iPhone 17 Is Here: Bigger, Brighter, Smarter — and Finally 120Hz Without Going Pro

Key facts (Sept 9, 2025):

Display: New 6.3-inch Super Retina XDR with ProMotion up to 120Hz, 3000 nits peak outdoor brightness, and Ceramic Shield 2 with 3× better scratch resistance. ^[1]
Cameras: 48MP Dual Fusion main + 48MP 48MP Ultra Wide; new 18MP “Center Stage” front camera with a square sensor, landscape selfies without rotating, Dual Capture video. ^[2]
Chip & AI: A19 (3nm) powering Apple Intelligence features and on-device AI upgrades. ^[3]
Storage & colors: 256GB base (512GB option); black, lavender, mist blue, sage, white. ^[4]
Price & dates: From $799; pre-orders Sep 12, in stores Sep 19 (more regions Sep 26). iOS 26 rolls out Sep 15. ^[5]
Who said what: Apple’s Kaiann Drance calls iPhone 17 a “big upgrade” with a brighter ProMotion display, A19 power and the new Center Stage front camera. ^[6]
Today’s coverage: Reuters confirms A19, brighter/scratch-resistant screen and the redesigned front camera; The Verge highlights 120Hz moving to the base model. ^[7] ^[8]

In-depth report

What’s new at a glance

Apple’s iPhone 17 is the most substantial upgrade to the standard iPhone in years, headlined by a larger 6.3-inch displaythat finally brings ProMotion 120Hz to the non-Pro tier. Apple pairs the panel with Ceramic Shield 2, claiming 3× better scratch resistance and improved anti-reflection — changes you’ll notice both in daily scuff resistance and outdoor legibility (peak 3000 nits). ^[9]

Cameras: higher resolution on every side — and a smarter selfie system

The rear system moves to 48MP + 48MP (Main + Ultra Wide), with the Main sensor offering optical-quality 2× crop for lossless portraits. The Ultra Wide captures up to 4× the resolution versus last year, improving macro and landscape detail. Up front, Apple debuts an 18MP Center Stage front camera with a square sensor: it widens or rotates automatically for group shots and lets you shoot landscape selfies while holding the phone vertically. Dual Capturerecords front and rear simultaneously, and stabilized 4K HDR video returns with spatial audio and post-capture Audio Mix tools. ^[10]

Performance & on-device AI

Under the hood is the A19 built on 3-nm fabrication. Apple and today’s reporting emphasize the chip’s role in on-device AI and Apple Intelligence features, even as deeper Siri changes arrive later across the lineup. Reuters’ live coverage underscores the A19’s AI focus in today’s announcement. ^[11]

Battery, durability, and day-to-day upgrades

Apple frames iPhone 17 as an “all-day battery” device with faster charging (exact wattage not specified in the press materials) and a more durable build. The contoured edge design and thinner borders modernize the look while keeping weight in check. Always-On Display and ProMotion’s variable refresh (down to 1Hz) help stretch battery in idle and low-motion use. ^[12]

Storage, colors, and pricing

Two configurations — 256GB and 512GB — mark a notable shift from 128GB starting storage on prior base models. Finish options are black, lavender, mist blue, sage, and white. Price stays at $799, maintaining Apple’s historical entry point for the mainline model. ^[13]

Availability & software timeline

Pre-orders open Friday, September 12 at 5 a.m. PDT in over 63 countries, with availability on Friday, September 19; a broader wave follows September 26. iOS 26 rolls out Monday, September 15, bringing Apple Intelligence features (beta; language availability varies). ^[14]

How it compares to iPhone 16 (standard)

Display: 6.3″ vs 6.1″, now 120Hz ProMotion instead of 60Hz.
Protection/brightness: Ceramic Shield 2 and 3000 nits peak vs older glass and lower brightness.
Cameras: All-48MP rear array and an 18MP front camera with Center Stage vs lower-res Ultra Wide and traditional selfie hardware.
Storage: 256GB base vs 128GB.
Chip: A19 (3nm) vs A18.
These changes align with independent summaries from The Verge and Apple’s newsroom specifications. ^[15] ^[16]

Expert and media notes from today

Apple VP Kaiann Drance on the upgrade: iPhone 17 combines a brighter ProMotion display, A19 performance, a “fantastic” 48MP Dual Fusion system, and the best front camera yet. (Apple press statement, Sept 9, 2025). ^[17]
Reuters stresses the A19 platform and tougher, brighter screen as the marquee technical gains for the base model launched today alongside other devices. ^[18]
The Verge calls out the 120Hz move to the base tier, the 6.3-inch size, and Ceramic Shield 2 as headline shifts. ^[19]

Bottom line

For mainstream buyers, iPhone 17 delivers the long-requested 120Hz display, a meaningfully smarter selfie camera, across-the-board 48MP imaging, and a higher 256GB floor — all at the familiar $799. If you skipped last year, this is the first standard iPhone in a while that feels Pro-adjacent in the right places without the Pro price. ^[20] ^[21]

Sources: Apple Newsroom (iPhone 17 press release, product pages), Reuters live report from Cupertino, and major tech press summaries published today. ^[22] ^[23] ^[24]

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