David Bridges
Key Highlights
- Release Date: The iPhone 17 series is expected to be introduced in September.
- Pricing Strategy: Apple may increase prices, potentially introducing a 256GB baseline storage model.
- New Features: The iPhone 17 Pro might feature a new antenna design for improved signal strength.
- Design Changes: The iPhone 17 lineup is rumored to include an ultra-thin model called the iPhone 17 Air.
The closer we get to Apple’s reveal of the iPhone 17 lineup, the more excited we are to see what’s different from the previous iPhones. The newest smartphones will come equipped with the latest iOS 26 features. Since we still have to wait at least a month (presumably) until the iPhone event, we can at least speculate what the new phones will look like. As with most unreleased iPhone models, rumors and leaks have trickled in about the hardware side ahead of the official introduction. Here’s what we’re expecting and what we can reasonably assume we’ll get from Cupertino in September.
What are the latest iPhone 17 rumors and reports?
Will the iPhone 17 Pro have better wireless signal strength thanks to an updated antenna design? That’s the implication from Majin Bu, whom MacRumors classifies as a “hit-or-miss leaker.” The individual posted a render on X today (see below) that shows a new antenna system that wraps around the iPhone 17 Pro’s supposedly wider rear camera bump.
Again, this is a render, not a real-world photo, and – like all such stories ahead of the official announcement – should be treated with the usual grain of salt. That said, we can’t knock the goal of better wireless reception, so we’re hoping this one has a degree of truth to it.
How much will the iPhone 17 cost?
Apple’s announced plan to expand US-based manufacturing partners seems to give it at least some shielding from the steepest Trump administration tariffs that have already triggered price increases on everything from Switch consoles to high-end cameras to Sonos speakers. But given that President Trump’s trade policies can change from week to week, and Apple’s continuing reliance on Asia-based supply chains, price shocks remain an ongoing possibility. The bigger question is: Will Apple absorb any higher costs, or pass them on to consumers?
If prices do creep up, Apple may choose to pair it with an “upgrade.” Consider this recent rumor posted by MacRumors from a leaker known as “Instant Digital,” suggesting that the default storage of the iPhone 17 line may start at 256GB, doubling the current 128GB baseline. While that could be accompanied by a price increase of $50, Apple could at least pitch it as a “better value.” That said, the company doubled the default RAM of its Mac computers from 8GB to 16GB at no extra cost in 2024 – but that was before the current Trump tariff cycle started.
When will the iPhone 17 series be announced?
Most years, the flagship smartphones are introduced in September. MacRumors highlighted a story originally reported by iphone-ticker.de that the Apple iPhone 17 event could be Tuesday, September 9, according to information gleaned from German mobile phone providers.
It’s still too early to have the specific dates; some years, Apple only gives a week or two of lead time between sending invites and hosting the event. But years of past precedent show that sometime in September should be when the 17 models make their debut. This family of smartphones may be the last to follow that trend, however. There have been hints that the introduction of the iPhone 18 collection in 2026 will be split into a pro-tier announcement in the fall and a standard model announcement the following spring.
What will iOS 26 be like?
Apple upended its numbering conventions with WWDC 2025, and will match the name of each new operating system to the year it’s released. So when the next wave of iPhones hits, they’ll be running on iOS 26.
On the design side, the smartphone OS introduced during the big developer showcase took a contentious approach dubbed Liquid Glass. Apple has been scaling down the amount of transparency effects in the subsequent beta tests of iOS 26, but it will still have a glass-like visual.
The feature list includes big and small updates. On the more impactful side, the Phone and Photos apps have been redesigned. There will be several features leveraging artificial intelligence, such as live translation capabilities coming to Phone, FaceTime and Messages. Apple is also currently testing a sensitive content warning for child accounts that will freeze FaceTime video if nudity is detected by on-device machine learning tools. And the company is also launching Visual Intelligence, which will use AI to search for elements in an image.
iOS 26 also has a litany of minor, quality of life improvements. Group texts are getting support for polls. And for the slow risers out there, iOS 26 will finally let you escape the tyranny of the nine minute snooze alarm.
The next iOS is now available as a public beta. Here are our initial impressions of the Liquid Glass design and other new features. iOS 26 is compatible with all models back through iPhone 11.
Update, August 11, 2025, 7:27PM ET: Added a render of a rumored new antenna design for the iPhone 17 Pro.
Update, August 8, 2025, 4:43PM ET: Added new speculation and reports about iPhone 17 pricing.
Update, August 6, 2025, 4:05PM ET: Added latest details about the potential iPhone 17 event date.
Update, August 4, 2025, 5:23PM ET: Added latest battery leaks about the iPhone 17 models.
Update, August 1, 2025, 8:15AM ET: Added new photos showing potential iPhone 17 colors.
Update, July 30, 2025, 11:08AM ET: Added latest leaks and rumors about the iPhone 17, and updated information on the iOS 26 public beta.
Update, July 17, 2025, 4:40PM ET: Added latest information about iOS 26, possible materials for the Air, and the color options for the different models.
Update, March 17, 2025, 2PM ET: Added details about the rumored price and features of the iPhone 17 Air.
Update, April 11, 2025, 3:45PM ET: Added details from Front Page Tech’s new video that claims to reveal details from a leaked iOS 19 build.
Katie Teague contributed to this story.
Brandon Fletcher
