Apple has been making incremental design changes to the iPhone over the past few years, but this time around, the entire iPhone lineup will launch with a plethora of upgrades, especially the 'Pro' models. This year, the company will launch four new models of the iPhone, minus the 'Plus' model, which will be replaced with an ultra-thin 'Air' model. However, the standard iPhone 17 model will also receive a major display size upgrade, a jump up from a 6.12-inch to a 6.27-inch screen size.
Apple to launch four iPhone 17 models with bigger displays and a new 'Air' variant replacing the Plus model this year
The news comes from a prominent display analyst, Ross Young, corroborating prior reports of the display upgrade for the company's cheapest version of the iPhone 17. The iPhone 17 will feature a slightly larger 6.27-inch display, and even though the screen enlargement is quite small, it will make a difference when it comes to usability. Apple is aiming to close the display size gap with the 'Pro' models, as the smaller iPhone 17 Pro is also expected to feature the same screen size. Moreover, the current version of the iPhone 16 Pro also features the exact same display size, which is an indication that the company will make cosmetic changes to the front of the device.
At this stage, it is not clear if the company will make the device slightly bigger than the current model or would see fit to trim down the bezels similar to the 'Pro' models. We believe the company will make the bezels slightly slimmer to accommodate a bigger display, and it will also align with the company's ambitions for more screen real estate in a similar package. For more information, you can check the breakdown of all four models' display sizes below.
- iPhone 17 - 6.27 inches
- iPhone 17 Air - 6.55 inches
- iPhone 17 Pro - 6.27 inches
- iPhone 17 Pro Max - 6.86 inches
Apple rounds off the 6.27 to 6.3 inches and 6.9 inches for the largest 'Pro Max' model, which shows that the company has quite a diverse range of iPhones planned for this year. The iPhone 17 Air will particularly be the highlight of the entire lineup, and it will come with a plethora of additional novelties, such as the incorporation of a new custom modem.
Apart from internals, the iPhone 17 Air will be the slimmest iPhone ever, with a thickness of just 5.5mm, thinner than Samsung's Galaxy S25 Edge. Other than a bigger display, the standard iPhone 17 model will feature the same design as the current version. However, the 'Pro' models will feature the biggest redesign in years with a horizontal camera bar on the top, and it will share the same design aesthetics with the iPhone 17 Air as well. The only difference is that the iPhone 17 Pro will feature a triple-lens camera setup coupled with a LiDAR scanner, while the Air will stick to a single-lens camera setup.
While this year's iPhone lineup will be accompanied by various visual alterations, the 20th anniversary iPhone is something that users should be excited about. The device is expected to feature an all-screen design that melts on all four sides. You can check out all the details in our dedicated post on the device.
About the author: Ali Salman is a technology reporter for Wccftech mobile section with a specialized focus on Apple and the intellectual property that drives mobile innovation. He has cultivated a unique expertise in analyzing and deconstructing complex technology patents, translating dense legal and technical documents into clear, insightful reports on future products.
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