iPhone 17 Mockup
We’re just a few months away from the launch of the iPhone 16. There are a lot of changes planned for this year’s iPhones. But now, next year’s models are at the center of a new rumor.
When the iPhone 17 launches in 2025, rumors suggest that Apple plans to release an advanced, ultra-premium model that stands out from the rest of the lineup. I’ve been calling it the iPhone 17 Ultra, but today’s rumor casts new doubt on what this new model will be, and whether it could be something else entirely: an iPhone Air? A Slim iPhone? Or will it be an Ultra model after all?
All the evidence for an iPhone 17 Ultra
The iPhone 17 lineup is expected to replace the iPhone Plus model with a new and unique fourth phone. Apple will therefore offer an iPhone 17, a 17 Pro, a 17 Pro Max, and a fourth mystery device.
Based on previous reports, the iPhone 17 Ultra moniker made a lot of sense for this new model.
Here are the rumors that seem to justify this name:
new form factor distinct from other iPhone 17 models
ultra-thin design, similar to the slimming of the iPad Pro M4
new camera module centered on the device
higher starting price than any other model
It is said to be comparable to the radical debut of the iPhone X
Here is what I wrote previously:
As consumers, we’re used to the Pro models of iPhone being the best on the market. But Apple has shown with its other products that there’s room for an Ultra version.
It’s been seven years since the iPhone X came out, so it’s about time the iPhone took a big leap forward. Plus, I think a new, extra-premium iPhone would appeal to a lot of customers who simply want the best model, whether for the technology itself or simply as a status symbol.
It all made so much sense. The iPhone X represented a generational leap forward like we haven’t seen since. So in 2025, eight years later, an iPhone Ultra seems like the perfect device to do the same thing again.
Besides, when did Apple turn down the opportunity to make more money?
Today’s rumor, however, casts doubt on these theories, blurring the picture of what this new model could be.
Rumor has it that the new model won’t be the best
2nm chip for iPhone 17 Pro on track | Close-up of silicon wafer
Today’s rumor corroborates much of the previous reports about this new iPhone 17 model.
It’s still expected to feature a 6.65-inch display, which slots it neatly between the Pro and Pro Max models. A new form factor is also expected, with a thinner design as the main feature. The ultra-premium price tag is also likely part of the package, with a higher starting price than the iPhone 17 Pro Max.
Where the new rumor throws confusion is in the specifications of its chip and RAM, as well as the finish of the materials.
The report states that this new iPhone will be powered by an A19 chip, while the Pro and Pro Max models will feature the A19 Pro chip. Note that the new model will come with 8GB of RAM, while the Pro models will come with 12GB.
Additionally, while the 17 Pro and Pro Max will be made of titanium, the new 17 model is expected to use aluminum, just like the base iPhone models.
This means that on one hand you have a brand new, very expensive device with advanced technology, but on the other hand there are some areas where it will be outperformed by the Pro models.
And if it’s not the best iPhone, it probably can’t be called the iPhone Ultra.
iPhone 17 Air? Thin?
iPad Pro M4
It’s possible that Apple will position this new model as the first iPhone Air and emphasize its radically thin design. But how many people would buy the most expensive iPhone ever when it’s not even as capable as its cheaper Pro siblings?
The iPhone Slim has also been mentioned as a possible name, but the same dilemma would arise. Is a thinner iPhone really worth the ultra-premium price?
Maybe some of these rumors will turn out to be false and the new model will eventually get an A19 Pro chip and more RAM. Aluminum may or may not be a deal breaker; I’m inclined to think it’s not that big of an issue.
Or maybe the price quoted is wrong. Maybe the new model will be an iPhone Air or Slim, and will be priced at or below the Pro models.
Perhaps Apple is just experimenting to see what interest there is in an ultra-thin model.
Honestly, none of this makes much sense to me. I think it will become clear in due time. We just have to wait.
What do you think? What do you expect from this iPhone 17 model? Let us know in the comments.
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