iPhone 17 and Air Rumors: What We Know So Far

Here’s what we already know, from leaks or rumors, about the iPhone 17 and iPhone Air.

Which iPhone Models Will Launch in 2025?

The company is expected to reveal five iPhone models in 2025. Apple’s early announcements for the year include the iPhone 16e, which has just been announced. In the fall, a mainstream line will arrive, with four models: iPhone 17, 17 Pro, 17 Pro Max, and iPhone Air. It’s not clear yet if the last one will bear the “17” number as well.

iPhone 17 Family

For the main iPhone line, the major change is an absence. Apple is getting rid of the Plus model, just like it gave up on Mini variants after two iterations. That doesn’t mean we won’t see a larger non-Pro model, but more on that in a bit.

The main iPhone 17, iPhone 17 Pro and iPhone 17 Pro Max should get some updates, too. After five years of nearly unchanged designs, the models will finally bear new looks. Updates on display, camera, and performance are also expected.

iPhone Air

Older iPhone generations have received variants like Mini, Plus, Pro, and Max, but no iPhone Air has been released so far. This year, this is expected to change.

Replacing the Plus model, the Air variant is expected to feature a sleek body as its main selling point. It will, however, have a higher price tag and sacrifice some features to reach an impressive thinness.

What Are Rumors Saying About 2025 iPhones’ Specifications and Features?

Now that we have briefly talked about the expected announcements let’s get in-depth. The sections below describe which features and specifications have appeared in rumors for each iPhone model.

iPhone 17

The “regular” iPhone will get its fair share of novelties, too. They’re not as extensive as on the cheaper model, but still worth keeping note of.

External Design

While the iPhone 17 family is expected to feature design changes, it’s not yet set in stone what they’ll be. One leakster reported the devices’ edges should be somewhat curved.

It’s unlikely, though, that Apple will return to iPhone 11 looks, so there are a couple of possibilities left. One of them is that the new models will feature slightly curved edges, like Samsung’s S23 Ultra and S24 Ultra. The other is a hybrid design with curved corners and flat edges, something similar to the iPhone 5c’s plastic frame.

Internally, one element that is almost guaranteed to change is the battery. Due to EU regulations requiring user-replaceable phone batteries, the company has reportedly been studying new designs for this component.

Screen

One element that will see drastic changes, on the other hand, is the screen. For starters, Apple will finally adopt high refresh rates in all iPhone 17 devices. The base model should also get the Always-On mode, which has so far only been available on the Pro variants.

But wait, there’s more! In 2024, Samsung’s Galaxy S24 Ultra introduced a new kind of Gorilla Glass, both more scratch-resistant and anti-reflective. The iPhone 17 is slated to feature a “Ceramic Shield Ultimate”, which will compete with (last year’s) Samsung’s offering. Originally, the new coating was expected to arrive in the iPhone 16 family, but the development wasn’t ready on time.

Camera

For photos, the base model will likely retain the current 48MP wide + 12MP ultrawide setup on the back. There were some rumors of a 48MP ultrawide camera on the iPhone 17, but those didn’t get any later confirmation. It will also skip the telephoto lens yet again, using digital amplification and sensor crop for zoomed-in pictures.

However, the front-facing camera should get a good bump in resolution. It will increase from 12MP to 24MP, though it’s not clear if the sensor itself will grow in size.

Connectivity

Wider eSIM-only adoption is another feature (if you can call it that) that didn’t arrive in the iPhone 16. This year, however, the situation could change — though there haven’t been any rumors about that, exactly.

Some rumors say Apple-designed modems aren’t expected in “regular” iPhones (not including the 16e) until 2026. That’s when the company is possibly planning to introduce the C2 chip, successor to the 16e’s C1. The part is already undergoing internal testing, though.

That would mean only Wi-Fi chips would be made by the company this year. According to analyst Ming-Chi Kuo, the company wants to use in-house solutions for all possible parts. More recently, Kuo reaffirmed that.

In that case, Broadcom, the current Wi-Fi chip supplier, would’t make this component for the iPhone 17 family. Fully Apple-made Wi-Fi + cellular connections shouldn’t arrive for about three years. There’s no word on Bluetooth, GPS, or UWB chips, though.

Battery and Charging

No major details are known about the iPhone 17’s battery yet. However, a rumor by analyst Jeff Pu states the model will get a small, but welcome, bump in charging speeds. The iPhone 16 charges at 30W, while the 17 should get 35W from supported chargers.

Processor and Memory

Also, according to Kuo, the base model won’t see any increase in RAM this year. It should get a new A19 processor or use the A18 pro from iPhones 16 Pro and Pro Max.

