Following recent reports that the entire iPhone 17 lineup would benefit from a RAM upgrade to 12GB per device, a new report by supply chain analyst Ming-Chi Kuo suggests that things might not be quite that simple.

Writing in a post on the X social network Kuo says that the 12GB of RAM boost will only be available on Apple's best iPhone, leaving people with the option of buying the iPhone 17 Pro Max or settling for less RAM in their handset.

If this turns out to be accurate, those buying an iPhone 17, iPhone 17 Slim/Air, or iPhone 17 Pro will receive handsets with 8GB of RAM inside. That'll be enough to handle Apple Intelligence, but the iPhone 17 Pro Max will have 50% more RAM to aid performance.

All the RAM

Kuo's X post says that it "can be expected that stronger device-side AI will be the main selling point of iPhone 17 Pro Max." He also confirmed that the other iPhones, including the rumored iPhone SE 4, will have just 8GB of RAM.

Apple Intelligence requires at least 8GB of RAM so there is no doubt all of the new handsets will support the technology, but it's possible that the iPhone 17 Pro Max will offer even more advanced AI capabilities thanks to the additional RAM on offer. However, it's also possible that the RAM could be used elsewhere including more advanced photography and videography features.

The report also claims that the iPhone 17 Pro Max will sport a new heat dissipation solution, while the other models will make do with a less-capable graphite sheet solution.

More from iMore

• Mystery iPhone 17 Slim tipped alongside rumored Dynamic Island upgrades and more
• iPhone 17 Air could be the name of the next-gen super-slim Apple iPhone ...
• The iPhone 17 will be 'significantly skinnier' than previous models as Apple ushers in a new era of thinner and lighter devices

Apple's hardware team has been crushing it for years across all product categories, notably with the new Apple Silicon chips that debuted in 2020 and have only grown more powerful in subsequent generations.

And, while we knew the company has been working on its modem chips for a while now, we could see the fruits of that labor in the coming year.

That's according to Bloomberg's Mark Gurman, with the latest issue of his Power On newsletter noting that Apple is "devoting billions of dollars, thousands of engineers and millions of working hours to a project that won’t really improve its devices — at least at the outset."

And while Apple's supplier agreement with modem manufacturer Qualcomm runs until March 2027 (an uneasy alliance given how much Apple pays for those chips), Gurman says Apple's own modem chip could arrive next year - but stops short of saying it'll be in the iPhone 17.

It's not about what's now, it's about what's next

"There have been problems with performance and overheating, and Apple has been forced to push back the modem’s debut until next year at the earliest," Gurman says.

"The rollout will take place on a gradual basis — starting with niche models — and take a few years to complete."

So aside from saving Apple money, what other benefits does this offer iPhone users? Gurman says plans are afoot to roll it in with Bluetooth and Wi-Fi management for a single wireless chip, or that all of this could eventually be added to the SoC.

Still, as Gurman notes - in an age of tech sites (iMore included) and YouTube channels running speed comparisons, the best Apple can likely hope for is that there's no reason users are even made aware of the switch.

More from iMore

• Apple reminds developers of the insane EU requirement they must meet this year
• Age of Empires mobile game finally has a release date and it's sooner than you think
• iPhone 16 Pro leak at last reveals what the bronze color will look like

We reported yesterday that the iPhone 16 production is well underway ahead of launch this year, but a new report suggests Apple's best new features could arrive with next year's iPhone 17 lineup.

In his latest Power On newsletter, Bloomberg's Mark Gurman has suggested that this year's iPhone "won’t look meaningfully different than current versions or add major new features."

Apple Intelligence will be a big focus, and all models will get the Action Button, with slightly larger screens for the Pro models and fresh new colors, too.

As Gurman points out, these are nice improvements but not must-haves - but the iPhone 17 could make big changes.

iPhone 17 could debut new 'Air' model

Alongside a new iPhone SE model expected next year (one running Apple Intelligence, Gurman suggests), the iPhone 17 could see a bigger shakeup.

Gurman suggests that both the iPhone's Mini and Plus sizes haven't been popular with consumers, meaning Apple may look to add a new iPhone model that falls somewhere between the iPhone 17 and iPhone 17 Pro in terms of specs.

He dubs this the 'iPhone 17 Air', comparing it to the original MacBook Air's place between the MacBook and MacBook Pro. It's not the first we've heard about an 'iPhone 17 Slim'.

"The sales pitch will probably go like this: If you want something snazzier than a standard iPhone — but don’t really need the performance, screen size or cameras of a Pro model — you can get something that looks much cooler while still having the specifications of a regular iPhone," Gurman suggests.

Going forward, Gurman also believes this new 'Air' model could form the basis for iPhones in the future, too. 

"Eventually, Apple will want to squeeze the power of a Pro model into this smaller design. That feat will likely take until at least 2027 to achieve," he said.

"I also expect Apple to produce a foldable iPhone, but all signs internally point to a foldable iPad being just as big of a priority."

More from iMore

• Apple Intelligence could one day have subscription or paywalled features, warns analyst
• iPhone 16 production is well underway, so expect more leaks soon
• "A 15% junk fee" — Spotify and Epic slam Apple's latest EU App Store changes

The iPhone 17 might still be a year off given that we haven’t even had the iPhone 16 yet, but there are still rumors abound that give us a fleeting glimpse of what 2025 might have in store for us. One of the most prolific rumors has been that the iPhone 17 is going to have a ‘slim’ version, and now we have a better idea of what it’s going to be called — the iPhone 17 Air.

Traditionally, the ‘Air naming convention denotes the slimmest and lightest of the Apple product at hand — while that’s shifted slightly after the unreasonably thin iPad Pro M4 (that’s thinner than the new iPad Air M2), it looks to mean the same for the iPhone 17. According to Youtuber FrontPageTech, the iPhone Air will sit between the standard models and the Pro models, just like the iPads with the same moniker.

More slim devices

With any luck, the iPhone 17 Air will not suffer the same fate as the notorious, and also extremely thin, iPhone 6. The 17 Air is pegged to have a waistline of just 5mm, a whole 2.8 inches slimmer than the iPhone 15. That’s a mighty thin phone — and one that without significant structural work would likely bend like a banana. Cue flashbacks to unintended flexible iPhones in 2014, and the BendGate scandal that still puts some buyers off iPhones today.

Thankfully, it seems like we’re going to be getting an iPhone Air made from some strong materials to put your mind at ease. While FrontPageTech reckons there won’t be as much Titanium as the Pro models, there could be some to keep the phone rigid in those skinny jeans pockets, and make sure it stays ruler straight. The chip inside isn’t going to be as impressive as the Pro and Pro Max chips, but will likely match those found in the iPhone 17 when it releases — and, of course, support Apple Intelligence.

