Apple
4 Reasons to Wait for the iPhone 17 & 4 Reasons Not To
Some people might want to skip the iPhone 16 and wait for Apple’s iPhone 17.
Many people will be perfectly fine buying an iPhone 16, iPhone 16 Pro or another model right now or in the months ahead, others might want to wait and see what the company has up its sleeve for 2024 and beyond.
We may see bigger changes to the iPhone in 2025 and that may have some thinking about an upgrade next year as opposed to this fall.
Despite the launch being over a year away, we’ve seen quite a few iPhone 17 rumors. They’ve outlined some intriguing changes to the iPhone’s design, camera, and more.
Apple’s plans can, and probably will, change as the development continues behind the scenes, but what we’ve heard about the iPhone 17 puts those in the market for a new iPhone in an interesting position: Upgrade now or wait?
In this guide we’ll take you through the best reasons to wait for the iPhone 17 and the best reasons to go with another device long before the 2025 iPhones arrive on shelves.
Wait for a New Design
According to a report from The Information, Apple might replace the iPhone Plus with a more expensive, and significantly thinner, iPhone 17.
We’ve seen rumors highlight a thinner iPhone 17 before, but this report outlines additional details about the device including info about its design language.
The site says this new iPhone 17 model may offer a significant redesign. The last time the iPhone got a drastic redesign was back in 2017 when Apple released the iPhone X.
This redesign might involve Apple relocating the rear cameras from the top-left corner of the iPhone to the “top center.” It may also feature a narrower Dynamic Island.
Bloomberg’s Mark Gurman, another reliable source, also believes Apple is “developing a significantly skinnier phone in time for the iPhone 17 line in 2025.”
Gurman is calling the device an “iPhone 17 Air.”
Wait for Display Upgrades
The iPhone 17 will reportedly come with upgrades to the display. We’ve heard about two potential changes and they might convince you to wait.
According to leaker Instant Digital, the iPhone 17 will feature an anti-reflective display with better scratch resistance than the iPhone 15 and iPhone 16.
The leaker claims the iPhone 17’s display will have “super-hard anti-reflective layer” that’s “more scratch-resistant than you think.”
It’s possible they are referring to Corning’s Gorilla Glass Armor which is currently on board Samsung’s Galaxy S24 series. You can get a feel for the difference between the iPhone 15 and Galaxy S24 in this image.
This change would be a boon for those who like to take their phone outside and/or those who often drop their phone. If that’s you, consider holding off on an upgrade.
Leaker Ice Universe says all four iPhone 17 models may have LTPO displays for the first time. ProMotion displays have only been available on “Pro” iPhone models.
Here’s how he thinks the iPhone 17 screen sizes will stack up:
- iPhone 17: 6.27-inch LTPO display
- iPhone 17 “Air/Slim”: 6.65-inch LTPO display
- iPhone 17 Pro: 6.27-inch LTPO display
- iPhone 17 Pro Max: 6.86-inch LTPO display
Wait for Better Cameras
We’ve also heard about some of the upgrades Apple might be making to the iPhone’s camera in 2025.
In late 2023 Jeff Pu, an analyst at investment firm Haitong International Securities, said he believes the iPhone 17 Pro Max will feature a 48-megapixel Telephoto lens.
Pu believes the lens will optimized for use with Apple’s Vision Pro headset. He didn’t elaborate on the tie-in, but it’s still intriguing if you own a Vision Pro.
The iPhone 17 Pro Max might be the first iPhone with a rear camera setup comprised of all 48MP lenses. The higher megapixel count would allow the device to capture more detail than its predecessors.
The other iPhone 17 camera rumor revolves around the front-facing camera.
Analyst Ming-Chi Kuo says he believes the “iPhone 17 will be upgraded to 24MP/6P lens which will significantly improve the image quality.”
Kuo also says next year’s iPhone 17 Pro Max might feature an upgraded 48-megapixel tetraprism camera. This change would lead to even better photo quality and zoom functionality.
Wait for Better Performance
The iPhone 17 series should come equipped with a new processor, but performance improvements will likely go beyond that.
Jeff Pu believes the iPhone 17 Pro models might come with an Apple-designed Wi-Fi 7 chip. They would be the first iPhones with this chip on board.
If the iPhone 17 Pro models gain Wi-Fi 7 support, it would allow them to send and receive data over 2.4GHz, 5GHz, and 6GHz bands simultaneously if a supported router is used. This would lead to faster Wi-Fi speeds and lower latency.
