iPhone 17: A Leap Forward in Apple's Smartphone Technology

These 5 Features Will Make the iPhone 17 the Biggest Update in Years

The upcoming iPhone 16 models that we're expecting to see in September are going to be quite similar to the iPhone 15 models, but rumors suggest that Apple is making big changes in 2025. We've been hearing hints of an all-new device in the iPhone lineup, and it may be the most expensive iPhone Apple has offered to date. Rumors have taken to referring to the new iPhone 17 that Apple has planned as the "iPhone 17 Slim," but Apple almost certainly won't use that naming. The "slim" descriptor references the sleeker, thinner design of the device. With the 12.9-inch M4 iPad Pro model, Apple shaved over a millimeter off of the thickness, resulting in the thinnest device Apple has made to date. That same focus on a svelte design is expected in 2025, and the upcoming iPhone is said to be "significantly thinner" than current iPhones. We don't know specifics on just how thin Apple is going to make this iPhone, but the iPad Pro is just 5.1mm thick and could serve as a blueprint on what to expect. As for size, the iPhone 17 Slim is expected to fall somewhere between the 6.1-inch iPhone 15 Pro and the 6.7-inch iPhone 15 Pro. Separate rumors have targeted 6.55 inches, 6.6 inches, and 6.65 inches as the display size that Apple has settled on, which would make it smaller than the iPhone 15 Pro Max (and the rumored iPhone 16 Pro Max). Though Apple has used titanium for the higher-end iPhone models since last year, the iPhone 17 Slim is rumored to have an aluminum chassis. The first rumors that surfaced about the device actually indicated that it would replace the "Plus" iPhone in Apple's lineup, but later information points toward a new high-end iPhone that's even more expensive than the Pro Max. Based on the rumors we've heard so far, it sounds like the iPhone 17 Slim will be akin to the 2017 iPhone X. The iPhone X marked a major jump forward in technology, and it was sold alongside the standard iPhone 8 models. It's sounding like we're going to get an iPhone 17, an iPhone 17 Pro, an iPhone 17 Pro Max, and this new high-end iPhone 17 Slim, with Apple eliminating the Plus model entirely. The iPhone 17 Slim could be more expensive than the iPhone 15 Pro Max, which Apple currently starts at $1,199. Along with a thinner and lighter design, the high-end iPhone 17 could feature the first major rear camera overhaul. Rumors suggest that the cameras could be relocated from the top-left corner of the iPhone to the top center, which could result in a design similar to the Google Pixel. The Pixel 8 Pro has a raised band across the back of the device that houses a trio of cameras, a laser detect auto focus sensor, and a flash. Apple is still testing designs for the iPhone 17, but the relocated camera bump is a possibility. ProMotion display technology that allows for variable refresh rates from 1Hz to 120Hz is expected for all iPhone models in 2025, including the high-end model, but the bigger news is that Apple is rumored to be using a new display coating. The new coating is said to have improved anti-reflective properties and better scratch resistance than the current Ceramic Shield coating. It's been described as a "super-hard anti-reflective layer" in leaks. Apple has used Ceramic Shield since 2020. It's a ceramic-glass hybrid material developed in partnership with Corning. Corning has since made improvements in its protective glass products, and the company's Gorilla Armor material reduces reflectance by up to 75 percent while also boosting drop protection and scratch resistance. Corning has had a longtime relationship with Apple, and while Gorilla Armor was developed for Samsung, Corning could make a similar product for Apple. A slimmed down Dynamic Island that takes up less screen space is expected for the new iPhone 17. There have been rumors for years about under-display Face ID technology, and we could see the first hints of it in 2025. There will be a smaller hole and pill-shaped cutout for the front-facing camera, but it doesn't sound like Apple is going to reach its all-display design goals just yet. As part of the Dynamic Island redesign, Apple is rumored to be adopting a 24-megapixel front-facing camera, which would be an upgrade over the current 12-megapixel selfie camera. It will feature a six-element lens for improved image quality, and the boost in resolution will capture more detail and allow for more cropping in without sacrificing quality. It sounds like iPhone 17 series won't get TSMC's next-generation 2-nanometer chips, but we are expecting A19 chip technology that's likely built on an upgraded 3-nanometer process. Apple typically upgrades iPhones with faster and more efficient chip technology each year, and we're expecting the best chip available in 2025 to be included in the iPhone 17 Slim. TSMC is working on 2nm chips, but mass production isn't expected until the end of 2025, which would be too late for the iPhone 17 models. If work speeds up, that could change. Compared to 3nm chip technology, 2nm fabrication process could bring a 10 to 15 percent speed improvement at the same power or a 25 to 30 percent power reduction at the same speed. Chips built on an upgraded 3-nanometer process won't have the same gains as chips built on the 2-nanometer process, but we can still count on modest boosts to CPU and GPU speeds. With Apple's heavy focus on AI, the dedicated Neural Engine for machine learning tasks is also likely to see improvement. TSMC is working on its N3P process, with mass production set to begin in late 2024. Compared to earlier versions of 3nm chips, the N3P chips offer increased performance efficiency and increased transistor density. Up to 12GB RAM has been rumored for the high-end iPhone 17 models, and that jump would make sense in the more expensive iPhone 17 Slim. Currently, RAM maxes out at 8GB. For more on what to expect from the iPhone 17 lineup in 2025, make sure to check out our iPhone 17 roundup. Our roundups receive regular updates with all of the latest rumors, making them a great resource for tracking rumor development over time.