The sticking point? Price. The iPhone could cost as much, apparently, as $1,299 — a whole lot of money for a phone that doesn’t have the screen, processor, or power of the Pro line. We’d expect it to land between the Pro and standard iPhones instead. Even then, as TechRadar points out, a lot of this rumor feels more like speculation rather than solid, well-sourced rumors, so any one of the predictions at hand could be wrong. We’ll only know for sure when the iPhone 17 starts to come closer into view, and before that, we’ve got the iPhone 16 family and Apple Intelligence to worry about.

More from iMore

• Five reasons to skip iPhone 16 and wait for iPhone 17
• Mystery iPhone 17 Slim tipped alongside rumored Dynamic Island upgrades
• The iPhone 17 will be 'significantly skinnier' than previous models

The iPhone 16 and iPhone 16 Pro haven't made their debut yet, but we're getting rumors and leaks looking further ahead to the iPhone 17. While we don't know as much about the iPhone 17 as we do about this year's phones, we've already started to piece together plenty. And one of the biggest upgrades is set to be the front-facing camera.

Now, a new report backs-up earlier rumors that the iPhone 17 will come with a 24MP front-facing camera. In a research note for investment bank Haitong, reputable analyst Jeff Pu revealed a chart that outlines some specs for the device. The iPhone 17, possible iPhone 17 Slim, iPhone 17 Pro, and iPhone 17 Pro Max will all flaunt this upgraded 24MP snapper. For context, your current iPhone 15 is making do with a measly 12MP front camera – so this is an upgrade that doubles performance.

This isn't the first we've heard of the beefed up selfie snapper on the iPhone 17 series. Previously reporting in January 2024, Ming-Chi Kuo claimed that Apple will add “a significant upgrade to the iPhone 17’s front camera lens.” According to Kuo, the iPhone 17 will see the front-facing camera upgraded with a 24MP sensor, doubling the size of the current 12MP offering.

What's the big deal about iPhone 17's rumored 24MP selfie snapper?

Doubling the resolution of the iPhone's front-facing camera is a pretty big deal. Higher resolution means you can crop your photos more aggressively without them turning into pixelated messes.

In Kuo's report, he detailed the new front-facing camera would be made from a six-piece lens, promising significantly improved image quality. Each of the rumored six lens elements also plays a part in correcting various aberrations and distortions, giving you clearer, more accurate photos.

Don’t get too excited just yet. These iPhone 17 models are expected to hit the shelves in September 2025. There's plenty of time for things to change. But with so many sources reporting on this front-facing camera upgrade, we're pretty sure you'll see it next year.

More from iMore

• Mystery iPhone 17 Slim tipped alongside rumored Dynamic Island upgrades and more
• Forget iPhone 16, the iPhone 17 could feature one of the biggest camera upgrades in years
• iPhone 17 will reportedly offer a new display size for those who want to sit between the regular and Pro models

I remember when Apple originally announced the iPhone 12 mini. It was the smallest 5G phone in the world (back when 5G was supposed to be a big deal), and as someone who loves tiny phones, I was over the moon. Unfortunately, I was never able to get my hands on the model.

That changed when the iPhone 13 mini rolled out. With the battery life improved, I went for it immediately. I actually had an iPhone 12 Pro at the time but, even with considering the fact that I'd be losing a zoom lens, the 120Hz Pro Motion display, and other features, I jumped at the chance to simplify my iPhone setup.

While you get more features with the iPhone Pro models, you also get a much bigger and heavier phone. While I appreciated some of the features, it always felt like carrying a brick around in my pocket, so I loved how small and light the iPhone 13 mini was in comparison.

Give me my iPhone mini back

I was such a fan of the iPhone 13 mini that I was devastated when Apple announced it was ditching the tiny iPhone in favor of another huge phone: the iPhone 14 Plus. Since then, I've been waiting for the company to learn the error of its ways and reimburse the beauty of a tiny phone. 

At first, I thought it might turn the iPhone SE into the iPhone mini, but the latest rumors seem to indicate the iPhone SE will instead take on the form factor of an iPhone 15 with another 6.1-inch screen. With that likely the case, my hope was that Apple would realize that the iPhone mini was more fun than the iPhone Plus — the wannabe iPhone Pro Max.

Then, the rumors started swirling that the company would in fact ditch the iPhone Plus model. I got hope again. Unfortunately, that hope was short-lived since, according to a report from today, the company is — instead of going back to the wonderful iPhone mini — going with a whole new iPhone Slim model.

While the idea of a slim iPhone sounds interesting — the new iPad Pro is certainly impressive — it seems like it too will stick with a 6-inch display. It's like Apple has decided that there are only two screen sizes anymore. A bigger screen size for the Pro Max and the same size for everything else.

It seems that, if I want to get an iPhone mini back in my life, I'm going to have to wait it out for the long-expected iPhone Fold. If Apple won't make a tiny phone, at least it can make a bigger one that I can fold down into a smaller one. Even if that shows up, I'm still holding out for an iPhone mini.

It was — and still is — the best iPhone Apple ever made. I'd trade in my iPhone Pro in a heartbeat if Apple ever brought it back. Hear me, Tim Cook!

More from iMore

• Mystery iPhone 17 Slim tipped alongside rumored Dynamic Island ...
• This new iPhone MagSafe power bank is so slick and slim I'm ...
• iPhone 17: Everything you need to know

As Apple prepares to launch its iPhone 16 and iPhone 16 Pro in September, new reports around its plans for iPhone 17 again seem to indicate a seismic shift in the iPhone lineup. 

Apple has offered four iPhone models in two sizes since the introduction of the iPhone 14 in 2022, an iPhone, iPhone “Plus”, a Pro, and a Pro Max. Starting next year, however, multiple new reports indicate that Apple will ditch the “Plus” variant from its iPhone lineup in favor of an all-new slim model. 

That phone will have a new screen size not seen before in an iPhone, but there are some other changes rumored for the device, not all of which make sense. 

iPhone 17 slim? 

Top analyst and insider Ming-Chi Kuo, who has a staunch track record of predicting Apple’s future product plans, says the company is planning to ditch the “redundant” Plus model and instead roll with three mainstream flagship picks, the iPhone 17 and two Pro models. 

“The new ultra-slim model is not positioned to replace the Plus. Instead, Apple is exploring new design trends beyond the existing iPhone lineup,” he wrote on Medium this week. Kuo says the new model “will emphasize innovative form factor design rather than competing on hardware specifications.” 

