So, the iPhone 17.
Honestly, the hype cycle for this thing started before the iPhone 16 even hit the shelves, and now that we're firmly into 2026, the picture is finally coming into focus. If you've been doom-scrolling through tech Twitter or reading every "leak" on Weibo, you've probably heard a dozen conflicting stories. Is it the "Air"? Is it the "Slim"? Does it actually have under-display Face ID?
Basically, Apple is about to pull a move we haven't seen since the iPhone X. They're shaking up the lineup in a way that feels a bit chaotic but also kind of exciting.
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The iPhone 17 Release Rumors and That Weird "Air" Model
For the longest time, the rumors pointed to an "iPhone 17 Slim." People thought it was just a thinner version of the base model. Wrong. It turns out the iPhone Air (as most reliable sources like MacRumors and analyst Ming-Chi Kuo now call it) is a completely different beast.
It's 5.6mm thin. To give you some perspective, the iPhone 6—which was famously thin enough to bend in people's pockets—was 6.9mm. This thing is significantly thinner than a pencil. But here is the kicker: to get it that thin, Apple reportedly had to ditch the physical SIM tray entirely (eSIM only, folks) and settle for a single rear camera.
- iPhone 17 (Base): 6.3-inch display, A19 chip, now with 120Hz ProMotion (finally!).
- iPhone Air: 6.5-inch display, A19 Pro chip, ultra-thin titanium frame, but only one 48MP camera.
- iPhone 17 Pro/Max: 6.3 and 6.9-inch displays, A19 Pro, triple 48MP cameras, and unibody aluminum.
Wait, aluminum? Yeah, you read that right.
While the Air gets titanium to keep it from snapping in half, rumors suggest the Pros might move back to a high-end unibody aluminum. Why? Heat. Titanium is a terrible heat conductor. With the A19 Pro pushing more on-device AI than ever, the Pros need to shed heat fast, and aluminum does that way better.
The 120Hz Revolution is (Mostly) Here
If you’ve been stuck with a 60Hz screen on a base iPhone while your friend with a Pro enjoys buttery smooth scrolling, your time has come. The biggest iPhone 17 release rumors that actually hold water suggest the 120Hz ProMotion display is moving to the base iPhone 17.
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This is huge. It means the "cheap" iPhone will finally feel as fast as the expensive one.
But—and there’s always a but—don't expect this on the budget models. The rumored iPhone 17e, which is expected to drop in the spring of 2026, will likely stick to 60Hz. It’ll probably get the Dynamic Island, which is a nice upgrade from the old notch, but that 60Hz ghosting will still be there to remind you that you didn't spend the extra $200.
Under-Display Face ID: Don't Hold Your Breath Yet
There was a lot of talk about the iPhone 17 Pro being the first to hide the Face ID sensors under the glass. Recent supply chain checks suggest that might be slipping. While the bezels are getting thinner than a hair, the "pill" or Dynamic Island is likely staying for one more year.
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The real "all-screen" dream? That’s looking like an iPhone 18 or even 19 story.
What you will get is a massive front-camera upgrade. We’re talking a jump from 12MP to a 24MP sensor with a six-element lens. If you’re a selfie person or you spend half your life on FaceTime, this is probably the biggest "real world" upgrade in the whole phone. It’s supposed to be a "square" sensor too, which sounds weird until you realize it lets you crop into landscape or portrait without losing quality.
Performance and the A19 Chip
Apple is sticking with TSMC’s 3nm process for the A19 and A19 Pro. Some people were hoping for 2nm, but that tech just isn't ready for mass production yet.
Does it matter? Honestly, for most of us, no. The A18 is already faster than anything most people actually use. The A19 is really about one thing: Apple Intelligence. They’re bumping the RAM across the board. The Pros are expected to hit 12GB of RAM, while the base model and the Air will likely sit at 8GB. That extra memory is strictly for running local Large Language Models (LLMs) so your Siri doesn't have to go to the cloud every time you ask it to summarize an email.
What You Should Actually Do
If you're holding an iPhone 15 or 16, you're probably fine. But if you’re still rocking an iPhone 12 or 13, the iPhone 17 lineup is the one to wait for. The jump to 120Hz on the base model alone makes it a ten-year phone.
Next Steps for You:
- Check your trade-in value now. Values usually tank the second the September keynote is announced. If you’re planning to upgrade to the 17, keep an eye on those mid-summer trade-in promos.
- Evaluate the "Air" compromise. Ask yourself if you really need three cameras. If you only ever use the main lens and you hate bulky phones, the Air is going to be the "it" phone of 2026. If you need zoom, stick to the Pro.
- Wait for the spring 17e announcement. If you're on a budget, the 17e is rumored to launch in just a few months. It'll be the cheapest way to get the A19 chip, even if the screen is a bit dated.