Apple has but to ship out invitations for its mid-September iPhone 16 press occasion, however we have already got a leak detailing a number of the purported design decisions and specs Apple has made for the iPhone 17 collection.
It’s common to see subsequent yr’s iPhone seem in rumors even earlier than this yr’s iPhone begins promoting in shops. We’ve seen it occur fairly just a few occasions in recent times.
What’s fascinating about this iPhone 17 leak is that it makes the 2025 Professional and Professional Max fashions sound extra thrilling than the ultra-slim iPhone 17 Air variant that has dominated iPhone 17 rumors to this point. That’s for those who care extra about specs bumps than the ultra-thin iPhone Apple is growing.
Rumors say the iPhone 17 Slim will substitute the Plus model in Apple’s lineup subsequent yr. The handset could be barely bigger than the bottom iPhone and the smaller Professional, however it received’t be as huge because the Professional Max. It received’t be a flagship, as Apple may want compromises to ship an ultra-thin iPhone within the present panorama.
I believe the iPhone 17 Slim might be a giant hit regardless of that. Additionally, I believe I do know what the first big iPhone 17 Slim compromise might be, and it’s all due to that slim Pixel 9 Professional Fold design. It’s the digicam, in fact, the place Apple received’t have as a lot freedom because the iPhone Professionals.
Nonetheless, the iPhone 17 Slim may assist Apple promote extra iPhones in 2025 and 2026. Analyst Jeff Pu mentioned in a observe to traders that 9to5Mac saw that the iPhone 17 Slim might be a key system subsequent yr. It’ll be one of many elements that can assist Apple promote extra iPhones subsequent yr. The novelty issue would energy iPhone 17 Slim gross sales, despite the fact that it received’t be a flagship.
Elsewhere within the observe, Jeff Pu mentions a number of the upgrades the iPhone 17 fashions will obtain. The analyst says the iPhone 17 telephones are getting a refreshed design with out providing specifics.
Some design modifications may apply solely to the Professional fashions. Pu says the iPhone 17 Professional Max may function a narrower Dynamic Island. Nonetheless, it’s unclear if which means Face ID elements might be positioned beneath the display.
The rumored iPhone 17 specs
Shifting on to specs, the analyst claims all 4 iPhones ought to function a 24-megapixel sensor to enhance selfies. Nonetheless, the iPhone 17 Professionals will get extra upgrades that concern the rear digicam module. A 48-megapixel periscope lens will come to each iPhone 17 Professional variants. That’s an improve we are able to’t presumably get on the iPhone 17 Slim.
Lastly, the analyst says the iPhone 17 Professional fashions will get a giant reminiscence bump. They’ll function 12GB of RAM, a primary for the iPhone. This suggests that the common iPhone and the iPhone 17 Slim could have 8GB of RAM.
As I defined earlier, Google gave the Pixel 9 phones a big RAM upgrade. It was all about on-device AI, in fact. And it made me fear in regards to the iPhone 16 means to run Apple Intelligence options within the coming years. The iPhone 16 fashions ought to all get 8GB of RAM, which is able to in all probability be sufficient for Apple’s first Apple Intelligence yr. However what in regards to the AI options in iOS 19 and iOS 20?
I mentioned on the time that Apple’s RAM selections for the iPhone 17 may inform us of whether or not the iPhone 16 telephones might be value retaining round after the primary couple of years. If Pu’s data is correct, Apple will enhance the RAM of the iPhone 17 Professionals considerably. This suggests the Professionals may get extra AI options by way of iOS 19 in comparison with the common and Slim variants.
Even when Pu’s data is right, there’s plenty of hypothesis right here. Apple has a few yr till the iPhone 17 collection hits manufacturing, so there’s loads of time for Apple to revise its plans.
In the meantime, the iPhone 16 collection will in all probability hit shops on September twentieth. Apple will announce the launch occasion within the coming weeks.
