Why the new Apple iPhone series will be worth the wait

We’re mere months away from Apple’s big reveal, and if you’ve been holding off on upgrading your iPhone, it’s probably a good call. While the iPhone 15 and iPhone 16 series made marginal improvements, the upcoming iPhone 17 lineup looks like it could finally break the cycle of iterative updates. Based on a wave of credible leaks and early reports, Apple seems poised to deliver its most interesting upgrade in years. Here’s what’s shaping up.

A fresh design language (and a new model)

One of the biggest changes expected is a long-awaited redesign. Leaked hands-on images of the iPhone 17 Pro suggest Apple is bringing back rounded corners, reminiscent of older models, with a large rectangular camera island and thinner bezels. Aluminium appears to be making a comeback too, with reports of it being used across the frame and rear bar.

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Interestingly, Apple may also shake up the lineup by replacing the Plus model with something sleeker – the iPhone 17 Air. Rumoured to have a 6.5-inch display and an ultra-slim 5.4mm profile, the Air could be Apple’s new minimalist darling.

Across-the-board display and camera upgrades

The biggest win for non-Pro users? A long-overdue refresh rate bump. After years of sticking stubbornly to 60Hz on base models, the iPhone 17 and iPhone 17 Air are finally expected to jump to 120Hz displays, matching the Pro lineup’s buttery-smooth visuals. All models may also sport a new anti-reflective, scratch-resistant coating, potentially tougher than even Ceramic Shield.

On the camera front, Apple might dial back the zoom on the Pro and Pro Max from 5x to 3.5x; a controversial move, but it could actually be more practical for everyday shots, especially portraits. All four models are also tipped to get a 24MP front camera, which would be a major leap from past generations.

And for those obsessed with small details, the Dynamic Island could shrink. Reports hint at Apple adopting a new “metalens” for Face ID on the iPhone 17 Pro Max, allowing for a narrower cutout, marking the first real change to the Island since its debut.

Under-the-hood power and smarter connectivity

Apple is expected to ramp up memory across the board, with at least 12GB on the Pro and Pro Max models. That extra memory isn’t just for multitasking, it’s to futureproof your phone for Apple’s AI push, as local language models become more memory-intensive.

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Speaking of futureproofing, the Pro models are also expected to debut Apple’s own Wi-Fi 7 chip, offering higher speeds, lower latency, and better reliability. Plus, it’s another step in reducing Apple’s reliance on external suppliers like Broadcom.

Bottom line? If you’re on an iPhone 13 or older, or even a 15 or 16 and feeling underwhelmed, the iPhone 17 might finally make the wait worth it. With a fresh design, better displays, smarter internals, and a potential new Air model, Apple could be setting the stage for its most innovative iPhone series yet.