Apple’s hardware keynote is expected to feature the iPhone 17 lineup: a conspicuously announced newcomer rumored to be the thinnest iPhone the company has ever made. Look forward to more sweeping design refreshes to the core models, big improvements to the camera and display and serious movement across the Apple Watch and AirPods families — all pointing toward a multiyear hardware reset that, according to Bloomberg’s Mark Gurman’s reporting, sets the stage for an eventual foldable iPhone.
iPhone 17: Even larger screen, faster visuals, slim arc
The standard iPhone 17 range is tentatively tipped to edge closer into “Pro” territory. Supply chain chatter followed by the well-connected pepole at Display Supply Chain Consulants point to a small physical size bump up to somewhere around 6.3 inches as well as a 120Hz display for the base model — fixing one of the most requested upgrades from those looking to upgrade. Some analysts also believe that selfies and video calls will look better thanks to a higher-resolution 24-megapixel front camera.
Colorways are rumored to broaden with new purple and green looks and — for the Pros — deep blue and copper. Around the back, leaked CAD renders and concept images point to a redesigned camera island—possibly becoming a full-width rectangular bar—complemented by a centered Apple logo ready to accept MagSafe. It’s a cleaner shape that tips its hat to pro cameras but keeps the door open for big sensors.
Materials may shift as well. The titanium band could be replaced by aluminum, which could help shave grams and dollars without making the phone any less tough in 2021 and beyond, and there might be an aluminum-steel version with a lower price tag in the cards. The Pro Max, then, is set to bulk out a tiny bit to accommodate a bigger battery — a trade-off that most power users would happily make for more screen on time.
Pricing expectations settle in around the same tiers as always: approximately $800 for the base version, around $1,100 for Pro and roughly $1,250 for Pro Max. One potential change: Pro storage options could begin at 256 GB, driving 128 GB down in favor of nudging average selling prices upward — a prompt analysts like those at JPMorgan frequently highlight as key to Apple’s margin game plan.
Apple’s thinnest iPhone ever: the rumored ‘Air’
All eyes are on a new ultrathin model informally referred to as iPhone Air, which may step in for the Plus. The headline spec is its thickness: rumors have it that this thing’ll be around 5.5 mm thick — even thinner than Samsung’s already-svelte Galaxy S6 Edge at right around 5.8mm — alongside a 6.6-inch display. That form factor would raise the bar for thin-and-light hardware among Apple’s phone lineup.
Engineering trade-offs are the catch. To reach that profile, the Air is reportedly going to ship with a single rear camera and a pared-back speaker arrangement which reportedly relies more on the earpiece. The big question is battery life: ith a device like this going ultra-thin usually means tighter energy density budgets. Some in the supply chain believe Apple will counterbalance with an optional battery case, while others note improvements persist in stacked cell designs and battery thermal management lifted from recent generations of iPhones.
Pricing may be $899 to $950, in black, silver and light gold finishes. If Apple achieves that number, it would undercut some premium Android thin designs while establishing more distinct ladders to the Pro and Pro Max.
A bridge to foldables
Apple’s predilection for thinner phones is not merely skin-deep. A skinnier chassis, lighter frames and adjustments for the cameras are basic moves if the company wants to bring in a foldable model, as many believe will arrive in the next product cycle. Reports from Bloomberg and the display-industry analysts have Apple pressure-testing hinge durability, ultra-thin glass, and weight budgets—ensuring that millimeters and grams shaved now lead to dividends later.
Apple Watch Ultra 3, Series 11, and SE
For wearables, the Ultra 3 is expected to see faster charging, a bigger display and more connectivity options — including 5G and possibly satellite. Health remains the northern star: Ultra 3 and Series 11 are both expected to add blood pressure notifications and sleep apnea insights but Bloomberg’s reporting hints that Apple could push back some features if clinical tuning or regulatory work takes longer.
Apple recently back-ported it to earlier models via a redesigned blood oxygen experience, suggesting the underlying algorithms and UI were now mature. The new SE 3 undoubtedly adheres to value principles — maybe a bigger screen and percolating whispers even a plastic version to satisfy lower end price points. Street price talk: about $250 for SE 3, $400 for Series 11 and from $800 for Ultra 3.
AirPods Pro 3 and new accessories
We should see a more streamlined stem design, touch controls, and a more streamlined case with AirPods Pro 3. A next-gen H3 chip is rumored to be proposed to enhance active noise cancellation and adaptive audio functionality. Case leaks also suggest that Apple is testing woven “TechWoven” accessories for iPhone 17 Pro models — a premium[er] fabric take on the short-lived FineWoven range back in 2023 — with some featuring a cross-body strap.
The big picture
If the whispers are true, Apple’s 2024–2026 plan is obvious: pull the mainstream iPhone upmarket, cut a new ultra-thin tier to generate upgrades, and let the Pros maintain revenue with materials, camera systems, and extra starting storage. Research firms including Counterpoint have repeatedly said display smoothness, battery life and camera quality are the top-upgrade drivers — the very things Apple is addressing.
The result should be a cleaner line up that moves a lot of users up the ladder without having to confuse things with an excessive number of sizes or SKUs — all while quietly laying the foundations for the most significant iPhone hardware swing in years: a foldable that doesn’t feel like a compromise. Now all that’s left is for Apple to put the case onstage.
