Here’s what we already know, from leaks or rumors, about the iPhone 17 and iPhone Air.
Which iPhone Models Will Launch in 2025?
The company is expected to reveal five iPhone models in 2025. Apple’s early announcements for the year include the iPhone 16e, which has just been announced. In the fall, a mainstream line will arrive, with four models: iPhone 17, 17 Pro, 17 Pro Max, and iPhone Air. It’s not clear yet if the last one will bear the “17” number as well.
iPhone 17 Family
For the main iPhone line, the major change is an absence. Apple is getting rid of the Plus model, just like it gave up on Mini variants after two iterations. That doesn’t mean we won’t see a larger non-Pro model, but more on that in a bit.
The main iPhone 17, iPhone 17 Pro and iPhone 17 Pro Max should get some updates, too. After five years of nearly unchanged designs, the models will finally bear new looks. Updates on display, camera, and performance are also expected.
iPhone Air
Older iPhone generations have received variants like Mini, Plus, Pro, and Max, but no iPhone Air has been released so far. This year, this is expected to change.
Replacing the Plus model, the Air variant is expected to feature a sleek body as its main selling point. It will, however, have a higher price tag and sacrifice some features to reach an impressive thinness.
What Are Rumors Saying About 2025 iPhones’ Specifications and Features?
Now that we have briefly talked about the expected announcements let’s get in-depth. The sections below describe which features and specifications have appeared in rumors for each iPhone model.
iPhone 17
The “regular” iPhone will get its fair share of novelties, too. They’re not as extensive as on the cheaper model, but still worth keeping note of.
External Design
While the iPhone 17 family is expected to feature design changes, it’s not yet set in stone what they’ll be. One leakster reported the devices’ edges should be somewhat curved.
It’s unlikely, though, that Apple will return to iPhone 11 looks, so there are a couple of possibilities left. One of them is that the new models will feature slightly curved edges, like Samsung’s S23 Ultra and S24 Ultra. The other is a hybrid design with curved corners and flat edges, something similar to the iPhone 5c’s plastic frame.
Internally, one element that is almost guaranteed to change is the battery. Due to EU regulations requiring user-replaceable phone batteries, the company has reportedly been studying new designs for this component.
Screen
One element that will see drastic changes, on the other hand, is the screen. For starters, Apple will finally adopt high refresh rates in all iPhone 17 devices. The base model should also get the Always-On mode, which has so far only been available on the Pro variants.
But wait, there’s more! In 2024, Samsung’s Galaxy S24 Ultra introduced a new kind of Gorilla Glass, both more scratch-resistant and anti-reflective. The iPhone 17 is slated to feature a “Ceramic Shield Ultimate”, which will compete with (last year’s) Samsung’s offering. Originally, the new coating was expected to arrive in the iPhone 16 family, but the development wasn’t ready on time.
Camera
For photos, the base model will likely retain the current 48MP wide + 12MP ultrawide setup on the back. There were some rumors of a 48MP ultrawide camera on the iPhone 17, but those didn’t get any later confirmation. It will also skip the telephoto lens yet again, using digital amplification and sensor crop for zoomed-in pictures.
However, the front-facing camera should get a good bump in resolution. It will increase from 12MP to 24MP, though it’s not clear if the sensor itself will grow in size.
Connectivity
Wider eSIM-only adoption is another feature (if you can call it that) that didn’t arrive in the iPhone 16. This year, however, the situation could change — though there haven’t been any rumors about that, exactly.
Some rumors say Apple-designed modems aren’t expected in “regular” iPhones (not including the 16e) until 2026. That’s when the company is possibly planning to introduce the C2 chip, successor to the 16e’s C1. The part is already undergoing internal testing, though.
That would mean only Wi-Fi chips would be made by the company this year. According to analyst Ming-Chi Kuo, the company wants to use in-house solutions for all possible parts. More recently, Kuo reaffirmed that.
In that case, Broadcom, the current Wi-Fi chip supplier, would’t make this component for the iPhone 17 family. Fully Apple-made Wi-Fi + cellular connections shouldn’t arrive for about three years. There’s no word on Bluetooth, GPS, or UWB chips, though.
Battery and Charging
No major details are known about the iPhone 17’s battery yet. However, a rumor by analyst Jeff Pu states the model will get a small, but welcome, bump in charging speeds. The iPhone 16 charges at 30W, while the 17 should get 35W from supported chargers.
Processor and Memory
Also, according to Kuo, the base model won’t see any increase in RAM this year. It should get a new A19 processor or use the A18 pro from iPhones 16 Pro and Pro Max.
