iPhone 17 Design Upgrades Leaked: What to Expect in 2025

Apple’s iPhone 17 series is set to launch in September 2025, and exciting leaks reveal major design upgrades. From a super-slim iPhone 17 Air to a larger display on the standard iPhone 17, here’s everything we know about the upcoming iPhone 17, iPhone 17 Pro, iPhone 17 Pro Max, and iPhone 17 Air. These changes could make 2025 a big year for Apple fans.

iPhone 17: Bigger Display and Smoother Performance

The standard iPhone 17 is rumored to get a larger 6.3-inch display, matching the size of the iPhone 16 Pro. This upgrade comes from shrinking the bezels around the screen, giving you more screen space without making the phone bigger. A larger display means better gaming, streaming, and browsing experiences.

Another exciting change is the display refresh rate. The iPhone 16 has a 60Hz refresh rate, but the iPhone 17 is expected to jump to 120Hz. This makes scrolling and animations smoother, like on the iPhone 16 Pro. However, it might not include ProMotion, Apple’s technology that adjusts the refresh rate to save battery. Even so, the 120Hz screen will make the iPhone 17 feel faster and more responsive.

The front-facing camera is also getting a boost, moving from 12-megapixels to 24-megapixels. This means sharper selfies and better video calls, with more detail even when you crop photos.

iPhone 17 Air: Super-Slim Design with a Unique Twist

The iPhone 17 Air, sometimes called the iPhone 17 Slim, is the most exciting addition to the lineup. It’s expected to replace the iPhone 17 Plus with a super-thin design, possibly as slim as 5.44mm to 6mm. That’s thinner than most smartphones, including the Samsung Galaxy S25 Edge.

A unique feature of the iPhone 17 Air is the repositioned front camera. Unlike other iPhone 17 models, where the camera sits on the right side of the Dynamic Island, the Air’s camera will be on the left. This change could lead to a smaller Dynamic Island in future iPhones, making the screen look cleaner.

The iPhone 17 Air will likely have a single rear camera, unlike the triple cameras on the Pro models. This helps keep the phone slim and affordable, with a price expected to be between the standard iPhone 17 and the Pro models. It may also feature a new silicon-anode battery for better battery life despite its thin design.

iPhone 17 Pro and Pro Max: Major Design Revamp

The iPhone 17 Pro and iPhone 17 Pro Max are getting a big redesign, the most significant since the iPhone 11 Pro in 2019. Here are the key changes:

• New Camera Island: The Pro models will have a wide, rectangular camera bump across the back, replacing the square camera array. The three lenses will stay in a triangular layout, but the larger bump makes room for advanced sensors.
• Aluminum Frame: Apple is switching from titanium to aluminum for the frame, paired with a part-glass, part-aluminum back. This could make the phones lighter and more durable while still supporting wireless charging.
• Lower Apple Logo: The Apple logo on the back will move lower to fit the new camera bump and a redesigned MagSafe magnet layout.
• Bigger Battery: The iPhone 17 Pro Max is rumored to be slightly thicker (8.725mm vs. 8.25mm) to house a 5,000mAh battery, the largest ever in an iPhone. This could mean longer battery life for heavy users.
• Camera Upgrades: Both Pro models will feature three 48-megapixel rear cameras (Wide, Ultra Wide, and Telephoto) and a 24-megapixel front camera. They may also support 8K video recording and dual video recording (front and rear at the same time).
• Sky Blue Color: A new Sky Blue finish, similar to the MacBook Air, is rumored for the Pro models.

The Pro models will also get a new A19 Pro chip, 12GB of RAM (up from 8GB), and an Apple-designed Wi-Fi 7 chip for faster connectivity. A vapor chamber cooling system could keep the phone cool during gaming or heavy tasks.

iPhone 17 Series: Shared Upgrades Across All Models

All four iPhone 17 models (iPhone 17, iPhone 17 Air, iPhone 17 Pro, and iPhone 17 Pro Max) will share some exciting upgrades:

• 120Hz Displays: Every model is expected to have a 120Hz refresh rate, making scrolling and animations smoother. The Pro models may keep ProMotion for better battery efficiency.
• 24-Megapixel Front Camera: All models will upgrade from 12-megapixel to 24-megapixel front cameras for better selfies and video calls.
• Wi-Fi 7 Chip: Apple’s custom Wi-Fi 7 chip will improve internet speeds and connectivity.
• iOS 26: The new iOS 26 software will bring a “Liquid Glass” design with translucent icons and menus, plus new AI features like live translation and call screening.