iPhone 17 superguide: Everything you need to know about the new iPhone 17 series

At a glance: What is new for the iPhone 17 series

iPhone 17

We recommend: Apple iPhone 17

• Larger 6.3-inch screen, up from 6.1-inch on the iPhone 16. 
• Available in Lavender, Mist Blue, Sage, Black, and White with an aluminium frame. 
• ProMotion and Always-On screen, just like the Pro models. 
• Capable of 3,000 nits peak brightness and 1 nit minimum brightness. 
• New Ceramic Shield 2 on the front is 3X more scratch-resistant. There is also an anti-reflective coating. 
• Inside is an A19 chip with a 6-core CPU and a 5-core GPU. 
• Includes N1 Apple’s Wi-Fi and Bluetooth chip. 
• The 18MP Center Stage front camera features a new square sensor capable of taking photos in any orientation without requiring the user to rotate the phone.
• Both rear cameras are now 48MP. Main camera integrates optical-quality 2x Telephoto and 48MP Fusion Ultra Wide camera, which captures up to 4x the resolution compared to the previous generation, according to Apple. 0.5, 1x and 2x optical zoom. Capable of macro photography.
• Battery life is 30 hours (video playback), according to Apple. Eight more hours of video compared to the iPhone 16.
• The entry-level model has 256GB of storage, double that of the previous generation for the same price. 
• Starting from $799 for 256GB storage, 512GB storage is $999.

Read our review of the iPhone 17.

iPhone Air

We recommend: Apple iPhone Air (2025)

• Thinnest iPhone to date at just 5.64mm (0.22in) thick. 
• Available in Sky Blue, Light Gold, Cloud White, or Space Black with a titanium frame. 
• 6.5-inch display with 120Hz ProMotion and Always-On.
• 3,000 nits peak brightness, 1 nit minimum brightness.
• New Ceramic Shield 2 front for 3x better scratch resistance.
• Ceramic Shield on the back for better durability than glass.
• A19 Pro processor with a 6-core CPU and a 5-core GPU.
• 18MP Center Stage front camera with a new square sensor capable of taking photos in any orientation.
• One 48MP Fusion camera on the rear with 1x and 2x optical zoom.
• Battery life is 27 hours (video playback).
• Starting from $999 for 256GB storage, 512GB storage is $1,199, and 1TB is $1,399.

iPhone 17 Pro

We recommend: Apple iPhone 17 Pro

• 6.3-inch display with 120Hz ProMotion and Always-On.
• Available in Cosmic Orange, Deep Blue, and Silver with an aluminium frame.
• 3,000 nits peak brightness, 1 nit minimum brightness.
• Ceramic Shield 2 on the front for 3x better scratch resistance. Ceramic Shield on the back.
• A19 Pro processor with a 6-core CPU and a 6-core GPU.
• Heat management via internal vapor chamber. 
• 18MP Center Stage front camera with square sensor.
• Three 48MP Fusion cameras on the rear. 0.5x, 1x, 2x, 4x, and 8x optical zoom for the equivalent of eight lenses, according to Apple. Macro photography.
• Video is Dolby Vision 4K at 120fps. With support for ProRes RAW, Apple Log 2, and Genlock.
• Battery life is 33 hours of video playback.
• Starting from $1,099 for 256GB storage, 512GB storage is $1,299, and 1TB is $1,499.

iPhone 17 Pro Max

We recommend: Apple iPhone 17 Pro Max

• 6.9-inch display with 120Hz ProMotion and Always-On.
• Available in Cosmic Orange, Deep Blue, and Silver with an aluminium frame.
• 3,000 nits peak brightness, 1 nit minimum brightness.
• Ceramic Shield 2 on the front for 3x better scratch resistance. Ceramic Shield on the back.
• A19 Pro processor with a 6-core CPU and a 6-core GPU.
• Heat management via internal vapor chamber. 
• 18MP Center Stage front camera with square sensor.
• Three 48MP Fusion cameras on the rear. 0.5x, 1x, 2x, 4x, and 8x optical zoom for the equivalent of eight lenses, according to Apple. Macro photography.
• Video is Dolby Vision 4K at 120fps. With support for ProRes RAW, Apple Log 2, and Genlock.
• Battery life is 37 hours of video playback.
• Starting from $1,199 for 256GB storage, 512GB storage is $1,399, 1TB is $1,599, and 2TB is $1,999.

