Thursday, April 3, 2025

8 upgrade-worthy options rumored for the Cellphone 17 lineup

We’re midway to the launch of the iPhone 17 lineup. Listed here are essentially the most compelling rumors up to now that will push you to improve.

September is iPhone season. This 12 months, rumors say we’ll see iPhone 17, iPhone 17 “Air,” iPhone 17 Professional, and iPhone 17 Professional Max.

Rumors have been swirling quick this 12 months concerning the upcoming fashions. With many pro-level options trickling down and redesigns within the works, it is going to be an fascinating cycle.

Of every part we have heard, these are the rumors that been most compelling.

This new change could lastly put an finish to the fixed suggestions Apple faces yearly. The bottom mannequin telephones will now not be capped at 60Hz.

Apple might be bringing ProMotion to all iPhone 17 fashions with the power to regulate the refresh charge on the fly, as much as 120Hz.

The feedback come each time we discuss or evaluate base fashions. Many are indignant {that a} cellphone would ship with 60Hz in trendy occasions.

We have lengthy maintained your common consumer doesn’t care about this. They do not know their refresh charge, not to mention get fired up at how low it’s.

We nonetheless stand by that sentiment.

However what this does, is enable those that do care about this to get on a extra reasonably priced gadget. And that is actually a win.

48MP telephoto

Apple is lastly getting round to upgrading that third digicam on iPhone 17 Professional and iPhone 17 Professional Max. Finishing the trio of shooters.

A hand holds a smartphone with three camera lenses and a flash, pointing at the rear cameras.
The brand new pro-level telephones may have three 48MP cameras

All three rear-facing cameras might be 48MP. Proper now, solely the extremely broad and broad lenses are 48MP whereas the tele lens is 12MP.

This implies not solely will we get increased decision zoom pictures, however we may get extra digital zoom on the identical time. You can crop in and nonetheless have a usable picture.

It isn’t going to be 100X zoom which are on some Android units, however this might be extra sensible and enhance the look of all telephoto pictures.

All-new Air mannequin

One of many largest methods Apple will spur upgrades is with an entire new gadget. Speculatively named the iPhone 17 “Air” or iPhone 17 “Slim.”

This cellphone will exchange the prevailing Plus mannequin, as it is the lowest performing mannequin of the lineup with reportedly solely 8% of iPhone 16 gross sales.

Three modern smartphones in gold, silver, and green, displayed at various angles, showcasing rear cameras and sleek design on a gradient blue background.
A mockup of the iPhone 17 Air

Apple will hope to woo prospects with a extra reasonably priced worth level than the Professional duo in a brand new super-slim design.

Just lately, Samsung revealed its prototype Galaxy S25 Edge. Whereas not official, it appears to be roughly 5.8mm thick.

Two metallic rectangular objects shown sideways, one thicker at 8.26 mm and one thinner at 5.5 mm, each with a button on the side.
The iPhone 16 Professional (left) and the rumored thickness of the iPhone 17 Air (proper)

There’s been loads of hypothesis on how thick the iPhone 17 Air might be, however the newest say Apple could also be concentrating on a thickness of 5.5mm.

Comparably, the iPhone 16 Professional is 8.25mm. 5.5mm would shave off greater than a 3rd of this.

Earlier than everybody assumes “Bendgate 2.0” is coming, Apple checks these items. It is aware of what individuals are saying and might be amply ready.

Certain, it will likely be assured to bend with sufficient drive, however the brand new design and middle-of-the-road price ticket will in all probability make it extremely common.

Upgraded cooling system

Earlier than you skip previous the brand new cooling system, hear us out. It is way more necessary than its boring title implies.

It is no secret that iPhones get very heat, which impacts every part from efficiency to battery life. Apple lastly received critical about this with the iPhone 16 lineup, which does keep cooler than earlier fashions.

However the iPhone 17 will go even additional with a vapor cooling chamber. These are liquid-filled blocks contained in the gadget that exchange a conventional heatsink

Cross-section of a heat pipe showing labeled sections: condenser (heat out), evaporator (heat in), liquid return, and liquid turning to vapor, with arrows indicating flow directions.
How vapor cooling chambers work. Supply: Celsia Inc.

When heated, the liquid evaporates and strikes across the chamber as vapor, spreading the warmth round. That vapor condenses right down to a cooler liquid, which returns to a wick construction to be heated once more on the supply.

