We’re now just days away from the release of the iPhone 17, and such is the enthusiasm for Apple’s phones that we already have quite a good idea of the kind of thing to expect when it’s officially announced on September 9.
With Apple usually reserving its most eye-catching features for the Pro devices, the regular iPhone update can sometimes feel a touch underwhelming, like with the iPhone 14. Other times, it takes huge strides forwards on the previous generation as with the iPhone 16.
So which will the iPhone 17 be? Here are the biggest rumored upgrades.
iPhone 17 vs iPhone 16: 120Hz at last!
The most exciting upgrade the regular iPhone 17 is reportedly getting concerns screen technology. In the past, smooth 120Hz panels capable of 120fps content (known as “ProMotion” in Apple marketing lingo) have been reserved for the Pro devices, but four years after debuting on the iPhone 13 Pro, the feature may finally arrive on the basic models.
This is a big deal. Although it sounds like a small thing, flipping to 60Hz after using 120Hz for a while is jarring, and will make the iPhone 17 far more pleasant to use than its predecessors.
It’s important to note that this might not be the same 120Hz panels as found on the Pro models: the leaker Digital Chat Station says we need to “lower our expectations” about the panel upgrade. Whether that means it’s less bright, has weaker power efficiency or that we get a lower 90Hz refresh rate remains to be seen.
iPhone 17 vs iPhone 16: A larger frame (and hopefully thinner bezels)
This improved screen will reportedly also be a bit larger. According to the display analyst Ross Young, the handset’s panel is set to gain an extra 0.15 inches, growing from 6.12 inches on the iPhone 16 to 6.27 inches on the iPhone 17.
That will give it the same screen size as the iPhone 16 Pro, and while it’s possible the phone will grow in size to compensate, it’s more likely that we’ll see the thick bezels shrunk down.
iPhone 17 vs iPhone 16: Superior selfies
The iPhone’s TrueDepth selfie camera is long due an upgrade. While Apple has added autofocus and a f/1.9 aperture, the megapixel count has stayed at 12 since the iPhone 11.
According to the analyst Ming-Chi Kuo, that’s set to change this year, with the iPhone 17 adopting a 24MP front-facing camera. The prediction came back in 2024, so hopefully it still applies — if it does, Kuo is predicting the upgraded lens will have six elements, delivering far better selfies.
iPhone 17 vs iPhone 16: Faster charging
When it comes to charging speeds, iPhones lag badly behind their Android counterparts, with an official maximum of 20W. Unofficially, they’ve been measured to go a little faster, but still nowhere near the 80W offered by the OnePlus 13.
This year, Apple will close the gap… but not by that much. According to investment firm GF Securities, the entire iPhone 17 range will adopt 35W wired charging.
That’s not all. Taiwanese regulatory filings suggest Apple is working on two new MagSafe charger models that support the new Qi 2.2 wireless charging standard. That suggests the iPhone 17 could support up to 50W wireless charging — a big step up on the 25W that the iPhone 16 can achieve with a 30W charger.
iPhone 17 vs iPhone 16: Outlook
These are all very positive improvements, especially the higher refresh rate. But there are two possible flies in the ointment: performance and price.
According to GF Securities, the basic iPhone 17 won’t be getting a processor or RAM upgrade, maintaining the same A18 chip and 8GB RAM combo seen on the iPhone 16.
That’s a pity, but shouldn’t be a deal breaker. The iPhone 16 remains more than fast enough, but it’s still disappointing that the handset won’t benefit from whatever performance hikes the Pro versions will benefit from.
The second point might be more serious. The dual specters of tariffs and inflations could lead to a more expensive iPhone. While it doesn’t seem likely that the worst pricing scare stories will happen, buyers may still baulk at the added costs involved. We shall find out on September 9.
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