Read our iPhone 17 Pro Max review and find out why The iPhone 17 Pro Max and solved every problem I had.

iPhone 17e

• The iPhone 17e is rumoured to launch in the spring of 2026.

Read on for more detailed analysis of the new iPhone 17 colors, cameras, battery life, specs, and features, plus the iPhone 17 release date and pricing.

iPhone 17 series: Color, Design & Dimensions

• iPhone Air is the thinnest ever iPhone at 5.6mm. Apple has focused on durability.
• iPhone 17 and iPhone 17 Pro, and iPhone 17 Pro Max are crafted from aluminium, while iPhone Air is titanium.
• iPhone 17 Pro, Pro Max, and iPhone Air have Ceramic Shield front and back. iPhone 17 only has the Ceramic Shield on the front.
• iPhone 17 Pro, Pro Max have a vapor chamber to manage heat distribution.

iPhone Air color, design, and dimensions

Apple

The iPhone Air is the thinnest iPhone ever made at just 5.6mm. Some may wonder why anyone needs an iPhone this thin, but thin is popular, as evidenced by the MacBook Air’s global popularity. One drawback of a thin device can be durability. The last time Apple made a thin iPhone (the iPhone 6 at 7.1mm), bendgate was the result. This time should be different with the iPhone Air, described by Apple as “the most durable iPhone ever.”

This durability is a result of various features. The iPhone Air is crafted from titanium. It has the new Ceramic Shield 2 on the front and a Ceramic Shield back. The new Ceramic Shield offers three times better scratch resistance and four times better crack resistance.

On the back of the iPhone Air is what Apple has started calling a plateau–it’s what we all used to refer to as the camera bump. The space inside this plateau is being used to house more than the camera, though. The plateau also houses the speaker and A19 chip, meaning there is more space for the battery. Apple is also saving space by removing the SIM-card slot, instead this iPhone is eSIM only.

• Colors: Available in Sky Blue, Light Gold, Cloud White, or Space Black.
• Dimensions: 156.2mm x 74.7mm x 5.64mm, 165g / 6.15 x 2.94 x 0.22 in, 5.82oz. Shorter and narrower than the iPhone 16 Plus, which was 160.9mm x 77.8mm x 7.80mm, 199g / 6.33 x 3.06 x 0.31 in, 7.03oz.
• Screen size: 6.5-inch screen, which is smaller than the iPhone 16 Plus: 6.7-inch, but larger than the iPhone 17.

iPhone 17 color, design, and dimensions

Apple

The iPhone 17 retains a similar design to the iPhone 16, but that is deceptive. Place it beside the iPhone 16 and a big difference is apparent: the screen is larger. Now at 6.3 inches, up from 6.1 inches. The iPhone 17 dimensions are slightly bigger than the older iPhone as well.

This year’s color choices are Lavender, Mist Blue, Sage, Black, and White. We heard a lot of rumors about the iPhone 17 colors, and even received some Pantone color references said to match the new colors, some of which seem to be accurate.

• Colors: Available in Lavender, Mist Blue, Sage, Black, and White.
• Dimensions: 149.6mm x 71.5mm x 7.95mm, 177g / 5.89 x 2.81 x 0.31 in, 6.24oz.  That makes it larger than the iPhone 16, which was 147.6mm x 71.6mm x 7.80mm, 170g / 5.81 x 2.82 x 0.31 in, 6oz.
• Screen size: Larger screen size at 6.3 inches (iPhone 16 screen was 6.1 inches).

iPhone 17 Pro/Pro Max color, design, and dimensions

Apple

The iPhone 16 Pro was titanium, but for 2025, Apple has returned to aluminium because it delivers better thermal performance. The unibody case is brushed aluminum and comes in Deep Blue, Silver, and a very bright Cosmic Orange.

For the sake of durability, Apple has upgraded the Ceramic Shield and now has a Ceramic Shield 2 on the front. This new Ceramic Shield is tougher and offers three times better scratch resistance. There is also a Ceramic Shield on the back.

Screen sizes haven’t changed, although there are changes to the screen itself that we will go into in more detail below.