Pu also thinks Apple will add more RAM to the iPhone 17 series. If true, it would look like this:
- iPhone 17: 8GB
- iPhone 17 Air/Slim: 8GB
- iPhone 17 Pro: 8GB/12GB
- iPhone 17 Pro Max: 12GB
Ice Universe also believes Apple will utilize 12GB of RAM inside the iPhone 17 Pro models.
Another reputable leaker, “Phone Chip Expert,” also says the iPhone 17 will come with 12GB of RAM for better on-device AI processing.
The leaker didn’t specify which iPhone 17 models will have 12GB of RAM.
Ming-Chi Kuo says Apple will only bring 12GB of RAM to the iPhone 17 Pro Max model which means the other three models may have 8GB of RAM.
Rumors suggesting the iPhone 17 will utilize TSMC’s first 2nm chip are unfounded according to a reliable source.
Don’t Wait If You’re in a Hurry
Assuming Apple sticks to protocol, you can expect the iPhone 17 models to arrive in September, 2025. If you can’t wait that long, you’ll want to start thinking about buying/waiting for another smartphone.
We should see Apple launch a new iPhone SE 4 in early 2025 to bridge the gap between the iPhone 16 series and iPhone 17 series.
The iPhone SE series serves as Apple’s budget model.
Don’t Wait for Under-Display Face ID
Will 2025 finally be the year Apple installs Face ID under the iPhone’s display?
Apple’s reportedly working to embed Face ID underneath the iPhone’s display. If the change happens, it would give the iPhone a bigger display area for users to work with.
It’s a rumor we’ve heard many times in the past. The tech missed the iPhone 15 and iPhone 16 and it looks like it will miss the iPhone 17 as well.
Display analyst Ross Young initially believed the technology would come in 2024 on the iPhone 16 Pro models, but he changed his stance multiple times and now says it may have been pushed to 2026.
In 2022, Bloomberg’s Mark Gurman said he believes Apple will eventually “fully embed Face ID and the front-facing camera into the display itself,” but the move at that time was at least three to four years away.
Gurman’s reiterated this stance in his Power On newsletter.
Don’t Wait for a Foldable iPhone 17
Apple might be working on a foldable device, but the device probably won’t come in 2025.
A report from Bloomberg states that while Apple “has developed prototype foldable screens for internal testing” the company “hasn’t solidified plans to actually launch a foldable iPhone.” In other words, a launch is a long way out.
Another report from South Korean publication The Elec says Apple is considering a foldable product between 7-inches and 8-inches. They believe Apple is targeting 2026 or 2027 for the release.
Digitimes says the company’s first foldable won’t be an iPhone. It’s said to be a larger device that’s more like a tablet or notebook.
Analyst Ming-Chi Kuo concurs and says “Apple’s only foldable product with a clear development schedule is the 20.3-inch MacBook, expected to enter mass production in 2027.”
Another report from AlphaBiz says the project has been delayed and pushed into 2027. TrendForce believes a foldable iPhone won’t arrive in 2025 or 2026 either.
Analyst Jeff Pu believes mass production of a 20.3-inch foldable device will begin in late 2025. Pu says it will be followed by a foldable iPhone in late 2026.
The Information says Apple is working on a foldable iPhone with a clamshell design, similar to the Samsung Galaxy Z Flip, and it could be released as soon as 2026.
So at this point, you should operate on the assumption that Apple’s first foldable device is still a long way out. If you’re interested in a foldable phone, you should check out Samsung’s Galaxy Z series.
Don’t Wait If You Find a Phone You Love
If you find a phone you really like between now and the fall of 2025, don’t let iPhone 17 rumors hold you back.
We should also see retailers start to offer some really nice iPhone 16 and iPhone 16 Pro deals in the coming months as supply recovers.
We’ve also seen deals drop the price of the iPhone 13 series, iPhone 12 series, and the budget iPhone SE 3.
If you aren’t married to the iPhone you’ll also want to take a look at devices like the Samsung Galaxy S24 series, Galaxy S23 series, and Google’s Pixel 8 and Pixel 8 Pro.
Make sure you dig into these devices before you decide to wait. If you find something that suits your needs at the right price, don’t be afraid to make a commitment long before the iPhone 17 series arrives on shelves.
