Event Overview

Apple held its fall iPhone event at Apple Park in Cupertino, California, on Tuesday. The company unveiled four new smartphones that expand the iPhone 17 family: the iPhone 17, iPhone Air, iPhone 17 Pro, and iPhone 17 Pro Max. The rollout also referenced the earlier release of the iPhone 16E, positioned as Apple’s most affordable model.

Pricing Structure

The standard iPhone 17 starts at $799, offering a new processor, a brighter and sharper screen, upgraded main cameras, and an improved selfie camera. The iPhone Air, marketed as the "most power‑efficient iPhone we have ever made," begins at $999 and weighs just 165 grams. Its super‑thin design and all‑day battery life were highlighted as key selling points. The iPhone 17 Pro starts at $1,099, adding a suite of camera enhancements and a new orange color option. The top‑tier iPhone 17 Pro Max, equipped with 2TB of storage, is priced at $1,999.

Design and Feature Highlights

Apple emphasized the iPhone Air’s ultra‑slim profile and lightweight construction, positioning it between the entry‑level iPhone 17 and the higher‑end Pro models. The iPhone 17 Pro and Pro Max feature double the storage capacity of their predecessors while maintaining the same starting price as the 256GB iPhone 16 Pro from the prior year. The iPhone 16E, released earlier, lacks a Dynamic Island cutout and is available only in black and white, reflecting compromises made to achieve its lower price point.

Industry Reaction

CNET Senior Editor James Bricknell noted that the prices reflect recent tariffs and inflation, saying the lineup "matches what you would expect in terms of inflation rather than the leap I was expecting." CNET Managing Editor Patrick Holland reviewed the iPhone 16E, pointing out its cost‑saving measures such as the absence of a Dynamic Island. CNET Editor‑at‑Large Andrew Lanxon observed that the iPhone 17 Pro now offers double the storage for the same price as the previous year’s 256GB Pro model.

Availability

Pre‑orders for the new iPhone lineup begin on Friday, with the official launch scheduled for September 19. Consumers can choose from a range of storage options and colors across the four models, with the iPhone Air highlighted for its slimness and efficiency, and the Pro Max targeting high‑end users seeking maximum storage.

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