Apple iPhone 17 Series: A Comprehensive Upgrade, Saying Goodbye to Favoritism?

Apple iPhone 17 Series: A Comprehensive Upgrade, Saying Goodbye to Favoritism?Recently, Cook expressed optimism about the sales of the iPhone 16 series in an interview, stating that each generation is stronger than the last. Latest leaks indicate that Apple will be implementing numerous optimizations and upgrades to the iPhone 17 series, encompassing aspects such as the screen, communication, and imaging

Apple iPhone 17 Series: A Comprehensive Upgrade, Saying Goodbye to Favoritism?

Recently, Cook expressed optimism about the sales of the iPhone 16 series in an interview, stating that each generation is stronger than the last. Latest leaks indicate that Apple will be implementing numerous optimizations and upgrades to the iPhone 17 series, encompassing aspects such as the screen, communication, and imaging. Even some configurations previously exclusive to the Pro models are being made available to the standard models. Is Apple finally putting an end to favoritism?

It is reported that the iPhone 17 series will undergo a significant product line adjustment, eliminating the Plus version and introducing four models: iPhone 17, iPhone 17Slim, iPhone 17Pro, and iPhone 17ProMax, aiming to cater to the needs of diverse users.

Screen Upgrade: 120Hz Refresh Rate Extended to Standard Models

Sources from the screen supply chain reveal that Apple has equipped all four models in the iPhone 17 series with LTPO panels, supporting variable refresh rates. This implies that the standard models will also feature 120Hz refresh rates, offering users a more fluid scrolling and video playback experience. Since the introduction of ProMotion with the iPhone 13 Pro series in 2021, this feature has been exclusive to Pro models, while the iPhone 16 and 16 Plus still sport 60Hz displays. The extension of 120Hz refresh rate to standard models undoubtedly reflects Apple's emphasis on user experience.

New Model: iPhone 17Slim Focuses on Slim Design

The iPhone 17 series will introduce a brand new model iPhone 17Slim (tentative name) which will utilize aluminum materials, with an ultraslim body design as its core selling point. It will come equipped with a 6.6-inch screen, a single 48MP rear camera, and a 24MP front camera. For reference, the current iPhone 16 standard model has a body thickness of 7.8mm, while the Pro model measures 8.25mm thick. It's worth noting that the updated iPad Pro and Apple Watch Series 10 released this year have adopted slimmer bodies, prompting us to speculate that Apple's subsequent product lines may prioritize slimness as a promotional theme.

Dynamic Island Evolution: Smaller Metalens Design

Latest leaks indicate that the iPhone 17 ProMax will employ a smaller metalens design, resulting in a noticeable reduction in the size of the Dynamic Island. This marks the first visual modification to the Dynamic Island since its debut with the iPhone 14 Pro series in 2022. Simultaneously, the screen sizes of the iPhone 17 series will remain unchanged, measuring 6.3 inches and 6.9 inches respectively, with support for adaptive refresh rates up to 120Hz. Meaning, the reduction in Dynamic Island size and the enhanced refresh rate will contribute to a higher screen-to-body ratio for the iPhone 17 series, potentially improving visual perception.

Communication Upgrade: Self-Developed Wi-Fi 7 and 5G Chips

Apple analyst Ming-Chi Kuo recently revealed that Apple's products to be launched in the second half of 2025 (like the iPhone 17 series) will incorporate self-developed Wi-Fi 7 chips, manufactured using TSMC's N7 process. Moreover, in his previous leaks, he mentioned that the first devices to feature Apple's self-designed 5G chips will also be introduced next year, including the new iPhone SE and iPhone 17Slim. Currently, Apple is dedicated to designing more hardware components in-house rather than relying on external suppliers. The actual performance of Apple's Wi-Fi and 5G chips remains to be seen upon the release of new devices.

Imaging Upgrade: 24MP Front Camera, All Rear Cameras with 48MP

Industry insiders have disclosed that the entire iPhone 17 lineup will receive an upgrade to a 24MP front camera. The two iPhone 17 Pro models will be equipped with a 48MP triple camera system, including a periscope telephoto lens to achieve enhanced optical zoom capabilities. As a point of comparison, the telephoto and front cameras on the iPhone 16 Pro series are both 12MP. This suggests that Apple intends to realize a rear camera configuration with all three lenses at 48MP in the iPhone 17 series.

Chip Upgrade: A19 Chip, Enhanced Performance

The iPhone 17 series will be powered by the A19 and A19 Pro chips, anticipating significant performance improvements. Leaks suggest that Apple is currently planning to equip the iPhone 17 ProMax with 12GB of RAM and adopt a combined cooling solution using VC and graphite sheets. The remaining three models will continue using 8GB of RAM + graphite sheet cooling. It is noteworthy that after the launch of AppleIntelligence, the system urgently requires larger memory capacities for multitasking. Considering that almost all new devices released this October come standard with 12GB of RAM, some even reaching 24GB, Apple's 8GB of RAM might seem inadequate...

Release Date: September of Next Year

Based on the leaked information, the iPhone 17 is expected to arrive in September next year. In the meantime, we can anticipate what other upgrades Apple has in store.