max is 8.25mm). At the same time, Ice Universe believes there will be a super thin version called the iPhone 17 Air that will be 5.55mm deep.

Apparently, both of these extreme phone models will have displays of the same size. Back in 2024, Ross Young told MacRumors that the iPhone 17 models will have a 6.55-inch display. Based purely on these dimensions, we can assume that the thicker iPhone 17 Pro Max will offer an extra-long battery life.

More Megapixels in the Front & Back Cameras

One of the most important iPhone features is the camera, and the iPhone 17 camera is expected to impress! Ming-Chi Kuo, a prominent Apple analyst, claimed on Medium that the iPhone’s front camera will be upgraded to 24-megapixels, significantly improving the quality of selfies. Other sources, including analyst Jeff Pu, reported to MacRumors that it won’t just be the higher-end iPhone 17 models, but the entire lineup will have this advanced camera.

If you're not a selfie fan, don't worry; the back cameras are getting better, too. Another Ming-Chi Kuo report claims that the telephoto lens on the back of the iPhone is being upgraded from 12-megapixels to 24-megapixels. The main iPhone camera lens on the Pro models is likely going to remain at 48-megapixels, which was first introduced to the iPhone 14 Pro and Pro Max.

Camera Housings Redesigned

The iPhone 17 cameras may be experiencing a redesign in addition to internal improvements, at least according to one of the most accurate Apple leakers, Mark Gurman. In his Power On newsletter, Gurman stated that the iPhone 17 will have a new panel to house the rear cameras that will span the width of the phone. Another Apple leaker, Majin Bu, tweeted a mock-up where the iPhone 17s rear camera panel resembles the pill-shaped bar that we see on Google's Pixel 9.

While others have hinted at a duo-tone color design with a contrasting camera panel, Gurman believes that the back of the phone will all be one single color. Bloomberg’s Gurman also said that the back of the iPhone 17 Pro and Pro Max will be half glass and half aluminum with a partial aluminum frame in order to increase durability.

No More Dynamic Island?

The Dynamic Island replaced the dreaded notch with the Pro models of the iPhone 14 in 2022. The iPhone 17 may be breaking away from it by using an under-display Face ID technology, allowing for a much smaller camera-only housing on the screen. Ross Young tweeted a now-deleted post explaining that Apple is joining other phone companies in what is known as an all-screen display.

Young believes that this will only be true for the Pro models of the iPhone 17, but I'm hoping that Apple retains the unique and functional Dynamic Island. Young's post also mentioned that, eventually, the 2027 iPhone 19 models might feature Apple's first under-display front camera! But we'll have to wait a while before we find out for sure.

With the annual Worldwide Developers Conference (WWDC) event scheduled for June 9–13, 2025, we may get some more hints about the iPhone 17 as we learn about iOS 19. Don't forget to come back to the iPhone Life website after the release so we can give you all the information on the new devices and whether buying them is the right choice for you.