iPhone 17 Pro without titanium? I don’t know what to believe anymore

The rumour mill never rests when it comes to Apple’s iPhones.

The iPhone 16 series has only recently been released, but whispers about the iPhone 17 are already being heard. As Apple is notoriously secretive, these early leaks and rumours only add to the excitement.

If you want to know why you should wait for the iPhone 17, here’s a round-up of everything we know so far about the entire lineup. Remember, however, that nothing is set in stone until Apple announces it.

When will the iPhone 17 be released?

Apple typically unveils its new iPhone lineup in September, often on the Tuesday of the second week. Based on this pattern, we can expect the iPhone 17 to be announced around 9 September 2025.

Here’s a look at the release dates of recent iPhones:

• iPhone 16: 9 September 2024
• iPhone 15: 12 September 2023
• iPhone 14: 7 September 2022
• iPhone 13: 14 September 2021
• iPhone 12: 13 October 2020 (delayed due to Covid)

Pre-orders usually open on the Friday following the announcement, with devices shipping a week later. Occasionally, specific models may experience slight delays due to production issues.

How much will the iPhone 17 cost?

Pricing details for the iPhone 17 remain speculative. However, according to the leaker Ice Universe on Weibo, the ‘Plus’ model might be replaced by a new ‘Air’ (previously known as the ‘Slim’) model, which would be priced higher than the Pro Max.

The speculated pricing is as follows:

• iPhone 17: 6.27-inch LTPO display, A19/8GB ($799/£799)
• iPhone 17 Pro: 6.27-inch LTPO display, A19 Pro/12GB ($1,099/£1,099)
• iPhone 17 Pro Max: 6.86-inch LTPO display, A19 Pro/12GB ($1,199/£1,199)
• iPhone 17 Air/Slim: 6.65-inch LTPO display, A19/8GB ($1,299/£1,299)

If these rumours hold true, we could see a notable increase in the overall cost of the iPhone lineup, with the Pro model’s price rising by $100 and a new high-end model surpassing the Pro Max.

What specs and features will the iPhone 17 have?

iPhone 17 Air

The iPhone 17 Air, previously referred to as the iPhone 17 Slim, is expected to be released in 2025 (possibly with the rest of the iPhone 17 series) and could serve as a mid-tier model in Apple’s lineup, positioned between the iPhone 17 and iPhone 17 Pro.

Analyst Jeff Pu from Haitong International (via 9to5mac) was the first to report this change and The Information later reported on the ‘Air’ or ‘Slim’ model, stating that it would be a new, even higher-end model that sits above Pro Max in the lineup.

However, according to Mark Gurman, this new device will be positioned between the iPhone 17 and iPhone 17 Pro. It could aim to cater to users who desire more premium features than a standard iPhone but do not require the high performance, larger screen, or advanced camera systems of the Pro models.

According to Pu (via MacRumors), the iPhone 17 Air will run on the A19 chip (not the A19 Pro), have 8GB of RAM, and feature a single 48Mp rear camera, along with a 24Mp front-facing camera, making it a strong contender for users who want premium features without the high price of the Pro models.

It’s also expected to include a 6.6-inch display (slightly smaller than the iPhone Plus models), Face ID, a Dynamic Island cutout, and an aluminium chassis, with a design that could make it significantly thinner than previous models. This would align with rumours of Apple working on ultra-thin OLED displays using Novatek’s TDDI technology.

Initially, MacRumors reported that the phone is expected to feature a 6mm thickness, making it the thinnest iPhone ever, surpassing even the iPhone 6 (6.9 mm).

But now The Information has reported that the iPhone 17 Air will measure between 5mm and 6mm in thickness, making it slimmer than the current iPhone 16 models, which are 7.8mm thick, and even thinner than the 6.1mm iPad Air. However, it will likely still be slightly thicker than the 5.1mm iPad Pro.