Other Notes
Another piece of information unearthed by Kuo was about the manufacturing locations. The analyst indicates that the base iPhone 17 model will be produced in India, possibly for worldwide distribution. Other plants that make Apple devices, like those in China and Brazil, would be responsible for different models.
iPhone 17 Pro and Pro Max
Apple’s flagship phones will receive lots of improvements as well. The new specifications and features already leaked comprise almost all the devices’ aspects, except for battery and charging. Check below.
External Design
Regarding the 17 Pros’ design, the major news so far apparently is that Apple is experimenting with a few options. That’s something expected at early development stages, but may yield — as has happened a couple of times already — conflicting reports.
One such case is the build material. After using stainless steel for years, Apple experimented with titanium for the Pro and Pro Max in 2023 and 2024. Non-Pro variants remained on aluminum during all that time.
One rumor last November claimed that the company would revert to aluminum for all iPhone 17 models. Then, a week later, leakster InstantDigital rebuffed that, stating that Apple wouldn’t make such a move after bashing aluminum repeatedly.
The issue is that the former cites industry sources; the latter, though having a mixed forecast history, has a solid point. Then, more recently, analyst Jeff Pu stated that Apple is indeed posed to get back to aluminum. Which one of these claims is correct? There are a few possibilities.
Before discussing this, let’s see the second example. A bit over a month ago, a leakster claimed the aberration below to be the iPhone 17 Pro’s frame.
The information was corroborated by Digital Chat Station, a leakster with a solid record. However, some inconsistencies, such as the positioning of the cameras hindering horizontal usage, were pointed out.
The design also resembles a bit too much Google’s Pixel line, one of the major iPhone competitors. After a few days, InstantDigital claimed that the frame was not from the iPhone 17 Pro or Pro Max. They mentioned the models will indeed feature a redesigned rear side, but not like the one in that photo.
Leaksters Diverge About iPhone Design Rumors
Another leak — posted after this article was first published — throws more gas in that flame. Tipster Majin Bu claimed the Pixel (or Nexus 6P) lookalike panel could indeed be real. However, there’s a single camera hole in these designs (the other cutout is for the flash LEDs). According to Majin Bu, this could be either a still-unheard-of entry-level model, or the Air variant.
And then the “leakster battles” started. Majin Bu says he showed the CAD drawings to “designers” (supposedly, who work at Apple). According to him, they said the sketches depicting a “thick bar” for the Pro models aren’t real. Jon Prosser, from FPT, claims the design is accurate. Gurman joined Majin Bu’s side.
More recently, Digital Chat Station corroborated the allegations. According to the leakster, the design is expected to change “dramatically”.
New Alleged Leak May Be the Most Comprehensive Yet
In a new tweet, Majin Bu came up with what may be the most comprehensive iPhone 17 lineup leak yet. He shared some CAD drawings, allegedly, of the iPhone 17, 17 Pro, 17 Pro Max, and 17 Air models.
It displays a thinner visor bar for the Air, and a thicker one for the Pro and Pro Max variants. The regular iPhone 17 is seemingly unchanged, in comparison with the current model. There are a few other details to consider, too.
Firstly, the Air has fewer holes in the bottom edge than any other recent iPhone. This could be a confirmation that the model will lack stereo speakers. There are still, however, holes in both sides, so they’re likely not only for the microphone. Maybe Apple decided to keep stereo speakers, but use a smaller part on the Air.
Secondly, both Pro models have what looks like a cutout on their backs. This is in line with the leaked frame from some weeks ago. There’s no indication, however, of what would be the cutout’s function.
At first, it’s important to remember that unibody designs, like iPhones had until 2016, need cutouts. Without them, signals like Wi-Fi, cellular data, GPS, and Bluetooth, would be blocked. Also, the phone wouldn’t support wireless charging, a feature present in all iPhones since 2017 (until last week, at least). However, the other major cutout, for the camera island, isn’t depicted in this drawing.
There’s also the point that neither the regular nor the Air variants feature similar cutouts. Removing MagSafe from the Air to make it thinner wouldn’t be unexpected — Apple did that to cut the 16e’s costs. There’s very little chance, though, that the company decides to remove the feature from the vanilla model.
Prototypes: Companies Experiment With Dozens of Formats
Now, here’s the thing: when creating a device, manufacturers experiment with dozens of designs, like these iPod-based iPhone sketches. Many of those evolve into dummies and prototypes, such as this iPhone 15 Pro with haptic (instead of physical) buttons.
As you can expect, however, most of these ideas never see the light of day. Some are shelved outright, some get refined for later use. The original iPhone design, e.g., came from iPad prototypes (so iPhones are actually small iPads, not the other way around).