Specifically, he notes the new model will have a 6.6-inch display and a screen resolution of 2,740 x 1,260, making it larger than the current 6.1-inch iPhone and ever-so-slightly smaller than the Plus and Pro Max offerings. 

It will also reportedly feature an A19 chip, with an A19 Pro reserved for its best iPhone, the iPhone 17 Pro models, and feature a Dynamic Island “similar to current models.” 

To save weight, Apple is allegedly going to adopt a titanium-aluminum alloy, a halfway house between the all-aluminum and all-titanium offerings Apple currently sells. As already reported this week, the iPhone 17 slim will also reportedly be one of two 2025 iPhones that adopt Apple’s own in-house 5G chip at the expense of Qualcomm. The strangest rumor about this iPhone, however, is the report that Apple will adopt a single rear wide camera, rather than the dual or triple lens configurations we’ve grown accustomed to. 

The shift, still more than a year away, would mark the most seismic shift in the iPhone lineup since the advent of the “mini” iPhone in 2020. Kuo notes that like the mini, the Plus of recent years has failed to make an impression in the market and accounts for less than 10% of new iPhone shipments. As such, he believes the other three models “already adequately cover the high-end market segments, making the Plus model redundant.”

With OLED likely on the cards as a display, it’s possible Apple could leverage the new technology from the M4 iPad Pro to make the display a lot thinner. Apple unveiled its new best iPad in May, touting it as the thinnest product the company has ever created. 

More from iMore

• Key iPhone 17 details just leaked — here's why you might not need to buy the Pro
• Mystery iPhone 17 Slim tipped alongside rumored Dynamic Island upgrades
• The iPhone 17 will be 'significantly skinnier than previous models

Apple is expected to announce the iPhone 16 and iPhone 16 Pro devices this coming September which means they're not much more than a month away. But the latest rumors all center around what comes next, with the iPhone 17 and iPhone 17 Pro the talk of the town. And then, of course, there's the iPhone 17 Slim.

It isn't unheard of for iPhones to be leaked more than a year apart from their unveiling but things look particularly interesting when we look at the 2025 models. Rumors of a Slim model sitting atop the iPhone 17 Pro Max and the loss of the Plus model from the lineup already made 2025 an interesting year for iPhone buyers, but a new report adds further spice to proceedings with the suggestion buyers might not need to pick up the iPhone 17 Pro or iPhone 17 Slim to get a key feature.

The 120Hz ProMotion display is a big selling point for the iPhone 15 Pro and iPhone 15 Pro Max right now, allowing for a smoother scrolling experience and buttery-smooth gaming when playing titles that support high frame rates. However, a new leak suggests that buyers of the 2025 iPhones will be able to choose the standard iPhone 17 and still enjoy the ProMotion feature, removing one reason for people to stump up the cash for one of Apple's best iPhones. And then there's the always-on display, too.

Not-so-Pro

The news comes via MacRumors after a Weibo post by Ice Universe, a leaker that has a history of sharing information about pre-release iPhones. The leak via Apple's machine translation, says that an "LTPO panel introduced for the first time in iPhone [17] (causing 120Hz variable refresh rate and the possibility of supporting AOD).

An LPTO panel can dynamically adjust its refresh rate from 1Hz to 120Hz, allowing for a smoother experience when compared to traditional iPhone displays that top out at 60Hz. However, the ability to slow the refresh rate all the way down to just 1Hz is also a key aspect here, allowing for the always-on display that really makes features like StandBy so useful.

This alone could be enough to allow some Pro-level buyers to ditch the handset and choose a standard iPhone 17 next year, although those who want a display of around d the 6.7- or 6.9-inch display size will still need to go for the iPhone 17 Pro Max or Slim — the iPhone 17 and iPhone 17 Pro are both stated for 6.3-inch panels.

There will of course still be other reasons for people to choose the higher-end iPhones, though. Better cameras and larger screens are a given, while it's likely that the better models will sport a new A19 Pro chip with improved performance, too.

All of that being said, the iPhone 17 Slim does seem to be something of an oddity, based on this leak. If the leak is accurate, it'll use the standard A19 chip and a dual-camera system while also being the most expensive model of the lineup with a price of around $1,299. The reason for that price is thought to be a completely new, extremely thin design. Whether that price will be justified given the seemingly downgraded chip and camera array remains to be seen, however, and I'm far from convinced at this point.

For now, I expect to be buying an iPhone 17 Pro Max in September 2025. Unless Apple surprises everyone and (finally) comes up with a foldable iPhone instead,

More from iMore

• Mystery iPhone 17 Slim tipped alongside rumored Dynamic Island upgrades and more
• Forget iPhone 16, the iPhone 17 could feature one of the biggest camera upgrades in years
• iPhone 17 will reportedly offer a new display size for those who want to sit between the regular and Pro models

The iPhone 16 might still be a few months away but Apple is already hard at work on getting things ready for the 2025 models. The iPhone 17 developments are well underway and a new report suggests that Apple is keen to bring some M4 iPad Pro magic to the lineup.

The 13-inch iPad Pro is the thinnest device that Apple has ever made, and it makes even the best iPhones seem chunky. But according to the well-connected Mark Gurman Apple intends to fix that with the launch of the iPhone 17. What's more, the company also intends to shrink other products, too.

If Gurman is right the iPad Pro has ushered in a new wave of thinner and lighter hardware that will continue with the iPhone 17 and an updated MacBook Pro, while the Apple Watch is also set to get thinner as part of the initiative.

Thinner than thin

Gurman, writing in the weekly Power On newsletter, says that Apple "is now focused on developing a significantly skinnier phone in time for the iPhone 17 line in 2025." The report goes on to say that Apple is also working on a thinner MacBook Pro and Apple Watch, adding that "the plan is for the latest iPad Pro to be the beginning of a new class of Apple devices that should be the thinnest and lightest products in their categories across the whole tech industry."

The M4 iPad Pro is of course on sale now, while the iPhone 17 isn't expected to ship until September next year. As for the iPhone 16 lineup, that's set to be announced around the middle of September this year.

More from iMore

• Forget iPhone 16, the iPhone 17 could feature one of the biggest camera upgrades in years
• iPhone 17 will reportedly offer a new display size for those who want it
• Mystery iPhone 17 Slim tipped alongside rumored Dynamic Island upgrades

Amid ongoing talk of big new Apple AI features coming to the iPhone with iOS 18 later this year, a new report believes that the iPhone 17 will be Apple's first true AI phone, and that's enough to get key supply chain partners excited.

