Apple Unveils iPhone 17 Lineup, Introducing Ultra-Thin ‘Air’ Model & Camera Advancements
CUPERTINO, CA – September 12, 2024 – Apple today announced its latest smartphone series, the iPhone 17, highlighted by the introduction of the ultra-slim iPhone Air, alongside updated Pro and standard models. Pre-orders begin September 13th,with availability starting September 19th,coinciding with the launch of AirPods Pro 3,Apple Watch Series 11,and Watch Ultra 3.
iPhone Air: A New Level of Thinness
The iPhone Air marks a important departure in design, boasting a remarkably thin profile of 0.22 inches (approximately 5.5mm),making it the slimmest iPhone to date. It features a 6.5-inch display and replaces the previous iPhone 16 Plus. Due to its slim design, Apple is reintroducing a “bumper” case style to provide additional protection. The Air features a 18MP front-facing camera with Centre Stage and a unique “Dual Capture” feature allowing simultaneous recording from both front and rear cameras, paired with a single 48MP rear camera. Battery life is comparable to the iPhone 16 Pro, tho trails the iPhone 17, benefitting from overall battery improvements this year.
iPhone 17 Pro & Pro Max: Redesigned Durability & Camera Power
The iPhone 17 Pro ($1,099) and pro Max ($1,199) showcase a complete body redesign. they retain screen sizes of 6.3 inches and 6.9 inches respectively, but shift from a titanium frame to aluminum, incorporating a ceramic panel on the back dubbed “Plateau.” Despite a slight weight increase of approximately 7 grams, Apple asserts the new design is more durable.
The moast substantial upgrades are found in the camera system. Both Pro models feature a triple 48MP rear camera array (main, ultra-wide, and telephoto), which apple claims is “the equivalent of 8 professional lenses.” The iPhone 17 Pro Max specifically boasts a new telephoto lens offering 8x optical zoom.
Battery life sees a significant boost, especially in the Pro Max, offering up to 39 hours of video playback – 6 hours more than last year’s model and 10 hours more than the 15 Pro Max. The Pro model also receives a notable battery improvement.
iPhone 17: Hardware Focused Updates
The standard iPhone 17 ($799) maintains a similar design to its predecessor,with the primary advancements focused on internal hardware. It features a 6.3-inch screen and now includes a 48MP sensor for both the front Center Stage camera and the main/ultra-wide rear lenses, representing a substantial camera upgrade over previous generations. The iPhone 17 delivers 30 hours of video playback, exceeding the iPhone 16 Pro’s performance.
