Apple iPhone 17, Air, Pro Singapore launch pricing and availability details

It’s that time of the year again with brand new iPhones, but unlike any other launch, Apple has reimagined their lineup completely.

The ‘basic’ iPhone 17 is getting more Pro-level features via the display upgrades I never thought would trickle down to the base model. Bidding farewell to the odd Plus series SKU, Apple has unveiled a brand new iPhone Air tier, offering an interesting blend of features, design, and a Pro-class processor, while the new iPhone 17 Pro models boast their own upgrades that make them the definitive iPhones to get. An exciting set of new colourways tops it all off to entice users more than ever to make the switch.

Not only am I seeing an enticing set of offerings, but you’re also getting far more without paying more, and in some cases, you’re actually paying less. This combination of a great lineup, notable technical upgrades, and tangible features could well be Apple’s biggest uptick in sales yet, and that’s my personal forecasting based on what’s in store.

Here’s our hub story that will give you the highlights of all you need to know of their new iPhones in a snapshot.

What’s New on the iPhone 17

We didn’t expect the base level iPhone 17 to pack so many upgrades that it’s looking closer to an iPhone 16 Pro. If you aren’t sure if the Pro-level features are any beneficial for you, the all-new iPhone 17 has enough to make even those owning an iPhone 16 want to upgrade.

• Larger screen at 6.3 inches vs. 6.1 inches of older models
• ProMotion screen, up to 120Hz (previously only available on Pro models)
• A more readable screen in indoors or outdoors with 3000 nits peak brightness and 7-layer anti reflective coating
• Always-on Display (previously only available on Pro models)
• Tougher Ceramic Shield 2 coated glass (Apple claims 3x better scratch resistance)
• Apple A19 chip (now with neural accelerators built into each of the GPU cores) vs. A18 chip
• Improved battery life of up to 30 hours video playback time vs. 22 hours previously
• Massively upgraded selfie camera experience with an 18MP Center Stage front camera
• Upgraded 48MP Dual Fusion camera system (48MP main + 48MP ultrawide, vs. 48MP/12MP combo of the past)
• Faster wired (40W) and wireless charging support (25W)
• No more 128GB storage tier - only 256GB and 512GB options

What’s new on the iPhone 17 Pro

Much of the new feature set for the Pro editions focuses on the new camera capabilities, which better serve professionals creating serious content. To power it is a more advanced Apple A19 Pro chip, which has significantly enhanced its AI processing power through an even more capable GPU. This lends well to the heavy lifting work that happens here, which matters most for both creators and gamers.

Apple has packed in more practical features, including the biggest battery pack ever, a larger vapour chamber cooling system, and an all-new unibody frame, all designed to improve its durability and endurance. The new colour options might not be everyone’s cup of tea, but they are quite different from the past.

For all the details, do check out our detailed reporting here, but here’s a quick overview on what’s new over its predecessor:-

• All-new Aluminium Unibody frame
• Tougher Ceramic Shield 2 coated glass (Apple claims 3x better scratch resistance)
• Apple A19 Pro chip (now with neural accelerators built into each of the GPU cores) vs. A18 Pro chip
• Improved battery life: iPhone 17 Pro offers up to 31 hours video playback time (vs. 27 previously), and 37 hours for the Pro Max (vs. 31 previously)
• Massively upgraded selfie camera experience with an 18MP Center Stage front camera
• Upgraded 48MP Pro Fusion camera system (48MP main + 48MP Ultrawide + 48MP Telephoto)
• New 4x and 8x optical zoom options
• Faster wired (40W) and wireless charging support (25W)
• New 2TB storage tier for iPhone 17 Pro Max

What does the new iPhone Air offer?

The full-fledged iPhone Pro devices have always been a little chunky, and it’s not a stretch to imagine many would love to have some of its goodness in a thinner and lighter form factor. This is, in essence, the new iPhone Air, marrying Pro-like performance in an all-new form factor. Needless to say, with a super slim profile, it won’t be the definitive camera phone to get. Still, it should be adequate for the wider audience who aren’t too concerned about winning competitions or comparing shots with peers and can lean into the Fusion camera experience to manage the shots they need to nab. Here are its key highlights:-

For all the details, do check out our full story on the iPhone 17 Air here, but here are the quick highlights:-

• 5.6mm thin and 165g light in a titanium casing build
• 6.5-inch Pro-tier display, sitting in between the iPhone 17 and Pro Max in terms of size
• Apple A19 Pro chip + C1X modem + N1 for speed and connectivity efficiency
• Utilises a single 48MP Fusion rear camera and has no physical SIM slots to maximise its new slim and light profile
• All new accessories to match its profile

How good are the new phones in actual use?

There’s a lot to be compared, and we’ll undoubtedly scrutinise the entire series at length in an upcoming full review. Meanwhile, here are our firsthand updates and experiences directly from Apple’s headquarters.

• Our detailed hands-on experience of the 5.6mm thin iPhone Air
• Going hands-on with the new iPhone 17 Pro and Pro Max

Below, arranged in order, we take a quick look at the all-new iPhone Air, the new iPhone 17 Pro colours, a closer experience with handling an iPhone 17 Pro and the colourways for the iPhone 17.

How about other practical considerations?

Need more practical buying considerations to help you make a choice? Here’s our practical guide to help you narrow down which new iPhone is ideal for you.

Pricing Matters

The number one question on everyone’s minds -- Did Apple raise prices? The answer is a resounding no.

In fact, they managed to reduce prices for the ‘basic’ iPhone 17 models. What you used to pay for a 128GB model, you now get a 256GB model for the exact same price! Check out our iPhone 16 pricing story for reference.

Meanwhile, the iPhone 17 Pro models are identically priced to their predecessors, while the brand new iPhone Air is pegged very similarly to the now defunct “iPhone Plus” tier.

This means those buying into the new launch are getting far bigger updates and features than ever before, at no increase in prices. Here’s how they are priced and figures in brackets refer to prices of predecessor models:-

When and where can you get the new iPhone 17 models?

All the new iPhone models start pre-orders from 8pm on 12 Sept, while general availability and retail sales will begin on 19th September.

• Order the iPhone 17 from Apple website, LazMall or Shopee Mall
• Order the iPhone Air from Apple website, LazMall or Shopee Mall
• Order the iPhone 17 Pro and Pro Max pre-orders, from Apple website, Shopee Mall or LazMall

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