According to one new report, PCB suppliers are optimistic that Apple's growing focus on AI will see the iPhone 17 and other Apple devices prove to be strong sellers, even in China where Huawei has recently become the biggest name in town.

In fact, suppliers believe that "Apple can only lose to itself" while Huawei and others, like Samsung, will only be part of the discussion rather than potentially eating its lunch.

Apple is its own competition

That's the news coming out of a paywalled DigiTimes report which notes that suppliers believe that the rapid development of AI could be a significant factor for Apple moving forward. They believe that the iPhone 17 will be Apple's first AI smartphone in 2025 while foldable devices will follow in 2026. ".If other brands fail to introduce killer applications, consumers who have previously used Apple products likely won't have much willingness to switch to other brands," the report explains.

To add context, JPMorgan analyst Samik Chatterjee previously said that it was his belief that Apple's AI timelines and the iPhone 17 itself will drive the upgrade cycle next year.

The new focus on AI, coupled with a supply chain belief that Huawei's surge to prominence in China is little more than patriotic buyers whose approach will change when those sentiments change, bullish. In fact, those within Apple's supply chain believe "that direct competition between Huawei and Apple is nonexistent," the report adds.

Apple is far from alone in leaning on AI as a way to sell hardware and services, but it's a new angle for the iPhone maker to take. That's all expected to kick off with the previewing of iOS 18 and new AI capabilities at WWDC next month.

More from iMore

• Apple could look to make the iPhone 17 even thinner
• Forget iPhone 16, the iPhone 17 could feature one of the biggest camera upgrades in years
• Mystery iPhone 17 Slim tipped alongside rumored Dynamic Island upgrades

As rumors of an iPhone 17 powered by a brand new 2nm manufacturing process swirl, Apple’s Chief Operating Officer Jeff Williams has reportedly visited Taiwan in a bid to secure an early supply of TSMC’s coveted new chips. 

The 2nm process is the next big thing in chip manufacturing but isn’t expected to arrive in consumer devices until 2025 at the earliest. Apple’s current best iPhone, the iPhone 15 Pro, is powered by the A17 Pro chip. Just like the M3 chips in Apple’s best MacBooks, these chips are made using a 3nm manufacturing process, which packs more transistors into a smaller space to deliver performance and efficiency upgrades. Apple’s M4 chip, which powers the new M4 iPad Pro and should arrive in Macs later this year, is built using an improved iteration of the 3nm process. According to reports, 2nm chips are expected to enter production in 2025, suggesting the iPhone 17 could be one of the earliest beneficiaries. 

Designing better chips is only half the battle for companies like Apple. With Taiwan’s TSMC the only company capable of manufacturing the chips Apple needs, securing supply is vital, which explains why someone as vital as Williams might make the trip abroad. 

iPhone 17: Supply and demand 

China’s Economic Daily News reports that the COO “recently visited TSMC in Taiwan in a low-key manner,” and was received by none other than TSMC President Wei Zhejia. The report claims that both parties are focused on “Apple's development of self-developed AI chips” and that Apple is planning to secure TSMC’s advanced 2nm process.

TSMC’s 2nm node, AKA N2, offers performance improvements of around 10% to 15% at the same levels of power as the current 3nm process. It also offers significantly reduced power consumption of up to 30% at the same speeds as the 3nm process. As such, adopting M2 will take Apple’s A- and M-series chips to the next level, with the customary leap in performance and efficiency we’ve come to expect from each iteration of Apple silicon.  

Before all of that takes place, Apple is expected to unveil the new iPhone 16 and iPhone 16 Pro at its annual September iPhone event later this year. The new lineup should herald a new A18 chip series, possibly with a more potent variant for the “Pro” iPhone models. Looking further ahead to iPhone 17, a recent report indicates that Apple is testing a vastly different design with a slimmer, aluminum chassis, a smaller Dynamic Island, and a relocated rear camera placed in the center of the device’s rear.

More from iMore

• Apple's next major chip upgrade could come next year
• TSMC might be putting 2nm chips in iPhones as soon as 2025
• Apple first in line to get revolutionary new chip process for its iPhone

While the current MacBook Pro and iPhone models had suggested Apple was done making its products thinner and thinner, this month's reveal of the iPad Pro M4, the company's "thinnest product ever", suggests there may have been a change.

And, now that it's conquered the iPad 'bendgate' and repairability concerns, it appears the iPhone may be the next device to get itself in shape with a form factor redesign.

That comes from a report from The Information that suggests "Apple is still testing different designs for the slimmer phone, which could include an aluminium chassis and a smaller hole and pill-shaped cutout for its front-facing camera and sensors, one person with direct knowledge of the matter said."

It's not expected to happen in time for the iPhone 16, however (production has likely begun in some capacity there), but it could arrive in time for the 17th generation.

iPhone 17 to receive potentially drastic redesign

It's not just the phone getting slimmer, either.

"The phone will include Apple’s latest-generation processor, likely called the A19, and could have an improved front camera for video calls and selfies. The screen will measure somewhere between the 6.12-inch diagonal display of the standard iPhone and the 6.69-inch display of the iPhone Pro Max, the person added," The Information's report says.

"The rear cameras could be relocated from the upper-left corner of the phone’s back to the top center as part of the redesign, another person with direct knowledge said."

That could mean a central camera cluster on the back of an iPhone for the first time ever, as well as a potential shift in screen size.

This could mean a refresh to the whole lineup is planned for 2025, or the introduction of the iPhone Ultra we've heard in hushed tones over a number of years. Either way, The Information compares the change to 2017's iPhone X redesign, which leaves big boots to fill.

More from iMore

• AltStore PAL warning issued to users on iOS 17.5, do not delete your app — awkward Apple implementation breaks reinstalls of app marketplaces
• Apple's Tap to Pay on iPhone comes to Japan, making it easier than ever for small businesses to accept contactless payments
• Are you fed up with AI in your Google Search on iPhone, iPad, or Mac? Here's how it works, what it does, and how you can avoid it entirely

While it's true that the iPhone 15 and iPhone 15 Pro families of handsets have only been on sale for a few months, it's also true that attention turned to what comes next almost immediately. That'll be the iPhone 16 and iPhone 16 Pro of course, but with those updates still months away from being announced we're already starting to hear rumblings of what we can expect in 2025.

We've seen rumors relating to the iPhone 17 before, but this latest report adds fuel to the fire in terms of claims we can expect some big changes in 2025. Not only will those changes impact the handsets and their features, but we're also told to expect big changes to the way the entire lineup looks as well.

