After years of leaks, Apple finally unveiled the biggest physical changes in the iPhone for a while. Things got bigger, thinner, and smaller as the Plus line is now gone. Prices have also gone up, which we can only hope is worth it. Let’s meet the new iPhone 17, iPhone Air, and iPhone 17 Pro.
iPhone 17 (starts at P 57,990)
The changes for the entry-level iPhone all happened within its body. It now starts with 256GB of storage and goes up to 512GB for the first time. The screen is also bigger at 6.3 inches compared to 6.1 inches before, and is now topped with Ceramic Shield for better scratch resistance. The Super Retina XDR screen now also has an Adaptive Refresh Rate of 120Hz for smoother graphics, 3,000 nits of brightness, and an Always-On display.
The Center Stage camera makes its way to the iPhone 17. It allows for a wider field of view and will let the user take a photo in portrait or landscape while holding the phone vertically. They can also record with the front and rear camera combined, so they can show the world around them. At the back are also now a pair of 48MP cameras for both lenses.
Battery life has been improved as it can now go up to 30 hours with video playback. It can also now have a 50% charge with just 20 minutes of plug-in time with the optional 40W charger, and can also accommodate the 60W charger. There’s also a new N1 chip that enhances WiFi 7, Bluetooth 6, and Thread. It improves the performance of these technologies, like Personal Hotspot and the lauded AirDrop.
The iPhone 17 will be available in Lavender, Sage, Mist Blue, White, and Black.
iPhone Air (starts at P 72,990)
The biggest change in the lineup for this year is the absence of the 17 Plus. In its place is Apple’s nth attempt at a third premiere line – the iPhone Air. While the standard iPhone is 7.95mm thick, the new iPhone Air comes in at 5.64mm (not including the camera bump). It has a Ceramic Shield for the rear glass while Ceramic Shield 2 is in front like the iPhone 17. It’s slightly bigger screen estate at 6.5-inches that also has a 120Hz refresh rate.
Aside from the slim design, the iPhone Air differentiates itself with the 48MP single camera at the back. It has simulated views for 28mm, 35mm focal lengths, as well as “optical-quality 2x telephoto”, while also having sensor-shift Optical Image Stabilization. The front camera also got the Center Stage like the iPhone 17.
Despite its slim body, the iPhone Air can last up to 27 hours of continuous video playback, or 22 hours if the video is streamed. It also has fast-charging capabilities of 50% in 30 minutes with the 20W adapter. This is because the battery is bigger since they moved some components into the horizontal bump that houses the camera.
The iPhone Air is available in 256GB, 512GB and 1TB storage options in Sky Blue, Light Gold, Cloud White, and Space Black.
iPhone 17 Pro (starts at P 79,990)
Last is the upgraded Pro line that now starts at a whopping P10,000 more than the previous gen. It has a horizontal camera bump that contains major components aside from the sensors. According to Apple, this leaves a lot of space in the main body for a bigger battery. The result is battery life that lasts up to 31 and 37 hours for the Pro and Pro Max respectively. It’s a significant bump from last year’s 27 and 33 for the same sized models.
Screens have also been slightly increased to 6.3-inches and 6.9-inches respectively.
Aside from moving components, there’s also something new inside. The Pro models have an internal vapor chamber to improve cooling and performance of the device. De-ionized water is sealed inside the chamber and moves heat away from the A19 Pro chip for even more performance at higher temperatures.
The rear camera assembly has also been revised. Aside from having all three with 48MP sensors, the new Telephoto lens is now capable of 8x optical zoom. This can be further extended to 40x with digital zoom for extra reach.
Of course, video has been improved. The iPhone Pro is now capable of Dolby Vision HDR recording, 4K 120fps shooting, ProRes Log, and support for ACES. It has options that are natively supported by BlackMagic Design Camera and Final Cut for smooth post-processing.
The iPhone 17 Pro starts at PHP 79,990 while the Pro Max is at PHP 86,990. It’s available in Silver, Cosmic Orange, and Deep Blue colors with storage available up to 2TB.
