A huge iPhone 17 leak just gave you 5 potential reasons to skip the iPhone 16

iPhone 15 Pro Max being held
The iPhone 15 Pro Max (Image credit: Future)

As we ready ourselves for the launch of the iPhone 16 in September, the first iPhone 17 rumors are starting to emerge – and the latest leak may be enough to persuade you to wait until 2025 for your next iPhone upgrade.

The leak comes from the usually reliable Ice Universe on Chinese social media site Weibo (via MacRumors), and covers the four handsets we're expecting next year.

One of the rumors we've heard is that the Plus model is set to be replaced by a new Slim flagship, and that's the first reason you might want to skip the iPhone 16 – the arrival of a new, supercharged top-end iPhone 17 model that will apparently have a 6.65-inch screen and a starting price of $1,299 (about £1,000 / AU$1,950).

However, there's some confusion around the Slim model in this new leak: it's said to be the most expensive of the four, but has the same specs as the standard iPhone 17. It's possible that some of those specs have been mistakenly copied from the iPhone 16 Plus.

Always on

iPhone 15 front handheld angled

The iPhone 15 doesn't have an always-on display (Image credit: Future | Alex Walker-Todd)

A second reason to hang on for the iPhone 17: all four models are apparently getting Low-Temperature Polycrystalline Oxide (LTPO) displays, which means ProMotion (variable refresh rate) support, and quite possibly always-on display modes too (both currently exclusive to the Pro and Pro Max handsets).

Reasons three, four and five to wait are specific to the Pro and Pro Max (and maybe the Slim) models: 12GB of RAM, three 48MP rear cameras, and an A19 Pro chip based on a new 3-nanometer manufacturing process. That would all likely mean a significant step up in terms of performance and photo and video capture.

Obviously we're still not sure what the iPhone 16 series is going to bring with it, let alone the iPhone 17 range; but based on the rumors we've seen so far, this year's upgrades are set to be more minor than what's rumored to be in the pipeline for 2025.

There's little doubt that the iPhone 16 handsets will be the best iPhones that Apple has ever put out – but if you find them somewhat underwhelming when they're unveiled in a couple of months time, you can always start saving up for 2025.

You might also like

TOPICS
David Nield
Freelance Contributor

Dave is a freelance tech journalist who has been writing about gadgets, apps and the web for more than two decades. Based out of Stockport, England, on TechRadar you'll find him covering news, features and reviews, particularly for phones, tablets and wearables. Working to ensure our breaking news coverage is the best in the business over weekends, David also has bylines at Gizmodo, T3, PopSci and a few other places besides, as well as being many years editing the likes of PC Explorer and The Hardware Handbook.

Read more
Apple iPhone 16 Pro REVIEW
iPhone 17: latest news and rumors for every expected model
Apple iPhone 16 Pro Max REVIEW
iPhone 17 Pro Max: latest news, rumors, and everything we’ve heard so far
An iPhone 15 Pro Max held in the hand
iPhone 17 Air – 5 key rumored features, from an ultra-thin frame to so-so battery life
Apple iPhone 16 Pro REVIEW
iPhone 17 Pro: latest rumors, tips and everything we’ve heard so far
Apple iPhone 16 Pro Max REVIEW
Apple’s packed 2025 iPhone and iPad roadmap just got tipped
The iPhone 16e on an orange background
iPhone 16e – 5 things you need to know, including its price, camera, and that C1 chip
Latest in iPhone
Apple iPhone 16 Plus Review
The iPhone 17 Air could have an affordable price, and better battery life than you might have expected
Apple iPhone 16 Pro HANDS ON
Leaked iPhone 17 dummy units may have given us our best look yet at all four models
Three iPhone 16 handsets on show
Apple could launch an iPhone 17 Ultra this year – but we've heard these rumors before
Apple iPhone 16 Pro on sky blue background with don't miss text overlay
Verizon has just quietly debuted its best iPhone 16 Pro deal yet - get it for free alongside a plan that costs just $25/mo
Apple iPhone 16e on blue background with big savings text overlay
Total Wireless' latest iPhone 16e deal gets you $300 off plus a cheap plan for a year
The Apple iPhone 16e held at a slant at a window
From iPhone to Android and (almost) back again – the iPhone 16e failed to lure me back to iOS
Latest in News
A man getting angry with his laptop.
Windows 11 bug deletes Copilot from the OS – is this the first glitch ever some users will be happy to encounter?
Huawei Watch Fit 3
The Huawei Watch 3 is a decent Apple Watch alternative, and its successor could be close at hand
An image of the Samsung Galaxy S25 Ultra from a hands-on event
Samsung's latest software upgrade could mean Galaxy phones beat iPhones for gaming – but you can't get it yet
God of War 20th Anniversary Graphic.
Sony has unveiled some goodies to celebrate God of War’s 20th anniversary, but it's not the remaster I was hoping for
person at a computer
Many workers are overconfident at spotting phishing attacks
Apple iPhone 16 Plus Review
The iPhone 17 Air could have an affordable price, and better battery life than you might have expected