If the report is accurate, gone are the days of the standard, Plus, Pro, and Pro Max models. It's time to start readying ourselves for a newcomer. It's time, apparently, to get comfortable with the iPhone 17 Slim. And that's just the start. If everything comes to fruition, the iPhone 17 lineup could represent the biggest change to the iPhone in years.

It's all change

The iPhone 17 Slim, Haitong International Securities analyst Jeff Pu said in a research note reported by 9to5Mac, will take the place of the iPhone 16 Plus in the lineup come September 2025. If Pu is correct, the new lineup will include a rethink in terms of display sizes as well, with the iPhone 17 Slim sporting a whole new 6.6-inch display.

If he's correct, we're told to expect a lineup that looks like this:

• iPhone 17 — 6.1-inch display
• iPhone 17 Slim — 6.6-inch display
• iPhone 17 Pro — 6.3-inch display
• iPhone 17 Pro Max — 6.9-inch display

The new display sizes won't be the only complication here, either.

9to5Mac reports that Pu expects the iPhone 17, iPhone 17 Slim, and iPhone 17 Pro to all sport a new aluminum design while the range-topping iPhone 17 Pro Max will maintain the titanium construction we're accustomed to. That phone will also feature a “narrowed Dynamic Island" but the other models will continue to use the current design.

Apple reportedly intends to use a new "metalens" technology for the proximity sensor that will help make the Face ID components smaller, reducing the overall size of the Dynamic Island.

Other tidbits to come out of Pu's note include the suggestion that the iPhone 17 and iPhone 17 Slim will both have 8GB of RAM and use an A18 or A19 chip. Choosing an iPhone 17 Pro or iPhone 17 Pro Max will apparently bump the RAM to 12GB and buyers can expect a new A19 Pro chip as well.

It's worth noting that if this report is accurate, the iPhone 17 Pro and iPhone 17 Pro Max will both ship with more RAM than a base model MacBook Pro although that could change when the M4 version of Apple's best laptop arrives.

Finally, Pu believes that the 2025 iPhones will all feature upgraded 24-megapixel front-facing cameras, something that had previously been suggested by supply chain analyst Ming-Chi Kuo. Such a move would be a big upgrade and a welcome one at that.

It's important to remember that Apple is still around 18 months away from announcing the iPhone 17 lineup and that means that there is plenty of time for its plans to change. However, with Pu's claims matching up with some that came from other sources previously, it's clear there is definitely some fire to go with the smoke on this one.

More from iMore

• Forget iPhone 16, the iPhone 17 could feature one of the biggest camera upgrades in years
• 2025's iPhone 17 models could sport always-on displays and 120Hz refresh rates
• iOS 18 might add AI-powered Messages summary feature for your friends who text too much

The iPhone 16 and iPhone 16 Pro are being revealed at Apple's Glowtime event tomorrow, but leaks are beginning to appear for iPhone 17 already.

That might just be enough to keep you from upgrading your iPhone 15 early, particularly if you're stuck on a two-year upgrade cycle, and it could be a big change if you're an iPhone 15 Plus user - the Plus moniker could be removed entirely for an 'Air' or 'Slim' model next year.

Here's all we know about what to expect from iPhone 17 when it inevitably debuts next year.

iPhone 17: At a glance

• Expected launch: September 2025
• Expected models: iPhone 17, 17 Plus, 17 Pro, 17 Pro Max, (Ultra)
• Key upgrades: 120Hz/Always-On display, anti-scratch display, size increase, A19 chip, 24MP FaceTime camera, 48MP telephoto lens

iPhone 17: Models

With the iPhone 14, Apple ditched the iPhone ‘mini’ in favor of its new ‘Plus’ iPhone, a larger 6.7-inch model without the bells and whistles of the Pro, and has settled on a new four-model configuration since. There is no indication that Apple plans to eschew this for the iPhone 16 and iPhone 16 Pro, but the iPhone 17 might be a different story. There are currently no specific rumors indicating that Apple is planning to depart from the iPhone 16’s model configuration, however that mysterious iPhone “Ultra” could make an appearance, and a new size of iPhone could be on the way. 

Bloomberg’s Mark Gurman has previously floated the idea of a new iPhone Ultra that could replace Apple’s iPhone “Pro Max” model. Another top insider, Ming-Chi Kuo, also once referred to the iPhone 15 Pro Max as the iPhone 15 Ultra prior to its release. More recently, Gurman has stated that Apple could even offer the iPhone “Ultra” as “something even higher end” than the Pro Max. The Ultra didn’t materialize with iPhone 15 and it doesn’t look like an iPhone 16 Ultra is on the cards either. While we’ve heard very little about the iPhone Ultra in recent months, it remains a faint outside possibility for the 2025 iPhone 17 lineup. 

With the iPhone 16 Pro, Apple is expected to adopt two slightly larger models to further distinguish between the iPhone 16 and 16 Pro lineup. If the new 6.3-inch and 6.9-inch models are successful with the iPhone 16 Pro launch, it’s almost certain that Apple will continue with its larger chassis next year. That means we can likely expect the iPhone 17 Pro to measure the same as the iPhone 16 models. It’s also possible that the larger screen sizes could trickle down to the iPhone 17 lineup, too. However, our most recent information actually indicates that the iPhone 17 might feature a model that sits somewhere between the iPhone 17 and the 17 Pro Max, smaller than the current plus size, but larger than the regular model. 

If that’s the case, a likely lineup would see an iPhone 17 and iPhone 17 Plus, alongside an iPhone 17 Pro and iPhone 17 Pro Max. However, the size of the iPhone 17 and iPhone 17 Plus are very much up for debate right now.

Mark Gurman of Bloomberg reported in August that the iPhone 17 'Air', a thinner phone, could replace the Plus slot in the lineup.

iPhone 17: Design

The most recent significant design overhaul to the iPhone was the iPhone 15 lineup. The iPhone 15 got a smashing new frosted, matte glass back using groundbreaking color infusion technology. It was the best regular iPhone design in years and one that’s likely to make a comeback with the iPhone 16 in 2024. Likewise, the iPhone 15 Pro got its all-new Titanium chassis. It’s lighter, stronger, and comes in a remarkable new brushed finish. According to reports, Apple is working on a new revised method for finishing the titanium that will give the 2024 iPhones a shinier finish more akin to the stainless steel we’re used to. As it stands, there are currently no reports or indications that Apple is planning any significant design changes to the iPhone 17 lineup in 2025. 