Other Notes

Another piece of information unearthed by Kuo was about the manufacturing locations. The analyst indicates that the base iPhone 17 model will be produced in India, possibly for worldwide distribution. Other plants that make Apple devices, like those in China and Brazil, would be responsible for different models.

iPhone 17 Pro and Pro Max

Apple’s flagship phones will receive lots of improvements as well. The new specifications and features already leaked comprise almost all the devices’ aspects, except for battery and charging. Check below.

External Design

Regarding the 17 Pros’ design, the major news so far apparently is that Apple is experimenting with a few options. That’s something expected at early development stages, but may yield — as has happened a couple of times already — conflicting reports.

One such case is the build material. After using stainless steel for years, Apple experimented with titanium for the Pro and Pro Max in 2023 and 2024. Non-Pro variants remained on aluminum during all that time.

One rumor last November claimed that the company would revert to aluminum for all iPhone 17 models. Then, a week later, leakster InstantDigital rebuffed that, stating that Apple wouldn’t make such a move after bashing aluminum repeatedly.

The issue is that the former cites industry sources; the latter, though having a mixed forecast history, has a solid point. Then, more recently, analyst Jeff Pu stated that Apple is indeed posed to get back to aluminum. Which one of these claims is correct? There are a few possibilities.

Before discussing this, let’s see the second example. A bit over a month ago, a leakster claimed the aberration below to be the iPhone 17 Pro’s frame.

The information was corroborated by Digital Chat Station, a leakster with a solid record. However, some inconsistencies, such as the positioning of the cameras hindering horizontal usage, were pointed out.

The design also resembles a bit too much Google’s Pixel line, one of the major iPhone competitors. After a few days, InstantDigital claimed that the frame was not from the iPhone 17 Pro or Pro Max. They mentioned the models will indeed feature a redesigned rear side, but not like the one in that photo.

Leaksters Diverge About iPhone Design Rumors

Another leak — posted after this article was first published — throws more gas in that flame. Tipster Majin Bu claimed the Pixel (or Nexus 6P) lookalike panel could indeed be real. However, there’s a single camera hole in these designs (the other cutout is for the flash LEDs). According to Majin Bu, this could be either a still-unheard-of entry-level model, or the Air variant.

And then the “leakster battles” started. Majin Bu says he showed the CAD drawings to “designers” (supposedly, who work at Apple). According to him, they said the sketches depicting a “thick bar” for the Pro models aren’t real. Jon Prosser, from FPT, claims the design is accurate. Gurman joined Majin Bu’s side.

More recently, Digital Chat Station corroborated the allegations. According to the leakster, the design is expected to change “dramatically”.

New Alleged Leak May Be the Most Comprehensive Yet

In a new tweet, Majin Bu came up with what may be the most comprehensive iPhone 17 lineup leak yet. He shared some CAD drawings, allegedly, of the iPhone 17, 17 Pro, 17 Pro Max, and 17 Air models.

It displays a thinner visor bar for the Air, and a thicker one for the Pro and Pro Max variants. The regular iPhone 17 is seemingly unchanged, in comparison with the current model. There are a few other details to consider, too.

Firstly, the Air has fewer holes in the bottom edge than any other recent iPhone. This could be a confirmation that the model will lack stereo speakers. There are still, however, holes in both sides, so they’re likely not only for the microphone. Maybe Apple decided to keep stereo speakers, but use a smaller part on the Air.

Secondly, both Pro models have what looks like a cutout on their backs. This is in line with the leaked frame from some weeks ago. There’s no indication, however, of what would be the cutout’s function.

At first, it’s important to remember that unibody designs, like iPhones had until 2016, need cutouts. Without them, signals like Wi-Fi, cellular data, GPS, and Bluetooth, would be blocked. Also, the phone wouldn’t support wireless charging, a feature present in all iPhones since 2017 (until last week, at least). However, the other major cutout, for the camera island, isn’t depicted in this drawing.

There’s also the point that neither the regular nor the Air variants feature similar cutouts. Removing MagSafe from the Air to make it thinner wouldn’t be unexpected — Apple did that to cut the 16e’s costs. There’s very little chance, though, that the company decides to remove the feature from the vanilla model.

Prototypes: Companies Experiment With Dozens of Formats

Now, here’s the thing: when creating a device, manufacturers experiment with dozens of designs, like these iPod-based iPhone sketches. Many of those evolve into dummies and prototypes, such as this iPhone 15 Pro with haptic (instead of physical) buttons.

As you can expect, however, most of these ideas never see the light of day. Some are shelved outright, some get refined for later use. The original iPhone design, e.g., came from iPad prototypes (so iPhones are actually small iPads, not the other way around).

