Whereas it’s going to most likely look very acquainted, the iPhone 17 is about to carry some efficiency will increase and new options. This is all the things the rumor mill thinks is coming within the fall of 2025.
In September 2025, Apple is anticipated to introduce a radically redesigned iPhone lineup. The iPhone 17 Professional is extensively believed to characteristic a brand new rear “digital camera bar” design, and rumors counsel an ultra-thin iPhone 17 Air will substitute the Plus mannequin for 2025.
The usual iPhone 17, nonetheless, will not profit from the identical visible remedy. Based mostly on alleged leaked CAD information and dummy items, the bottom mannequin iPhone 17 will likely be nearly indistinguishable from its predecessor, the iPhone 16. Apple has already made check items of the iPhone 17, and the system is reportedly shifting towards mass manufacturing.
Regardless of its spinoff design, leakers and analysts alike imagine that it’ll ship vital efficiency enhancements. This is all the things they’ve mentioned to date.
iPhone 17 — RAM and efficiency upgrades.
Not too long ago, in April 2025, leaker “Digital Chat Station” prompt that your entire iPhone 17 lineup would characteristic 12GB of RAM, up from the present 8GB discovered on the iPhone 16 vary. This newest rumor echoes one other leaker’s claims from August 2024, however not everybody agrees.
A 12GB RAM improve would probably permit for extra superior Apple Intelligence options on the iPhone 17.
In Could 2024, analyst Jeff Pu prompt that solely the iPhone 17 Professional and iPhone 17 Professional Max would characteristic 12GB of RAM, repeating his declare in February 2025. Ming-Chi Kuo mentioned the identical factor in August 2024.
Whereas it stays unclear whether or not or not the 12GB RAM improve will lengthen to the bottom mannequin iPhone 17, it would not be unattainable. There’s at the very least one good cause for the change, and it has to do with Apple’s AI software program.
For the iPhone 16 vary, for example, Apple upgraded the RAM of the bottom mannequin iPhone. Whereas the iPhone 15 shipped with solely 6GB, the iPhone 16 acquired 8GB — the identical quantity discovered within the iPhone 16 Professional and iPhone 16 Professional Max.
The corporate did this in order that it might carry Apple Intelligence, a collection of generative AI options, to each fashions. Apple Intelligence was one of many essential promoting factors for the iPhone 16 line, and though that hasn’t all the time been a great factor for Apple, the corporate might provide related specs throughout the board as soon as extra.
12GB of RAM would probably permit for extra superior Apple Intelligence on the iPhone 17 vary, with one leaker even calling the change useful for Apple’s AI options. Nonetheless, it stays to be seen whether or not solely the “Professional” fashions will get the improve. or if it’s going to additionally apply to the usual iPhone 17.
The iPhone 17 will probably use Apple’s A19 chip, with a 2nm course of by TSMC.
As for the processing energy, TSMC has reportedly been engaged on a 2nm A19 chip for the iPhone 17 vary. In 2022, the corporate mentioned it was planning mass manufacturing of 2-nm chip designs by 2025, which might coincide with the A19 and the discharge of the iPhone 17 line. In December 2023, one report prompt it could debut within the iPhone 17 Professional.
In July 2024, it was reported that TSMC had begun trial manufacturing of its 2nm chips, whereas one other claimed the required course of would not be prepared till late 2025.
The usage of a smaller course of would permit for higher energy effectivity and thermal administration, and a 2nm chip would probably save a small quantity of area throughout the telephone itself. Even so, no particular particulars have been offered in regards to the base mannequin iPhone 17, however an improve over the A18 within the iPhone 16 is assured.
The iPhone 17 will most definitely be virtually an identical to its predecessor, the iPhone 16. Whereas it is anticipated to keep up the 6.1-inch show measurement, there’s nonetheless loads of room for improved know-how.
The iPhone 17 will likely be obtainable with the identical 6.1-inch show measurement because the iPhone 16.
In keeping with a February 2025 report, the iPhone 17 vary will characteristic Samsung’s M14 OLED panel, which affords some advantages over the previous M13 panel, together with a 30% enhance to brightness and a greater lifespan. This was partially instigated by switching blue fluorescence with blue phosphorescence, which additionally diminished energy consumption.
The present non-Professional fashions typically use earlier mixes, similar to M12 on the iPhone 16 and iPhone 16 Plus, in addition to on the iPhone 15. An M14 panel could be a formidable improve for the iPhone 17, however it won’t be the one one Apple has in retailer.
