Apple is all set to launch its upcoming smartphone iPhone 16 this September. But even before the iPhone 16 could arrive, the internet started the conversation around iPhone 17. Expected to come in 2025, iPhone 17 is rumoured to bring several changes and big improvements. The most recent rumour is that with iPhone 17, Apple will discontinue the “Plus” variants and might replace it with a new top-tier option, the iPhone 17 “Slim”, which will sit above the iPhone 17 Pro Max in the lineup, offering an even more premium experience. What else will change with iPhone 17, rumours tell us, almost everything. Let’s find out in detail.
iPhone 17 Slim design
As mentioned above, a leakster Ice Universe shared on Weibo, a Chinese microblogging site, said that Apple most probably will discard the ‘Plus’ variant and bring a new ‘Slim’ variant. It is noteworthy that Apple most certainly will not be calling it Slim. The name is a description of how this iPhone 17 variant will be super slim and thin in design.
The iPhone 17 Slim’s screen size is anticipated to be between 6.1 and 6.7 inches, with various rumours suggesting sizes such as 6.55, 6.6, or 6.65 inches, making it smaller than the iPhone 15 Pro Max and the expected iPhone 16 Pro Max.
The iPhone 17 Slim is expected to be a significant upgrade, similar to the 2017 iPhone X, which introduced cutting-edge features and was released alongside the more traditional iPhone 8 models. This suggests that the iPhone 17 Slim will be a premium device with advanced technology, offered in addition to the standard iPhone 17 models.
More powerful and faster processor
According to the MacRumours, the iPhone 17 series is not expected to feature TSMC’s cutting-edge 2-nanometer chips, but instead will likely be powered by A19 chip technology, built on an enhanced 3-nanometer process. This would represent a significant upgrade, as Apple typically equips new iPhones with faster and more efficient chip technology annually, and the A19 chip is expected to be the most advanced option available in 2025, making its way into the premium iPhone 17 Slim model. With Apple’s heavy focus on AI, the dedicated Neural Engine for machine learning tasks is also likely to see improvement.
Improved display
Chinese Weibo leaker Instant Digital claimed earlier this year that the outer glass on the iPhone 17 is set to have a “super-hard anti-reflective layer”. This layer is speculated to be more scratch-resistant than you think. Apple has been using Ceramic Shields since 2020. It’s a ceramic-glass hybrid material developed in partnership with Corning. While nothing is official yet, it seems like iPhone 17 will have an improved and changed display.
Apple might enhance the Dynamic Island design with a significant upgrade to the front-facing camera, bumping up the resolution to 24 megapixels from the current 12 megapixels.
Camera design
The relocation of camera design happens with every iPhone upgrade. While it is expected that iPhone 16 will feature a vertical pill-shaped rear camera, iPhone 17 could also feature a major camera design overhaul. Rumours suggest that the cameras could be relocated from the top-left corner of the âiPhoneâ to the top centre, which could result in a design similar to the Google Pixel.