The iPhone 17 series has been the focus of many rumors and speculations, with the tipsters and CAD-based renders predicting a huge design revamp. Of all the expected models, the iPhone 17 Air has been at the forefront, mainly because of its promise to be the thinnest iPhone yet. We will go into detail about the leaked renders, design updates, and rumored specs of the iPhone 17 lineup in this article.
iPhone 17 Air and Pro Max Dimensions Leaked
Popular tipster Ice Universe has posted some thrilling revelations about the sizes of Apple's next iPhone 17 Air and iPhone 17 Pro Max recently. If such leaks are correct, Apple is going to roll out some huge design updates in its next series of flagship smartphones.
The iPhone 17 Air will likely be a very thin phone, with a thickness of only 5.5mm. This would be the thinnest iPhone of all time, surpassing the previous record set by the iPhone 6, which was 6.9mm thick. Apple seems to be pushing the limits of minimalist design, making the iPhone 17 Air an extremely light and elegant choice.
Meanwhile, the iPhone 17 Pro Max, allegedly, has a thickness of 8.725mm, thicker than that of its precursor, the iPhone 16 Pro Max (8.3mm). The extra thickness may portend greater inner hardware, and hence, may speak to the fact that this may be coupled with a more enhanced battery life or enhanced features within.
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Though their thickness will change, both models will still have the same width and height as the iPhone 16 Pro Max, which has a height of 163mm and width of 77.6mm. The phones will also have a 6.9-inch screen, with the same bezel measurement as the previous models.
Although it's too early to verify these facts, these leaks indicate that Apple is developing a combination of ultra-thinness for the Air model and a stronger build for the Pro Max model. It'll be exciting to observe how these design variations affect usability and performance when Apple finally releases the iPhone 17 series.
Leaked CAD-Based Renders Reveal New Camera Designs
Leaks by tipster Majin Bu on X (formerly Twitter) present CAD-based renders and provide a clear idea regarding what the iPhone 17 series could look like. The big takeaway from the leak is that every model in the series has a different design.
Camera Setup
The iPhone 17 Air will allegedly feature a narrow, pill-shaped camera bar at the back that contains only a single main camera and an LED flash. The design is in line with previous leaks and renderings, indicating Apple's trend toward a minimalistic camera system. By going for a single-camera design, the iPhone 17 Air may focus on minimalist looks and light weight at the expense of multiple sensors, appealing to those who value simplicity without sacrificing quality.
Refined Design
The regular iPhone 17 will probably maintain a dual-camera configuration, similar to its predecessor, the iPhone 16. Even with speculation surrounding a new camera island design for the iPhone 17 lineup, the standard model appears to be adhering to a more traditional design. This implies that although Apple can bring in other improvements, dramatic visual alterations to the camera module may be left for the premium models.
Larger Camera Islands
The iPhone 17 Pro and iPhone 17 Pro Max will likely come with a huge rectangular camera island, emphasizing their pro-grade photography features. The triple-camera system retains the same triangular design pattern found on earlier Pro devices to maintain continuity. Besides the three lenses, the module also accommodates a microphone and an LED flash, so it is a comprehensive system for photography and video recording.
One of the visible design changes is a dual-tone finish, where the space under the camera module looks darker than the rest of the back panel. This faint contrast might add to the premium look of the phone. Although the front design is not known, it is highly speculated that Apple will continue with the Dynamic Island, providing a smooth Face ID experience and an interactive screen for notifications and multitasking.
Design and Build
From the leaked renders and rumors, Apple appears to be testing its camera island design on the iPhone 17 series. While the iPhone 17 Air goes minimal, the Pro variants appear to opt for a larger camera module. These adjustments point towards a likely strategy shift wherein Apple is branching out its design philosophy on various price points.
Frame and Materials
A thicker side frame has been observed in the CAD-based renders.
The iPhone 17 Air’s ultra-slim profile suggests the use of lightweight yet durable materials.
Titanium frames might be exclusive to the Pro models, continuing the trend from the iPhone 15 Pro series.
Expected Features and Specifications
As Apple prepares for the iPhone 17 series release in September 2025, speculation is mounting around the anticipated upgrade and innovations. Although official details are still unclear, leaks and industry rumors give us an indication of what the future might hold for Apple's next flagship line.
Performance Upgrades
Apple will likely unveil the A19 Bionic chip, which can offer major processing power and efficiency enhancements. The future-generation chipset is likely to be based on a cutting-edge 4nm or even 3nm production process, maximizing battery life and thermal efficiency. With regards to energy efficiency, users will get enhanced battery life and seamless performance for all tasks, ranging from gaming to multitasking.
Display Enhancements
The Pro variants on the iPhone 17 series have been speculated to retain ProMotion technology, bringing a 120Hz refresh rate for silky smooth scrolling and quick responsiveness. OLED panels will most likely be implemented on all variations by Apple to provide rich colors, richer blacks, and higher brightness. Regarding design, bezel size shall remain unchanged to that of iPhone 16 Pro Max to leave the immersive view experience unaffected.
Battery and Charging Improvements
Apple is said to be developing faster MagSafe and wired charging for increased convenience and less charging time. With the iPhone 17 Pro Max acquiring additional thickness (8.725mm), it is expected to contain a larger battery, which will result in more usage time per charge. Better battery efficiency, combined with the power management improvements from the A19 Bionic chip, may yield even greater battery life than before.
Camera Innovations
Photography fans have something to anticipate with some innovative upgrades, particularly on the Pro versions. Apple is likely to bring improved sensors that support low-light photography better, providing crisper and sharper images at night. Rumor has it that a periscope-style zoom lens will come back into action, enabling higher optical zoom capacity without affecting the image quality. Apple can also incorporate AI-based image processing to make color reproduction better, HDR shots more capable, and picture quality overall more superior.
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Launch and Pricing Expectations
The iPhone 17 series will go on sale in September 2025, consistent with Apple's tried-and-tested annual launch cycle. Pricing details are unclear at this point, but historical trends do offer some insight. The iPhone 16 series launched at Rs 79,900 (~$999), and considering the design improvements and hardware upgrades, the iPhone 17 series could experience a nominal price hike.
Interestingly, the iPhone 17 Air might be positioned as a middle ground between the base and Pro models, for those who want a thin yet powerful iPhone without the high-end Pro price. With Apple's continued emphasis on innovation and fine-tuning, the iPhone 17 series is looking to be one of the most anticipated releases to date.
The iPhone 17 series leaks do point towards a drastic design shift, particularly in the case of the iPhone 17 Air and Pro variants. The extremely slim 5.5mm iPhone 17 Air may set new standards for iPhone design, whereas the new camera island on Pro variants hints at Apple's dedication to camera capabilities. But with these leaks released months before the actual launch date, we suggest taking them lightly.
As we get close to the planned release, the more specific the information will get, verifying whether these rumors turn out to be true. Catch up on updates on Apple's next-gen flagship series!
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