You’ve been hankering for the iPhone 17, and Apple unveiled it on Tuesday at its media event. The new base model handset offers a larger 6.3-inch Super Retina XDR that includes ProMotion technology for the first time on a non-Pro model.
The ProMotion camera offers an adaptive refresh rate up to 120Hz along with an Always-On display that displays the time, widgets, and Live Activities even when not actively in use. The display can also efficiently adjust down to 1Hz when appropriate.
Where protection is concerned, the iPhone 17 uses the Ceramic Shield 2, which Apple states offers 3x better scratch resistance than the previous generation without reducing glare. The display offers 3,000 nits peak outdoor brightness, complete with 2x better outdoor contrast.
Apple has stated that the new device’s Center Stage front camera offers the “best camera yet.” The camera offers the first square front camera sensor on iPhone, providing a wider field of view and higher resolution up to 18MP for photos. Interestingly, users can capture photos and videos in either portrait or landscape orientation while holding the device vertically. For group shots, the Center Stage camera uses AI to automatically expand the field of view and can rotate from portrait to landscape to include everyone in the frame. This is accompanied by ultra-stabilized 4K HDR video recording and a Dual Capture feature, which allows simultaneous recording on both front and rear cameras.
Other new camera features a rear camera that offers 48MP sensors for the first time. The main camera includes an integrated optical-quality 2x Telephoto. A new 48MP Ultra Wide camera captures up to 4x the resolution compared to the previous generation, improving both wide-angle shots and macro photography capabilities. A new Photographic Styles feature offers processing that better understands skin tones while adjusting color, highlights, and shadows in real time. A new Bright style will become available with iOS 26 to brighten skin tones and add vibrance across images.
For video fans, the camera offers 4K 60fps Dolby Vision, complete with Cinematic and Action mode. The device captures Spatial Audio for immersive listening, while Audio Mix allows users to adjust sound after capture to boost voices and reduce ambient noise.
Where the underlying hardware is concerned, the A19 chip is built on a third-generation 3-nanometer production process, and offers a 6-core CPU is 1.5x faster than the A15 Bionic in iPhone 13, while the 5-core GPU is more than 2x faster than A15 Bionic, per Apple. Neural Accelerators are built into each GPU core to support on-device generative AI models.
The battery life has been boosted to up to 30 hours of video playback, or more than eight hours longer than the iPhone 16 battery. Apple cites this as thanks to the efficiency of the A19 chip and power management features present in iOS 26. A new Adaptive Power Mode learns typical battery consumption patterns and intelligently conserves power when needed.
Charging speeds have also increased, with the device capable of reaching 50 percent charge in 20 minutes using an optional high-wattage USB-C power adapter.
Apple has also incorporated more in-house hardware, complete with the N1, a new custom-made wireless networking chip that enables Wi-Fi 7, Bluetooth 6, and Thread connectivity while improving the performance and reliability of features like Personal Hotspot and AirDrop.
Where storage is concerned, the iPhone 17 will ship with 256GB of base storage with a 512GB option also available. The device comes in black, lavender, mist blue, sage, and white color options with the retail price beginning at $799.
eSIM-only models will be available in select regions including Bahrain, Canada, Guam, Japan, Kuwait, Mexico, Oman, Qatar, Saudi Arabia, the UAE, the U.S., and the U.S. Virgin Islands.
Pre-orders begin Friday, September 12, with general availability starting Friday, September 19, in more than 63 countries and regions. The device will expand to 22 additional countries and regions beginning Friday, September 26.
Stay tuned for additional details as they become available.
