- By Prateek Levi
- Sat, 12 Jul 2025 02:05 PM (IST)
- Source:JND
iPhone 17 Pro Max: The official launch of Apple's next generation of iPhones can still be a few months out, but leaks about the iPhone 17 series are already giving us a pretty detailed view of what's to come. In stores in September 2025, the new range promises to stick to Apple's tried-and-tested playbook—only with a couple of intriguing twists, including the likely introduction of an all-new model.
A New Addition: iPhone 17 Air
One of the most highly publicised rumours is the release of the iPhone 17 Air—a device which may do away with the existing Plus version. It's rumoured to feature a 6.6-inch screen and be roughly 2 mm thinner than the iPhone 16 Pro, making it Apple's thinnest iPhone in years.
In the meantime, the standard iPhone 17 will receive a minor increase in screen size from 6.1 to 6.3 inches, while the Pro Max will retain its 6.9-inch screen. In terms of design, Apple could go with a cleaner look sporting softer edges and a new rear camera setup on the Pro models spanning the length of the back for a more balanced, cleaner look.
Front-Facing Camera Finally Gets an Upgrade
The whole iPhone 17 lineup is said to introduce camera improvements, with the front cam increased from 12 MP to 24 MP. This would be the first significant selfie camera upgrade in years and could dramatically improve image and video quality.
On the rear, the vanilla iPhone 17 can be expected to retain a dual-camera configuration with a 48 MP primary sensor. The Pro Max, however, is speculated to have three 48 MP sensors for wide, ultra-wide, and telephoto photography—along with 8K video recording capability.
Power and Performance
Understandably, Apple should drive the iPhone 17 Pro and Pro Max with the A19 Pro chip inside, while the standard iPhone 17 might just be fuelled by the A18 chip of the iPhone 16. RAM will also see an uptick—12GB for the Pro Max and as much as 8GB on lower models.
Battery capacities may also increase slightly to support the larger screens, and Apple could, at last, introduce 35W fast charging, an improvement over its current speeds. There is also talk of a new vapour chamber cooling system in the Pro Max to enhance sustained performance under prolonged intense use.
Pricing and Launch Timeline
Pricing will presumably largely stick to Apple's standard practice in India. The iPhone 17 could come out around Rs 79,999, as has been the case with previous base models. The new iPhone 17 Air will likely fall between the regular and Pro models, perhaps at Rs 89,999.
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The Pro and Pro Max variants could face a price hike, even Rs 5,000 more than their respective iPhone 16 models. Experts attribute this hike to increasing manufacturing costs and impending tariffs in the US as likely reasons. Nevertheless, with Apple producing more iPhones locally in India, domestic prices might stay relatively low in relation to the world markets.
Launch Date and What's Next
Apple is likely to host its next iPhone event in early to mid-September 2025, consistent with its tradition. Also, a rumoured iPhone 17e model is said to be under development as a cheaper alternative, but that too might not come in early 2026.
There are more details to be revealed in the weeks ahead as Apple completes its launch preparations—but for now, the iPhone 17 series appears poised to bring significant improvements, particularly to those upgrading from previous devices.