To achieve this slim profile, Apple is reportedly making compromises, such as removing support for physical SIM cards and integrating a single speaker which also functions as the earpiece. The device might also feature an Apple-designed modem, which could be smaller and more power-efficient than current Qualcomm chips but therefore lack mmWave support and deliver slower data speeds.

The iPhone 17 Air will likely be priced above the standard iPhone 17 but below the Pro models, although exact pricing remains unknown.

iPhone 17 Ultra

As per Android Headlines’ report, Apple is preparing for what it calls its “most ambitious” iPhone release yet.

Richard Dinh now leads iPhone 17 development, with rumours (via PhoneArena) circulating about a possible new ‘Ultra’ model, slimmer bezels, a lighter build, enhanced optical zoom through a periscope lens, and an emphasis on sustainability.

This would make the iPhone 17 lineup Apple’s most diverse and innovative to date, with expected improvements in battery life and processing power.

Design

Last week, a report from The Information suggested that the iPhone 17 Pro and Pro Max might revert to an aluminium frame, abandoning both titanium and stainless steel.

However, a Chinese leaker on Weibo (via GSMArena) has disputed this, arguing that such a change would damage Apple’s reputation, given its emphasis on promoting stainless steel and titanium as premium materials in recent years.

Apple has indeed focused marketing efforts on highlighting the superiority of these materials in terms of quality and feel. Yet, given its profit-driven strategy, a switch back to aluminium, which is cheaper, wouldn’t be entirely surprising.

Ultimately, the future of the iPhone 17 Pro’s design remains uncertain, which is understandable given the timeline until its release.

According to The Information, the iPhone 17 Pro and Pro Max are set to abandon titanium frames in favour of aluminium, marking a shift back to their earlier material choices.

Elswhere, Apple could introduce a new display size for the standard iPhone 17 model in 2025. The iPhone 17 could measure in at 6.3 inches, up from 6.1 inches, which would make it the same size as the iPhone 16 Pro.

Rumours suggest that Apple plans to eliminate the Plus model in 2025, so there may be only a single lower-cost device, and at 6.3 inches, it would be between the size of the current 6.1-inch iPhone 15 and the 6.7-inch iPhone 15 Plus.

One notable rumour also suggests that Apple might introduce a new green colour option for the iPhone 17 Pro models.

According to the leaker Majin Bu, Apple is testing various colour codes, including #004349 (Teal Titanium), #4f00b7 (Green Titanium), and #003800 (Dark Green Titanium). While these colour choices are not finalised, there is a strong possibility that a Teal Titanium variant will make it to the final lineup.

The iPhone 17 Pro could mark a departure from Apple’s traditionally more subdued colour options for its Pro models, which currently include Black, White, Gold, and Gray for the iPhone 16 Pro. The introduction of green options would appeal to those who desire more vibrant choices in Apple’s premium lineup.

Display

According to The Elec, all models in the iPhone 17 lineup are expected to feature LTPO displays, with sizes varying between 6.27 inches and 6.86 inches. The always-on display, previously exclusive to Pro models, is also rumoured to become standard across all versions.

A Chinese leaker, Ice Universe, claims that the non-Pro models of the iPhone 17 will feature an LTPO display for the first time, boasting a 120 Hz variable refresh rate, similar to many recent Android flagships. This could indeed pave the way for always-on display support, although Apple may still reserve this feature for the Pro models.

Apple is also said to be working with Corning on a new anti-glare and scratch-resistant glass for the iPhone 17 lineup. That rumour comes from the account Instant Digital on Weibo.

The iPhone 17 Air/Slim is rumoured (via DigiTimes) to feature a new, ultra-thin OLED display, which could make the device significantly thinner. This is made possible by Novatek’s TDDI (Touch and Display Driver Integration) OLED panel, which integrates the touch sensor and display driver into one layer.

While DigiTimes suggests Apple might adopt this technology for the iPhone 17 Air, it’s possible the company could first test it on other devices, like the Apple Watch or iPads, before introducing it to the iPhone.

