Apple unveiled its highly anticipated iPhone 17 series on September 9, 2025, marking a significant leap forward in smartphone technology. This comprehensive buying guide will help you choose the perfect iPhone 17 model for your needs in Japan. With pre-orders beginning on Friday, September 12, and official availability starting on Friday, September 19, in Japan and other countries. The new lineup features four models:
- iPhone 17: The base model with an all-new design.
- iPhone Air: An ultra-thin model replacing the “Plus” model.
- iPhone 17 Pro: The top-tier model with significant upgrades.
- iPhone 17 Pro Max: The largest and most advanced model.
This year’s lineup marks a significant shift in Apple’s approach, with the introduction of iPhone Air as a standalone model that doesn’t carry the “17” numbering, positioning it as a distinct product category rather than merely part of the annual refresh cycle. