The iPhone 17 lineup is shaping up to be a game-changer, with Apple seemingly ready to bring next-gen chips to the entire range – not just the Pro models. According to fresh leaks, even the base iPhone 17 could be powered by the upcoming A19 chip, skipping the A18 entirely.
This aligns it with the iPhone 17 Air, while the Pro and Pro Max models are rumored to take things further with the enhanced A19 Pro chipset.
This marks a significant shift from Apple’s usual pattern, where base models often inherit last year’s chips. While we’ve seen similar moves with the iPhone 14 and 15 generations, the strategy has never been consistent. Equipping the entire iPhone 17 series with new silicon would be a strong statement, possibly driven by the AI demands of Apple Intelligence and a need for improved performance across the board.
Still, not everything is top-tier across all models. The standard iPhone 17 is expected to stick with 8 GB of RAM, while the Air and Pro variants will reportedly get bumped up to 12 GB – a first for any iPhone. That extra memory could prove essential for heavy multitasking and AI-powered features Apple is baking into iOS.
Adding to the hardware overhaul, Apple may also introduce its own custom Wi-Fi and Bluetooth chips in the iPhone 17 series. These chips would support Wi-Fi 7, promising faster speeds, lower latency, and tighter integration with Apple’s ecosystem. There’s even chatter about an Apple-designed C1 modem replacing current third-party solutions, further reducing Apple’s reliance on outside suppliers.
One point of confusion remains the iPhone 17 Air. While most sources expect it to ship with the A19 chip, some leaks suggest Apple might surprise everyone by slotting the A19 Pro into the Air model instead. If that’s the case, it would blur the line between Air and Pro models more than ever before.
The A19 Pro is rumored to deliver more GPU cores and higher clock speeds, offering better performance in demanding tasks like mobile gaming, video editing, and augmented reality applications. If true, it could mean a much more powerful lineup across the board, leaving users with less compromise even if they skip the top-tier Pro models.
With Apple’s September launch window fast approaching, these reports are giving us a tantalizing preview of what’s to come. And if the leaks hold up, the iPhone 17 series could mark one of the most unified and forward-thinking iPhone lineups in recent memory.