Apple has finally revealed its latest generation of flagship smartphones with the launch of the iPhone 17 lineup.
At the ‘awe dropping’ event at Apple’s headquarters in Cupertino, California, the company revealed the iPhone 17, iPhone 17 Pro, iPhone 17 Pro Max, and iPhone Air.
The new devices promise to deliver more powerful chips, better battery life, and a more hard-wearing body.
However, the iPhone 17 Pro also features a bold new design that has left some Apple fans furious.
On the iPhone 17 Pro and iPhone 17 Pro Max, the rear camera bump has grown to take up the entire top third of the phone.
The new top-end devices have also ditched the iPhone’s familiar smooth back panel in favour of a large cutout with a glass panel to support better wireless charging.
Although Apple says the new structure is necessary to support the phone’s improved hardware, social media users have ridiculed the design.
On X, formerly Twitter, one faN tore into the iPhone 17 Pro, dubbing it the ‘ugliest iPhone so far’.
Apple released the iPhone 17 Pro and iPhone 17 Pro Max (pictured) at the ‘awe dropping’ event last night, but fans are not happy with the new design
On social media, commenters ripped into the new iPhone’s design. Criticising the large camera bump and glass insert panel
One commenter complained that the new iPhone 17 Pro was ‘genuinely ugly’ and said they would not be upgrading to the new device
The most divisive aspect of the iPhone 17 Pro’s new design is the large camera bump, which bears a strong resemblance to the camera bar on the Google Pixel 10.
On X, one commenter wrote: ‘Correct me if I am wrong but this might be the ugliest iPhone Pro ever.’
‘To me the Pro has lost its premium look now it looks like a cheap knock off from Temu, very disappointing,’ another added.
Another chimed in: ‘iPhone 17 is the most ugliest iPhone ever. Steve Jobs would have fired everyone in his era’.
While one Apple fan bluntly wrote: ‘Honestly, I think it’s genuinely ugly. I’ll just stick with my iPhone 16.’
However, it isn’t just the shape of the iPhone 17 Pro that has caused upset, as fans were also disappointed by the colour selection.
This year, the iPhone 17 Pro and iPhone 17 Pro Max are available in three colours: Silver, Deep Blue, and a bold new colour called Cosmic Orange.
In previous years, Apple has opted for a more muted, neutral set of tones for its Pro lineup, and the bright new colours did not go down well with some fans.
Apple says that the new shape is necessary to accommodate the upgraded hardware and larger battery featured in the iPhone 17 Pro. Pictured: Apple CEO Tim Cook holds the iPhone 17 Pro
One commenter called the device the ‘ugliest iPhone ever’ and said that former Apple CEO Steve Jobs would have ‘fired everyone’
Fans of Apple’s typically sleek aesthetic complained that the boxy look of the iPhone 17 Pro had ‘ruined the design’
One commenter wrote: ‘The iPhone 17 Pro in cosmic orange is a crime against design.’
While another added: ‘If you buy “Cosmic Orange” I genuinely am not sure I still want to talk to you.’
But the new designs and bright colours did attract a few fans on social media.
One enthusiastic fan said: ‘Just something about that Cosmic Orange… Love it!’
‘Cosmic orange is the hottest phone colour ever made,’ another chipped in.
Another fan added: ‘I have to say, I really like the fact that they’re trying something new.’
Besides the controversial new design, the iPhone 17 Pro and iPhone 17 Pro Max include a number of big upgrades.
The large camera bump, or ‘plateau’ as Apple calls it, holds three 48-megapixel cameras.
This year, the iPhone 17 Pro and iPhone 17 Pro Max are available in three colours: Silver, Deep Blue, and a bold new colour called Cosmic Orange. But fans were not impressed by the new bold colours
The bright ‘Cosmic Orange’ was particularly divisive, with one fan lambasting it as a ‘crime against design’
The bold new colours did attract a few fans, with some Apple enthusiasts taking to social media to share their love of the new design
That includes a 48-megapixel telephoto lens, capable of up to eight times optical zoom.
The slightly thicker frame has also allowed for the biggest battery ever included in an iPhone.
According to Apple, that will give the iPhone 17 Pro Max enough charge for up to 37 hours of continuous video playback.
The iPhone 17 Pro starts at $1,099/£1,099 and the iPhone 17 Pro Max starts at$1,999/£1,199
However, new storage options can make iPhone 17 Pro Max the most expensive iPhone ever released, with the two-terabyte version costing $1,999/£1,999.
This release came alongside the launch of the standard iPhone 17 and the new ultra-thin iPhone 17 Air.
The iPhone 17 starts at $799/£799 and features a larger 6.3-inch ProMotion display, finally giving the standard iPhone model a variable 120Hz refresh rate.
The new device is available in five colours: black, lavender, mist blue, sage, and white
This release came alongside the launch of the standard iPhone 17 and the new ultra-thin iPhone 17 Air (pictured). Starting at $999/£999, the iPhone Air’s price positions it between the basic iPhone 17 and the more expensive iPhone 17 Pro Max.
The iPhone 17 (pictured) starts at $799/£799 and features a larger 6.3-inch ProMotion display, finally giving the standard iPhone model a variable 120Hz refresh rate
But the star of the show was the brand new iPhone 17 Air, Apple’s thinnest device ever at just 5.6mm thick.
Starting at $999/£999, the iPhone Air’s price positions it between the basic iPhone 17 and the more expensive iPhone 17 Pro Max.
The new device comes in four stunning colours: space black, cloud white, light gold, and sky blue, previously seen on the M4 MacBook Air.
All four models will be available to pre-order from Friday and will arrive in stores starting from September 19.