iPhone 17 Launch In 2025 Could Be Much Bigger Than iPhone 16 Series This Year: Know More - News18

Apple is expected to bring AI features to the new iPhone 16 series this year but the other big changes could be reserved for the 2025 models. iPhone 16 launch is just a few months away but the rumour mill seems more excited for Apple's plans for the iPhone 17 models in 2025. You might argue that bringing its AI features is as big a deal for the company as the first iPhone launched in 2007, so why is all the focus shifting to the 2025 models already? Well, it seems, the company is going to make the biggest design, and feature changes all across the iPhone 17 models, even the vanilla ones. While Apple will offer the A18 chipset for its AI features to all the iPhone 16 series models this year, the company will save some of the bigger changes for the iPhone 17 series. Reports say that the vanilla and Plus variant of the iPhone 17 lineup will finally support ProMotion display tech which brings 120Hz refresh rate to the entire lineup. That's not all, we also expect to see the variable refresh rate feature enabled on these models thanks to the LTPO technology which allows the screen to switch between 1Hz and 120Hz based on what you are doing on the device. Does that mean the iPhone 16 models will only offer the higher refresh screen for the Pro models? The new details seem to be hinting at that possibility. The other changes could be related to the cameras, with a bigger 48MP sensor expected to become a core part of the future iPhone models. We are hopeful of seeing some design refinements with the 2025 iPhones because a refresh is long overdue now and most people would agree with that thought. All these changes would invariably push the prices of the regular iPhone 17 models as well which allows the company to hike the prices of the Pro models further.

iPhone 17 may feature mechanical aperture for superior portrait photography

The iPhone 17's mechanical system enables users to modify the aperture size, which controls the opening of the camera lens for light to enter. Apple is planning to release at least one iPhone 17 model next year with mechanical aperture, according to a report published today by The Information. Also Read: Galaxy S23 series and older models to get Samsung's new AI Portrait Studio The iPhone 17's mechanical system enables users to modify the aperture size, which controls the opening of the camera lens for light to enter, reports MacRumors. While all current iPhone camera lenses have fixed apertures, certain Android smartphones, like Samsung's Galaxy S9 series, have featured adjustable apertures in recent years. Using a mechanical setup, individuals have the ability to manually adjust a narrower aperture. This adjustment enables the capturing of photos with a shallow depth-of-field, ensuring the subject remains sharp while the background appears blurred. While Apple currently provides this feature through Portrait Mode on iPhones, the effect is created artificially, unlike the proposed change which would achieve a more authentic result. The issue of Portrait Mode struggling to distinguish between foreground and background subjects can be resolved by implementing a mechanical aperture. Apple is anticipated to launch the iPhone 17 series in September 2025, and there is a chance that the mechanical aperture may only be available on the speculated high-end "iPhone 17 Ultra" variant (referred to as "iPhone 17 Slim" at the moment). Despite the devices being more than a year from release, Apple's purported camera strategies might undergo alterations. The anticipated size of the iPhone 17 Slim is expected to fall between the 6.1-inch iPhone 15 Pro and the 6.7-inch iPhone 15 Pro. There have been rumors suggesting display sizes of 6.55 inches, 6.6 inches, and 6.65 inches, positioning it smaller than the iPhone 15 Pro Max (and the rumored iPhone 16 Pro Max). While Apple has been using titanium for the premium iPhone models since the previous year, the iPhone 17 Slim is rumored to feature an aluminum chassis. Initially, speculations indicated that it would replace the "Plus" iPhone in Apple's lineup, but recent information hints at a new high-end iPhone that could be even pricier than the Pro Max. In addition to a slimmer and more lightweight build, the premium iPhone 17 may showcase a significant revamp of its rear camera system. Speculations indicate that the cameras might be shifted from the upper-left corner of the iPhone to the top middle, potentially leading to a design reminiscent of the Google Pixel. Also Read: Prime Day deals; Grab the offers on top-brand TWS and headphones