Apple has been busy on the inside of the iPhone 17 Pro and Pro Max, creating a vapor chamber that has deionised water sealed inside for cooling. Heat is thus drawn away from the A19 chip and distributed around the iPhone. The heat management should mean the iPhone can sustain high levels of performance for longer periods of time, which will matter if you play demanding games or shoot ProRes video.

The plateau (as Apple is now calling it) doesn’t just house the camera. Apple has placed other internal components inside it to make room for a larger battery. Additionally, the antennas are incorporated around the edge of the plateau, a move that Apple claims makes it “the highest-performing antenna system ever in an iPhone”. Hopefully, this will also mean Apple avoids another antennagate.

iPhone 17 Pro dimensions

• Colors: Deep Blue, Silver, Cosmic Orange.
• Dimensions: 150.0mm x 71.9mm x 8.75mm, 206g / 5.91 x 2.83 x 0.34 in, 7.27oz. That is slightly longer, wider, and heavier than the iPhone 16 Pro, which was 149.6mm x 71.5mm x 8.25mm, 199g / 5.89 x 2.81 x 0.32 in, 7.03oz.
• Screen size: 6.3-inch display, same as iPhone 16 Pro.

iPhone 17 Pro Max dimensions

• Colors: Deep Blue, Silver, Cosmic Orange.
• Dimensions: 163mm x 78mm x 8.75mm, 233g / 6.43 x 3.07 x 0.34 in, 8.22oz; slightly wider and heavier than iPhone 16 Pro Max, which was 163mm x 77.6mm x 8.25mm, 227 / 6.42 x 3.06 x 0.32 in, 7.99oz.
• Screen size: 6.9-inch display, same as iPhone 16 Pro Max.

iPhone 17 series: Cameras

• All four new iPhone models feature a new 18MP front-facing Center Stage camera with a square sensor that is capable of taking photos in any orientation without requiring the user to rotate the phone.
• All phones can record video from the front and back cameras simultaneously.
• All rear cameras are updated to 48MP (default is 24MP though).
• iPhone 17 Pro/Pro Max cameras include 4x and 8x optical zoom.

The iPhone 17 series has brought several camera enhancements across all models, focusing on improved resolution and advanced telephoto capabilities.

All iPhone 17 models now feature an 18MP front-facing Center Stage camera. This is a substantial upgrade from the 12MP lens found in the iPhone 16. The new Center Stage camera uses a square sensor, which means users can take portrait or landscape photographs without having to reorient the phone. It uses AI to automatically expand the field of view and can rotate from portrait to landscape to include everyone. 

The front camera also features ultra-stabilised video in 4K HDR. Plus, users can record on the front and rear cameras simultaneously with Dual Capture. Centre Stage will also keep video callers stable and positioned in the frame, even if they are holding the iPhone in their hand and moving around. 

The cameras on the rear of all the new iPhones offer 48MP, though 24MP is the default.

There are also new Photographic Styles across the range, including a new Bright style that brightens skin tones. There is also an updated Photonic Engine that uses machine learning to reduce noise and improve color accuracy.

iPhone Air camera

Except for the various iterations of the iPhone SE and the iPhone 16e, every iPhone since the iPhone XS in 2018 has had at least two lenses on the back; in fact, the Pro models all have three cameras. So, Apple’s decision to offer only one camera on the rear of the iPhone Air seems strange.

However, it’s unlikely to be a huge limitation unless you are an avid photographer. The iPhone Air offers a single “Fusion” camera (26mm equivalent), but you can get a 2x telephoto effect with some digital wizardry that enables 12MP optical-quality 2x Telephoto (52mm equivalent). This system is similar to the 16e model. Unfortunately, the Air lacks the macro and spatial photography features available on the other iPhones. The optical zoom options are 1x and 2x.

Users can record in 4K at 60fps, Dolby Vision with Spatial Audio. Action mode, absent from the iPhone 16e, is available.

iPhone 17 camera

The 48MP main camera on the rear of the iPhone 17 incorporates an optical-quality 2x Telephoto, so Apple describes it as a Fusion camera, because it’s two in one. That aspect is the same on the iPhone Air. The Fusion camera on the iPhone 16 also offered 48MP, but Apple says the main camera on the rear of the iPhone is improved.

The iPhone 17 now gets a 48MP Ultra Wide camera, up from 12MP in 2024.