Although it’s just speculation, it’s also plausible to consider Apple thought of returning to aluminum, but eventually decided otherwise. It’s also possible that some frame ideas, including that atrocity above, were machined (or molded or printed). That way, the design and engineering teams can physically evaluate aspects like ergonomics and the layout of internal components.
Indeed, most of the designs mentioned in this article fit that description. Except for unreleased devices referenced in Apple’s software or iPhone prototypes lost in pubs, always exert a bit of skepticism.
More CAD Renders Leak, Confirming Rumored Design
Even considering the above, however, leaks gain traction for how frequently they appear, and how reputable are their sources. And that’s what has been happening with the new alleged new design for 2025 iPhones.
After Majin Bu‘s CAD drawings surfaced, leakster Sonny Dickson came up with more sketches that seemingly confirm the design. According to these, Apple will indeed use the “visor” approach on the Air and a “thick bar” on the Pros.
Once again has been confirmed, too, the frame cutout for the Pro models. One possibility is Apple keeping the Air and regular models with the “glass sandwich” design virtually every phone uses nowadays. The Pros could see some changes in their internals, however.
The “glass sandwich” uses two glass sheets (screen and rear — which may be made of plastic, on entry-level phones). The center part comprises the side frames, visible to the user, and an inner layer of metal.
This inner layer helps secure parts in place — that’s where all the tiny screws and glued parts are supported. It can also transfer heat generated by the device to the side frames, away from sensitive parts like the battery. Lastly, it provides structural rigidity, otherwise the phones would easily break in half. “Unibody” models (e.g., iPhones 5 to 7) use the metal back for that. Models with plastic shells (think iPhones 3G, 3GS and 5c) have a metal plate glued to the back.
Possible Changes in Internal Design
The thing is: the metal layer is always there. But it adds thickness, and the company has been pretty obsessive with making iPhones (and all their products) ever thinner. In this case, Apple may be trying to replace the metal layer with a thin strip below the camera island. This would explain the “hollow” frame that leaked earlier this year.
Would this be enough to hold the iPhone Pros together and prevent them from snapping? It’s too early to know. Apple isn’t strange to unusual internal designs: the 2015 MacBook, e.g., had its motherboard and battery on the lower plate. That model, however, had so many issues — including excessive heat on the bottom — that Apple discontinued it in three years.
Screen
Another leak mentions the iPhone 17 Pro’s display. It could use a new panel technology called “Low-Dielectric TEE”, which improves power consumption, durability, and “overall performance”.
These are somewhat generic claims, and there isn’t a single mention of “Low-Dielectric TEE” before that post’s date. That doesn’t mean, however, it isn’t true. With the base model getting a ProMotion display, it makes sense Apple wants to differentiate its premium offering somehow.
Camera
Another aspect with conflicting reports is the camera array. Back in July, rumors said the iPhone 17 Pro models would feature a camera with variable aperture. The report also mentioned the devices’ ultrawide modules getting an upgrade, meaning all three sensors would now have 48MP.
While the latter has been confirmed by more recent leaks, the former was contradicted. According to Ming-Chi Kuo, Apple will only use variable aperture in the iPhone 18 Pro models in 2026. There’s a chance the technology was being considered for this year’s phones but didn’t meet Apple’s standards on time.
Processor and Memory
The base model iPhone 17, and even the iPhone 16e, will offer 8GB of RAM. Because of that, Apple may have decided to bump the Pro Max’s (but not the smaller Pro’s) memory. According to Ming-Chi Kuo, it will have 12GB on board, mostly to improve on-device AI capabilities.
One component both Pro models will share is the 2nm CPU, which will likely be called A19 Pro. The silicon will be manufactured by TSMC. Low yields for initial batches, however, buried any chances of the lithography being used in the non-Pro model.
Lastly, also on Kuo’s account, the iPhone 17 Pro and Pro Max should feature a vapor chamber cooling system. That’s a league above the graphene sheet currently used, though both methods will be combined.
iPhone Air
After considering other options, like “Slim”, Apple seems to have decided to call its extra-thin phone the iPhone Air. Or iPhone 17 Air if the company goes for numbered names all across the device line. This model replaces the iPhone Plus variant and, according to rumors, is shaping up to be a whole new category.
External Design
As stated, the device focuses on thinness above everything else. According to the most recent rumors, the iPhone Air should be just 6.25mm (under 0.25″) thick. As a comparison, that’s three-quarters of an iPhone 16 Pro Max — which isn’t a bulky device by any means.
