Apple iPhone 17 rumors: larger, thinner, and with better cameras?

With the iPhone 16 set to debut soon with reported minimal changes from last year, let’s turn our attention to 2025’s iPhone 17 which is rumored to have significant changes and new features.

It’s a bit of a hectic time in the iPhone world at the moment, partly because of Apple’s rather rushed moves towards AI. Noted analyst Mark Gurman looked at Google’s recent Pixel 9 launch and concluded Cupertino is two if not three years behind the curve. The upshot is we will get phones with more powerful chips this year, possibly even down to the SE level. We should know more next month (probably, no official word yet), but in the meantime let’s skip a generation and look a bit further ahead to the iPhone 17.

iPhone 17 Pro & Pro Max, plus iPhone 17 Slim rumored features

Some of the strongest rumors point to Apple making the iPhone 17 even thinner than previous versions (find an older device and compare it to the iPhone 15 and 15 Pro). It's been suggested that the iPhone 17 Pro will be larger than the 15 Pro, and only slightly smaller than the 15 Pro Max, at around 6.55 to 6.6 inches vs. 6.7 inches (15 Pro Max). The iPhone 16 Pro may end up being a little bigger, as well.

The display will allegedly feature a new display coating making it even more scratch resistant and anti-glare. As someone who has had one or two accidental drops over the years (resulting in one small crack and a tiny scratch), this is welcome news. Additionally there will be new ProMotion technology with refresh rates ranging from 1Hz to 120Hz.

The iPhone 17 Pro and 17 Pro Max will have an A19 chip with 8GB of RAM, making it the most powerful iPhone yet. Whether you’re surfing the web, checking socials, or editing your new 4K masterpiece with LumaFusion, the iPhone 17 Pro models will handle it with a breeze.

Perhaps one of the bigger possible changes is the rumored redesign of the rear camera, moving it from the top left to the top center. Could it be similar to what the Pixel Pro 8 did by horizontally laying out the three lens camera, flash, and focus sensor? The suggestion is that Apple is testing it, but nothing is set in stone just yet.

What about the rumored 'iPhone Slim' that's supposedly super slim, pricier than the iPhone Max, but has less features? The device will be thin, much like the new iPad Pro (5.1mm / 0.2 inches thick) and could be around the size of the iPhone 17 Pro with a display of 6.65 inches. It will also be powered by the A19 chip yet have less titanium components than the iPhone 17 Pro and Pro Max.

The current state of the art for, oh, about another month or so...

The camera on the iPhone Slim would put it more in line with the standard iPhone 15, a single or dual camera system. It would make sense that the iPhone Slim will replace the standard, non-Pro iPhone mobile devices, yet the rumored pricing is higher than the Pro Max model. Less features yet thinner, same A19 processor, lesser camera system… Perhaps we're only at the beginning of what we'll eventually see come fall 2025. The front camera will also improve.

Could the iPhone 17 also be Apple’s first foldable phone? Bringing back memories of old flip phones (the Motorola Razr was the best) and the Samsung Galaxy Z Fold 6, there have been rumors for years of a foldable iPhone. I like how the Galaxy Z Fold is more of a vertical fold, which will give us an even bigger display than the Max iPhones. While many speculated we’d see one next year, inclusive us last month, the best betting is that we now won’t see a foldable iPhone until 2026 with the iPhone 18 series .

Mobile filmmaking and photography

With every new iPhone, Apple improves the camera technology, both hardware and software, and the iPhone 17 will continue pushing the envelope. Some of the things on the wish list are even more dynamic range enhancements, more cinematography options (think cinema camera features), possibly 6K, and enhanced audio recording options when using a microphone.

The reason I said "possibly 6K" is because file sizes will get bigger, making it tougher for those buying smaller capacity Pro models. There are options to add an external drive for truly dedicated mobile filmmakers. Excellent compression technology advancements will help to keep file sizes smaller, which could also lead to 8K being introduced down the line.

While the iPhone 15 Pro has some great options, third-party cinematography apps really take it to the next level. I’d like to see Apple work with those developers to give us even better camera options.

iPhone 17 conclusions: stick or twist?

The iPhone 17 Pro will need to really push the envelope to entice people to upgrade, especially as they hold onto their devices longer. I didn't even mention iOS advances, but Apple will really need to knock it out of the park with AI (Apple Intelligence), although we may not see much until iOS 18.1 later in 2024 (per Mark Gurman). 

Personally, the iPhone 17 Pro will likely be my next upgrade, making it a two-year cycle after years of holding onto my iPhones for as long as possible (with the exception of going from the 14 Pro to the 15 Pro).

What about you? Are the new AI tools promising enough to make you want to upgrade to the 16 as Apple seems to be hoping? Or is this one to sit out and see how it all unfolds…

tl;dr

• 2025's iPhone 17 is rumored to be larger, thinner, and feature better cameras.
• iPhone 17 Pro and Pro Max to have a new display coating, ProMotion technology, and A19 chip with 8GB of RAM.
• Potential improvements in camera technology for mobile filmmaking and photography.