Although it’s just speculation, it’s also plausible to consider Apple thought of returning to aluminum, but eventually decided otherwise. It’s also possible that some frame ideas, including that atrocity above, were machined (or molded or printed). That way, the design and engineering teams can physically evaluate aspects like ergonomics and the layout of internal components.

Indeed, most of the designs mentioned in this article fit that description. Except for unreleased devices referenced in Apple’s software or iPhone prototypes lost in pubs, always exert a bit of skepticism.

More CAD Renders Leak, Confirming Rumored Design

Even considering the above, however, leaks gain traction for how frequently they appear, and how reputable are their sources. And that’s what has been happening with the new alleged new design for 2025 iPhones.

After Majin Bu‘s CAD drawings surfaced, leakster Sonny Dickson came up with more sketches that seemingly confirm the design. According to these, Apple will indeed use the “visor” approach on the Air and a “thick bar” on the Pros.

Once again has been confirmed, too, the frame cutout for the Pro models. One possibility is Apple keeping the Air and regular models with the “glass sandwich” design virtually every phone uses nowadays. The Pros could see some changes in their internals, however.

The “glass sandwich” uses two glass sheets (screen and rear — which may be made of plastic, on entry-level phones). The center part comprises the side frames, visible to the user, and an inner layer of metal.

This inner layer helps secure parts in place — that’s where all the tiny screws and glued parts are supported. It can also transfer heat generated by the device to the side frames, away from sensitive parts like the battery. Lastly, it provides structural rigidity, otherwise the phones would easily break in half. “Unibody” models (e.g., iPhones 5 to 7) use the metal back for that. Models with plastic shells (think iPhones 3G, 3GS and 5c) have a metal plate glued to the back.

Possible Changes in Internal Design

The thing is: the metal layer is always there. But it adds thickness, and the company has been pretty obsessive with making iPhones (and all their products) ever thinner. In this case, Apple may be trying to replace the metal layer with a thin strip below the camera island. This would explain the “hollow” frame that leaked earlier this year.

Would this be enough to hold the iPhone Pros together and prevent them from snapping? It’s too early to know. Apple isn’t strange to unusual internal designs: the 2015 MacBook, e.g., had its motherboard and battery on the lower plate. That model, however, had so many issues — including excessive heat on the bottom — that Apple discontinued it in three years.

Early March 2025 Rumor Roundup

A recent report by Ming-Chi Kuo brings updates that confirm some of the above. According to the analyst, Apple will produce a foldable iPhone in late 2026, but will define the final hardware specifications during 2025.

It should come with a book-style design (what other manufacturers usually call “fold”). This is in opposition to the clamshell format used in “flip” models. The outer panel will measure about 5.5″, the smallest on a non-SE since the iPhone 13 Mini, from 2021. This could appease orphans of both the Mini and the Plus iPhones — while charging more than the two devices combined.

That’s because Kuo estimates the foldable model to cost between $2,000 and $2,500. He expects that will cover a foldable iPhone made of titanium alloy, 9-9.5mm thick when folded (4.5-4.8mm unfolded). The device should use similar “ultra-thin” battery cells as the ones expected on the iPhone 17 Air. A major difference from the Air is that the foldable model should feature two cameras instead of one.

Lastly, he adds, the sales volume should be relatively low for an iPhone: 3 to 5 million units. That’s not only because of the price, Kuo says: the model’s “complexity” is likely to prevent high production volume.

Mid-March 2025 Rumor Round-Up

In another set of leaks, Majin Bu released images of parts supposedly related iPhones 17 Pro and/or Pro Max. The photo seems to have been taken inside a factory, so we’re likely seeing something directly from the product line.

iPhone 17 Pro Max is ready pic.twitter.com/jFb9L4b1BH

— Majin Bu (@MajinBuOfficial) March 12, 2025

The parts in question seem to be some sort of mold, with CNC markings all over it. In this case, they’re likely not part of the product itself — the combined thickness of the piece also confirms this.

If I were to take a guess, I’d say this is the mold for the metal frame. It features all necessary cutouts: cameras (including flash and LiDAR), bottom speaker, taptic engine, MagSafe magnets, and wireless charging coil. The holes and markings outside the device’s format, in the corners, are consistent with cast mold pin marks as well.

Screen

Another leak mentions the iPhone 17 Pro’s display. It could use a new panel technology called “Low-Dielectric TEE”, which improves power consumption, durability, and “overall performance”.

