Apple Plans iPhone 17 Launch, Price Increases, Innovation Criticism

Apple is preparing to unveil its iPhone 17 lineup at the 'Awe Dropping' event in Cupertino, featuring four models: iPhone 17, iPhone 17 Air, iPhone 17 Pro, and iPhone 17 Pro Max, along with new Apple Watch editions and redesigned AirPods Pro 3. The iPhone 17 Air is expected to be the thinnest flagship ever, drawing inspiration from the MacBook Air, while the iPhone 17 Pro Max may boast a battery capacity exceeding 5,000 mAh. Pricing for the base iPhone 17 is likely to remain at $799, but the Pro models may see increases of $50 to $100 due to boosted base storage. Key upgrades include the standard iPhone 17 possibly gaining a 120Hz ProMotion LTPO OLED display, a higher-resolution 24MP front camera, Wi-Fi 7 support with an in-house chip, and faster 50W wireless charging. Despite these enhancements, industry analysts like Daniel Newman have criticized Apple for predictable, incremental upgrades lacking innovation, suggesting the event may not deliver groundbreaking changes. Additional rumors hint at new accessories such as a magnetic Crossbody Strap and potential surprises including an updated Apple Watch SE 3 and possibly an M5-powered iPad Pro.