iPhone 17 series might just be the upgrade you won’t want to skip
Apple has launched its latest iPhone 17 series, marking a new era for iPhones supercharged by the never-before-seen iPhone Air.
After last year's somewhat underwhelming Apple event, the tech giant looks set to deliver this time with some slick upgrades to the iPhone 17 lineup.
Here's a quick look at everything Apple announced for the iPhone 17 series. Scroll down for the full rundown if you'd prefer more details with your morning bevvy.
Key takeaways
- Prices for the iPhone 17 lineup are sticking pretty close to last year's (even with the iPhone Air stepping in for the iPhone Plus), though some storage options do get a $50 to $100 bump. Pre-orders are now live - check out our roundup of some of the best deals.
- Apple has ditched the 128GB models altogether and, on the flip side, introduced a massive 2TB option for the iPhone 17 Pro Max. The good news is that the iPhone 17 base model still starts at $1,399 despite having double the storage.
- The iPhone Air has a starting price of $1,799 and is Apple's thinnest and lightest phone yet, at 5.6mm with a 6.5-inch display.
- It's being pitched as the most power-efficient iPhone ever, promising all-day battery life.
- One interesting but expected twist: the iPhone Air is eSIM-only, even in Australia.
- Camera-wise, it packs a 48MP Fusion main lens, which Apple says is the equivalent of having 4 lenses in one.
- The iPhone 17 base model features thinner borders and finally gets an adaptive 120Hz ProMotion display, meaning the screen updates 120 times per second instead of 60.
- All iPhone 17 models now have 48MP rear cameras, with the new ultra-wide camera capturing 4 times the resolution compared to the iPhone 16.
- The display is also three times more scratch-resistant, the brightest ever on an iPhone, has an improved anti-reflective layer, and offers up to 30 hours of video playback - 8 hours more than the previous generation.
- The iPhone 17 Pro and Pro Max have a fresh design with a new aluminium unibody and a camera plateau that stretches across the width of the phone.
- You'll finally get some bold colours, including deep blue and cosmic orange.
- All rear cameras on the Pro models are 48MP Fusion cameras, which Apple describes as the equivalent of having 8 lenses in one.
- Both Pro models are designed to deliver the "best ever thermal performance on an iPhone" and feature larger batteries.
- Across the board, Apple's added a new Centre Stage front camera to "take selfies to the next level." For example, the square sensor lets you take landscape selfies while holding the phone vertically.
- In other news, Apple has also unveiled the new AirPods Pro 3 ($429). They offer twice the noise cancellation of the previous model, deeper bass for improved sound, better battery life, and upgraded water resistance.
- On top of that, they now feature a built-in heart rate monitor, which can also help track workouts and close your rings. And while not exclusive to this model, you can also use AirPods for live translation.
- The new Apple Watches have also received a refresh this year and now come with a Sleep Score feature.
- The Apple Watch Series 11 offers longer battery life (up to 24 hours) and improved scratch resistance, with prices starting at $1,249.
- The Apple Watch Ultra 3 has a slightly larger display that now shows a ticking second hand on the always-on screen, along with built-in satellite connectivity. Prices start at $1,399.
- Finally, the new entry-level Apple Watch SE 3 features the same S10 chip as the other new models and, for the first time, an always-on display. It also supports fast charging, sleep apnea detection, and gesture controls. Prices start at $679.
How much does the iPhone 17 series cost in Australia?
Here's a look at the pricing for the iPhone 17 series, with prices still starting at $1,399 - the same as last year.
| Model | Australian RRP |
|---|---|
| Apple iPhone 17 256GB | $1,399 |
| Apple iPhone 17 512GB | $1,799 |
| Apple iPhone 17 Air 256GB | $1,799 |
| Apple iPhone 17 Air 512GB | $2,199 |
| Apple iPhone 17 Air 1TB | $2,599 |
| Apple iPhone 17 Pro 256GB | $1,999 |
| Apple iPhone 17 Pro 512GB | $2,399 |
| Apple iPhone 17 Pro 1TB | $2,799 |
| Apple iPhone 17 Pro Max 256GB | $2,199 |
| Apple iPhone 17 Pro Max 512GB | $2,599 |
| Apple iPhone 17 Pro Max 1TB | $2,999 |
| Apple iPhone 17 Pro Max 2TB | $3,799 |
When will the iPhone 17 series be available in Australia?
Pre-orders for the iPhone 17 have officially kicked off, with the phones set to be in stores from 19 September.
iPhone 17
The iPhone 17 gets a fresh design with a slightly larger 6.3-inch display and thinner borders. And after years of waiting (and a fair bit of grumbling), the base iPhone finally gets a 120Hz refresh rate.
