We saw four new iPhones, including the long-rumored iPhone Air, as well as three new models for Apple Watch fans, including the flagship Apple Watch Ultra 3. Since the AirPods Pro 3 were also introduced at this major event, there’s a lot to discuss…
Apple’s big iPhone 17 launch event is over — and now that the dust has settled on a slew of announcements, it’s time to recap the highlights. As the event’s name, “Awe Dropping,” suggests, there was plenty to see. We saw four new iPhones, including the long-rumored iPhone Air, and three new models for Apple Watch fans, including the flagship Apple Watch Ultra 3. With the AirPods Pro 3 also being unveiled at the big event, there’s plenty to talk about…
- THE IPHONE BECAME SHINIER
After months of rumors, the iPhone Air has arrived, replacing the iPhone 16 Plus with a new, thinner, and lighter design. And how thin is it – just 5.6mm, making it the thinnest iPhone ever. However, Apple hasn’t made any major compromises to get it to this thickness; the iPhone Air has the same A19 Pro chip as the iPhone 17 Pro, a 6.5-inch display with ProMotion, a 48MP rear camera, and a new 18MP main camera, with Center Stage. As for battery life, Apple only says it lasts “all day” – but we can’t wait to put that claim to the test.
How much does this sleek form factor cost? The iPhone Air starts at $999 for the base model, which has 256GB of storage, but can be upgraded to 512GB or 1TB if you’re willing to spend more. Like the other iPhone 17 models, it will be available for purchase in stores on September 19.
- ALSO THE IPHONE 17 PRO AND PRO MAX WERE UPGRADED
This year, Apple is very proud of its Pro iPhones, as the iPhone 17 Pro and iPhone 17 Pro Max bring significant improvements in almost every aspect. The most noticeable change is the new design: both models have a large camera block that runs horizontally across the entire back, which Apple calls a “full-width camera plateau.” This redesigned module is important for two reasons:
It has allowed Apple to introduce a 48MP telephoto camera; and It has freed up space for the largest battery ever in an iPhone.
Other improvements this year include a vapor chamber cooling system and the A19 Pro chip, which help the iPhone 17 Pro and Pro Max live up to their status as the best iPhones Apple has ever made. Prices remain the same as last year: the iPhone 17 Pro costs $1,099, while the iPhone 17 Pro Max costs $1,199. Meanwhile, a new 2TB version of the Pro Max has also been introduced, priced at $1,999, making it the most expensive iPhone ever.
- Meanwhile, the standard iPhone 17 became more powerful
This year, Apple has also brought some changes to the standard model. The iPhone 17 brings a number of improvements that make it a complete step up from its predecessor. Of course, it comes with a more powerful chip, the A19, which increases battery life by adding up to eight additional hours of video playback. And the battery is not affected by the inclusion of a 120Hz ProMotion display, protected by Ceramic Shield 2 glass for greater scratch resistance.
The new 48MP “Fusion” camera system uses two rear cameras: a main one, a 2x optical zoom telephoto, a 48MP ultra-wide, and a 1x macro. If this system delivers impressive photos, it could become the standard to beat this year and into next. As the icing on the cake, Apple hasn’t raised the price of the standard model: the iPhone 17 starts at $799, a small relief in a time of volatile pricing.
- CENTER STAGE HAS COME TO THE FRONT CAMERA OF THE IPHONE 17
Selfie cameras may not be the most eye-catching feature on a phone, but Apple has made it a big deal this year. All new iPhones have front-facing cameras with square sensors and a handy Center Stage feature. Center Stage works just like it does on the Mac: it automatically keeps you in the center of the frame during video calls and zooms in to include others when you take a group selfie. The square sensor also means you don’t have to turn the phone horizontally for a panoramic selfie—it automatically switches to the best ratio.
Sure, there’s a bit of cropping involved, but Apple has increased the resolution of the front camera to 18MP to compensate for this. A small but very useful improvement for all selfie lovers.
- BUT STILL NO SIGNS OF THE MUCH-TALKED IPHONE FOLD
Other tech companies often like to hype up new devices before they’re fully revealed — and even Apple itself showed off the Vision Pro six months before launch. But sadly, there was no sign of the long-rumored iPhone Fold at yesterday’s event. Does it really exist? When will it come? How much will it cost? — We don’t know any more today than we did ten minutes before the “Awe Dropping” event began.
However… the new iPhone Air looks like one of those incredibly thin phones that would have to be produced if Apple were ready to bring a foldable model in the near future… so keep your eyes peeled.