In October, top insider Ming-Chi Kuo reported that Apple could adopt resin-coated copper foil material internally, reducing the thickness of the iPhone’s logic board. According to Kuo, RCC will reduce the thickness of the board, saving internal space, and making drilling easier during manufacturing. At last check, Kuo claims that if leading supplier Ajinomoto can improve its materials by the third quarter of 2024, “ the 2025 new high-end iPhone 17 models will use it.” 

iPhone 17: Display

Perhaps the biggest rumored iPhone 17 change coming in 2025 is the advent of the LTPO display to the entire lineup. Apple first introduced the Super Retina XDR display with ProMotion to iPhone with the iPhone 13 Pro. Low-temperature Polycrystalline oxide is the technology that powers the OLED displays in Apple’s best Apple Watch and best iPhone models. It enables a variable refresh rate that lets your iPhone switch between 120Hz scrolling for fluid animations, down to as little as 1Hz for the Always-On display. This saves battery life all while delivering buttery smooth scrolling, slick day-to-day usage, and gaming performance.

In February, The Elec reported that all of the iPhone 17 models would feature Apple’s Always-On Display and the 120Hz ProMotion refresh rate. Specifically, noting that Apple “is likely to apply low-temperature polycrystalline oxide (LTPO) thin film transistor (TFT) organic light-diodes (OLED) to all four iPhone 17 series that will be released next year.” 

As early as 2023, top display insider Ross Young claimed “Apple to go all LTPO in 2025, even base models to get 120Hz refresh, finally.” According to his iPhone roadmap, shared in April of last year. Apple is planning to introduce LTPO displays to the regular iPhone 17 models in 2025. The same roadmap accurately predicted that LTPS would persist through iPhone 15, but that the iPhone 15 would inherit the iPhone 14 Pro’s Dynamic Island. 

According to a report from Chinese social media, Apple is working on a new scratch-resistant layer that will make the iPhone 17 and iPhone 17 Pro much tougher to scratch. Apple is said to using a super-hard AR layer to make its displays more scratch-resistant, spending “billions” on the tech, which is tipped for the 2025 iPhone. 

We've also heard that an iPhone 17 Slim could be on the cards, potentially kicking off an entirely new naming convention. With that in mind, the iPhone 17 lineup could look like this:

This could lead to big changes for the Dynamic Island, too, which could be even narrower on the iPhone 17 Pro Max while the other models stick to the same size we have now.

iPhone 17: A19 chip

Apple’s smartphone chips remain well ahead of the competition. Its A17 Pro chip introduced hardware-accelerated ray-tracing to the iPhone 15 Pro and was the first iPhone chip built on the more efficient 3nm process. Apple is expected to introduce a new range of A18 chips to the iPhone 16 series, using the same process. However, Apple is already looking at using 2nm from TSMC for chips produced in 2025. According to DIGITIMES, Apple is first in line to get chips made using the 2nm process. Just like the 3nm jump, the 2nm switch will bring more compact, denser chips that pack more processing power into the same space. It’s not clear at this stage how much performance this could bring, but for context, moving from 5nm to 3nm delivered a performance boost of around a fifth, while reducing power consumption by almost a third. Estimates for the jump to 2nm suggest a slightly more modest jump in performance of 10% to 15%, with power consumption dropping by 25% to 30%. 

In April, DIGITIMES reported that 2nm chips for Apple will begin trial production in the second half of 2024, with mass manufacturing beginning in early 2025. 

One report suggests that the iPhone 17 and iPhone 17 Slim could be packing 8GB of RAM, while the Pro models offer 12GB of RAM. If that's the case, your next iPhone could have more RAM available to it than the MacBook Air's base configuration (at least at the time of writing).

Aside from the new chip itself, there's a chance the iPhone 17 could debut Apple's own modem technology, at least according to a report from Bloomberg which says the new chip could debut in 2025.

iPhone 17: Camera

The iPhone 17 could herald not one but two significant camera upgrades over the iPhone 16 and iPhone 15 lineups that might give you pause to wait another year for that upgrade. Apple’s Pro iPhone range have long offered a three-lens camera configuration consisting of a main camera, Ultra Wide, and a Telephoto lens. Apple’s main lens was upgraded to 48MP with iPhone 14 Pro, a feature inherited by the iPhone 15. Apple is expected to give the pixel-boosting treatment to the iPhone 16 Pro’s Ultra Wide camera, bumping that up to 48MP from 12MP. According to Jeff Pu (if you hadn’t guessed yourself), Apple is going to complete the trifecta by adding a 48MP camera lens to its telephoto camera as well. That would mean all three lenses would be capable of shooting in Apple’s 48MP ProRaw format. Specifically, Pu reported that this feature would be coming to the iPhone 17 Pro Max. Whether or not this would preclude the iPhone 17 Pro, or more likely the 17 and 17 Plus, remains to be seen. Apple has settled into a rhythm of adding a 48MP upgrade and then pushing it down to the cheaper models. As such, it seems reasonable that the iPhone 17 will inherit the iPhone 16’s rumored 48MP Ultra Wide camera, leaving the 48MP telephoto lens for the iPhone 17 Pro. 

The fun doesn’t stop there, however. Reporting in January 2024, Ming-Chi Kuo claimed that Apple will add “a significant upgrade to the iPhone 17’s front camera lens.” According to Kuo, the iPhone 17 will see the front-facing camera upgraded with a 24MP sensor, doubling the size of the current 12MP offering. That would make for better selfies and videos, as well as vastly improved calling in FaceTime and beyond. 

In August, another report suggested that the front-facing camera would get that 24MP sensor, and that'll apply across the iPhone 17, the Pro, Pro Max, and the reported Slim model, too.

iPhone 17: Under display Face ID

24MP front-facing camera could also power a very special new innovation in the iPhone 17 Pro, Face ID under the display. According to Ross Young’s aforementioned roadmap predicting LTPO across the iPhone 17 range, Apple is also set to add “under panel Face ID” to the iPhone 17 Pro and iPhone 17 Pro Max. That could mean a significant reduction in the size of the Dynamic Island, which he indicates will be reduced to a single whole rather than a pill-shaped cutout. 

The last major change Apple made to the front-facing camera array was the advent of TrueDepth all the way back on the iPhone X. 

iPhone 17: 5G and Wi-Fi

The iPhone 16 is expected to feature Wi-Fi 6E, inherited from the iPhone 15 Pro. As such, the iPhone 16 Pro will get Wi-Fi 7 as a significant upgrade. It’s possible that Apple could extend Wi-Fi 7 to the entire iPhone 17 lineup, but we’ll have to wait and see. The biggest Wi-Fi development is the rumor that Apple is developing its own Wi-Fi chips in-house to reduce reliance on third-party suppliers. Apple has unsuccessfully tried 5G modems, which are still thought to be years away. DIGITIMES recently reported “it would be quite a challenge for Apple's self-developed Wi-Fi chips to hit the market in 2025” suggesting that whatever Wi-Fi is on board likely won’t be powered by an Apple-designed modem. 