These are somewhat generic claims, and there isn’t a single mention of “Low-Dielectric TEE” before that post’s date. That doesn’t mean, however, it isn’t true. With the base model getting a ProMotion display, it makes sense Apple wants to differentiate its premium offering somehow.

Camera

Another aspect with conflicting reports is the camera array. Back in July, rumors said the iPhone 17 Pro models would feature a camera with variable aperture. The report also mentioned the devices’ ultrawide modules getting an upgrade, meaning all three sensors would now have 48MP.

While the latter has been confirmed by more recent leaks, the former was contradicted. According to Ming-Chi Kuo, Apple will only use variable aperture in the iPhone 18 Pro models in 2026. There’s a chance the technology was being considered for this year’s phones but didn’t meet Apple’s standards on time.

In Mid-March, market analyst Jeff Pu listed possible details of the iPhone 17 family, as reported by 9to5Mac. Among these, he confirmed a rumor that surfaced some time before, but wasn’t heard of again since. According to Pu’s supply chain sources, all iPhone 17 models announced in September will feature 24MP front cameras.

The change is long overdue. Since Apple started using front cameras, in the iPhone 4, from 2010, the component has been improved a few times. The first upgrade came in 2012, then there were others in 2015, 2016, and 2019. The usual cycle lasted 2-3 years between boosts in the selfie shooter. This time, it has been six generations using the same 12MP 1/3.6″ sensor.

Processor and Memory

The base model iPhone 17, and even the iPhone 16e, will offer 8GB of RAM. Because of that, Apple may have decided to bump the Pro Max’s (but not the smaller Pro’s) memory. According to Ming-Chi Kuo, it will have 12GB on board, mostly to improve on-device AI capabilities.

One component both Pro models will share is the 2nm CPU, which will likely be called A19 Pro. The silicon will be manufactured by TSMC. Low yields for initial batches, however, buried any chances of the lithography being used in the non-Pro model.

Lastly, also on Kuo’s account, the iPhone 17 Pro and Pro Max should feature a vapor chamber cooling system. That’s a league above the graphene sheet currently used, though both methods will be combined.

Other Notes

More recently, some speculation started to appear, stating that Apple may change the “Pro Max” naming to “Ultra” this year. The idea would be that, with a “new” tier, the company could add more exclusive features to the Ultra model. The external design, however, would still be mostly the same as the smaller “Pro” version.

As reported by GSMArena, citing Korean leakster yeux1122, some differences are already defined. They include a bigger battery (expected, given the larger screen), vapor chamber, and smaller Dynamic Island. There’s no information about whether the Pro and Ultra variants would have the same RAM amount or processor.

iPhone Air

After considering other options, like “Slim”, Apple seems to have decided to call its extra-thin phone the iPhone Air. Or iPhone 17 Air if the company goes for numbered names all across the device line. This model replaces the iPhone Plus variant and, according to rumors, is shaping up to be a whole new category.

External Design

As stated, the device focuses on thinness above everything else. According to the most recent rumors, the iPhone Air should be just 6.25mm (under 0.25″) thick. As a comparison, that’s three-quarters of an iPhone 16 Pro Max — which isn’t a bulky device by any means.

Also, Ming-Chi Kuo said the iPhone Air could measure 5.5mm (0.2″) at “its thinnest part.” One possibility is the device featuring a variable thickness, like MacBook Airs had until 2020. Another is that the higher number includes the camera bump, while the lower doesn’t.

In any case, to reach such thinness, compromises had to be made. I’ll detail some of them below, but for this section, one important mention is the speaker. Apparently, Apple’s engineers decided to let go of the bottom unit because, with it, other critical components wouldn’t fit.

Something that was initially unclear is the camera bump. According to numerous leaks, Apple will indeed copy the Pixel 7/Nexus 6P “visor” looks for the ultra-slim iPhone.

In mid-March, Sonny Dickson possibly confirmed that, with what looks like the first batch of iPhone 17 dummies. These are made by case manufacturers, based on Apple-provided CAD drawings, to ensure the accessories fit the new phones.

The dummies confirm the Pixel/Nexus 6P-based design for the Air and the “thick bar” visor for the Pros. The regular model, also as rumors have been claiming, is virtually identical to the vanilla iPhone 16.

On March 19, Sonny Dickson published what is probably the first known iPhone 17 Air protective case. As expected, it features a large visor-like opening for the camera island. The rest of the case is clear, with black borders.

Early March 2025 Rumor Round-Up

Prior to that, on March 7, leaker Ice Universe shared some schematics that are supposedly from iPhones 17 Pro Max and 17 Air. According to them, the Pro Max will be 8.725mm thick — thicker than the 16 Pro Max. The Air, in turn, will measure only 5.501mm.

