What’s New in the iPhone 17: Feature Breakdown & Launch Details

Apple’s iPhone 17 is on the horizon, with a full launch expected in September 2025. In this blog, we cover everything from start to finish: design, display, performance, cameras, software, and more. You’ll learn all about the iphone 17 new features in simple English. Whether you’re upgrading from an older model or just curious, this guide walks you through every detail.

iPhone 17 Release Date & Pricing

Apple traditionally unveils its new iPhones in early September, with pre-orders opening a few days later and retail release about one week after that. For the iPhone 17 lineup:

Pricing usually starts around USD 799 for the base model. In Australia, expect local pricing to begin at approximately AUD 1,299, with higher tiers for the Air, Pro, and Pro Max versions. Exact Australian prices will be confirmed at launch.

1. At a Glance: Key Highlights

Category	iPhone 17	iPhone 17 Air	iPhone 17 Pro	iPhone 17 Pro Max
Screen	6.3″ LTPO OLED, 1,200 nits	6.6″ LTPO OLED, 1,200 nits	6.3″ LTPO OLED, 1,600 nits	6.9″ LTPO OLED, 1,600 nits
Refresh Rate	1–120 Hz ProMotion	1–120 Hz ProMotion	1–120 Hz ProMotion	1–120 Hz ProMotion
Chipset	A19 Bionic (3 nm+)	A19 Bionic (3 nm+)	A19 Pro (3 nm+)	A19 Pro (3 nm+)
RAM	8 GB	8 GB	12 GB	12 GB
Main Camera	48 MP Wide + 12 MP Ultra-Wide	48 MP Wide	48 MP Wide + 12 MP UW + Tele	48 MP Wide + 12 MP UW + 48 MP Tele (5×)
Battery	~3,450 mAh	~3,100 mAh	~3,600 mAh	~4,400 mAh
Charging	USB-C 35 W; MagSafe 3 15 W	USB-C 35 W; MagSafe 3 15 W	USB-C 35 W; MagSafe 3 15 W	USB-C 35 W; MagSafe 3 15 W
Repairability	Low-voltage adhesives, modular components for easy service by Total Mac Solutions

The first step in improving iPhone battery health is to monitor its condition. iOS provides an easy way to check your battery’s maximum capacity, which indicates its ability to hold charge. You can access this information through Settings > Battery > Battery Health & Charging. If your iPhone’s maximum capacity falls below 80%, it’s an indication that the battery has significantly degraded, and you may need a replacement.

iPhone 17 Lineup Overview

Apple is offering four iPhone 17 variants for 2025:

The “Plus” model is retired in favor of the new Air, which sits between the base and Pro in price and features. This lineup lets you choose the size, style, and capabilities that suit you best.

Design & Build

Four Unique Styles

Each model shares a flat-edge design but differs in materials and thickness:

iPhone 17 (6.3″): Glass front and back with an aerospace-grade aluminum frame.
iPhone 17 Air (≈6 mm thick): Ultra-thin profile, glass front, half-glass back, aluminum frame, no physical SIM tray.
iPhone 17 Pro (6.3″): Half-glass, half-aluminum rear with a textured matte finish and polished stainless-steel frame.
iPhone 17 Pro Max (6.9″): Largest display, same materials as Pro but with a wider camera housing.

New Color Options

Apple adds at least one fresh color each year. For the iPhone 17 series, expect a soft “Sunset Gold” and a deep “Marine Blue” alongside classic Silver, Graphite, and Midnight Green.

Thinner & Lighter

The star is the iPhone 17 Air, measuring under 6 mm thick—up to 20% thinner than the standard iPhone 17. Despite this slimness, Apple engineers preserved battery capacity and durability by using advanced adhesives and reinforced internal supports.

Display Enhancements

ProMotion 120 Hz on All Models

For the first time, every iPhone 17 model features ProMotion, delivering a variable 1 Hz–120 Hz refresh rate. This makes scrolling, animations, and video playback smoother on both the base and Pro variants.

LTPO OLED Panels

All four phones use LTPO (Low-Temperature Polycrystalline Oxide) OLED panels. LTPO allows the display to adjust refresh rates on the fly, saving power when you view static content and boosting brightness up to 1,600 nits for HDR scenes.

Always-On Display

While always-on display is technically possible on every model, Apple may limit this feature in software to the Pro and Pro Max. You’ll still see essential info like time and widgets at a glance when the screen is locked.

Screen Sizes

Model	Display Size	Resolution	Peak Brightness
iPhone 17	6.3″	2556 × 1179	1,200 nits
iPhone 17 Air	6.6″	2778 × 1284	1,200 nits
iPhone 17 Pro	6.3″	2556 × 1179	1,600 nits
iPhone 17 Pro Max	6.9″	3020 × 1344	1,600 nits

Performance & Hardware

A19 Bionic & A19 Pro Chips

The iPhone 17 features 2025 hinge on two new silicon generations:

Memory & Storage

Advanced Cooling

Pro and Pro Max include a vapor-chamber cooling system. This design draws heat away from the CPU and GPU, maintaining peak performance during long gaming or video-editing sessions.

