Apple Unveils iPhone 17 Series with Major Upgrades and a New "Air" Model

Apple Unveils iPhone 17 Series with Major Upgrades and a New "Air" Model

Apple has officially announced its new iPhone 17 lineup, which includes four models: the standard iPhone 17, the all-new iPhone Air, the iPhone 17 Pro, and the iPhone 17 Pro Max.1 The series, running on the new iOS 26, introduces a significant redesign for some models and a host of powerful new features, with a strong focus on improved cameras, display technology, and on-device AI capabilities.2

Release Date and Pricing

The iPhone 17 series was unveiled at Apple's "Awe-dropping" event and became available for pre-order shortly after.3 The official release date is set for Friday, September 19, though some models, particularly the Pro and Pro Max, are already experiencing shipping delays due to high demand.4

Pricing for the new lineup is as follows:

• iPhone 17: Starting at $899

• iPhone Air: Starting at $9995

• iPhone 17 Pro: Starting at $1,0996

• iPhone 17 Pro Max: Starting at $1,1997

Design and Display: A Bold New Look

Apple is introducing a redesigned look for the first time in several years. The iPhone 17 Pro models are ditching the titanium frame of their predecessors in favor of a new unibody aluminum design, which is said to improve heat dissipation and reduce weight.8 A new "plateau" on the back provides extra space for internal components, and the camera bump is a bold horizontal strip.9 The entire lineup is now protected by "Ceramic Shield 2," which offers three times better scratch resistance and improved anti-reflection.

A key highlight is the introduction of the new iPhone Air. This model is notably thin, measuring just 5.6mm at its thinnest point, and features a titanium build with a 6.5-inch display. The iPhone 17 and 17 Pro both get a slight screen size increase to 6.3 inches.10

For the first time, all models in the iPhone 17 series will feature a 120Hz ProMotion display, a feature previously exclusive to the Pro line. The displays are also significantly brighter, reaching a peak of 3,000 nits for outdoor use.11

Performance and Battery Life

At the heart of the new iPhones are Apple's latest chipsets.12 The standard iPhone 17 and iPhone Air are powered by the new A19 chip, while the Pro and Pro Max models get the more powerful A19 Pro chip.13 Apple claims the A19 Pro delivers up to 40% better sustained performance than the previous generation, making it ideal for gaming, video editing, and running advanced AI models.14 The Pro models also feature a vapor chamber cooling system to enhance thermal management.15

The new lineup also sees a significant boost in battery life, with the iPhone 17 Pro Max promising the longest battery life ever on an iPhone.16 All models also benefit from faster charging, with the Pro Max capable of reaching a 50% charge in just 20 minutes with a new 40W USB-C adapter.17

The iPhone 17 series also marks the debut of Apple's first in-house wireless networking chip, the N1 chip, which supports Wi-Fi 7, Bluetooth 6, and Thread.18

Camera System: A Major Leap Forward

The camera system sees some of the most dramatic improvements. All models now feature a new 18MP "Center Stage" front camera with a square sensor that allows for landscape selfies without rotating the phone.19 This camera also supports "Center Stage" for video calls, automatically keeping everyone in the frame.20

On the back, the camera systems have been upgraded across the board:

• iPhone 17: Features a new "dual fusion" camera system with a 48MP main sensor that also acts as a 2x telephoto lens, and a 48MP ultra-wide camera.21

• iPhone 17 Pro & Pro Max: Both feature a triple 48MP "Fusion" camera setup.22 The most significant upgrade is the new telephoto lens, which uses a tetraprism design to achieve an impressive 8x optical zoom, the longest on any iPhone to date.23 Digital zoom can go up to 40x. The new camera system also supports pro-level video features like ProRes RAW, Apple Log 2, and genlock.24

Software and AI Integration

The iPhone 17 series ships with iOS 26, which includes "Apple Intelligence," a suite of powerful on-device AI features.25 These new capabilities include "Live Translation," improved visual search, and "Call Screening," which automatically answers unknown callers and provides a transcript.26

In summary, the iPhone 17 series represents a significant upgrade from its predecessors, with a new design, powerful internal components, and an enhanced camera system.27 The introduction of the ultra-thin iPhone Air also signals a new direction for Apple's product lineup.

Apple Unveils iPhone 17 Series with Major Upgrades and a New "Air" Model