Also, Ming-Chi Kuo said the iPhone Air could measure 5.5mm (0.2″) at “its thinnest part.” One possibility is the device featuring a variable thickness, like MacBook Airs had until 2020. Another is that the higher number includes the camera bump, while the lower doesn’t.
In any case, to reach such thinness, compromises had to be made. I’ll detail some of them below, but for this section, one important mention is the speaker. Apparently, Apple’s engineers decided to let go of the bottom unit because, with it, other critical components wouldn’t fit.
Something that was initially unclear is the camera bump. According to numerous leaks, Apple will indeed copy the Pixel 7/Nexus 6P “visor” looks for the ultra-slim iPhone.
Screen Tech
Another example is the screen, though this one qualifies as a breakthrough rather than a compromise. To keep the display assembly as thin as possible, Apple switched from its usual suppliers (LG, Samsung, and BOE). The chosen manufacturer for the panels is Novatek, a small Taiwanese company.
Novatek developed “Touch and Display Driver Integration” (TDDI), a technology that combines multiple layers into one, resulting in thinner screens. However, according to the news portal DigiTimes, Apple considers the iPhone Air a key new product line. Given the partnership is just beginning, the company may prefer testing Novatek’s products on other devices before the iPhone Air.
Screen Size
There has been contradicting rumors about the iPhone 17 Air’s screen size. Back in May 2024, Ross Young, from Counterpoint Research, said the device’s panel would measure 6.55″. This was quickly rounded to 6.6″ — companies rarely use two decimal digits and “bigger is better” rules the smartphone market.
More recently, however, Jon Prosser, from fpt, said otherwise. According to him, the display will stretch to 6.7 inches.
While Prosser’s leaks haven’t always been correct in the past, it does make sense for Apple to make this move. This way, the company would keep the same screen size, in the iPhone Air, that the Plus models had. Ross, on the other hand, has solid records on display-related rumors, being among the most reputable sources on that.
However, a larger screen would help to fix two major issues Apple has been facing with the iPhone 17 Air. A bigger panel allows for a beefier battery, and gives more room to fit components. This could be the solution, e.g., for the speaker issue mentioned in the previous section.
Ross has sources deep in the component manufacturing industry, so it’s likely that Apple did in fact order 6.6″ panels. But, considering that information surfaced over a year prior to the device’s launch, this may have been a prototype run.
On a device this thin, big screens may represent significant structural risks — and Apple surely doesn’t want (yet) another bendgate. So, there’s a high chance the company experimented with multiple display sizes to ensure only future foldable iPhones actually fold.
Camera
Now, this one is a significant compromise. Multiple sources, on various occasions, confirmed the iPhone Air will feature a single rear camera. At least, it’s a 48MP unit, which will be joined by a 12MP sensor for selfies. It’s valid to mention the Galaxy S25 Slim, (rumored) main competitor to the iPhone Air, will sport three rear cameras.
Connectivity
On the connectivity aspect, the iPhone Air may be an eSIM-only model. Engineers are having a hard time fitting a SIM tray in such a thin device and could ditch it entirely. That’s not a deal-breaker for most and can even be seen as positive by some. However, this may become an issue in China, one of Apple’s main markets, because using eSIMs isn’t permitted there.
A minor detail is that the iPhone Air will likely be the second phone to use the company’s cellular modem. For the vast majority of users, this shouldn’t make any difference, but Apple’s component is still slower than Qualcomm’s counterpart. According to a report from South Korea published by GSMArena, the part lacks mmWave support.
Like the rest of the iPhone 17 line, the Air will use an Apple-made Wi-Fi modem. This would make the model the first to feature both in-house 5G and Wi-Fi chips.
This would mean two things. Firstly, that, like the recently-announced iPhone 16e, the Air will lack mmWave 5G connectivity. Secondly, that the Air may get a much-needed relief on energy consumption. More on that below.
Battery
As noted by MacRumors, the 16e has higher battery life than the regular iPhone 16, using almost the same components. But wait, there’s more. The same outlet pointed out, in 2023, that the then-called “SE 4” would reuse the iPhone 14’s battery. And this part has 3,279mAh of capacity, about 8% less than the iPhone 16’s 3,561mAh.
Some Chinese brands are adopting Silicon-Carbon batteries, that allow for decent capacities in incredibly slim formats. One example is Honor’s V line of foldables, which feature 5,000 mAh or more in bodies under 5mm thin. They’re not a good direct comparison because of the larger screens, but still.
Apple won’t use, as far as is known, Silicon-Carbon batteries. Therefore, you should expect an unimpressive battery capacity from the iPhone Air. Digital Chat Station places the value between 3,000 and 4,000 mAh, with no exact numbers for now. That’s not the worst we have seen in recent Apple phones, but it’s definitely far from the best.