Ice Universe also adds that, from the front, both devices should look exactly the same. That includes width, height, bezels, and Dynamic Island, all of which should also match the iPhone 16 Pro Max.

Mid-March 2025 Rumor Round-Up

According to Mark Gurman’s March 16 newsletter, some designs explored by Apple involved even removing the USB-C connector. It’s important to note that rumors of a portless iPhone have been around for years. Before the iPhone 12 was unveiled, in 2020, Jon Prosser from fpt said Apple would ditch cables the following year. He claimed the company would introduce something called “Smart Connector”. Instead, we got MagSafe, with charging capabilities, but the Lightning (and, eventually, USB-C) port remained.

The rumor was repeated, in some form, in 2021, 2022, and 2023. It didn’t resurface in 2024, but did get a small push after last year’s iPhones were announced: wireless firmware recovery. That feature, present in the iPhone family and in the iPad Mini 7, is crucial to a possible portless iPhone. Without physical connectors, it would need a way to transfer data if only cables or other devices were available.

Also, Apple fought a long battle against EU regulators, trying to avoid using USB-C in iPhones. In 2023, the company finally gave in, and the iPhone 15 family ditched the Lightning connector. However, the EU ruling requires USB-C only on devices with physical ports. Going portless could be a way for Apple to dodge that, even if only out of spite. The company has made similar moves before, like the 0.50 Euro charged yearly, per user, from third-party app stores.

The company, however, isn’t ready to forego physical connectors on its phones — yet. For now, what we have is a breath of new life into an old rumor, that first appeared a few years too early.

Screen Tech

Another example is the screen, though this one qualifies as a breakthrough rather than a compromise. To keep the display assembly as thin as possible, Apple switched from its usual suppliers (LG, Samsung, and BOE). The chosen manufacturer for the panels is Novatek, a small Taiwanese company.

Novatek developed “Touch and Display Driver Integration” (TDDI), a technology that combines multiple layers into one, resulting in thinner screens. However, according to the news portal DigiTimes, Apple considers the iPhone Air a key new product line. Given the partnership is just beginning, the company may prefer testing Novatek’s products on other devices before the iPhone Air.

Screen Size

There has been contradicting rumors about the iPhone 17 Air’s screen size. Back in May 2024, Ross Young, from Counterpoint Research, said the device’s panel would measure 6.55″. This was quickly rounded to 6.6″ — companies rarely use two decimal digits and “bigger is better” rules the smartphone market.

More recently, however, Jon Prosser, from fpt, said otherwise. According to him, the display will stretch to 6.7 inches.

While Prosser’s leaks haven’t always been correct in the past, it does make sense for Apple to make this move. This way, the company would keep the same screen size, in the iPhone Air, that the Plus models had. Ross, on the other hand, has solid records on display-related rumors, being among the most reputable sources on that.

However, a larger screen would help to fix two major issues Apple has been facing with the iPhone 17 Air. A bigger panel allows for a beefier battery, and gives more room to fit components. This could be the solution, e.g., for the speaker issue mentioned in the previous section.

Ross has sources deep in the component manufacturing industry, so it’s likely that Apple did in fact order 6.6″ panels. But, considering that information surfaced over a year prior to the device’s launch, this may have been a prototype run.

On a device this thin, big screens may represent significant structural risks — and Apple surely doesn’t want (yet) another bendgate. So, there’s a high chance the company experimented with multiple display sizes to ensure only future foldable iPhones actually fold.

A post by Mark Gurman in mid-March, indeed, confirmed this. According to the analyst’s sources, Apple made a 6.9-inch Air prototype — as large as an iPhone 16 Pro Max. It was discarded precisely for being too prone to bending.

Camera

Now, this one is a significant compromise. Multiple sources, on various occasions, confirmed the iPhone Air will feature a single rear camera. At least, it’s a 48MP unit, which will be joined by a 12MP sensor for selfies. It’s valid to mention the Galaxy S25 Slim, (rumored) main competitor to the iPhone Air, will sport three rear cameras.

According to leakster Ice Universe, the camera bump will have a thickness of 4mm. This doesn’t seem much, but let’s add some context. A 4mm bump means the Air’s camera island will be nearly twice as thick (9.5mm vs 5.5mm) than its body.

Connectivity

On the connectivity aspect, the iPhone Air may be an eSIM-only model. Engineers are having a hard time fitting a SIM tray in such a thin device and could ditch it entirely. That’s not a deal-breaker for most and can even be seen as positive by some. However, this may become an issue in China, one of Apple’s main markets, because using eSIMs isn’t permitted there.

