All eyes may be on the iPhone 16, with an expected release this fall that could usher in a new era for Apple’s iPhone, as Apple Intelligence powers many new AI experiences we haven’t seen before. While the iPhone 16 Pro and iPhone 16 Pro Max should get the most exposure in the lineup, you may want to hold off on upgrading to either model given the details that have begun to emerge about the iPhone 17.
There are several reasons why you should skip the iPhone 16 for the iPhone 17, as early rumors hint at massive upgrades to the 2025 phones that could redefine the series. Year-over-year upgrades like brighter screens, better cameras and longer battery life are expected for the iPhone 17, but we could end up seeing another generation-defining model – similar to how the iPhone X turbocharged Apple’s phone lineup in every possible way in 2017.
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We’ve rounded up all the iPhone 17 rumors we know of so you can see what’s at stake — and how they’re all good reasons to wait another year to upgrade.
120Hz refresh rate with all models
One of the biggest criticisms of the non-professional versions of the iPhone is how Apple constantly mods them with outdated 60Hz refresh rates. When cheaper Android phones like the Samsung Galaxy A35 and Google Pixel 8a have display refresh rates of 120Hz, it’s almost unbelievable that the iPhone 16 and 16 Plus are still rumored to be stuck at 60Hz.
Well, it’s expected that Apple will finally make 120Hz standard across the board for its iPhones in 2025 — including the flagship iPhone 17, which could benefit greatly from a 120Hz ProMotion display. Such a move will be expected for a long time, but it will certainly be a marked upgrade to the iPhone 17 with smoother animations and responses with its display. This would essentially make the game much more satisfying thanks to smoother frame rates.
48MP sensor in all three cameras in the iPhone 17 Pro Max
Cameras are always the most important features people consider when buying a new phone, and it looks like Apple won’t let anyone down with the triple cameras on its Pro models. The iPhone 16 Pro Max is believed to feature more zoom with its telephoto camera and a larger 1/1.4-inch sensor, but the iPhone 17 Pro Max’s cameras may be worth the wait.
That’s because both are rumored to have 48MP sensors across all three cameras. It’s a wonderful upgrade to both their ultrawide and telephoto cameras, which can make them much more valuable when combined with new image processing algorithms and pixel binning technology. Coupled with another rumor of a variable aperture lens to give photographers even more control over the camera, there’s undoubtedly a lot going on with the iPhone 17 Pro Max.
The thinnest iPhone model to date
We’ve been hearing rumors of an iPhone 16 Ultra model for a while now, but it’s still unknown whether or not this will materialize this fall, when the iPhone 16 lineup is expected to be announced. While an Ultra seems unlikely at this point, it’s possible the device could appeared the following year under a completely different name as the iPhone 17 Slim.
According to rumors, Apple may ditch the iPhone 17 Plus model and instead opt to add the iPhone 17 Slim to its lineup. Not only will it be the thinnest iPhone yet, complete with a brand new design unlike the current design language, but it could also be the most expensive yet at a whopping $1,299 — which would be up from the $1,199 that Apple currently charges for its Pro Max model.
Bloomberg’s Mark Gurman says Apple’s plan is to make “a new class of Apple devices that should be the thinnest and lightest products in the entire technology industry.” This higher price will be supported by an A19 chip, 8GB of RAM, an aluminum chassis and a dual rear camera system.
Faster A19 Pro chips based on 2nm manufacturing process
Speaking of processing power, the iPhone 17 will naturally have the edge in terms of performance – mainly because the new models will be powered by faster A19 chips, compared to the A18 processors expected with the iPhone 16.
The biggest reason for the performance boost is that the A19 Pro chip – especially those powering the iPhone 17 Pro models – can be made using a 2nm manufacturing process. This would lead to a higher density of transistors, which would ultimately increase its processing performance.
Better energy efficiency
Improved processing performance goes hand in hand with energy efficiency, which could also mean greater battery life for the iPhone 17 range. We see this for ourselves in how each new generation of iPhone with newer chips often outperforms its predecessors in our battery comparison tests.
If that’s not enough to convince you to hold off on getting the iPhone 16, Apple is believed to be developing its own internal batteries with the iPhone 17. By doing so, the company can further optimize energy efficiency in its iPhone 17 Gamma.
24MP selfie cameras
While we’ve seen worse selfie cameras than the current iPhones, the iPhone 17 could get a nice upgrade in the form of 24MP front-facing cameras, according to longtime analyst Ming-Chi Kuo.
It is believed that Apple will continue to use the same 12MP selfie cameras for the iPhone 16, including the Pro models. Considering how the 12MP camera has been in place since the iPhone 11, this would be an added incentive to wait for the iPhone 17.
12GB RAM in Pro models
Also, there could be a big memory makeover with the iPhone 17 Pro and 17 Pro Max, where their RAM can be increased to 12 GB. In contrast, the iPhone 16 Pro and 16 Pro Max will likely retain the same 8GB of RAM as before.
This RAM upgrade could allow the iPhone 17 Pro and 17 Pro Max to not only handle AI-assisted features better, but also keep apps in memory for longer — which is useful if you are constantly multitasking applications.