That means the screen updates 120 times per second, making scrolling and animations feel super smooth.
Android phones have had this for ages, but Apple is now bringing its ProMotion tech to the entry model. You'll also get an Always-On Display that drops all the way down to 1Hz when idle to save battery.
It's powered by a new A19 chipset, which Apple says is 20% faster than the A18 on the iPhone 16. The battery also gets a boost, with up to 30 hours of playback per charge, which is an 8-hour increase over its predecessor.
When you're outdoors, the screen is much easier to read with up to 3000 nits of brightness - the brightest iPhone display yet. Apple has also introduced Ceramic Shield 2, which it claims is 3 times more scratch-resistant, along with a new anti-reflective coating for better clarity.
Under the hood, the new A19 chip is faster and more efficient, especially when paired with Apple Intelligence. If you're upgrading from an older iPhone, you'll notice a huge jump in speed and smoother gaming thanks to ProMotion.
On the camera front, you'll find a 48MP Fusion main camera (shooting 24MP photos by default) and a 2x telephoto lens. The ultra-wide camera also gets an upgrade to 48MP, making macro photography sharper and more detailed.
The front camera now supports Centre Stage with its widest field of view yet. For the first time, the sensor is square, so it can capture high-resolution photos and videos without needing to rotate your phone for a landscape selfie. Apple Intelligence will even widen the view automatically when friends jump into the frame.
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iPhone 17 Air
The iPhone Air replaces the 'Plus' model and is Apple's thinnest and lightest iPhone to date. It has a mirrored finish and is crafted in colours "designed to invoke lightness". Apple describes it as its most durable design yet and says that its computing power is on par with MacBooks.
The device features a 6.5-inch display with ProMotion at 120Hz, an anti-reflective coating, and glass with 3 times better scratch resistance. The front and back are also reinforced with Ceramic Shield 2.
On the camera front, it features a new 48MP Fusion main camera, a 2x telephoto lens, alongside a new 18MP selfie camera on the front.
The iPhone Air is eSIM-only. Despite being thinner, it delivers all-day battery life with up to 40 hours of video playback.
Apple is also introducing new accessories designed for the slimmer design, including covers, a lightweight bumper that frames the iPhone Air, and a crossbody strap.
iPhone 17 Pro and Pro Max
With the introduction of the iPhone 17 Air, Apple says it has been able to take the Pro models to a whole new level.
The Pro lineup has been redefined, starting again with solid aluminium. The new unibody design is both colourful and durable, offering a lightweight yet rigid enclosure engineered to hold the biggest battery ever in an iPhone. It also features a full-width camera plateau.
The iPhone 17 Pro runs on the most powerful chip ever made for iPhone, with Ceramic Shield 2 protecting both the front and back.
It delivers a dramatic leap in performance with improved thermal management and 40% better performance efficiency compared to the iPhone 16 Pro.
The camera system has become more versatile. For the first time, all three rear cameras are 48MP Fusion cameras, including a new 48MP telephoto with longer optical zoom.
The extended camera plateau makes this possible, offering more creative flexibility and better colour accuracy, especially in low light. The front camera now features an 18MP Centre Stage lens. Apple describes this as the equivalent of having 8 Pro lenses in your pocket.
Compare specs for the iPhone 17 series
| Model | iPhone 17 | iPhone Air | iPhone 17 Pro | iPhone 17 Pro Max |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Display | 6.3 inches | 6.5 inches | 6.3 inches | 6.9 inches |
| Resolution and refresh rate | Super Retina XDR, 120Hz | Super Retina XDR, 120Hz | Super Retina XDR, 120Hz | Super Retina XDR, 120Hz |
| Processor | A19 | A19 Pro | A19 Pro | A19 Pro |
| Cameras | 48-megapixel main fusion camera, 48MP telephoto lens and 18MP front camera | 48-megapixel main fusion camera and 18MP front camera | 3 x 48MP rear cameras and 18MP front camera | 3 x 48MP rear cameras and 18MP front camera |
| Battery | Up to 30 hours of video playback | Up to 40 hours of video playback | Up to 37 hours of video playback | Up to 37 hours of video playback |
| Storage | 256GB, 512GB | 256GB, 512GB | 256GB, 512GB, 1TB | 256GB, 512GB, 1TB, 2TB |
| SIM | Physical + eSIM | eSIM only | Physical + eSIM | Physical + eSIM |
| Colours | Black, lavender, mist blue, sage, white | Light gold, space black, cloud white, sky blue | Silver, deep blue, cosmic orange | Silver, deep blue, cosmic orange |
Sources
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