A minor detail is that the iPhone Air will likely be the second phone to use the company’s cellular modem. For the vast majority of users, this shouldn’t make any difference, but Apple’s component is still slower than Qualcomm’s counterpart. According to a report from South Korea published by GSMArena, the part lacks mmWave support.

Like the rest of the iPhone 17 line, the Air will use an Apple-made Wi-Fi modem. This would make the model the first to feature both in-house 5G and Wi-Fi chips.

This would mean two things. Firstly, that, like the recently-announced iPhone 16e, the Air will lack mmWave 5G connectivity. Secondly, that the Air may get a much-needed relief on energy consumption. More on that below.

Battery

As noted by MacRumors, the 16e has higher battery life than the regular iPhone 16, using almost the same components. But wait, there’s more. The same outlet pointed out, in 2023, that the then-called “SE 4” would reuse the iPhone 14’s battery. And this part has 3,279mAh of capacity, about 8% less than the iPhone 16’s 3,561mAh.

Some Chinese brands are adopting Silicon-Carbon batteries, that allow for decent capacities in incredibly slim formats. One example is Honor’s V line of foldables, which feature 5,000 mAh or more in bodies under 5mm thin. They’re not a good direct comparison because of the larger screens, but still.

Apple won’t use, as far as is known, Silicon-Carbon batteries. Therefore, you should expect an unimpressive battery capacity from the iPhone Air. Digital Chat Station places the value between 3,000 and 4,000 mAh, with no exact numbers for now. That’s not the worst we have seen in recent Apple phones, but it’s definitely far from the best.

Processor and Memory

Ever used the 2015-2017 MacBooks, the ones that had a single USB-C port and nothing else? If so, you know that extreme thinness and raw horsepower don’t mix well. Those laptops would either hit performance bottlenecks, overheat, or both at the same time. Expect a similar scenario for the iPhone Air.

Now, Apple apparently has learned its lesson in the decade since. While the Air will rock the same A19 CPU as the regular iPhone 17, it will likely be underpowered. According to Ming-Chi Kuo, the model will feature “downgraded components”, when compared to other variants. RAM will stay at 8GB, though, meaning the device will support Apple Intelligence features.

Launch Date: Rumored Announcement of 2025 iPhones

Apple usually adopts a two-stage rollout for iPhones as a whole. The “mainstream” models are announced in the second half of the year, while the SE (now “e”) models come earlier. Here are the details.

iPhone 17 Family

The main iPhone family, on the other hand, has had a consistent launch schedule for years. The devices are always announced in mid to late September, and the iPhone 17 models should come around that time. Considering Apple always announces iPhones on Fridays, the probable dates are September 19 and September 26.

iPhone Air

The iPhone Air release date is a bit trickier to confirm. There’s a significant chance it will be not only announced but made available alongside the iPhone 17 family. However, since the device’s development is facing several setbacks, Apple could change its plans. In 2017 e.g., the iPhone X and iPhone 8 were unveiled together, but the former arrived in stores months later.

Which iOS Version Will 2025 iPhones Support?

One thing is certain: all of this year’s iPhones will be compatible with iOS 19. Our round-up of current rumors and leaks about the next big update lists what we know about its features. The vanilla, Pro, and Air iPhone 17 models are expected to come with iOS 19 from day one. The recently-announced iPhone 16e came with iOS 18.3.1, but will get iOS 19 once the new version is released.

How Much Will Each 2025 iPhone Cost?

The iPhone 17 Pro Max is expected to cost more at launch than the current-gen model. Current leaks indicate a starting price of $1,299 for the flagship, on the base storage of 256GB. It’s still unknown if the non-Max Pro will be more expensive, too, though it could arrive at $1,099. The vanilla iPhone 17, however, is likely to remain at $799 with 128GB.

In turn, the iPhone Air has a mixed record of price leaks. Early rumors indicated it could cost even more than the Pro Max variant, which would place its price over $1,200. More recent information, however, says it might retail for approximately 20% less than the flagship model, equivalent to about $960.

The Impact of Trump’s New Tariffs

More recently, rumors indicated the devices may get a price bump this year. That could happen because of Donald Trump’s tariff raise for imported products. Reports indicate that iPhones are among the most vulnerable Apple products to these changes.

Presently, the company manufactures no iPhones in the US. Even if it did, the vast majority of the devices’ components would have to come from abroad, anyway. Therefore, Trump’s tariffs will have a significant impact on Apple product prices. For iPhones, this could represent an increase of over 40% for some models. The base-storage iPhone 17 Pro Max may reach a starting price of more than $1,300.

