Apple Unveils iPhone 17 Lineup: Bigger Screens, Better Cameras, Serious Power

Apple just dropped its highly anticipated iPhone 17 lineup, and whether you are eyeing the standard iPhone 17 or going all-in with the iPhone 17 Pro and Pro Max, there’s a lot to unpack. From upgraded cameras and tougher glass to new performance chips designed for gaming and AI, this is Apple’s most aggressive refresh yet.

A Bigger, Brighter iPhone 17

The standard iPhone 17 features a 6.3-inch Super Retina XDR display with ProMotion, which means smoother scrolling and up to 120Hz refresh rates for gaming. It’s also brighter than ever, peaking at 3000 nits outdoors, with Ceramic Shield 2 on the front for 3x better scratch resistance.

Under the hood is the new A19 chip, built for faster performance, gaming, and on-device AI features in iOS 26. Apple claims up to 30 hours of video playback, plus faster charging — 50% in 20 minutes with the new 40W adapter.

“iPhone 17 is a big upgrade with powerful features that make iPhone even more useful in your day-to-day life, from the bigger and brighter ProMotion display with 3x better scratch resistance, to all-day battery life with faster charging, the A19 chip for powerful performance, a fantastic 48MP Dual Fusion camera system, and the innovative Center Stage front camera — our best front camera yet,” said Kaiann Drance, Apple’s vice president of Worldwide iPhone Product Marketing.

Center Stage Selfie Camera

The new Center Stage front camera is Apple’s biggest selfie upgrade yet. It’s an 18MP sensor that lets you shoot in portrait or landscape without rotating the phone, and it uses AI to adjust the field of view for group shots. You can also record with the front and rear cameras at the same time, which is a huge win for content creators.

On the back, all the cameras are now 48MP, including a Fusion Main, Fusion Ultra Wide, and 2x Telephoto. Video tops out at 4K60 fps Dolby Vision, with new audio tools to reduce wind noise and boost voices.

A New Look and More Colors

The iPhone 17 lineup has a contoured-edge design and slimmer bezels. Storage now starts at 256GB (double last year) and goes up to 512GB. Color options include black, lavender, mist blue, sage, and white.

Pricing starts at $799, with preorders beginning September 12th and availability in stores and deliveries starting on September 19th.

Enter the iPhone 17 Pro and Pro Max

For those who want more power, Apple also launched the iPhone 17 Pro and Pro Max, which is built with a new brushed aluminum unibody that uses an Apple-designed vapor chamber for better cooling. That means higher sustained performance for gaming and creative work, along with larger batteries.

“iPhone 17 Pro is by far the most powerful iPhone we’ve ever made, with a stunning new design rebuilt from the inside out to maximize performance and deliver an enormous leap in battery life,” said Greg Joswiak, Apple’s senior vice president of Worldwide Marketing. “With three 48MP Fusion cameras, a new Center Stage front camera experience, and pro-level video features, the creative opportunities are endless. iPhone 17 Pro sets a new standard for the smartphone industry and is a massive upgrade for our most demanding users.”

A19 Pro and Next-Level Gaming

Inside, the A19 Pro chip brings a 6-core CPU, 6-core GPU, and 16-core Neural Engine. Paired with the vapor chamber, Apple claims up to 40% better sustained performance. This is the first iPhone designed to handle AAA gaming titles with ray tracing, like Arknights: Endfield.

Pro Camera Upgrades

The Pro models pack three 48MP cameras – Main, Ultra Wide, and a new Telephoto with up to 8x optical zoom (200mm), the longest ever on iPhone. Digital zoom goes to 40x.

On top of that, the Pro line introduces ProRes RAW, Log 2, and genlock video recording, which makes syncing multiple cameras easier for filmmakers. These are serious tools for content creators, vloggers, and anyone chasing pro-level video production.

Bigger Displays, New Colors

The iPhone 17 Pro comes in 6.3-inch and 6.9-inch sizes, with the same Ceramic Shield 2 front and back glass protection as the standard 17. Colors are deep blue, cosmic orange, and silver. Odd that black isn’t being offered, but not a huge deal.

iPhone 17 Pro will be available in double the entry storage, 256GB, as well as 512GB and 1TB. Meanwhile, the iPhone 17 Pro Max will be available in 256GB, 512GB, 1TB, and for the first time, 2TB storage capacities.

Pricing starts at $1,099 for the Pro and $1,199 for the Pro Max.

iOS 26 and Accessories

All iPhone 17 phones will be running iOS 26, which introduces a slicker UI, new AI features like Live Translation, better call screening, and the new Apple Games app. iOS 26 will also be released to older iPhones that support it on September 15th.

Accessories include new MagSafe cases (Silicone, Clear, and TechWoven) plus a Crossbody Strap that lets you carry your iPhone like a mini sling bag.

Overall, the iPhone 17 is another evolutionary rather than revolutionary release, and I don’t really see much of a reason to upgrade from my iPhone 16 Pro. But if you have an older model and want to take advantage of the generous trade-in deals, now’s the time to do so!

What do you think of the iPhone 17?