The Phone Shelf

iPhone 17 specs and price: what $899 buys in late 2026

Apple raised the iPhone 17 by $100 in September 2026. What the $899 model lists on paper next to the iPhone 17e and iPhone 18 Pro, and what Apple says about updates.

Published by Yuriy Andreyev

Published October 24, 2026

Five iPhone 17 phones on display stands with their backs to the camera, in black, white, sage, mist blue and lavender, in an Apple Store
Photo: Ahmad Ali Karim, CC0, via Wikimedia Commons (license)

The iPhone 17 now costs $899 for 256GB, after a $100 increase on September 9, 2026. For that Apple lists a 6.3-inch 120Hz OLED screen, the A19 chip, two 48MP rear cameras, and up to 30 hours of video playback. It sits $200 above the iPhone 17e and $300 below the iPhone 18 Pro.

Apple launched the iPhone 17 on September 19, 2025 at $799. The $899 price includes Apple's $30 connectivity discount, which requires activation with AT&T, T-Mobile or Verizon. Unlocked without activation, it is $929. The 512GB model is $1,099, or $1,129 unlocked.

What is in the box on paper

The screen is 6.3 inches, OLED, at 120Hz. The chip is the A19. The rear cameras are a 48MP Fusion Main and a 48MP Fusion Ultra Wide. The phone weighs 177 grams, is rated IP68 and starts at 256GB with a 512GB option. Apple does not list RAM or battery capacity, so we do not quote either. It does list up to 30 hours of video playback.

Apple states no maximum wired wattage. It says up to 50% charge in 20 minutes with a 40W or faster adapter, and MagSafe or Qi2 wireless charging goes up to 25W.

iPhone 17 vs iPhone 17e vs iPhone 18 Pro

SpeciPhone 17iPhone 17eiPhone 18 Pro
Launch price$799$599$1,199
Released in USSeptember 2025March 2026September 2026
Screen6.3-inch OLED 120 Hz6.1-inch OLED 60 Hz6.3-inch OLED 120 Hz
ChipA19A19A20 Pro
Storage256 / 512 GB256 / 512 GB256 GB / 512 GB / 1 TB / 2 TB
Batterynot publishednot publishednot published
Rear cameras48MP Fusion Main, 48MP Fusion Ultra Wide48MP Fusion Main48MP Fusion Main (variable aperture f/1.48-f/4.0), 48MP Fusion Ultra Wide, 48MP Fusion Telephoto (4x, 100 mm)
Weight177 g169 g211 g
Water resistanceIP68IP68IP68
Updates promisedno fixed promiseno fixed promiseno fixed promise
US carriers (maker and carrier listings)AT&T, Verizon, T-MobileAT&T, Verizon, T-MobileAT&T, Verizon, T-Mobile

Against the iPhone 17e. The 17e costs $699 for 256GB (launched at $599 on March 11, 2026, and also raised $100 on September 9). The $200 gap buys a larger 6.3-inch screen against 6.1 inches, a second 48MP camera (the ultra wide), 8 more grams of weight and up to 30 hours of video against 26. Both use the A19.

The refresh rate is a notable difference. Apple lists no refresh rate for the 17e, and the 60Hz figure comes from 9to5Mac and MacRumors. The iPhone 17 is a 120Hz phone. The 17e also has no Dynamic Island in Apple's spec list. Read the iPhone 17e overview for the full picture.

Against the iPhone 18 Pro. The Pro launched on September 18, 2026 at $1,199 for 256GB, with a 6.3-inch OLED at 120Hz, the A20 Pro chip, an aluminum unibody and three 48MP rear cameras, including a 4x telephoto at 100 mm and a variable aperture on the main camera. It weighs 211 grams and lists up to 36 hours of video playback. Storage goes up to 2TB. Apple says its C2 modem and a larger battery in US eSIM-only models add hours. For the full case, see iPhone 18 Pro vs iPhone 17.

At 177 grams, the iPhone 17 is 34 grams lighter than the Pro.

Updates: Apple gives no number

Apple publishes no fixed update period for any iPhone, and the iPhone 17 is no exception. What Apple does list is history: the iPhone 17 runs iOS 27, and Apple's iOS 27 compatibility list still includes the iPhone 11 from 2019 and the iPhone SE (2nd generation) from 2020. That shows how long past phones were supported, but it is not a promise about this one.

If a written promise matters to you, Android makers give one. The how long phones get updates page lays out each brand.

eSIM only in the US

All US iPhone 17 models are eSIM only, with dual eSIM and no physical SIM tray. You move a line to the phone through your carrier's app or a QR code rather than swapping a card. AT&T, Verizon and T-Mobile are all marked as supported. If you have never done it, eSIM in the US explains what to check first.

Who it suits

The iPhone 17 is the middle choice. It is for people who want a 120Hz screen and two cameras without the Pro price. Someone who will not miss either can save $200 with the iPhone 17e, which still has the A19 chip.

Someone who wants a telephoto lens, 2TB of storage or the longest battery rating should look at the 18 Pro. The which iPhone to buy guide sorts the whole line by budget.

One caution on price: the $899 figure assumes you activate on a US carrier. If you buy it unlocked and activate nothing, Apple lists $929. Check which price you are being quoted before you compare it with an Android phone.

Bottom line

The iPhone 17 costs $100 more than it did a month ago, and Apple has not changed what it includes. On paper it gets you a 6.3-inch 120Hz screen and two 48MP cameras for $899. The gaps above and below it are $200 and $300, and Apple still gives no update period to weigh them against.

Sources

Phones in this article

Also covering these phones

More phones

All phones