The Apple iPhone 17 must be a big improve to stay a preferred smartphone alternative in 2025 and 2026, because the unimaginable choice of {hardware}, specification, and design within the Android world threatens to additional erode its enchantment. What does Apple must do with the iPhone 17 collection this yr, if we’re going to proceed recommending it? Right here’s 5 issues the iPhone 17 must be a compelling improve.
All iPhone 17 fashions want a 120Hz, always-on display screen
Apple made a mistake by not including the 120Hz ProMotion, always-on display screen to all of the iPhone 16 fashions. The issue is, a excessive refresh price display screen is commonplace on nearly each Android telephone you should purchase in the present day, and by ignoring the non-Professional iPhone, Apple regarded out of contact. What frustrates essentially the most, is Apple’s always-on display screen is without doubt one of the greatest you will get, and extra house owners ought to have the ability to expertise it.
From the best way it adapts your wallpaper and categorizes notifications, to the way it reveals dwell information from apps, the always-on display screen is informative and enticing. The 120Hz ProMotion function can also be very good, and in contrast to many Android telephones, it’s extraordinarily uncommon to note any adjustment to a decrease refresh price for the sake of battery life. All iPhone 17 fashions want the 120Hz, always-on display screen, even when Apple barely modifications the options and look for the non-Professional fashions, if it actually should use it as a approach to upsell to Professional fashions.
Battery innovation
The iPhone 16 collection is without doubt one of the higher smartphones for battery life already, however everybody all the time desires the battery of their telephone to last more than it does, but not compromise on issues like gadget measurement and weight. It’s an issue Android gadget makers are beginning to come up with with the introduction of silicon-carbon batteries, that are larger capability cells with out the downside of needing to dramatically enhance bodily measurement.
The iPhone 17 collection represents an important alternative for Apple to essentially take the lead in cellular battery know-how, and construct on foundations it has within the iPhone 16 and iOS 18, whether or not it’s via the introduction of silicon anode batteries, graphite batteries, or one thing else. It must exhibit a noticeable enhance in battery life for most individuals, after which illustrate it higher than Android manufacturers. This shouldn’t be tough as Apple is nice at telling compelling tales, which leads us on to the following level.
Make me care about Apple Intelligence
Synthetic Intelligence (AI) is all over the place, and it’s embedded into practically each smartphone launched over the previous couple of years, but the options are all very comparable and sometimes not ones folks will recurrently use. Apple Intelligence, after a rocky begin, is now principally accessible on all suitable iPhone fashions, in most locations the place the telephones are bought. When the iPhone 17 arrives, and with it iOS 19, Apple wants to elucidate to us why we must always care about Apple Intelligence.
Samsung makes a substantial effort to point out how Galaxy AI, and specifically Now Temporary, can assist make our lives simpler. Whether or not it does or not isn’t the purpose. It gives the look its AI options do one thing. It’s not likely clear what Apple Intelligence does that’s totally different or higher than different cellular AI suites, how Siri suits into the mannequin, and why anybody can buy an iPhone to make use of it.
Apple is a grasp at taking options different producers fail to successfully promote and turning them into must-haves. Apple Intelligence is the function, however any advantages haven’t been successfully communicated but, and we’ve but to see an AI instrument or function everybody understands and may see the way it suits into their lives. When it introduces the iPhone 17, Apple Intelligence is certain to be an enormous a part of it. What Apple must do is present and inform us why we must always care.
Slim down all of the iPhone 17 telephones
The iPhone 17 Air is without doubt one of the rumored fashions Apple could introduce later this yr, and after spending time with the Samsung Galaxy S25 Edge, we’ve solely develop into extra enthusiastic about it. Nevertheless, whereas a brand new, thinner iPhone mannequin will probably be welcome, the place Apple may actually leap forward of the competitors is to cut back the thickness and the burden throughout all the vary, utilizing strategies discovered from the Air, relatively than solely in a single, particular mannequin.
What we’re in search of is the iPhone 17 to be suitably totally different to the competitors and for Apple to face out once more, after a number of years of iPhone fashions which feel and appear similar to one another. The iPhone 17 Air needs to be an enormous step in the correct route, however Apple would win extra consideration by doing one thing comparable with the remainder of the collection, simply in a extra modest style. Make all of the iPhone 17 fashions feel and appear considerably totally different to earlier than, not simply one among them.
Watch out with the iPhone 17’s worth
Our remaining level is, sadly, the one which is least prone to occur. For the previous couple of years Apple has stored the price of its iPhone fashions the identical as earlier than, when different manufacturers reminiscent of Samsung have elevated costs. Together with the iPhone’s sturdy residual worth, the fastened worth has made it much less of a serious monetary resolution for a lot of to improve, even when the {hardware} could not actually characterize an enormous leap ahead.
There’s each likelihood the iPhone 17 will probably be dearer than the iPhone 16 collection, probably resulting from elevated manufacturing prices, new applied sciences, and the impression of tariffs launched by the U.S. authorities. Any enhance in worth will make potential upgraders suppose twice, and may imply newcomers look extra carefully at the most effective new telephones launched by the competitors when it’s time to purchase a brand new one.
Though Apple has held off rising costs for a number of years, if the price of the iPhone 17 is greater than the iPhone 16, it’s certain to generate headlines, and with them the repute (within the minds of regular folks outdoors of the tech area) of being the “costly” alternative. A better worth will impression new gross sales and upgrades, and if in any respect doable Apple must hold will increase low, or keep away from any totally.
Will any of it occur?
The excellent news is we’ve not been unreasonable with any of this, and nearly all the pieces we’ve listed has already been linked to the iPhone 17 via rumors and hypothesis. All it wants is for Apple to comply with via when the iPhone 17 arrives, and we’ll have one of the thrilling and compelling new iPhone bulletins in years.
Apple is predicted to announce the iPhone 17 collection later this yr, with September or October possible dates, primarily based on its earlier announcement occasions. We are going to be taught extra about iOS 19 throughout WWDC 2025 in June, and the software program will probably be totally launched to the general public with the iPhone 17.