Performance

All models of the iPhone 17 will likely be powered by Apple’s A19 chip, although only the Pro and Pro Max variants are expected to get the more powerful A19 Pro.

Previously, Ice Universe said that the Pro and (alleged) Air models might feature the A19 Pro variant. However, Jeff Pu and Android Headlines both now report (via MacRumors) that the Air model will feature the standard A19 chip, produced using TSMC’s advanced 3nm process, offering high efficiency and performance gains.

As per a report from a Chinese site CTEE, Apple is planning to introduce 2nm chips for its iPhone 17 lineup in 2025, with these advanced chips expected to be featured exclusively in the iPhone 17 Pro and iPhone 17 Pro Max models.

These chips might be produced by TSMC, although the Taiwanese company is currently facing production challenges due to low yields from the new 2nm process technology. Despite these issues, however, Apple has reportedly secured TSMC’s entire 2nm capacity.

Trial production is set to begin in Q3 2024, allowing TSMC to stay competitive in the chipmaking market against rivals like Samsung and Intel.

A rumour from GSMArena suggested that all iPhone 17 models would come with 12GB of RAM, but analyst Ming-Chi Kuo clarified that only the iPhone 17 Pro Max will feature 12GB, while the iPhone 17, iPhone 17 Plus/iPhone 17 Air/Slim, iPhone 17 Pro, and the upcoming iPhone SE will stick with 8GB of RAM.

Despite Apple’s efforts to develop its own 5G modem, the iPhone 17 series will likely still rely on Qualcomm for cellular connectivity. Wi-Fi 7 support is also anticipated.

Cameras

On the camera front, the iPhone 17 Air is expected (via MacRumors) to have a single 48Mp rear camera.

In January, Ming-chi Kuo suggested a significant upgrade is expected to the front-facing camera, with all models featuring a 24Mp sensor, compared to the current 12Mp selfie camera.

In more recent research (via MacRumors), analyst Jeff Pu has supported the speculation from Kuo. Pu’s note for investment bank Haitong also included a chart indicating a 24Mp front-facing camera with a 6P lens for the series.

Although the launch is almost a year away and plans could change, the consistency in reports suggests a high likelihood of the 24Mp selfie camera feature.

In another Medium post, Kuo also said that the iPhone 17 Pro Max is expected to feature a 48Mp wide camera, a 48Mp ultrawide camera and a 48Mp tetraprism telephoto camera, which will make it the first iPhone to feature three 48Mp cameras.

The Chinese leaker Ice Universe also claims that the Pro versions of the iPhone 17 will include three 48Mp cameras covering wide, telephoto and ultrawide angles.

Battery & Charging

According to leaker Majin Bu, Apple is set to introduce an innovative, electrically-induced battery removal technology across the entire iPhone 17 lineup, including the iPhone 17, iPhone 17 Air, iPhone 17 Pro, and iPhone 17 Pro Max.

This technology reportedly builds on the adhesive mechanism seen in the iPhone 16 and iPhone 16 Plus, which allowed users to detach the battery easily by applying a low-voltage electrical current.

The adhesive softens when connected to a 9V battery, USB-C charger, or other power sources, making battery maintenance and replacement more user-friendly.

Majin Bu also shared images hinting at adhesive variants for different iPhone 17 models. However, his track record on Apple leaks has been mixed, so while the expansion seems logical, it remains to be confirmed by other sources.

Software

The iPhone 17 series will launch with iOS 19, packed with new features and improvements.

Apple Intelligence will play an increasingly important role, requiring more RAM to support its advanced functionalities.

The iPhone 17 Air, expected to be equipped with 8GB of RAM, should be well-positioned to handle these new software demands, offering users a fluid and responsive experience.

That’s all we know at this point about the iPhone 17 series. While we wait for more news, check out what the iPhone 16 series has to offer and where to buy it.