Unlike the Air, the iPhone 16 can ‘unzoom’ back to 0.5x, thanks to its inclusion of an ultra-wide lens. Zoom options are 0.5x, 1x, and 2x.

iPhone 17 Pro/Pro Max camera

The best cameras are reserved for the iPhone 17 Pro and Pro Max, which feature three cameras on the rear. Those are a 48MP Main camera, a 48MP Ultra Wide camera, and a 48MP Telephoto.

The pro iPhones also get the option to zoom to 4x (100mm equivalent) or 8x (200mm equivalent) in addition to 0.5x, 1x, and 2x. The 8x zoom is the longest optical-quality zoom ever seen on an iPhone. Apple says it’s like having eight pro lenses.

The Pro iPhones offer pro photography features, such as ProRAW. There is also ProRes RAW, Apple Log 2, and Genlock (for synchronizing video) support for mobile filmmakers.

We were very impressed with the iPhone 17 Pro Max camera and it’s upgraded telephoto lens. As Macworld contributor Mahmoud Itani wrote: “Not only does the optical zoom perform better than last year’s model, but the digital zoom has also eliminated noticeable pixelation—even when hitting the 40x limit.”

iPhone 17 series Battery life

• iPhone 17: Up to 30 hours of video playback.
• iPhone Air: Up to 27 hours of video playback.
• iPhone 17 Pro: Up to 33 hours of video playback.
• iPhone 17 Pro Max: Up to 39 hours of video playback.

Battery specs leaked from Chinese regulatory filings before the event in September 2025. If they are legitimate, across the range, the battery capacities have increased.

• The iPhone 17 is said to have expanded from 3,561 mAh on the iPhone 16 to 3692 mAh on the 17 (that’s 4 percent more).
• iPhone 17 Air’s capacity is low, but nowhere near as bad as expected. The iPhone 17 Air battery capacity was said to be around 2,800mAh, based on a leak from yeux1122. ShrimpApplePro says it will be 3,149 mAh.
• The Pro’s battery capacity is up 19 percent.
• The Pro Max is up 9 percent: from 4,685 mAh to 4823 mAh/5088 mAh, depending on the model.

iPhone Air battery life

Reducing the thickness of the case by 28 percent means the iPhone Air has a smaller battery, but it turns out that doesn’t mean the iPhone Air has poor battery life. Apple promises “all-day battery life” to the tune of 27 hours of video playback, which is plenty.

There are various ways that Apple is maximising battery life for the iPhone Air. One is the Apple-made chips inside the iPhone. Apple says its C1X cellular modem uses 30 percent less energy than the previous generation, for example. Features like Adaptive Power Mode in iOS 26 will also help.

If you need a boost, Apple is selling an iPhone Air specific $99 MagSafe Battery accessory. You can also fast-charge an iPhone Air to 50% in 30 minutes using a 20W adapter.

iPhone 17 battery life

The iPhone 17 gets a battery boost. The 2025 iPhone gets eight more hours of battery life than the iPhone 16 did, according to Apple. That’s 30 hours of video playback.

Should you run out of battery charging the iPhone 17 is quicker than ever: according to Apple, using Apple’s new 40W Dynamic Power Adapter with 60W Max charger can add a 50 percent charge to the iPhone 17 in 20 minutes. Just 10 minutes of charge results in about 8 hours of video playback, perfect when you are in a rush to leave the house.

Unfortunately, the 20-minute fast-charging is only possible with a 40W adapter or higher charger, so you will need to purchase the additional charger for this, but it could be worth it. Apple’s 40W charger is $39 in the U.S. (still to launch in the U.K.), alternatively you could use any higher watt charger. See our round up of the best USB-C chargers.

iPhone 17 Pro battery life

Efficiency improvements from the A19 Pro and better thermal design in the iPhone 17 Pro help stretch battery life.

The iPhone 17 Pro’s battery capacity has seen a substantial increase of up to 19% compared to its predecessor. Apple promises up to 31 hours video playback for the iPhone 17 Pro, up from 27 hours for the iPhone 16 Pro.

Like the iPhone 17, the iPhone 17 Pro fast-charges up to 50% in 20 minutes with the new 40W adapter.

iPhone 17 Pro Max battery life

The iPhone 17 Pro Max is capable of up to 37 hours of video playback. That’s several hours longer than last year’s model which offered 29 hours.

