Apple announced four iPhones in the 2025 lineup: iPhone 17, iPhone 17 Air, iPhone 17 Pro, and iPhone 17 Pro Max. The regular iPhone 17 also features an increased 6.3-inch Super Retina XDR display with a smooth 120Hz ProMotion refresh rate, previously exclusive to Pro models.
New iPhone 17 Models and Features
iPhone 17 lineup overview 🔥 pic.twitter.com/EVPjB4NsCs
— Apple Hub (@theapplehub) September 9, 2025
Apple launched four of its phones in the 2025 series: iPhone 17, iPhone 17 Air, iPhone 17 Pro, and iPhone 17 Pro Max. The base iPhone 17 now has a larger 6.3-inch Super Retina XDR screen with a smooth 120Hz ProMotion refresh rate, a feature that was earlier reserved for Pro models. The screen is brighter and more durable with the new Ceramic Shield 2.
Storage starts at 256GB, which is double last year’s base model. Colors include black, lavender, mist blue, sage, and white. The iPhone 17’s camera system features a 48MP Fusion main camera with 2x optical zoom and a 48MP Ultra Wide lens for wide shots and close-up details. The front camera is 18MP and uses “Center Stage,” which helps capture better selfies in both portrait and landscape.
The iPhone 17 Air, which replaces the Plus model, is now Apple’s slimmest and most power-efficient iPhone. For users who want top performance, the Pro models come with thenew A19 Pro chip. These deliver the fastest speed and longest battery life ever on an iPhone. The iPhone 17 Pro and Pro Max also bring a new camera design and 8x optical telephoto zoom, aimed at users who love professional-style photography.
AI and Software Updates
The phones run on iOS 26, which brings smarter AI tools. Users can enjoy better screenshot analysis, live translation, and improved Center Stage features on the front camera. But Apple has so far not come out with a fully AI-driven Siri. This makes Apple fall behind rivals Google and Microsoft, who already have more advanced AI assistants, say analysts.
A more advanced Siri, with natural voice commands, is likely in the offing next year, says Apple. For this year, the iPhone 17 series is focused on high-end hardware and more advanced AI features rather than leaps and bounds.
Why the iPhone 17 Lineup Matters
The iPhone 17 launch comes at a key time, as Apple faces tough competition in AI. Google’s Pixel 10 and Microsoft’s Copilot phones already show off natural voice controls and smarter camera AI.
Apple, on the other hand, is playing it safer, pushing powerful chips, better cameras, and battery life, and adding AI incrementally.
This approach enables Apple to keep users locked into its ecosystem as it works on more powerful AI down the line. The better cameras, brighter displays, and iOS 26 refinements give owners of older phones reason enough to upgrade to the iPhone 17 series.
The iPhone Air also stands out as a thinner and lighter option for those who value design and functionality the most.
In the end, the iPhone 17 series may not change the game of AI today, but it gives enough updates to keep Apple in the lead and buy more time for its big AI push in future iPhones.