If you’re thinking about buying a new iPhone, especially the iPhone 16 series, now might be the worst possible time to hit that buy button. Not because the iPhone 16 is bad, it’s actually quite good, but because the iPhone 17 is coming. And what we’ve seen and heard so far suggests it’s shaping up to be a far more significant upgrade than we've seen in years. Here’s why it’s smart to wait just a week more.
Apple has already confirmed a September 9 event. That’s when the iPhone 17 lineup, including the much-hyped iPhone 17 Air, is expected to debut. Based on years of precedent, pre-orders will likely open that same week, with units shipping shortly after.
What this means is simple: the iPhone 16 will become yesterday’s news in less than a month. Even if you're not interested in the newest models, waiting a little longer could get you a better deal on the current ones. Apple and carriers typically slash prices or roll out trade-in incentives as soon as the new models are announced.
Apple doesn’t redesign its phones often, but when it does, it matters. This year, it’s not just tweaking the edges or repositioning the camera bump; it’s going thinner. Much thinner.
The new iPhone 17 Air is expected to clock in at under 6.5mm thick, thinner than any iPhone ever, including the famously slim iPhone 6. It’s not a “Plus†replacement either. This is a mid-tier device sitting between the base iPhone 17 and the 17 Pro, with a 6.6-inch display, a reworked single-lens camera system, and a completely new aesthetic. If Apple nails the balance of weight, power, and battery life, this might be the iPhone that defines the next generation.
And if you’re eyeing a Pro model? Those are also getting a makeover with a horizontal camera layout, a potential aluminum-glass hybrid chassis, and vapor chamber cooling, something Android flagships have used for years, finally coming to iPhone.
The most frustrating distinction between standard and Pro iPhones has been the 120Hz display. That changes with the iPhone 17 series. Apple is expected to bring 120Hz refresh rates to even the base iPhone 17 and the new iPhone 17 Air, ending the 60Hz limitation. However, LTPO-based adaptive ProMotion with Always-On Display is still likely to remain exclusive to the Pro models, according to recent supply chain leaks.
AI is also a major play. iOS 26 will bring “Apple Intelligence†across the board, but the iPhone 17’s upgraded A19 and A19 Pro chips (built on TSMC’s improved 3nm process) will push performance and efficiency even further. Some models will include 12GB RAM for better multitasking, and Apple’s first in-house modem chip will debut in the iPhone 17 Air.
Even if the iPhone 17 lineup sees a modest $50 price bump, which is likely, you’d be getting a ton more in return: upgraded front and rear cameras (including 24MP selfies and 48MP ultra-wides), better thermal performance, redesigned chassis, higher RAM, and possibly 8K video recording in the Pro Max model.
And if rumors are true, Apple may double base storage from 128GB to 256GB. That alone could justify a small price hike. So if you're planning to pay $799-$999 for an iPhone 16 or 16 Pro right now, know that you're likely getting less for more.
The iPhone 16 is solid, the new Camera Control button, Apple Intelligence support, and A18 chip are welcome additions. But none of it feels like a leap forward. If you upgrade now, you're buying into a cycle that’s about to reset.
The iPhone 17 looks like the start of something new: lighter designs, better screens, stronger cameras, faster AI. Whether you're in for the base model or the titanium-trimmed Pro Max, it makes more sense to wait. Because if you buy now, you’ll either regret missing the new stuff or miss out on the markdowns.