Here fast-charging will get you 50% in 20 minutes with the new 40W charger.

The iPhone 17 Pro Max battery was expected to be around 5,000mAh, based on information from the Weibo account Instant Digital. This would be the biggest iPhone battery ever, and about 8% more capacity than the iPhone 16 Pro Max.

iPhone 17: Other specs and features

• Improved heat dissipation and structural resistance in iPhone 17 Pro and Pro Max.
• Apple A19 chipset for iPhone 17, and A19 Pro for Air, Pro, and Pro Max. Built on the 3nm process, it promises up to 40 percent better sustained performance compared to the previous chip.
• The 6-core GPU architecture in the A19 Pro includes Neural Accelerators built into each GPU core, a larger cache, and more memory than A18 Pro.
• Available starting with 256GB of storage — double the entry storage from the previous generation.
• Up to a 50 percent charge in 20 minutes with a 40W adapter, or 30 minutes with a 30W adapter.
• N1: a new Apple-designed wireless networking chip that enables Wi-Fi 7, Bluetooth 6, and Thread and should improve Personal Hotspot and AirDrop.
• C1X: a new cellular modem designed by Apple. C1X is up to 2x faster than C1 (in the iPhone 16e). It is faster than the modem in iPhone 16 Pro, while using 30 percent less energy overall, according to Apple.

It’s not only the high-end Pro models in the iPhone 17 line that get the A19 Pro; the iPhone Air does as well, although only 5-core GPU. The iPhone 17 runs on a standard A19.

As rumored, Apple is using a vapor chamber plate to distribute heat in the iPhone 17 Pro models.

iPhone 17 release date

• New iPhone models for 2025 were unveiled on Tuesday, September 9, 2025.
• Pre-orders started on Friday, September 12, 2025, with orders to start being delivered on September 19, 2025.
• The new iPhone 17 series will go on sale at retailers on Friday, September 19, 2025.

Historically, preorders for the iPhone begin on the Friday after the announcement, and the phones ship a week later; the same is true in 2025 with pre-orders beginning on Friday, September 12.

The new iPhones go on sale on Friday, September 19. Reports suggest that the orange iPhone 17 Pro Max went out of stock quickly. The wait for that variant may stretch to mid October. Apple may have underestimated interest in that color.

iPhone 17 price

• Similar pricing to the previous lineup, with slight adjustments related to storage allocation.

Prices depend on the handset you want to buy and the capacity. 

• iPhone 17, 256GB is $799/£799 (same price as the 128GB iPhone 16); 512GB is $999/£999. 
• iPhone Air, 256GB is $999/£999, 512GB is $1,199/£1,199, and 1TB is $1,399/£1,399.
• iPhone 17 Pro, 256GB is $1,099/£1,099, 512GB is $1,299/£1,299, and 1TB is $1,499/£1,499.
• iPhone 17 Pro Max, 256GB is $1,199/£1,199, 512GB is $1,399/£1,399, 1TB is $1,599/£1,599, and 2TB is $1,999/£1,999.
  

While it looks like prices are higher than the previous generation, when the storage allocation is taken into consideration, it is comparable. For example, the iPhone 16 Pro was $999 for 128GB, and $1,099 for 256GB; now the 128GB model has been removed from the lineup and 256GB is still $1,099. The iPhone Air may have a higher starting price than the 128GB iPhone 16 Plus did ($899), but it has the same starting price as the 256GB iPhone 16 Plus ($999).

What of the iPhone 17e? Apple introduced the $599 iPhone 16e in February 2025, so it’s not yet been on sale for a year. There may be an iPhone 17e joining the line-up, but we think that this won’t happen until spring 2026. The price of the 16e remains at $599, and the new model is likely to be $599 for the iPhone 17e.

The following iPhones are still on sale, with Apple discounting the iPhone 16 and 16 Plus:

• iPhone 16e, 128GB: $599/£599 
• iPhone 16, 128GB: Now $699/£699 (Was $799/£799)
• iPhone 16 Plus, 128GB: Now: $799/£799 (Was $899/£899)

The iPhone 16 comes with only 128GB storage, making the $200 saving compared to the 256GB iPhone 17 less attractive.