I’ve been using the iPhone 14 for the last two years, but now it’s time to upgrade it. I’m planning to buy the upcoming iPhone 17, but only if it features these six things.
6
A New Design
I’ve been an Apple customer since 2016, when I bought my first smartphone, the iPhone 7. It’s now 2025, and while a lot has changed in terms of what Apple offers in its smartphones, one thing that’s stayed the same for years is the iPhone’s design. Apple has been sticking with the same look year after year, and honestly, it frustrates me.
I want Apple to move away from its traditional design standards and give the iPhone 17 a full design overhaul, similar to what Google did with the Pixel 6 when it moved on from the Pixel 5. The Pixel 6, released in 2021, had a completely new design compared to its predecessors.
However, if the rumors are true, I’m going to be disappointed with the iPhone 17’s design. According to Sam Kohl from AppleTrack, the iPhone 17 will have the same design as the iPhone 16—a dual vertical camera setup on the back, an Action button on the side panel, and all the other standard buttons you typically find on an iPhone.
Apple is reportedly only making design changes to the Pro models and the new Air model. While both Pro models are expected to look nearly identical to their predecessors from the front and sides while Apple is rumored to expand the camera module across the entire top instead of just the top-left corner on the back. As for the new iPhone 17 Air, it apparently looks almost exactly like a Pixel from the back.
Hopefully, something changes in the hearts of Apple’s engineers, and they give the base iPhone 17 a fresh design as they’re giving to the Pro models. I know the chances of that happening are slim, but I’m keeping my fingers crossed and holding on to hope.
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5
8K Video Recording
Video recording has always been an area where iPhones have had an edge over their competitors. Many recent smartphones, like the Vivo X200 Ultra or the Xiaomi 15 Ultra, have managed to outperform the iPhone in photo capture, but Apple’s smartphone still leads when it comes to video recording.
The stabilization and quality that the iPhone offers for video recording are unmatched. All models of Apple’s latest smartphone series, the iPhone 16, support 4K video recording, with the Pro models offering up to 4K at 120 FPS.
The next milestone for Apple will definitely be offering 8K video recording. And since the A18 Pro chip is capable of handling 8K recording, it shouldn’t be a problem for Apple to introduce this feature in the upcoming iPhone lineup.
4
Fast Charging
Apple has often been criticized for being slow to adopt new features. Technologies like USB-C and NFC have been available on Android devices for years, but Apple has only introduced them to iPhones in recent years. Similarly, fast charging is another feature Apple has yet to fully embrace on its smartphones.
On the one hand, there are smartphones like the Motorola Edge 50 Pro offering 125W charging; on the other hand, the latest iPhone models only support 26W wired charging. Although experts at PhoneArena were able to push the charging speed of the iPhone 16 Pro Max to around 38W during intensive use, that number is still quite low compared to what other smartphones are offering.
I’m not asking for 100W charging on the iPhone 17 (though it would be a welcome addition), but Apple should at least aim to provide 50W wired charging in the iPhone 17 series.
3
At Least 120Hz Display
A 60 Hz display in 2025 is unacceptable. Even budget smartphones like the Nothing CMF Phone 1, which costs around $289 on Amazon, offer a 120 Hz display. But then there’s Apple, still offering the same 60 Hz display, and I honestly can’t even remember how long it’s been.
There were high hopes that they would finally upgrade the display in the iPhone 16, but they disappointed fans once again. While the Pro models do come with a 120Hz display, the standard iPhone 16 still features the outdated 60Hz display.
Although there hasn’t been any official statement on why Apple still doesn’t provide a 120Hz display in its base model iPhone. If the “ProMotion” marketing can be believed, Apple considers a 120Hz display to be something only professionals need. Really, Apple?
Anyway, a 120Hz display in the base model of the iPhone 17 is definitely going to be the minimum expectation, not just for me, but for many other users considering buying the upcoming device. Apple is definitely going to face a lot of backlash if they don’t include a 120Hz display in their base models this time around.
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2
A Better Camera
Unlike its main competitor, Samsung, which focuses on big numbers by offering a 200MP camera in the S25 Ultra, Apple prioritizes image processing, sensor size, and lens quality. That’s why you’ll find the 48MP camera on the iPhone 16 Pro Max performing just as well as the 200MP camera on the Samsung S25 Ultra.
I think it’s time for Apple to take iPhone cameras to the next level, and if the rumors are true, they’re planning to do just that with the iPhone 17 series. According to MacRumors, all iPhone 17 models will feature a 24MP front camera. If that’s true, it would be a big upgrade from the 12MP front camera that Apple currently offers.
While the 24MP selfie camera is expected to be included in all iPhone 17 models, the Pro variants are rumored to feature an all-new 48MP telephoto lens. That would again be a big upgrade for Apple, considering that the iPhone 16 Pro and Pro Max models had a 12MP telephoto sensor.
1
Better Cooling System
One of the main issues I have with my iPhone 14 is that it gets really hot under intense use. For example, if I play online multiplayer games like PUBG for an extended period, the back gets so warm that it becomes a bit uncomfortable to hold. Unfortunately, this problem isn’t exclusive to the iPhone 14. My friend who has the 15 Pro Max also experiences the same issue with his device.
I’m hoping the iPhone 17 series will come with an improved cooling system. In fact, according to the Chinese website MyDrivers, all models in the iPhone 17 lineup are expected to feature an advanced cooling system. Specifically, every model in the upcoming series is rumored to include a vapor chamber heatsink.
This would help distribute heat more evenly across a larger surface area, which will apparently help to reduce the risk of thermal throttling and allow the iPhone to offer consistent performance. This technology is already used in many high-end Android smartphones.
However, another report suggests that the vapor chamber cooling system may be limited to just the iPhone 17 Pro models. Only time will tell which iPhone 17 versions will actually get this feature, or if Apple will include it at all.
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These are all the upgrades I’m hoping Apple will include in the iPhone 17. In addition to that, it’ll be interesting to see what the pricing will be for Apple’s upcoming smartphones, especially after the implementation of tariffs. You’ll get all the answers regarding the iPhone 17 series pricing and features in September, which is typically when Apple launches new iPhones.
