Apple officially pulled the wraps off the iPhone 17 at its much-anticipated ‘Awe Dropping’ event in California. During the keynote at Apple Park, CEO Tim Cook unveiled the new base model for 2025, which now sits at the heart of the company’s latest iPhone lineup. Positioned as the successor to the iPhone 16, the iPhone 17 offers meaningful performance gains, improved cameras, and a suite of quality-of-life upgrades, all while delivering full support for Apple Intelligence, the company’s artificial intelligence (AI) suite.
iPhone 17 Price and Availability
The iPhone 17 starts at $799 (roughly Rs. 70,400) for the base 256GB variant, with a higher 512GB model also available. In India, prices begin at Rs. 82,900. Buyers will get to choose from five stylish colourways- Lavender, Mist Blue, Sage, White, and Black.
Pre-orders kick off on September 12, while the device will officially go on sale globally from September 19.
The wait is over. Introducing the new iPhone 17 Pro, iPhone Air, iPhone 17, Apple Watch Ultra 3, Apple Watch Series 11, Apple Watch SE 3, AirPods Pro 3, and more.
— Apple (@Apple) September 9, 2025
iPhone 17 Features and Specifications
The iPhone 17 runs iOS 26 out of the box and is available in both dual SIM configurations, eSIM-only in the US and Nano+eSIM in other regions. The handset debuts a 6.3-inch Super Retina XDR OLED display with ProMotion technology, making it the first non-Pro iPhone (alongside the new iPhone Air) to feature a 120Hz refresh rate. With peak brightness of 3,000 nits, HDR content and outdoor readability see a significant boost.
The display also gains Ceramic Shield 2 protection for improved scratch and crack resistance, along with an always-on display. The device retains an IP68 rating, ensuring durability against dust and water.
Upgraded Camera System
Apple has given the iPhone 17’s optics a serious boost. The dual rear camera setup is led by a 48MP Fusion main sensor (f/1.6) with sensor-shift OIS. This versatile sensor doubles as a 2X telephoto lens with a 52mm focal length. Alongside it is a 48MP Fusion Ultra-Wide camera (f/2.2) with macro photography capabilities.
On the front, the new Centre Stage selfie camera delivers sharper, more dynamic images and video calls, thanks to AI-driven enhancements.
Power and Performance
Under the hood, the iPhone 17 is powered by the A19 chipset, featuring a 16-core Neural Engine optimized for AI workloads. Apple claims the CPU delivers up to 40% faster performance compared to the iPhone 16. The new architecture brings improved energy efficiency, increased memory bandwidth, and more powerful AI inference for Apple Intelligence.
Storage gets a bump too, with 256GB now the standard base model.
Battery and Charging
Battery life has also improved significantly, Apple says the iPhone 17 offers up to eight hours more usage than its predecessor. Charging speeds are faster as well, with the device capable of reaching 50% charge in just minutes. A quick 10-minute top-up can reportedly deliver up to eight hours of use, making it a strong choice for heavy users.
SEE ALSO: Apple Unveils iPhone Air: Slimmest-Ever iPhone With A19 Pro Chip, AI Features, And Ceramic Shield 2
SEE ALSO: Apple Launches iPhone 17 Pro Series With A19 Pro Chip, Vapor Cooling, And Ceramic Shield 2 Display