The iPhone 17 has officially arrived! Learn all there is to know about the newest Apple product, from its release date to its latest features and eSIM compatibility.
When Was the iPhone 17's Release Date?
Apple unveiled its iPhone 17 at its annual event on September 9 this year. The iPhone 17 was made available for pre-orders the following Friday, September 12, and released a week later on September 19. Apple also launched its new iPhone Air.
What Is the iPhone 17's Price Like?
Here are the starting prices for each new iPhone model:
- iPhone 17: Starting at $799 USD
- iPhone Air: Starting at $999 USD
- iPhone 17 Pro: Starting at $1099 USD
- iPhone 17 Pro Max: Starting at $1199 USD
What Are the iPhone 17's Features?
Here are five notable features that stand out:
- A New Camera Bar: The camera is a rectangular camera bar, spread horizontally instead of vertically for Air, Pro, and Pro Max models.
- Advanced Chip Capability: The phones run on an A19 or A19 Pro chip, improving performance significantly.
- Pro Displays for Everyone: All models have a 120 Hz ProMotion display, previously exclusive to Pro phones.
- Faster Charging: The charging speed has improved, with models (excluding the Air) charging up to 50% in around 20 minutes.
- An Ultra-thin Design: The iPhone Air, sometimes called iPhone 17 Air by users, is Apple's thinnest iPhone, around 5.6 mm thick!
What Are the iPhone 17 Colors Like?
The colors largely depend on the model you select. Here are the colors for each model:
- iPhone 17: The phone comes in black, white, mist blue, sage, and lavender.
- iPhone Air: The iPhone Air is available in space black, cloud white, light gold, and sky blue.
- iPhone 17 Pro and Pro Max: The phones come in a signature cosmic orange, silver, and deep blue.
Should I Upgrade my iPhone 16 to a 17?
Although this will be a personal decision, new features help justify an upgrade. Standout improvements include:
- Updated display: The 120 Hz ProMotion display is a massive upgrade and can always be kept on, so you can check the time without waking the screen.
- Better cameras: The back camera increased from 12 to 48 megapixels, while the front-facing camera increased from 12 to 18 megapixels, improving camera performance across the board.
- Better processor: The phone went from using an Apple A18 chip to an Apple A19.
- Better battery: The battery life is up by around 8 hours compared to the 16 model.
Can You Use eSIMs with the iPhone 17?
Apple has been transitioning to eSIM-only technology. The iPhone 16 was released as eSIM-only in the U.S., and the iPhone 17 continues this trend, with eSIM-only models in key regions like the US, Canada, Japan, and more. The iPhone Air is also eSIM-only worldwide.
Learn more about eSIM technology by browsing our most popular eSIM blogs here:
- FAQs (Frequently Asked Questions) About eSIMs
- SIM vs. Nano SIM vs. eSIM: Understand the Differences
- How To Make a Phone Call With a Data-Only eSIM
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