iPhone 17 Series: A Classic Comeback, Comprehensive Upgrade, Can It Restore Apple's Reign?

iPhone 17 Series: A Classic Comeback, Comprehensive Upgrade, Can It Restore Apple's Reign?Apple's recently released iPhone 16e, starting at 4499, offered a compelling option for budget-conscious Apple fans with its A18 chip and Apple's self-developed C1 cellular modem. However, the iPhone 16e isn't Apple's final word; the highly anticipated iPhone 17 series is on the horizon

iPhone 17 Series: A Classic Comeback, Comprehensive Upgrade, Can It Restore Apple's Reign?

Apple's recently released iPhone 16e, starting at 4499, offered a compelling option for budget-conscious Apple fans with its A18 chip and Apple's self-developed C1 cellular modem. However, the iPhone 16e isn't Apple's final word; the highly anticipated iPhone 17 series is on the horizon. Renowned leaker Sonny Dickson posted CAD renders of all four iPhone 17 models on X, showcasing significant design changes from the base model to the Pro Max.

Design Revival: A Return to the 2012 Three-Segment Design Language

The renders reveal that the iPhone 17 Pro and iPhone 17 Pro Max adopt a new "camera island" design, with the rear glass transitioning from the previous unibody design to a metal-glass composite. This design evokes memories of the 2012 iPhone 5 and iPhone 5s, which also featured a three-segment design with ceramic top and bottom sections and an anodized aluminum alloy middle section. This design aimed to mitigate signal interference from the metal casing. While this three-segment design was short-lived in iPhone history, it remains a favorite among many Apple fans.

The iPhone 17 Pro and iPhone 17 Pro Max's composite design primarily features a large, horizontal camera bump deco coupled with a lower glass section. The camera bump still houses a triple-lens system, but the LiDAR sensor and flash are positioned on the far right, creating a symmetrical visual effect. The rectangular shape of the joining section resembles Apple's official MagSafe external battery pack, hinting at the rumored return of a USB-C MagSafe external battery with the iPhone 17 series.

The base iPhone 17 retains the camera bump design of the iPhone 16, featuring a more minimalist vertical, left-aligned deco compared to the Pro/Max's oversized camera island. Due to the compact camera bump size, the flash is placed outside the deco.

The iPhone 17 Air, a new addition to the iPhone family, doesn't inherit the design of the base iPhone model. Instead, like the Pro/Max, it features a large, horizontally centered deco. However, the render shows the iPhone 17 Air with only one camera lens, seemingly wasting space.

In summary, compared to the iPhone 16 series, the iPhone 17 series boasts significant design changes, with a larger camera bump deco and a more extensive composite material area. Adding contrasting color options would further enhance the iPhone 17 series' recognizability.

Performance Upgrade: More Than Just Incremental Improvements

Market feedback indicates that the iPhone 16 series failed to match the success of its predecessors, primarily due to relatively minor upgrades. While performance improvements were present, they weren't compelling enough for many users of older iPhones. The iPhone 17 series, however, promises the most significant upgrade in recent years.

The base iPhone 17 and the new iPhone 17 Air will both feature a 120Hz ProMotion display with adaptive refresh rates from 1-120Hz. However, Sonny Dickson suggests that the Always-On Display feature will remain exclusive to the Pro models.

In terms of performance, the entire iPhone 17 lineup will upgrade to the A19 chip. Following Apple's usual practice, the standard and Air models may have one fewer core to balance power consumption. How the iPhone 17 Air balances battery life, performance, and thinness remains a question.

Regarding cameras, the design changes to the iPhone 17 series' camera bump also signify upgrades to the imaging system. The most notable change is in the telephoto lens; the iPhone 17 Pro/Max will adopt a new telephoto sensor, with the iPhone 17 Pro Max's telephoto pixel count increasing from 12MP to 48MP, returning to a uniform pixel count across all three lenses.

The iPhone 17 Air, with its single lens, might adopt a similar imaging solution to the iPhone 16e, using a 48MP main lens and algorithmic cropping to achieve 2X lossless optical zoom, covering 24mm and 48mm focal lengths. We recommend Apple add 28mm and 35mm focal lengths to enhance its practicality for landscape and street photography.

Other improvements include the expected inclusion of Apple's self-developed C3 cellular modem, Wi-Fi 7, and a redesigned vapor chamber cooling system across the entire iPhone 17 series.

Market Positioning: Addressing User Pain Points, Meeting Diverse Needs

Over the past two years, Apple has subtly shifted the positioning of its entire iPhone lineup, leading to less obvious upgrades and decreased consumer appeal. For example, starting with the iPhone 15 Pro, Apple added ProRes internal recording and ACES log cinematic color for professional content creation, while standard iPhones adopted a new ion-plated glass process. However, these changes weren't easily perceptible to consumers.

The iPhone 17 series' upgrades directly target user needs. Apple adds the ultra-thin Air model, with a thickness as low as 5.5mm potentially the thinnest 5G flagship phone and a 6.6-inch display, catering to users seeking a large screen and a lightweight feel.

The standard iPhone 17 addresses the refresh rate issue, and combined with its thinner profile and lower price, it could revitalize the entry-level flagship market. The two Pro models, with their new design, enhanced performance, and improved imaging capabilities, will continue to solidify their position in the high-end market.

Future Outlook: A Spectacular Comeback, But More Sincerity Is Needed

If the starting price remains unchanged, the iPhone 17 series could be Apple's most sincere iPhone offering in years. Furthermore, considering Apple's collaboration with Alibaba and Baidu in mainland China, the iPhone 17 series might launch with native Apple Intelligence integration. The comprehensive upgrade across hardware, software, and AI demonstrates significant effort.

However, this year, the smartphone market is directly challenging Apple across the board, from compact flagships and ultra-thin designs to professional imaging solutions, all vying for Apple's strengths. If the iPhone 17 series aims for a spectacular comeback, Apple needs to demonstrate even greater sincerity.