In late 2023, Apple and Qualcomm inked a three-year deal that will see Qualcomm’s Snapdragon 5G Modem-RF Systems feature in iPhones in 2024, 2025, and 2026. As such, Qualcomm will definitely supply the iPhone 17’s 5G modem. The iPhone 16 Pro should feature the new Snapdragon X75 modem, with the iPhone 16 inheriting the powerful X70. If Apple follows this pattern, the X75 could feature in the entire lineup, or in just the iPhone 17 and iPhone 17 Plus, making way for the Snapdragon X80. Unveiled in February 2024, Qualcomm says it features “revolutionary AI innovations” with a dedicated 5G AI Processor. Notably, it also includes fully integrated NB-NTN satellite communications support, which could unlock significant satellite communication over existing iPhones.

iPhone 17: Release date

Apple’s iPhone releases are like clockwork, falling in September once a year. The iPhone 16 is expected to debut in September, 2024, and there’s no reason to believe the iPhone 17 won’t follow in September 2025. Apple usually holds its iPhone events early in the month, often on a Tuesday. Pre-orders for a device usually begin that Friday, with a full release date the following week. 

It looks like 2025's iPhone release, expected to be the iPhone 17, will offer a new display size. We don't know much about the new offering, but it'll cater to those who don't want a screen quite as large as Apple's best iPhone – the iPhone 15 Pro Max.

According to a new report from display analyst Ross Young, the iPhone 17 line-up will include a new display size. He shared this titbit in a subscribers-only post on Twitter (now X). He didn't share any further details beyond the fact that the new display size will sit in between the current standard/Pro and Pro Max/Plus sizes. That would place it somewhere between 6.1 inches and 5.7 inches.

While there's not much detail behind this display report, Young has an accurate track record when it comes to display leaks.

Big display changes for iPhone 17

This new size is far from the only display change expected for the upcoming iPhone 17 – we've heard that there may be a few major changes.

In a report that reveals the Apple Watch X could get a major OLED display upgrade, Korean outlet TheElec also stated that “All four models of next year's iPhone 17 series plan to use LTPO OLED.” LTPO OLED tech was first introduced to the Apple Watch with the Series 5 and is also now found in Apple’s “Pro” iPhone models. It enables a variable refresh rate as low as 1Hz that powers Apple’s Always-On display and the iPhone’s 120Hz ProMotion display.

Before iPhone 17, Apple is expected to unveil its new iPhone 16 line-up in September, which is now just months away. We're expecting Apple to stick with the same four-model configuration as the iPhone 14 and 15.

More from iMore

• Forget iPhone 16, the iPhone 17 could feature one of the biggest camera upgrades in years
• 2025's iPhone 17 models could sport always-on displays and 120Hz
• iPhone 16 Pro Max — Everything you need to know

While we’re still months away from the iPhone 16 and iPhone 16 Pro, and Apple’s best iPhone, the iPhone 15 Pro is still only seven months old, a new report claims that next year’s iPhone 17 could be the best mainstream iPhone in years thanks to one key upgrade.

In a report that reveals the Apple Watch X could get a major OLED display upgrade, Korean outlet TheElec also stated that “All four models of next year's iPhone 17 series plan to use LTPO OLED.” LTPO OLED tech was first introduced to the Apple Watch with the Series 5 and is also now found in Apple’s “Pro” iPhone models. It enables a variable refresh rate as low as 1Hz that powers Apple’s Always-On display and the iPhone’s 120Hz ProMotion display. The variable refresh allows your iPhone to display the Always-On wallpaper without chewing through your battery, while the faster refresh rate powers smoother animations, scrolling, and gaming. 

TheElec’s latest report isn’t the first time that we’ve heard about the tech filtering down to the regular iPhone with iPhone 17. In February, it was rumored the iPhone 17 could sport Always-On displays and 120Hz ProMotion by the same outlet. 

iPhone 17 gets the upgrade we’ve all been waiting for 

As we noted in our iPhone 15 review, Apple’s latest mainstream flagship is brilliant, but definitely held back by the 60Hz display. This is a conscious decision by Apple to reserve the 120Hz ProMotion display from its cheaper lineup in order to keep the distinction between the models clearer. Along with the ProMotion display, Apple’s current Pro iPhones offer an extra camera lens, titanium finish, and USB-3 connectivity via the USB-C charging port, as well as the A18 Pro chip. 

Before iPhone 17, Apple is expected to unveil its new iPhone 16 lineup in September, sticking with the same four-model configuration as the iPhone 14 and 15. However, both Pro models are tipped to sport larger 6.3-inch and 6.9-inch displays respectively, as Apple continues to look for ways to elevate the higher-end models. The OLED LTPO display is currently one of the biggest reasons to choose the iPhone 15 Pro over the regular iPhone 15. If iPhone 17 does take that off the table, Apple will need to think of some serious upgrades elsewhere to keep justifying the Pro’s moniker, and its premium price tag. 

More from iMore

• Forget iPhone 16, the iPhone 17 could feature one of the biggest camera upgrades in years
• 2025's iPhone 17 models could sport always-on displays and 120Hz
• iPhone 16 Pro Max — Everything you need to know

Getting a new iPhone is always an exciting time but the problem is that you can only keep it looking pristine for so long, especially if you don't like using a case and a screen protector. Keeping that display scratch-free is a full-time job in itself, and it's always going to get a scratch eventually. Screen protectors are one possible answer, but they do ruin the look somewhat. Thankfully, a new report suggests that Apple is on the case and a potential screen upgrade could make a big difference when the iPhone 17 rolls around.

If the report is accurate, Apple is already working on a scratch-resistant layer that will make the iPhone 17 — and presumably the iPhone 17 Pro — harder to scratch. It's said that the technology is already being developed but that it will come too late for the iPhone 16 and iPhone 16 Pro devices, which is a shame for those looking to upgrade this September.

Apple has worked to try and make its displays tougher in the past, with limited results. The iPhone 12 introduced the Ceramic Shield, a feature that was supposed to make the displays more durable. However, that was mostly in terms of drop-test performance, ensuring that fewer iPhones shattered or cracked upon impact with the ground. However, making glass harder to break can sometimes make it easier to scratch and it seems Apple might be working on a fix for that.

Screens, protected

This is according to leaker Instant Digital, posting to the Chinese social network Weibo. As per their report, Apple has "spent billions on coating equipment in Japan, which has been handed over to China's supply chain." However, that technology won't be able to help the iPhone 16 which means screen protectors might have a reprieve, at least for now.

