The latest rumored specs for the iPhone 17 base model are underwhelming.
In a research note with equity research firm GF Securities this month, Apple analyst Jeff Pu said that the lowest-end iPhone 17 model will be equipped with the same A18 chip that is used in the iPhone 16 base model. The chip will continue to be manufactured with TSMC’s second-generation 3nm process, known as N3E, he said.
The ultra-thin iPhone 17 Air is expected to have an A19 chip, while the iPhone 17 Pro models are expected to have an A19 Pro chip. Both of those chips are expected to be manufactured with TSMC’s third-generation 3nm process, known as N3P.
Pu also expects the iPhone 17 to be equipped with 8GB of RAM, matching the iPhone 16.
Last month, Apple analyst Ming-Chi Kuo said the iPhone 17 Air and both iPhone 17 Pro models will all be equipped with an increased 12GB of RAM. He said that Apple was still deciding on 8GB or 12GB of RAM for the iPhone 17 base model at that time, and if Pu’s information is accurate, the company has settled on 8GB for the device.
Overall, the base iPhone 17 is shaping up to be a minor upgrade over the equivalent iPhone 16, with both devices expected to have the same overall design. Key new features that are rumored for the iPhone 17 include a 120Hz display and a 24-megapixel front camera, compared to 60Hz and a 12-megapixel front camera on the iPhone 16.
The base iPhone 17 will also feature a slightly larger 6.3-inch display compared to the 6.1-inch iPhone 16, according to display industry expert Ross Young.
Apple is expected to unveil the entire iPhone 17 series in September.
Popular Stories
iPhone 17 Pro Launching Later This Year With These 12 New Features
While the iPhone 17 Pro and iPhone 17 Pro Max are not expected to launch until September, there are already plenty of rumors about the devices. Below, we recap key changes rumored for the iPhone 17 Pro models as of May 2025: Aluminum frame: iPhone 17 Pro models are rumored to have an aluminum frame, whereas the iPhone 15 Pro and iPhone 16 Pro models have a titanium frame, and the iPhone X …
No iOS 19: Apple Going Straight to iOS 26
With the design overhaul that’s coming this year, Apple plans to rename all of its operating systems, reports Bloomberg. Going forward, iOS, iPadOS, macOS, tvOS, watchOS, and visionOS will be identified by year, rather than by version number. We’re not going to be getting iOS 19, we’re getting iOS 26. Subscribe to the MacRumors YouTube channel for more videos. iOS 26 will be accompanied by…
Apple Rumored to Redesign the iPhone Every Year Through to 2027
Apple is reportedly preparing to implement significant iPhone hardware redesigns each year for the next three generations. According leaks from the Chinese supply chain disclosed by Weibo user “Digital Chat Station,” Apple plans to carry out a series of phased industrial design changes affecting different parts of the iPhone across three consecutive years: 2025, 2026, and 2027. The changes…
iPhone 17 Display Sizes: What to Expect
Apple’s iPhone 17 lineup will include four iPhones, and two of those are going to get all-new display sizes. There’s the iPhone 17 Air, which we’ve heard about several times, but the standard iPhone 17 is also going to have a different display size. We’ve heard a bit about the updated size before, but with most rumors focusing on the iPhone 17 Air, it’s easy to forget. Display analyst Ross…
WhatsApp Teases Long-Awaited iPad App
The popular messaging app WhatsApp has teased a long-awaited iPad app, which would be offered alongside its existing iPhone and Mac apps. The official WhatsApp account on X today reacted with an eyes emoji to a post saying that WhatsApp should release an iPad app. This could be a hint that Meta is gearing up to release WhatsApp for iPad, which has already been available for beta testing via…
WWDC is Just Two Weeks Away: Here Are the Biggest iOS 19 Rumors
WWDC 2025 is just two weeks away as of today, with Apple’s opening keynote scheduled for Monday, June 9 at 10 a.m. Pacific Time. During the keynote, Apple is expected to announce iOS 19, iPadOS 19, macOS 16, watchOS 12, tvOS 19, visionOS 3, and other software updates, along with new Apple Intelligence features. In some years, there are also hardware announcements at WWDC, but there are no…
macOS 26 Rumored to Drop Support for These Five Macs
The next major version of macOS, now dubbed “macOS 26,” is rumored to drop support for several older Intel-based Mac models currently compatible with macOS Sequoia. According to individuals familiar with the matter cited by AppleInsider, the following Macs will not be supported by the next version of macOS: MacBook Pro (2018) iMac (2019) iMac Pro (2017) Mac mini (2018) MacB…
Report: Apple Planned to Offer Starlink-Like Home Internet Service
Apple had plans to offer a Starlink-like satellite home internet service in collaboration with Boeing, The Information reports. Starting in 2015, Apple held discussions with Boeing about “Project Eagle,” a plan to launch a service to provide wireless internet services to iPhones and homes. The companies would have launched thousands of satellites into orbit around the Earth to beam internet…