Apple’s Ways of Avoiding Trump’s Tariffs

The company has some strategies in place to avoid losing too much money. They involve changes in the supply chain, negotiations with Trump, and even hoarding products.

Moving iPhone Manufacturing Around the World

One of them is ramping up iPhone production in India. Presently, 90% of all iPhones is manufactured in China, subject to the highest tariff by the new terms: 54%. While products from India won’t be exempt from import fees, they received a smaller blow, amounting to 26%. Another iPhone plant operates in Vietnam, though, in this case, savings wouldn’t be so significant, with a 46% tariff.

One more option is manufacturing iPhones in Brazil. Tariffs for Brazilian goods are among the lowest imposed by Trump, 10%.

However, according to news portal Exame, there’s a major hindrance: lack of equipment. Foxconn’s Brazilian plants already received government certifications to assemble the vanilla iPhone 16, but still need the required machinery. This will demand additional investment.

There’s one more issue: current certifications only cover one variant. Plus, Pro, and Pro Max models need separate licenses, and can’t be manufactured yet.

Stockpiling Products

According to Mark Gurman, Apple is also caching as many products as possible before the tariffs come into effect. In his April 6 newsletter, Gurman said the company has been hoarding not only iPhones, but all kinds of products.

The analyst believes Apple intends to use a mixture of the strategies to hold the iPhones’ prices until September. By doing that, it could give the iPhone 17 family a price bump, while avoiding a sales plunge for now.

Direct Negotiation With Trump

In 2019, Tim Cook negotiated, directly with Trump, an exemption from a 15% tariff imposed to products from China. The situation, however, is very different now. Back then, the tariffs weren’t as drastic, and as fundamental to Trump’s discourse, as they are now. Therefore, there’s no guarantee Apple products will be subject to smaller fees, let alone exemptions.

Have iPhone 17 or Air Prototypes Leaked?

Right now, no prototypes of the 2025 iPhones have leaked. That’s to be expected, considering most models’ hardware is still in early production stages (though most specifications have been defined).

Lots of dummy units, however, have made the rounds online. The first ones, apparently made of metal, were published by Sonny Dickson on March 16. A couple of days later, Japanese blog Mac OTAKARA unveiled similar models, this time, apparently, made of resin.

There’s a curious element about Mac OTAKARA. The blog has a mixed rumor record, including getting things both wrong and right on the same leak. In October 2024, it was the first place to reveal dummy units of the iPhone 16E (then called “SE 4”). In that same post, however, a “Plus” variant, that hadn’t appeared in any previous rumors, was shown. That bigger version has never been spoken of again, in other rumors, neither announced by Apple when launching the 16E.

Another group of iPhone 17, Air, Pro, and Pro Max dummies was published, again by Dickson, on March 20. This set, seemingly made of plastic, once more confirms the designs. It also introduces some changes, previously seen on the CAD drawings, but that hadn’t appeared yet on dummies.

Conversely, the Pro models now have noticeable cutouts on the rear. This is similar to what was seen in the first leaked frame, from December 2024. It’s also in line with the CAD drawings that have surfaced so far.

iPhone Announcements Not Expected for 2025

On the matter of what’s not coming this year, some devices and features are surely out of the question for 2025. One of them, stated in earlier paragraphs, is variable aperture for the camera, expected for the iPhone 18 Pro models.

Under-Display Face ID

Another feature that, in the best-case scenario, will arrive only next year is an under-display Face ID module. The rumors aren’t clear on whether the move includes the selfie camera or only other parts, like the laser projector. There is a single thing known, for now. The under-display sensors will debut in the Pro models, with the vanilla iPhone likely getting it a year later.

Smaller Face ID Might Still Make It

Previously, rumors suggested a smaller (seemingly narrower) Dynamic Island for the 2025 iPhone Pros. Then, a report by Ming-Chi Kuo, said the component would remain “largely unchanged”.

More recently, however, a new rumor appeared. According to Digital Chat Station, the iPhone 17 Pro Max will have a smaller dynamic island. This would be achieved by using a technology called “metalens”. There’s no word, though, about whether the vanilla iPhone 17 or the smaller Pro model will get this as well.

Foldable iPhone

One of the most anticipated Apple devices is the rumored iPhone flip. It certainly won’t arrive this year, however, so you’ll still need to choose between an iPhone or a foldable phone. Many rumors indicate Apple’s first foldable will actually be a MacBook/iPad hybrid, not a phone.

This device could reach mass production later this year, though it’s not given it will be available before 2025 ends. After improving its technology and the miniaturization processes developed for the iPhone Air, Apple might finally announce the foldable iPhone. This one could leverage the flip format to feature the largest iPhone screen to date.

