New iPhone 2025 Release Announcement: iPhone 17 is Here!

Here we are again. It’s September, Apple’s done its big shiny keynote, and yes, the iPhone 17 is official. Shocking, I know. We all knew it was coming, but somehow Apple still manages to make the internet lose its mind over a phone that looks… well, mostly like last year’s.

Still, the iPhone 17 brings some genuinely interesting upgrades, especially if you’ve been holding out on Apple Intelligence. So let’s break down the essentials: when you can buy it, what’s new, and whether you should book the day off work and head to the Apple store.

New iPhone 2025 Release Date & Pre-Order Details

Apple announced the iPhone 17 lineup during its September 2025 keynote, and the release schedule is exactly what you’d expect:

Pre-orders open: Friday, September 12, 2025
Shipping & in-store availability: the following Friday, September 19
Regions: Launching in more than 60 countries on day one, including US, UK, EU, Australia, and most major markets will get day-one availability.

As always, expect the most popular colours and higher storage models to sell out within minutes. If you want the new Orange iPhone 17 Pro or a 2TB Pro Maxyou’d better be quick, otherwise you’ll be staring at a “ships in 4-6 weeks” message faster than you can say Dynamic Island.

The iPhone 17 Lineup: What Models You Can Buy

Just like last year, Apple’s sticking with a four-phone strategy. The lineup looks like this:

iPhone 17 – the “standard” model, 6.3-inch display, aluminium, five colours.
iPhone 17 Air – the star of the show: titanium, 5.6mm thin, 6.5-inch display, four colours.
iPhone 17 Pro – aluminium unibody with new vapour-chamber cooling, and that new Orange finish.
iPhone 17 Pro Max – same as the Pro, but the biggest screen and up to 2TB storage.

Storage now starts at 256GB across all models, with the Pro Max climbing to a massive 2TB. If you’re planning to record hours of 4K 120fps video, you’re going to need it.

And yes, all four phones finally share ProMotion 120Hz and an Always-On Display, so no more “stuck at 60Hz” for base iPhone buyers.

And of course, all four models come with USB-C, though just like last year, only the Pro models get the faster USB 3 transfer speeds. Because Apple loves keeping just enough exclusives to make you question your budget.

What’s New with iPhone 17?

On the surface, the iPhone 17 doesn’t look massively different from the 16. But dig a little deeper, and there are some upgrades worth noting.

iPhone 17 Key Features

Apple Intelligence, Fully Baked In	Last year, Apple launched its AI platform (Apple Intelligence) half finished. But with the 17, it’s here properly and running on the new A19 and A19 Pro chips. And that means smarter Siri, cleaner notifications, and more AI summaries you’ll either love or ignore.
Camera Upgrades	The big win this year? Apple’s gone all in on cameras across the lineup. The regular iPhone 17 gets a new Dual Fusion setup: a 48MP main that moonlights as an ultrawide, plus a 12MP macro, with a selfie cam that finally fits more of your face (and friends) in. The new iPhone 17 Air ditches the ultrawide in favour of a 48MP wide and 12MP 2× telephoto—and throws in an 18MP Center Stage selfie camera plus dual capture video (front + back at once). And then the Pro and Pro Max go full beast mode with a triple 48MP system and zoom up to 8×. Add in ProRes RAW and Genlock, and Apple’s basically giving you a film studio in your pocket.
Display Tweaks	Every iPhone 17 now comes with Apple’s 120Hz ProMotion display and an Always-On mode that can dial down to just 1Hz to save battery. Translation: scrolling feels faster, and your lock screen info is always there without draining power. The screens also get seriously bright—up to 3000 nits—which means you’ll still see your phone clearly on the sunniest day. For protection, Apple has rolled out Ceramic Shield 2. The regular iPhone 17 gets it on the front glass, while the Air and Pro models take it further with an anti-reflective coating on both the front and back.
Performance and Battery	The new A19 chip (and A19 Pro on the Air and Pro models) makes everything faster. Translation: apps snap open, Apple Intelligence runs smoothly, and even heavy tasks don’t drag. Battery life is better too. Apple claims up to 8 hours longer video playback than the iPhone 16, and with fast charging you can go from zero to 50% in just 20 minutes. The Air pushes even further, with up to 40 hours of video playback thanks to its efficiency tricks.
Design and Build	Apple has shuffled things around this year. The regular iPhone 17 keeps its aluminium frame, now in five fresh colours. The new iPhone 17 Air is the design star—titanium, just 5.6mm thin, and available in four sleek finishes. The Pro models switch to an aluminium unibody with a built-in thermal system to keep things cool during gaming and editing. They also get new looks, including a standout Orange finish alongside the usual Pro colours.