Processor and Memory
Ever used the 2015-2017 MacBooks, the ones that had a single USB-C port and nothing else? If so, you know that extreme thinness and raw horsepower don’t mix well. Those laptops would either hit performance bottlenecks, overheat, or both at the same time. Expect a similar scenario for the iPhone Air.
Now, Apple apparently has learned its lesson in the decade since. While the Air will rock the same A19 CPU as the regular iPhone 17, it will likely be underpowered. According to Ming-Chi Kuo, the model will feature “downgraded components”, when compared to other variants. RAM will stay at 8GB, though, meaning the device will support Apple Intelligence features.
Launch Date: Rumored Announcement of 2025 iPhones
Apple usually adopts a two-stage rollout for iPhones as a whole. The “mainstream” models are announced in the second half of the year, while the SE (now “e”) models come earlier. Here are the details.
iPhone 17 Family
The main iPhone family, on the other hand, has had a consistent launch schedule for years. The devices are always announced in mid to late September, and the iPhone 17 models should come around that time. Considering Apple always announces iPhones on Fridays, the probable dates are September 19 and September 26.
iPhone Air
The iPhone Air release date is a bit trickier to confirm. There’s a significant chance it will be not only announced but made available alongside the iPhone 17 family. However, since the device’s development is facing several setbacks, Apple could change its plans. In 2017 e.g., the iPhone X and iPhone 8 were unveiled together, but the former arrived in stores months later.
Which iOS Version Will 2025 iPhones Support?
One thing is certain: all of this year’s iPhones will be compatible with iOS 19. Our round-up of current rumors and leaks about the next big update lists what we know about its features. The vanilla, Pro, and Air iPhone 17 models are expected to come with iOS 19 from day one. The recently-announced iPhone 16e came with iOS 18.3.1, but will get iOS 19 once the new version is released.
How Much Will Each 2025 iPhone Cost?
The iPhone 17 Pro Max is expected to cost more at launch than the current-gen model. Current leaks indicate a starting price of $1,299 for the flagship, on the base storage of 256GB. It’s still unknown if the non-Max Pro will be more expensive, too, though it could arrive at $1,099. The vanilla iPhone 17, however, is likely to remain at $799 with 128GB.
In turn, the iPhone Air has a mixed record of price leaks. Early rumors indicated it could cost even more than the Pro Max variant, which would place its price over $1,200. More recent information, however, says it might retail for approximately 20% less than the flagship model, equivalent to about $960.
Have iPhone 17 or Air Prototypes Leaked?
Right now, no prototypes of the 2025 iPhones have leaked. That’s to be expected, considering most models’ hardware is still in early production stages (though most specifications have been defined).
iPhone Announcements Not Expected for 2025
On the matter of what’s not coming this year, some devices and features are surely out of the question for 2025. One of them, stated in earlier paragraphs, is variable aperture for the camera, expected for the iPhone 18 Pro models.
Under-Display Face ID
Another feature that, in the best-case scenario, will arrive only next year is an under-display Face ID module. The rumors aren’t clear on whether the move includes the selfie camera or only other parts, like the laser projector. There is a single thing known, for now. The under-display sensors will debut in the Pro models, with the vanilla iPhone likely getting it a year later.
Smaller Face ID Might Still Make It
Previously, rumors suggested a smaller (seemingly narrower) Dynamic Island for the 2025 iPhone Pros. Then, a report by Ming-Chi Kuo, said the component would remain “largely unchanged”.
More recently, however, a new rumor appeared. According to Digital Chat Station, the iPhone 17 Pro Max will have a smaller dynamic island. This would be achieved by using a technology called “metalens”. There’s no word, though, about whether the vanilla iPhone 17 or the smaller Pro model will get this as well.
Foldable iPhone
One of the most anticipated Apple devices is the rumored iPhone flip. It certainly won’t arrive this year, however, so you’ll still need to choose between an iPhone or a foldable phone. Many rumors indicate Apple’s first foldable will actually be a MacBook/iPad hybrid, not a phone.
This device could reach mass production later this year, though it’s not given it will be available before 2025 ends. After improving its technology and the miniaturization processes developed for the iPhone Air, Apple might finally announce the foldable iPhone. This one could leverage the flip format to feature the largest iPhone screen to date.
Rumors and leaks can be boring or exciting. Sometimes, they confirm the lack of innovation in some areas, like single-digit (at best) improvements in battery life. On other occasions, however, they shed light on interesting novelties, such as the iPhone 16e’s overhaul. What kind do you think the rumors have been so far about this year’s iPhones?