Apple's iPhone 17: Thinner Design, Advanced Features, and Future Innovations
iPhone 17 to feature a 120Hz display, compact Face ID, and innovations for future models.
Apple’s upcoming iPhone 17, set to debut in 2025, is shaping up to be a pivotal release for the company. Rumors suggest significant upgrades across the lineup, including design changes, enhanced displays, and advanced camera technologies. According to reports, the iPhone 17 Air will be Apple’s thinnest model in recent years, while the base variants will introduce a 120Hz display for smoother performance. The iPhone 17 Pro Max is also rumored to feature a smaller Dynamic Island, showcasing Apple’s ongoing efforts to refine its Face ID system.
Looking ahead, Apple’s suppliers in Asia are reportedly developing next-generation components for future iPhones. A well-known leaker on Weibo, Digital Chat Station, revealed that Apple is exploring technologies such as foldable displays, a multi-fold periscope lens, a variable aperture main camera, and a miniaturized Time-of-Flight (ToF) sensor for Face ID. These components are still in the development phase and may serve iPhone models beyond the iPhone 17 series.
The foldable display, in particular, is rumored to be part of a foldable iPhone that Apple could release in 2026. Meanwhile, a variable aperture camera may arrive as early as 2026’s iPhone 18. Notably, recent leaks also indicate a shift in Apple’s supply chain, with the company reportedly sourcing main camera lenses from Samsung instead of Sony for future models.
Apple’s ambition to shrink the Dynamic Island further has also been highlighted. The iPhone 17 Pro Max is expected to debut a smaller pill-shaped cutout, using metalens optics to house the Face ID components. Future iterations may see Face ID technology move under the display, leaving only the selfie camera visible.
Another intriguing development involves a multi-fold periscope lens, which could enhance the digital zoom capabilities of Apple’s flagship models. The iPhone 15 Pro Max and iPhone 16 Pro introduced tetraprism zoom lenses, and the multi-fold lens may represent the next step in improving light-bending technology for superior zoom performance.
While these innovations are promising, it remains to be seen which features Apple will prioritize for commercial release. As with all prototypes, certain technologies may be delayed or scrapped during the development process. Nonetheless, the iPhone 17 and its successors promise to bring exciting advancements to Apple’s product lineup.