iPhone 17 — UK Preview of Apple’s “Awe-dropping” Line-up

Apple has confirmed its September Special Event for 9 September, and the invitation alone has set tongues wagging. The “Awe-dropping” artwork—awash with vibrant orange, deep blue, aqua, green and yellow—has fuelled speculation about everything from improved cooling to a possible thermal-camera trick, and (more plausibly) a refreshed colour palette for the phones themselves.

The Models: Four Again, with a New “Air”

Expect a familiar four-strong family, but with one notable twist: the iPhone 17 Air is tipped to replace the Plus, sitting alongside the iPhone 17, 17 Pro and 17 Pro Max. The Air is rumoured to be astonishingly thin—around 5.5 mm—yet still powered by Apple’s latest silicon, positioning it as a sleek foil to Samsung’s ultra-slim Galaxy S25 Edge. Battery life will be the key question if it indeed takes the Plus’s slot.

Design & Display: Subtle Evolution, Potentially Big Wins

Visually, reports suggest Apple will move on from the traditional square camera bump to a pill-style camera bar stretching across the rear—an elegant, Pixel-esque look that modernises the silhouette without abandoning Apple minimalism. Day-to-day, sizes should feel familiar (iPhone 17: 6.1in, Pro: 6.3in, Pro Max: 6.9in). The Air’s dimensions are less certain, though a 6.7in display—akin to the outgoing Plus—wouldn’t surprise.

Crucially, current chatter points to 120 Hz across the entire range, which would finally elevate the entry model’s smoothness to Pro levels—one of the most requested upgrades from UK buyers.

Cameras: Familiar Formula, Sharper Execution

On the standard iPhone 17, expect a dual-camera array (48 MP wide + 12 MP ultra-wide). The Pros should retain three lenses, with the ultra-wide moving to 48 MP and the telephoto due a serious upgrade—some whispers even suggest 8× optical zoom with moving elements for continuous zoom. Meanwhile, the front camera across the board is rumoured to jump to 24 MP, which will delight FaceTime regulars and creators alike.

Performance, Connectivity & Software

While chip allocations may vary by model, the theme is consistent: more headroom for on-device AI and Apple’s next wave of Apple Intelligence features. Storage tiers are expected to mirror recent years (up to 1 TB on Pro Max), and 8 GB RAM remains the likely baseline for those AI workloads. There’s also curiosity about Apple’s in-house C1 5G modem expanding beyond the iPhone 16E, though that remains unconfirmed. All phones should ship with iOS 26, which refreshes core apps and experiences in a cohesive, less flashy way.

Battery & Charging

The iPhone 17 Pro Max is tipped to grow its cell to around 5,000 mAh (up from 4,685 mAh on its predecessor), while thinner models—especially the Air—may walk a tighter line between elegance and endurance. Expect iterative gains with MagSafe and charging reliability rather than a radical shift.

UK Pricing & Availability: What Looks Likely

Timing rarely changes: unveil on 9 September, with UK sales customarily beginning the Friday of the following week—pointing to 12 September or 19 September. Pricing may edge up with tariffs; one analyst projects roughly $50 increases in the US, implying starting points of $829 (iPhone 17), $979 (Air), $1,049 (Pro) and $1,249 (Pro Max). UK pricing will reflect exchange rates and local taxes.

Also on the Cards: Watch and AirPods

Alongside iPhone, we’re expecting Apple Watch Series 11 with a speedier chip, improved efficiency and the return of blood-oxygen tracking globally. Blood-pressure sensing is mooted, plus watchOS 26 perks such as Workout Buddy and a new gesture. The rugged Apple Watch Ultra 3 should refine brightness and bezel thinness while keeping its adventure-ready persona.

Audio fans should watch for AirPods Pro 3: likely a familiar design with a slimmer case, a capacitive button, potential in-ear heart-rate tracking, and a rumoured live-translation capability to spar with Samsung and Google.