GoKawiilThe next crop of iPhones looks very interesting. From a possible folding model to a brand-new iPhone 18 lineup, this year could bring fresh tech to Apple's mobile division. Plus, the entry-level iPhone 17E recently debuted, adding yet another option for budget-conscious consumers. On the laptop side, Apple's new MacBook Neo is also part of a more affordable lineup.
The iPhone 18 is rumored to have several changes from its predecessor, including variable-aperture cameras, an under-display front-facing camera for Face ID, a smaller Dynamic Island, an updated A20 chip, and new, interesting colors, including a "coffee" brown. The latest rumors suggest that the front-facing camera will be relocated to the top left corner of the screen, and the Camera Control button will be simplified to a pressure-sensing function. The Dynamic Island could also be shrunken in favor of a hole-punch cutout.
But if you're trying to decide whether to buy an iPhone 17 now or wait for the iPhone 18, there is one big consideration: The iPhone 18 doesn't exist yet. Apple hasn't officially announced it. And rumors say the iPhone 18 won't come out in September 2026 (to make room for the rumored iPhone Fold) and might be released in early 2027 instead.
Personally, I don't think you should wait over a year for a new phone, especially if you're considering an upgrade from an iPhone 14 or earlier model. Here are a few reasons why.
The iPhone 17 is great (and so is the 17 Pro)
The iPhone 17 is one of our favorite phones of 2025 and even earned a CNET Editor's Choice award. Abrar Al-Heeti/CNET
If you're looking to upgrade your phone, a shiny new iPhone is available in stores right now, and it's pretty good. The iPhone 17 is a fantastic handset for iPhone devotees, especially for a base model.
Not only does the iPhone 17 offer a slightly larger 6.3-inch display (compared to the iPhone 16's 6.1-inch screen), but it also features a variable refresh rate of 1 to 120Hz, a first among non-Pro iPhones. This lets you enable an always-on display so you can glance at the time or current sports scores without waking your phone. And, of course, the 120Hz ProMotion display also means increased smoothness and responsiveness overall, whether scrolling through social feeds or playing video games.
Sure, the iPhone 18 might get improved cameras, but the ones on the iPhone 17 aren't too shabby. It has two 48-megapixel cameras on the back (a wide-angle and an ultrawide), with the ultrawide offering a massive upgrade over the one on the iPhone 16, which had only a 12-megapixel sensor. The 18-megapixel selfie camera (on most iPhone 17 models and the Air) is also a great upgrade, especially with its Center Stage feature that zooms out when more people enter the frame or switches from portrait to landscape without you rotating the phone.
On top of that, the iPhone 17 has a sturdy aluminum frame, comes in an array of lovely colors (lavender is my favorite) and has an impressive battery life. In my experience, it lasts more than a day with moderate use, and this aligns with CNET's Abrar Al-Heeti's experience as well.
... continue reading