iPhone 16 Cameras: Bigger Zooms, Better Wide-Angle and More Rumors

With an expected launch in September, Apple's iPhone 16 and 16 Pro might not be far away. It's no surprise then that the rumor mill has been churning away for some time and there are plenty of hints about what we might get from Apple's new flagship phones. We may get larger display sizes with thinner bezels, new processors and a slimmer design. Apple has already talked about its Apple Intelligence skills coming to iOS 18. But as a professional photographer, I'm most excited about the cameras. Apple has always packed the iPhone with some of the best cameras you can get in a smartphone, and the iPhone 15 Pro Max, with its 5x optical zoom, remains one of the best camera phones money can buy right now. Read more: Best iPhone to Buy in 2024 Competition is fierce, particularly in the photography arena, and Apple will be looking for ways to keep the phone's photo-taking skills top-notch. So let's dive into what the rumor mill has been saying about the cameras in the iPhone 16 range. The iPhone 15 Pro and Pro Max brought a new "Action" button to the outer edge of the phone which allows you to customize it to perform various actions like launching the camera or taking a voice memo. MacRumors suggests that an additional button will appear on the next model, aimed specifically at photographers. The button will act as a camera shutter, with multiple levels of sensitivity allowing for a half press for focusing and a full press for taking an image. Rumors also suggest the button will recognize swipe gestures, with left or right swipes letting you zoom in or out. The volume buttons have been able to activate the camera shutter for some time, but this new button would bring deeper camera controls and allow you to operate the iPhone more like a compact digital camera. According to Apple analyst Ming Chi Kuo, the base iPhone 16 Pro will be equipped with a 5x optical zoom lens. This was something only found on the larger iPhone 15 Pro Max so it'd be good to see the same zoom level offered in a smaller, more pocket-friendly package. Both phones may get an upgrade, with some earlier rumors suggesting the iPhone 16 Pro Max will get a "super telephoto" lens offering zoom levels beyond the current 5x range. While this would be a welcome addition to sports or wildlife photographers who rely on long zoom levels, these rumors circulated in the summer of last year, before we even saw the launch of the iPhone 15. So take them with a hefty pinch of salt. According to a MacRumors story, covering claims from Weibo user Digital Chat Station, the iPhone 16 Pro's main camera could have a larger image sensor. This would apparently be 1/1.14 inches in size, making it bigger than the 1/1.28-inch sensor found on the iPhone 15 Pro and Pro Max. A larger sensor captures more light and image information allowing for better details, dynamic range and improved low-light performance so it'd be great to see such a large size increase. Known leaker Majin Bu posted on X what they claim are leaked cases for the upcoming Pro models, which show a significantly larger cut-out for the camera island. This would make sense if indeed we do see larger camera sensors -- and therefore larger camera units -- on the phones. It'd be smart for Apple to up its game here as phones like the Xiaomi 14 Ultra are already using even larger image sensors of 1/0.98-inches (known as 1-inch type) for their main cameras. The iPhones' ultrawide cameras have felt a little neglected in the past few generations, with the resolution remaining at 12 megapixels since the iPhone 11. A report from noted analyst Jeff Pu, seen by 9to5Mac, says the ultrawide cameras on both the iPhone 16 Pro and Pro Max will get a significant bump up to 48 megapixels. Read more: The Best and Worst Times to Buy a New iPhone Various rumors and leaked renders suggest that the base iPhone 16 and 16 Plus models will have a vertical camera layout, rather than in the diagonal form seen on the iPhone 15. It'd make the design look more similar to the iPhone 12, but there's a bigger reason this may happen beyond simple aesthetics. A vertical camera layout like this would allow the phones to more easily shoot spatial video, using information from both cameras to create a 3D-like effect. It'd make sense, as Apple brought spatial video shooting to the iPhone 15 Pro range, but not to the base iPhone 15 models, likely due to the camera layout. While spatial videos look just like regular 2D videos when played on your iPhone, they're designed to give a 3D effect when viewed on Apple's Vision Pro headset. While Apple talked a lot about AI at its WWDC event, it didn't really talk about ways that might extend to image taking. The iPhone's camera already uses AI to varying degrees in its computational photography, skin tone reproduction, depth mapping and even down to the auto settings it uses when taking an image. Read more: Apple iPhone 16 Plus Leaks Hint at Compact Battery, More Colors Deeper AI would allow for better scene recognition and therefore better use of settings and processing to take nicer-looking images. I've also been impressed at the AI object removal seen on the Google Pixel range and we may see similar AI-based editing tools on the next iPhone. Speaking of editing, Apple may introduce more ways to edit video on the phone, in particular when shooting using Log on the 15 Pro and Pro Max. Log video is designed to look flat and gray when shot as it gives a better base for editing and adding color and contrast back in later. Right now you have to transfer that footage to an iPad or computer to edit your Log videos in software like BlackMagic's DaVinci Resolve, so it'd be good to see Apple introduce more ways to process Log footage on the phone. Perhaps even to introduce its own range of "LUTs" -- presets used to quickly apply color and contrast to videos -- into the iPhone's edit tools.