Capacitive Volume Buttons

Apple is no stranger to using capacitive buttons. The iPhones 7, 8, SE 2 and SE 3 all used the technology in the Home key. When it was first introduced, in 2016, TMO’s readers were, let’s say, less than amuzed with the tech.

As mentioned some sections above, the company has also experimented using capacitive buttons in other ways. Some iPhone 15 Pro prototypes had solid-state keys, for instance.

According to known Chinese leaker Setsuna Digital (via GSMArena), the company didn’t completely abandon the idea. However, current prototypes, just like ones from the iPhone 15 and iPhone 16 families, would still be below Apple’s standards.

As folks at GSMArena put it, the feature doesn’t seem to be of topmost priority to Apple right now. It could help achieve tighter sealing to waterproof iPhones, and even be an addition to the portless model detailed below. However, there’s no indication of when the technology will start being used.

Portless iPhone

In mid-March, a report by Mark Gurman stated that Apple experimented with a portless iPhone 17 Air prototype. The unit (or, possibly, units) had no physical connectors, ditching the USB-C and using exclusively MagSafe for charging. Data transfers would be dealt with the same way wireless recovery works on the iPhone 16 family.

Like the eSIM exclusivity and the single speaker, the change would free some space inside the iPhone 17 Air. This space could be used, e.g., to fit a bigger battery or another rear camera, mitigating the Air’s main weaknesses. Knowing Apple’s stubbornness, my bet is that it wouldn’t address these limitations, making the device even slimmer instead.

Ultimately, the company shelved the idea, at least in part because it feared sales restrictions in the European Union. Apple fought as hard as it could to avoid adopting USB-C on iPhones, but had to give in eventually. It has been using the universal connector since the iPhone 15 family, announced in 2023.

The portless iPhone could be a way for the company to, once more, escape from regulations. It wasn’t known, however, if “having no ports” was against the “all phone charging ports must be USB-C” rule.

Not anymore: in March, 9to5Mac‘s Ben Lovejoy asked about this directly to the European Commission, responsible for the rule. The answer was crystal-clear: USB-C is mandatory on devices with a charging port. The standard isn’t required if the device only charges wirelessly — like the iPhone version of MagSafe, or the Apple Watch.

iPhone 17 Air Too Near Announcement To Ditch USB-C Port

It’s almost surely too late for Apple to remove the USB-C port from the iPhone 17 Air. Engineering decisions of such magnitude have to be made (or discarded) way earlier in the product development cycle. That’s because this move would significantly change the device’s internals, even if, for Apple’s intentions, for the better.

Right now, only some minor changes are possible, and virtually all components of the iPhone 17 models have been decided. Most suppliers are already manufacturing the devices’ internal parts, so Apple starts mass-producing the phones in the coming months.

More Than One iPhone 18 Model May Be Portless

What is still in early design stages, on the other hand, is the iPhone 18 line. At this point in the development cycle, only initial aspects of the products are likely to be defined. This leaves a lot of room for ideas, including the removal of the USB-C port.

Personally, my money is on Apple getting rid of the port only in the Air variant, for now. I won’t be completely surprised, though, if the foldable iPhone ditches it, too.

Maybe even the whole iPhone 18 family will forego the USB-C port. Apple has surprised journalists and analysts alike, with similarly bold moves, before. Connector-wise, removing the 3.5mm jack can be considered that kind of decision.

Nowadays, most people use Bluetooth earphones, but, in 2016, when the jackless iPhone 7 was released, that wasn’t the case. While heavily criticized at the time, the move set a new norm for the industry. If anything, Apple would offer a “MagSafe to USB-C (female)” adapter in the box for a couple of years.

There’s one thing that counts against this, however. The first round of rumors about the iPhone 18 family is already spreading, and they don’t mention any portless models. On the other hand, as I said above, a lot of things is still subject to change. Perhaps Apple’s engineers took note of the European Commission statement and are already sketching iPhones without physical connectors.

Major Redesign

In his April 6 newsletter, Mark Gurman reiterated that Apple intends to make significant changes in the 2027 iPhone family. That year marks the iPhone’s 20th anniversary, and the date could be used to unveil a completely redesigned model.

Details on what would that redesign look like are still scarce — after all, it’s a model that’s 2.5 years away. Considering the date, however, it could be as significant as the iPhone X was back in 2017.

Rumors and leaks can be boring or exciting. Sometimes, they confirm the lack of innovation in some areas, like single-digit (at best) improvements in battery life. On other occasions, however, they shed light on interesting novelties, such as the iPhone 16e’s overhaul. What kind do you think the rumors have been so far about this year’s iPhones?