Apple’s new iPhone 17 has landed, boasting a bevy of improvements that might make it harder than ever to decide between it and its Pro siblings.
There’s a new display to talk about, durability improvements, a new chip, plus big improvements to the cameras.
A versatile front-facing shooter headlines the camera improvements
One of the coolest new features on iPhone 17 is the new Center Stage front camera. This is the first square front sensor on iPhone, offering a wider field of view and up to 18MP photos. But this isn’t just a bump in photo resolution. That square sensor shape makes your front-facing camera more versatile than ever.
Now, you can keep the phone vertical and still capture landscape selfies or group shots—AI even auto-expands the frame so everyone fits. For creators, Dual Capture lets you record with front and rear cameras at once, while stabilized 4K HDR video keeps everything smooth.
On the back of the device, a 48MP Fusion Main camera brings optical-quality 2x Telephoto, and the all-new 48MP Fusion Ultra Wide packs more detail for expansive scenes and macro. Cinematic and Action modes return, now alongside 4K60 Dolby Vision, Spatial Audio, and support for spatial photos and videos for Apple Vision Pro.
Now featuring a ProMotion display
Despite the name, ProMotion is no longer just for Pro iPhones.
The new ProMotion display on iPhone 17 delivers up to 120Hz for silky scrolling and responsive gaming, while the Always-On mode can drop to 1Hz to save power.
Ceramic Shield 2 adds an Apple-designed coating to the display for 3× better scratch resistance and reduced glare, while outdoor visibility jumps with 3000 nits peak brightness and 2× better outdoor contrast. Edges are more contoured, borders are slimmer, and the whole package just reads better in real life.
New A19 chip and better performance
Under the hood of iPhone 17 is the new A19 chip. This third-generation 3nm process chip pushes performance and efficiency, powering Apple Intelligence features and next-gen imaging. Apple cites a 1.5× faster CPU and >2× faster GPU versus A15, plus Neural Accelerators in each GPU core for on-device generative workloads.
Thanks to A19, iOS 26, and ProMotion, battery life covers the day with up to 30 hours of video playback. Plus, when using a high-wattage USB-C adapter you can recharge to about 50% in as little as 20 minutes.
Connectivity has also leveled up on iPhone 17. The new N1 wireless chip enables Wi-Fi 7, Bluetooth 6, and Thread, improving reliability for everything from AirDrop to Personal Hotspot. eSIM remains front and center—with an eSIM-only model in select regions—simplifying travel plans and adding a layer of security if a device is lost or stolen.
Running iOS 26, iPhone 17 brings the Liquid Glass look, Live Translation across Messages, FaceTime, and Phone, stronger visual intelligence tools, and useful quality-of-life updates across Music, Maps, Wallet, CarPlay, and the new Apple Games app. Apple also highlights recycled materials throughout and 100% fiber-based packaging.
Pricing & availability
iPhone 17 starts at $799 (U.S.) in lavender, mist blue, sage, white, and black with 256GB or 512GB storage. Pre-orders open Friday, September 12 and in-store availability begins Friday, September 19.