Connectivity Improvements

Wi-Fi 7 & 5G Modems

Apple introduces its own Wi-Fi 7 chipset supporting 2.4 GHz, 5 GHz, and 6 GHz bands for real-world speeds above 40 Gb/s. The iPhone 17 Air debuts Apple’s in-house sub-6 GHz 5G modem, while Pro models stick with Qualcomm X75 chips for mmWave and sub-6 GHz coverage worldwide.

eSIM & SIM Slot Changes

USB-C Transition

Rumors point to a shift from Lightning to USB-C across the entire lineup. USB-C allows faster wired charging and broad accessory compatibility.

Bluetooth & UWB

All models upgrade to Bluetooth 5.4 and Ultra-Wideband (UWB) 2.0, improving AirTag tracking, device proximity features, and precision finding.

iPhone 17 Battery Life and Charging

iPhone 17 Battery Life

Special energy-density batteries let Apple keep run-times steady:

All models deliver at least a full day of heavy use—video streaming, gaming, and camera work—thanks to the A19 chips and efficient displays.

Charging Speeds

Wired: Up to 35 W fast charging via USB-C, reaching 50% in ~25 minutes.
MagSafe: New MagSafe 3 standard supports 15 W wireless charging and faster accessory attachment.
Qi Wireless: Up to 7.5 W for standard Qi chargers.
Reverse Wireless Charging: No built-in reverse charging for accessories, keeping efficiency high.

Repair-Friendly Design

Apple uses low-voltage adhesive to secure the battery and screen. This means authorized providers and skilled users can open the phone more safely without special heat tools. Modular display and battery blocks streamline part replacements.

Camera System

Front (Selfie) Camera

Every iPhone 17 sports a new 24 MP front camera with a six-element lens. You get sharper selfies, better low-light performance, and the ability to crop photos tightly without losing detail. Face ID is faster and works at wider angles.

Rear Cameras

iPhone 17 & iPhone 17 Air

iPhone 17 Pro & Pro Max

Advanced Photo Modes

Video Upgrades

iPhone 17 Software and iOS 19 Features Overview

The iPhone 17 ships with iOS 19, bringing new tools and refinements:

Lock Screen Widgets: More widget placements and interactive glanceable info.
StandBy Mode: When charging on its side, your iPhone shows clocks, calendars, and live activities.
On-Device AI: Smart replies, writing suggestions in Messages and Mail, and scene recognition in Photos work without sending data to the cloud.
Focus Enhancements: Auto-switching Focus modes based on location, motion, or time.
Health App Upgrades: New sleep trends, medication reminders, and vision tracking.
Satellite SOS Expansion: Service reaches more countries, with automatic crash detection and text fallback where cellular is unavailable.

iPhone 17 Accessories: Cases, MagSafe, and More

MagSafe & Cases

Apple introduces new MagSafe cases with better drop protection and antimicrobial finishes. Third-party makers follow suit with slim clear cases, leather covers, and more.

USB-C to Lightning Adapters

For legacy accessory support, Apple sells a small USB-C to Lightning dongle so older earbuds and docks still work.

AirPods & Audio

Vision Pro & Continuity

Deeper integration with Vision Pro mixed-reality headset lets you mirror your iPhone 17 screen in virtual space, drag-and-drop files, and use Continuity tools seamlessly.

iPhone 17 Repairability & Sustainability

Apple continues to push right-to-repair and green initiatives:

Recycled Materials: Use of recycled aluminum, tin solder, and rare earth elements in internal components.
Modular Parts: Display, battery, cameras, and Taptic Engine are all modular for easier swaps.
Low-Voltage Adhesives: Simplify disassembly without high-heat methods.
Energy Efficiency: iPhone 17 meets Energy Star and EPEAT Gold standards.

Comparison to iPhone 16 vs iPhone 17

Here’s how the iPhone 17 improves over iPhone 16:

Feature	iPhone 16 Series	iPhone 17 Series
Design	Flat edges, thicker Air	Ultra-thin Air, new colors
Display	60–120 Hz (Pro only)	1–120 Hz ProMotion (all models)
Chip	A18/A18 Pro	A19/A19 Pro on 3 nm+ process
Cameras	12 MP front, 48 MP back	24 MP front, 48 MP+ multi-Lens back
Connectivity	Wi-Fi 6E, 5G (Qualcomm)	Wi-Fi 7, Apple 5G modem (Air)
Charging	20 W wired, MagSafe	35 W wired, MagSafe 3
Repairability	Standard adhesives	Low-voltage adhesives, modular parts
Software	iOS 18	iOS 19 with AI and StandBy mode

Who Should Buy the iPhone 17?

iPhone 14/15 Owners: Big gains in speed, display smoothness, and cameras make upgrading worthwhile.
Photographers & Videographers: 8K video, ProRes, and mechanical aperture offer new creative control.
Power Users & Gamers: A19 Pro and vapor-chamber cooling deliver sustained peak performance.
Style Seekers: The super-slim Air and new colors stand out in a crowd.
Repair-Minded: If you value easy battery swaps and sustainable materials, the iPhone 17 leads the pack.

Conclusion

The iPhone 17 series delivers meaningful upgrades at every level. From the record-thin Air to the powerhouse Pro Max, this lineup shines with smoother displays, faster chips, advanced cameras, and greener engineering. Whether you use your iPhone for work, play, or creativity, the iPhone 17 family has the new features that set a new standard in 2025. Keep an eye out this September, and let Total Mac Solutions guide you to your ideal iPhone 17—backed by expert repairs, genuine parts, and trusted service.