A number of sources have mentioned that your entire iPhone 17 vary will obtain ProMotion help. The declare was first made by DSCC in April 2023. It was then reiterated in February 2024, after which it was repeated by leaker “Ice Universe in July 2024. The newest mentions date to September 2024, November 2024, December 2024, and March 2025.
ProMotion would permit for always-on show on the iPhone 17, and would permit for a greater expertise in StandBy mode.
Although not definitive, the concept of ProMotion on the bottom mannequin iPhone 17 stays an fascinating prospect. The variable refresh price would permit for an always-on show, which means that customers would be capable to see their battery degree, widgets, and extra whereas the show is in its “off” state. StandBy mode would additionally provide a greater expertise on the bottom iPhone 17, because the show would not shut off after just a few minutes.
If applied, it could definitely be a sexy addition. On the similar time, nonetheless, the iPhone 17 Professional would lose one in every of its main promoting factors, so it stays unclear precisely what route Apple will take.
As for sturdiness, it might very effectively be extra of the identical this yr. In March 2024, a well known leaker prompt that Apple was engaged on an anti-reflective and scratch-proof show coating for the iPhone 17, however an April 2025 rumor mentioned the development was deserted in its entirety, Nonetheless, the bottom mannequin iPhone 17 will provide enhancements in different areas.
The iPhone 17 might characteristic a {custom} Wi-Fi chip
With the launch of the iPhone 16e, Apple unveiled its first in-house modem, dubbed the C1. It permits for higher energy effectivity relative to the Qualcomm modems present in most iPhones, however notably lacks mmWave help.
The usual iPhone 17 might characteristic a {custom} Apple-designed Wi-Fi chip.
Whereas the iPhone 17 Air is anticipated to obtain the C1 modem, the identical cannot be mentioned for the rest of the iPhone 17 vary. Nonetheless, there’s an opportunity the bottom mannequin iPhone 17 will characteristic a special type of custom-made processor — an in-house Apple Wi-Fi chip.
For years, rumors have prompt that Apple was working on a Wi-Fi chip, and we might lastly see its debut in 2025. Analyst Ming-Chi Kuo first reported this as a risk in October 2024, then reiterated his place in February 2025.
The brand new chip, reportedly recognized below the codename “Proxima,” will supposedly assist Apple minimize prices by changing the Broadcom Wi-FI chips present in present iPhones. Supposedly, it’s going to additionally assist “improve connectivity throughout Apple units,” in keeping with Kuo.
The identical supply additionally mentioned that Apple’s {custom} Wi-Fi chip could be made by TSMC utilizing its 7-nanometer N7 course of, and that it could be Wi-Fi 7 suitable. The brand new chip is anticipated to seem within the new HomePod mini and Apple TV in 2025 as effectively.
Different iPhone 17 rumors — Digital camera enhancements, 35W wired quick charging
Except for the {custom} Wi-Fi chip, Apple may additionally improve the front-facing digital camera with the usual iPhone 17. Two completely different analysts imagine this would be the case.
The iPhone 17 probably will not characteristic huge enhancements for the rear digital camera.
In January 2024, Ming-Chi Kuo first mentioned that the iPhone 17 vary would obtain a 24MP front-facing digital camera, and that declare was later reiterated by Jeff Pu in August 2024. The present iPhone 16 solely incorporates a 12MP entrance digital camera, so the iPhone 17 might show to be fairly an enchancment.
The bottom mannequin iPhone 17 will reportedly use a 24-megapixel digital camera with a six-element plastic lens. For comparability’s sake, the TrueDepth digital camera array within the iPhone 15 makes use of a 12-megapixel digital camera, with 5 lens components fabricated from plastic.
There was no details about the rear digital camera on the usual iPhone 17. A July 2024 report talked about that at the very least one system within the iPhone 17 vary would help a variable aperture, which might permit for higher bokeh, although it didn’t specify which system would obtain the improve.
The iPhone 17 vary is anticipated to help 35W wired charging speeds.
In February 2025, Jeff Pu claimed that the iPhone 17 vary would help wired charging speeds of as much as 35W. In our assessment of the iPhone 16 Professional, we hit 34W of energy with appropriate wired charging gear, and we have seen stories of some customers getting 39W whereas charging.
In keeping with leaker ShrimpApplePro, nonetheless, the iPhone 16 vary is already succesful of charging at speeds of as much as 45W by way of a cable, which is quicker than the purported iPhone 17 charging pace offered by Pu, although unofficial.
The usual iPhone 17 is anticipated to debut in September 2025, alongside the redesigned iPhone 17 Professional and iPhone 17 Professional Max. Apple additionally plans to unveil a completely new mannequin, often called the iPhone 17 Slim or iPhone 17 Air.
