Apple today unveiled the iPhone 17, featuring a larger 6.3-inch Super Retina XDR display that includes ProMotion technology for the first time on a non-Pro model. The iPhone 17 starts at $799.
The new device offers ProMotion's adaptive refresh rate up to 120Hz alongside an Always-On display that shows the time, widgets, and Live Activities even when not actively in use. The display can also efficiently adjust down to 1Hz when appropriate.
The iPhone 17 also benefits from Ceramic Shield 2, featuring a new coating that provides 3x better scratch resistance than the previous generation while reducing glare. The display achieves 3,000 nits peak outdoor brightness, which is the highest ever on iPhone, with 2x better outdoor contrast.
Perhaps the most distinctive addition is the Center Stage front camera, described by Apple as the "best front camera yet." It's the first square front camera sensor on iPhone, providing a wider field of view and higher resolution up to 18MP for photos. Users can now capture photos and videos in either portrait or landscape orientation while holding their device vertically, eliminating the need to rotate the phone for landscape selfies.
For group shots, Center Stage uses AI to automatically expand the field of view and can rotate from portrait to landscape to include everyone in the frame. The feature also enables ultra-stabilized 4K HDR video recording and introduces Dual Capture, allowing simultaneous recording on both front and rear cameras.
The rear camera system has also been overhauled with all 48MP sensors for the first time. The main camera includes an integrated optical-quality 2x Telephoto, described as "like having two cameras in one." A new 48MP Ultra Wide camera captures up to 4x the resolution compared to the previous generation, improving both wide-angle shots and macro photography capabilities.
Photographic Styles have been improved with next-generation processing that better understands skin tones while adjusting color, highlights, and shadows in real time. A new Bright style will become available with iOS 26 to brighten skin tones and add vibrance across images.
Video recording supports 4K 60fps Dolby Vision with features including Cinematic mode and Action mode. The device captures Spatial Audio for immersive listening, while Audio Mix allows users to adjust sound after capture to boost voices and reduce ambient noise.
Under the hood, the A19 chip built on third-generation 3-nanometer technology brings a major performance boost. The 6-core CPU is 1.5x faster than the A15 Bionic in iPhone 13, while the 5-core GPU is more than 2x faster than A15 Bionic, according to Apple. Neural Accelerators are built into each GPU core to support on-device generative AI models.
Battery life has also been boosted, with up to 30 hours of video playback, or eight more hours than the iPhone 16. This improvement is said to be thanks to the efficiency of the A19 chip and advanced power management in iOS 26. A new Adaptive Power Mode learns typical battery consumption patterns and intelligently conserves power when needed.
Charging speeds have also increased, with the device capable of reaching 50 percent charge in 20 minutes using an optional high-wattage USB-C power adapter.
Apple also introduced N1, a new custom-made wireless networking chip that enables Wi-Fi 7, Bluetooth 6, and Thread connectivity while improving the performance and reliability of features like Personal Hotspot and AirDrop.
The iPhone 17 will ship with double the base storage of its predecessor, starting at 256GB with a 512GB option available. The device comes in five colors: black, lavender, mist blue, sage, and white.
eSIM-only models will be available in select regions including Bahrain, Canada, Guam, Japan, Kuwait, Mexico, Oman, Qatar, Saudi Arabia, the UAE, the U.S., and the U.S. Virgin Islands.
Pre-orders begin Friday, September 12, with general availability starting Friday, September 19 in more than 63 countries and regions. The device will expand to 22 additional countries and regions beginning Friday, September 26.
New accessories include a Silicone Case with MagSafe in five colors and a Crossbody Strap crafted from 100 percent recycled yarns, available in 10 colors.
