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10 Reasons to Wait for Next Year's iPhone 17

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Apple's iPhone development roadmap runs several years into the future and the company is continually working with suppliers on several successive iPhone models simultaneously, which is why we sometimes get rumored feature leaks so far ahead of launch. The iPhone 17 series is no different – already we have some idea of what to expect from Apple's 2025 smartphone lineup.

iPhone-17-Slim-Feature-Single-Camera-2.jpg

If you plan to skip this year's iPhone 16, or if you're just plain curious about what's on the horizon, here are 10 rumored features that we are expecting to arrive in time for its successor, the iPhone 17 series, which is likely to be released in September 2025.

10. iPhone 17 "Air"
iPhone 17 Plus
Apple plans to launch an all-new iPhone 17 model with a "significantly thinner" design, reports The Information. The device, which could be called "iPhone 17 Air," will allegedly feature a "major redesign" that could feature a single rear camera located at the top-center of the device, along with a narrower Dynamic Island, according to Apple analyst Ming-Chi Kuo. The device is rumored to have a 6.5-inch display size, and may replace the iPhone 17 Plus model. Other potential features include an aluminum chassis, an A19 chip, an Apple-designed 5G modem, and an improved front camera. See our iPhone 17 "Slim" rumor roundup for more.

2. New Display Sizes
iPhone 17 & iPhone 17 Plus
This year's iPhone 16 Pro and iPhone 16 Pro Max got bigger display sizes, going from 6.12- and 6.69-inches to 6.27- and 6.86-inches, respectively. For 2025, Apple is also expected to bring the larger 6.27-inch display size to its standard ‌iPhone‌ model, while the equivalent "iPhone 17 Plus" model (provisionally called "iPhone 17 Air") could adopt completely new display dimensions.

3. 120Hz ProMotion (Always-on Display)
iPhone 17 & iPhone 17 Plus
Apple intends to expand ProMotion to all iPhone models in 2025, allowing all models to ramp up to a 120Hz refresh rate for smoother scrolling and video content when necessary. Previously, only "Pro" models in Apple's iPhone lineup have had the feature. Notably, ProMotion would also enable the display on the iPhone 17 and iPhone 17 "Air" to ramp down to a more power-efficient refresh rate as low as 1Hz, allowing for an always-on display that can show the Lock Screen's clock, widgets, notifications, and wallpaper even when the device is locked.

4. Apple-Designed Wi-Fi 7 Chip
iPhone 17 Pro & iPhone 17 Pro Max
Apple's premium 2025 models are expected to be equipped with an Apple-designed Wi-Fi 7 chip for the first time. Wi-Fi 7 support would allow the "Pro" models to send and receive data over the 2.4GHz, 5GHz, and 6GHz bands simultaneously with a supported router, resulting in faster Wi-Fi speeds, lower latency, and more reliable connectivity. The Wi-Fi chip would also allow Apple to further reduce its dependance on external suppliers like Broadcom, which currently supplies Apple with a combined Wi-Fi and Bluetooth chip for iPhones.


5. 48MP Telephoto Lens
iPhone 17 Pro Max
An upgraded 48-megapixel Telephoto lens on Apple's largest premium device is expected to be optimized for use with Apple's Vision Pro headset. That would make 2025's "Pro Max" the first iPhone to have a rear camera system composed entirely of 48-megapixel lenses, making it capable of capturing even more photographic detail.


6. 24MP Selfie Camera
All iPhone 17 Models
The iPhone 17 lineup will feature a 24-megapixel front-facing camera with a six-element lens, according to one rumor. The iPhone 14 and 15 feature a 12-megapixel front-facing camera with five plastic lens elements, and this year's iPhone 16 lineup features the same hardware. The upgraded resolution to 24 megapixels on the iPhone 17 will allow photos to maintain their quality even when cropped or zoomed in, while the larger number of pixels will capture finer details. The upgrade to a six-element lens should also slightly enhance image quality.

7. Scratch Resistant Anti-Reflective Display
All iPhone 17 Models
The iPhone 17 will feature an anti-reflective display that is more scratch-resistant than Apple's Ceramic Shield found on iPhone 15 models,... Click here to read rest of article

Article Link: 10 Reasons to Wait for Next Year's iPhone 17
 
Article Link
https://www.macrumors.com/2024/09/23/10-reasons-to-wait-iphone-17/
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MacRumors said:
Apple is then expected adopt under-display cameras in 2027's "Pro" ‌iPhone‌ models for a true "all-screen" appearance.
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Sounds like a great reason to wait until 2027 for an upgrade then. 🤔

(But seriously, I don't think my iPhone 11 Pro will get updated much longer... as soon as Apple announces a version of iOS that doesn't support my phone, I guess that's when I'll upgrade. 😔)
 
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MacRumors said:
This will probably be Apple's last premium model to include a circular cutout for the front-facing camera. Apple is then expected adopt under-display cameras in 2027's "Pro" ‌iPhone‌ models for a true "all-screen" appearance.
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...then we will see how much Apple actually believed in the "Dynamic Island." I predict it's gone, and Apple never looks back just like the MBP touchbar.
 
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Supermallet said:
The 15 PM is fantastic, I'll wait for the 17 if not the 18.
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Same here; though I have just the regular/non Pro 15 myself and I'm quite happy with what it is

The current dynamic island I don't mind too much compared to the notch, though I am curious too see how much smaller it can be especially since flagship Android phones have been doing it for some time now with the hole-punch
 
We are still determining what iPhone 16 or 17 will have. We should wait until we know what 16 has before making such bold statements.
 
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MNWildFan said:
Same here; though I have just the regular/non Pro 15 myself and I'm quite happy with what it is

The current dynamic island I don't mind too much compared to the notch, though I am curious too see how much smaller it can be especially since flagship Android phones have been doing it for some time now with the hole-punch
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Granted this is all secondhand because I haven't used an Android phone since 2013, but everything I've heard is that under the screen biometrics authentication is currently less reliable, so I can understand why Apple hasn't moved to it yet.
 
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