Pricing: Has Apple Changed the Game?

Apple loves tradition almost as much as it loves profit, and the iPhone 17’s pricing proves it. The entry points haven’t shifted much, but storage has — every model now starts at 256GB.

Here’s the lineup:

iPhone 17 - from $799
iPhone 17 Air → from $999
iPhone 17 Pro → from $1,099
iPhone 17 Pro Max → from $1,199 (and up to $1,999 if you max it out at 2TB)

In the US, prices are mostly flat year-on-year. In the UK and EU, don’t be surprised if exchange rates and inflation make things sting a little more, especially at the high end.

As always, carriers will dangle “free upgrade” offers. Spoiler alert: it’s never free. It’s just the cost spread over 24 or 36 months. Do the maths before you sign.

And if you’re planning to trade in your current iPhone? Apple makes it painless, but you’ll usually get more cash selling it yourself.

Should You Upgrade to iPhone 17?

Now for the question everyone really cares about: Is the iPhone 17 actually worth upgrading to?

When to Upgrade to an iPhone 17

If you own an iPhone 11 or 12…	Yes, the iPhone 17 is a massive leap. You’ll notice everything is better: cameras, display, battery life, and finally support for Apple Intelligence. It’ll feel like a whole new world.
If you own an iPhone 13 or 14…	This is trickier. The iPhone 17 is tempting, especially with the AI upgrades, brighter display, and improved cameras, but your phone is still solid. If you’re not desperate for ProMotion or Apple Intelligence, you could hold out another year.
If you own an iPhone 15 or 16…	Don’t bother. These phones are still fast, capable, and getting all the latest iOS updates and have excellent cameras. You’ll barely notice the difference unless you’re a professional content creator.
If you’re eyeing the Pro models…	The iPhone 17 Pro and Pro Max are the true standouts this year, with their triple 48MP camera plateau, long-range zoom, and pro-level video features. If you’re serious about photography or video, this is the upgrade.

The iPhone 17 is the most polished version of Apple’s current design and the first model where Apple Intelligence feels like more than a demo. But unless your phone is 3+ years old, the iPhone 17 is more of a “nice to have” than a must-have.

First Impressions & What’s Next

The iPhone 17 is exactly what you’d expect from Apple in 2025: a careful evolution, not a revolution. It’s thinner, brighter, smarter, and finally puts Apple Intelligence front and centre in a way that feels more permanent.

First impressions? The Pro models are the real stars this year. With their new triple 48MP camera plateau, long-range 4× and 8× zoom, and pro-level tools like ProRes RAW and Genlock, is going to be catnip for creators.The regular iPhone 17 and 17 Plus are still excellent phones, but Apple is clearly nudging anyone with upgrade money toward the Air or the Pros.

As for what’s next, I’ll personally be taking a look at:

How Apple Intelligence actually works in day-to-day use outside the keynote demo.
Camera shootouts against last year’s iPhone 16 Pro, and competitors like the Galaxy S25 Ultra and Pixel 10 Pro.
Battery life, does “all day” finally mean all day?

So, should you order the new iPhone? That depends on what you’re upgrading from. But one thing’s certain: the iPhone 17 keeps Apple firmly at the top of the premium phone market… even if it feels like we’re still waiting for the next big leap.