In case your cellphone runs cooler, it is going to cost quicker, battery will last more, it is going to maintain increased sustained efficiency, and high-end video games will sustaining higher efficiency and better body charges.

A brand new thermal system does not sound like one thing enjoyable, however — holy smokes — does it have plenty of implications in use.

A19 chipset

Talking of efficiency, we’ll even have Apple’s newest silicon – the A19 and A19 Professional.

By the sounds of it, the iPhone 17 and 17 Air will use the A19 whereas the A19 Professional might be but once more reserved for the iPhone 17 Professional and iPhone 17 Professional Max.

Person holding a smartphone, playing a video game featuring a character navigating a sunlit outdoor marketplace, with text and icons displayed on screen.
Taking part in Murderer’s Creed on iPhone 16 Professional

Early on, it appeared the A19 chips would depend on a brand new 2nm course of. However yields aren’t as much as snuff but, that means it could not but be possible for Apple to make use of.

Even when Apple does not transfer to 2nm in 2025, the brand new processors are all the time one of many causes to improve.

They embody so many essential components of the cellphone from the Thunderbolt controller for the Professional telephones, to the Neural Engine for Apple Intelligence, to the ISP for image high quality.

It contains the reminiscence too, which is able to enhance to 12GB on the iPhone 17 Professional Max, sticking with 8GB for the others.

Relaxation assured, Apple will make a giant deal concerning the upgraded efficiency of the entire iPhone 17 lineup. If in case you have an older cellphone, quicker could also be what you are searching for.

All the time-on show

Backtracking, we have to revisit that new common ProMotion show. Everybody talks concerning the increased 120Hz refresh charge, however equally necessary is the decrease body charges.

That is what allows your cellphone to avoid wasting battery life and to even help the always-on show. You may lastly have the ability to see your battery, widgets, and extra whereas your cellphone is in its “off” state, similar to the Professional telephones.

Smartphone displaying 9:33 with a purple background, surrounded by plants and decor, including playing card art.
StandBy mode might be all the time on for all telephones

Even higher – StandBy mode will now all the time be on. Proper now, customers put their telephones in StandBy mode solely to have it mechanically shut off after just a few moments.

The one method for it to remain on is for the cellphone to have an always-on show. And the iPhone 17 and iPhone 17 air will get that.

Redesigned Professional fashions

Early on, the purported iPhone 17 Air gave us pause. It was going to have this large redesign, however can be priced under the Professional telephones.

We might be shocked if Apple reinvigorated the price range fashions with out additionally giving some form of new design to the Professional telephones too.

Smartphone CAD rendering with a large camera and button layout on a black background. Tweet text and details visible on the left.
Majin Bu shares a rumored redesign coming to the iPhone 17 and iPhone 17 Professional

In keeping with Ming Chi Kuo, and the generally dependable Majin Bu, Apple could also be doing simply that.

The 2 pro-level telephones will get a brand new aesthetic that has a primarily glass again with a metallic digicam bump on the highest. That digicam bump can even run the total width of the cellphone, relatively than be left-aligned.

This can assist visually distinguish them from older fashions and would be the first change to the again of the iPhone for the reason that iPhone X period.

There’s been a lot debate on how it will look, how the cameras might be oriented, however the rumor appears to be catching on as we inch in the direction of launch.

New front-facing digicam

Lastly, Apple can also be lastly able to improve the front-facing digicam on all 4 fashions. Apple used to make use of a 7MP digicam till the iPhone 11 when it lastly moved to a 12MP sensor.

However that was the final actual improve. Now they are going to all reportedly have 24MP sensors, doubling the decision.

Person holding a smartphone capturing a selfie; reflection shows a camera on a tripod beside them.
The selfie digicam might be getting a long-awaited improve

Selfies are actually necessary for customers. We’ve many treasured photographs ourselves of our companions and children that whereas heartwarming, are technically dangerous photographs.

They all the time endure in low mild and 12MP is not a lot when the opposite cameras are all going to be at 48MP. We additionally love how this may not be gatekept behind the Professional fashions.

Extra “Professional” for much less

We’ll have vapor cooling, promotion, A19 chip, higher front-facing digicam, and an always-on show for the non-pro telephones. That’s going to make them much more compelling to customers.

Whereas many will nonetheless be excited for the iPhone 17 Professional and iPhone 17 Air, the inclusion of all these “professional” options and the iPhone 17 Air, we may even see extra folks improve than standard for the lower-cost units.

Keep tuned to learn the way issues come collectively.

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