After the post-holiday resumption of work, the mobile phone market is gearing up for another replacement spree. Among the front-runners, Samsung's Galaxy S25 series has garnered considerable attention. Apple, Samsung's long-standing rival, is not far behind, with recent leaks shedding light on the upcoming iPhone 17 series.

First off, analysts in their latest report mentioned that both the iPhone 17 Pro and iPhone 17 Pro Max will receive a significant upgrade to 12GB of RAM, making them the models with the highest memory ever seen in an Apple device.

Currently, all models in the iPhone 16 lineup, including the iPhone 16, iPhone 16 Plus, iPhone 16 Pro, and iPhone 16 Pro Max, come standard with 8GB of RAM. Even the entry-level iPhone 16e boasts 8GB. However, as Apple continues to enhance its AI capabilities, the limitations of 8GB of RAM are becoming increasingly apparent.

Deploying AI products on the client side, whether it's AI applications or various large AI models, necessitates sufficient memory to store the entire model. Additionally, the system's basic performance overhead also requires a certain amount of memory. Therefore, it is essential for Apple to upgrade to 12GB of RAM to ensure an optimal user experience.

This upgrade, however, does not extend to the standard version and the iPhone 17 Air. Apple might be considering cost control, thereby widening the configuration gap between the standard version and the Pro series. After all, the entire iPhone 16 series comes with 8GB of RAM.

Furthermore, media reports indicate that the iPhone 17 series has introduced an Air model while eliminating the Plus model. The new iPhone 17 Air emphasizes an ultra-thin design, making it the thinnest phone Apple has ever produced.

The iPhone 17 Air is reported to have a body thickness of 5.64mm, while analyst Ming-Chi Kuo believes it to be 5.5mm. Although there is a slight discrepancy between the data from the two sources, it is certain that the iPhone 17 Air's thickness is within 6mm.

To achieve this ultra-thin design, Apple had to compromise on some basic configurations. The iPhone 17 Air has reportedly eliminated the bottom speaker, ultra-wide-angle camera, and physical SIM card slot.

The iPhone 17 Air features a single speaker located at the top earpiece position, with the bottom opening serving as a microphone. Additionally, Apple has omitted the ultra-wide-angle camera, leaving only a single 48-megapixel main camera on the rear, supporting optical-quality 2x zoom.

Moreover, the iPhone 17 Air only supports eSIM. Unlike traditional physical SIM cards, eSIM can be directly integrated into the device's motherboard and establish a network connection through remote download of configuration files. Its primary advantage is saving internal space within the device.

Regarding industrial design, previous reports stated that the iPhone 17 Pro adopts a new "camera bar" design. This "camera bar" is longer than previously depicted in renderings, featuring three cameras on the left and the LED flash, microphone, and LiDAR sensor on the right.

In contrast to the iPhone 17 Pro, the iPhone 17 Air only has one camera, with a narrower camera bar on the back. Many netizens have dubbed the camera bar the "runway," making it the model with the most significant design change in Apple's history.

Earlier, we mentioned the changes in the iPhone 17 series' camera module design. In other words, the imaging solution for this generation has also undergone a transformation. One of the most notable changes is in the telephoto lens. Both the iPhone 17 Pro and iPhone 17 Pro Max will receive a new telephoto sensor, with the iPhone 17 Pro Max upgrading from the previous generation's 12-megapixel to 48-megapixel.

Additionally, the iPhone 17 Pro series is equipped with the A19 Pro chip, based on TSMC's 3nm process technology. It misses out on the latest 2nm process. Reports indicate that due to the high cost and limited production capacity of TSMC's 2nm technology, Apple has postponed the commercialization of 2nm to 2026.

In terms of the display, the iPhone 17 series is expected to bid farewell to the 60Hz refresh rate across all models, adopting a 120Hz LTPO screen that supports dynamic adjustment from 1Hz to 120Hz. This means that whether browsing the web, watching videos, or playing games, users can enjoy a seamless and fluid experience. Furthermore, the LTPO screen intelligently adjusts the refresh rate based on different scenarios, leading to significant power savings. It's worth noting that the Android camp has long popularized high refresh rate screens, and Apple has finally caught up this time!

According to reports, Apple supply chain analysts have revealed that all four models of the iPhone 17 series—iPhone 17, iPhone 17 Air, iPhone 17 Pro, and iPhone 17 Pro Max—support up to 35W wired charging.

Regarding other peripheral configurations, the iPhone 17 series is anticipated to feature Apple's self-developed C3 communication baseband, Wi-Fi 7, a newly designed vapor chamber cooling architecture, and more.

It has to be said that compared to the iPhone 16 series, this generation of iPhones shows considerable overall improvement. Firstly, the screen refresh rate has been enhanced, undoubtedly the most crucial hardware upgrade for typical iPhone users. Secondly, the design of the entire series has been refreshed, with a more distinctive style that enhances recognizability. Additionally, the application of new materials may also reduce the device's overall weight. Lighter and thinner will undoubtedly be a significant trend for mobile phones in 2025.

Following Apple's usual practice, the iPhone 17 series is expected to be released in September 2025. As for pricing, rumors suggest that the iPhone 17 may start at 5,999 yuan, with the Pro series beginning at 7,999 yuan and the Pro Max potentially costing 9,999 yuan. However, these are merely rumors, and the specific prices will have to await Apple's official announcement.

In summary, the iPhone 17 offers a significant upgrade, particularly in terms of design, display, chip, and camera system. If Apple can turn these leaks into reality, the iPhone 17 will undoubtedly be worth anticipating. Of course, ultimately, it will depend on Apple's performance at the press conference. Let's wait and see!

Tech journalist Mark Gurman believes that although the iPhone 17 Air may not become the best-selling iPhone, it will certainly be the most anticipated new model in the fall. Consumers may ultimately still prefer the iPhone Pro and Pro Max models, but the sales of the Air model will at least exceed those of the iPhone 16 Plus.

Finally, the iPhone 17 Pro and iPhone 17 Pro Max share a consistent design: maintaining the original triple-camera setup but with an elongated camera bar, and the flash moved to the right side of the body, giving it an overall look similar to the Xiaomi 11 Ultra. To reduce production costs and achieve Apple's goal of carbon neutrality by 2030, Apple has adjusted the body material of the iPhone 17 Pro series, abandoning the previously exclusive titanium alloy used in the Pro series and switching to aluminum alloy. The rear cover of the iPhone 17 Pro series adopts a spliced design, with the battery area changed to glass material to maintain wireless charging and MagSafe magnetic attachment functions.

As a result, many netizens have commented that the design of the iPhone 17 Pro bears a striking resemblance to that of the "Android's light" Xiaomi 11 Ultra, with some even joking that the iPhone 17 Pro is the "Apple's light." In my opinion, Apple, which has always adhered to aesthetic design, may have adopted such a large camera bar to promote some new technologies. I hope that at the press conference, Apple can bring us some surprises!

If you have any thoughts on Apple's latest leaks regarding the iPhone 17, feel free to leave a comment in the section below for Mingmei Wuxian to join the discussion!