In terms of what makes the new screens so tough, the leaker says that "the outer glass of the iPhone 17 series will be made into a super-hard AR layer. It can be said that the iPhone 17 series will be more scratch-resistant and scratch-resistant than you think."

The leaker then goes on to suggest that iPhone 17 owners might not need a screen protector, but that will remain to be seen. If the new iPhones are indeed so difficult to scratch we can expect Apple to make a feature out of it and tests will no doubt ensue as soon as people start to get their hands on the new handsets. They're likely to arrive in September 2025, which means we'll have to wait a little while yet.

This year, Apple is expected to unveil the iPhone 16 and iPhone 16 Pro models during the first week or so of September before making them available for preorder shortly afterward. Sales are then likely to begin a week later.

While the 2024 iPhones might not have a super-tough screen, there's still plenty to be excited about. Talk of a new Capture Button continues, while rumors also suggest that the Pro models will sport larger displays than their predecessors. Other potential upgrades include new chips and camera tweaks, with the iPhone 14 Pro Max's tetraprism 5x camera expected to come to the iPhone 16 Pro as well as the iPhone 16 Pro Max. The new iPhones will be powered by iOS 18, software that's likely to debut at WWDC in June and sport some big AI upgrades.

More from iMore

• 20 iOS 17 tips and tricks: the ultimate iPhone cheat sheet
• Forget iPhone 16, the iPhone 17 could feature one of the biggest camera upgrades in years
• How to use multiple timers at once on iOS 17

Ever since the launch of the iPhone 14 Pro and iPhone 14 Pro Max, Apple has differentiated its best iPhone displays from the non-Pro models in a couple of key ways. Support for an always-on display and a 120Hz ProMotion variable refresh rate give Apple's two high-end iPhones features that the standard models can't match and the lineups continued to be separated in that way through 2023's iPhone 15 launch as well. But a new report suggests that changes are afoot — although they won't come in time for this year's iPhone 16 models.

The change, according to The Elec, will see Apple bring its best display features down the lineup and to the iPhone 17 and iPhone 17 Plus, two phones that are likely to be announced in 2025 alongside the iPhone 17 Pro and iPhone 17 Pro Max. If true, buyers of new iPhones in around 18 months won't have to choose the costliest models just to get cool features like a display that displays information even when turned off and a silky smooth scrolling experience.

Apple is yet to confirm any of this of course, and it's highly unlikely that it will until the new phones are unveiled in September 2025. However, the report claims that Apple is already in the process of lining up key display suppliers ahead of time.

A differentiating feature

The report says (via machine translation) that "Apple is likely to apply low-temperature polycrystalline oxide (LTPO) thin film transistor (TFT) organic light-diodes (OLED) to all four iPhone 17 series that will be released next year." The LPTO technology is key here — it's the display technology that allows for a variable refresh rate of up to 120Hz, enabling ProMotion.

The ProMotion feature does double duty on Apple's current Pro models. First, it allows for a refresh rate of 120Hz which in turn means that scrolling through content in apps and on webpages is smoother than on non-Pro iPhones, something that is also noticeable in high-speed gaming.

Secondly, and perhaps most importantly, the LPTO displays also allow the refresh rate to be reduced to just 1Hz, allowing Apple to keep the display on at all times without severely negatively impacting battery life. Doing so means that Apple can bring the always-on display to all 2025 iPhones, a feature that is a bigger deal than people might realize. In its current state, the always-on display offered today not only displays the time but also Live Activities and widgets from both first- and third-party apps. Owners of iPhones with ProMotion can also choose to have their wallpapers displayed at all times, too.

In terms of production, the report notes that BOE is already working to be a part of the iPhone 17 and iPhone 17 Plus supply chain. "At the end of last year, the BOE reportedly sent an LTPO-type iPhone OLED sample to Apple," the report explains. However, since the sample was only recently provided BOE will find it "difficult to deliver LTPO-type OLED for the iPhone 16 series this year, and it is a schedule that can be expected to deliver LTPO-type OLED for the iPhone 17 series at the earliest."

It's claimed that Apple wants to bring LPTO display-powered features to the iPhone 17 and iPhone 17 Plus in order to differentiate them from the iPhone 15 and iPhone 16 families of devices. Few other notable changes are expected, and Apple needs to ensure that potential buyers have a reason to upgrade.

More from iMore

• How to turn off the Always On Display on iPhone 14 Pro
• How to use the improved Always-On Display in iOS 16.4 with Focus Mode
• iPhone 15 Always On Display: Will this Pro feature come to regular iPhones?

A new report claims that Apple is planning a major upgrade to the iPhone 17’s front-facing camera that could see it deliver a 24MP sensor, doubling the size of the current 12MP offering. 

The news comes via notable Apple insider Ming-Chi Kuo, who made the revelation in a blog post-Thursday. His note pertains to the fortunes of camera supply chain outfit Genius, which is set to benefit from several upcoming Apple innovations including “a significant upgrade to the iPhone 17’s front camera lens” and a periscope lens in the iPhone 16 Pro, inherited from Apple’s current best iPhone, the iPhone 15 Pro Max. 

“The front camera of the iPhone 17 will be upgraded to a 24MP/6P lens, which will significantly improve the image quality,” Kuo writes. Apple’s front-facing TrueDepth camera powers selfies on the iPhone, FaceTime, and of course, Face ID. According to this latest rumor, a significant upgrade is coming, but it is still nearly two years away. 

TrueDepth camera finally gets an upgrade

Apple’s iPhone has had a front-facing camera for well over a decade, and the last big change to the module was the TrueDepth upgrade added with the iPhone X. While Apple has tweaked the formula since, the hardware behind the feature has remained relatively untouched. As with the rear camera configuration, adding pixels is one of the most significant upgrades Apple can make to any of its cameras and this one should provide that big boost in image quality Kuo is talking about. 

If Apple follows suit with the iPhone 17 as it has done in previous years, it’s possible that this larger 24MP sensor could still offer 12MP photos, using computational photography in the same way that the iPhone 15’s 48MP camera puts out 24MP photos by default. 

As noted, the iPhone 17 is still well over a year away, and in the meantime, we’re expecting the iPhone 16 Pro to get a new 48MP ultrawide camera and the 5x optical zoom from this year’s iPhone 15 Pro Max, as Kuo also alludes to in this week’s note. 

More from iMore

• iPhone 16 Pro: Release date rumors, news, and more
• iPhone 16: Release date rumors, news, and more
• iPhone 16 Pro Max: Release date rumors, news, and more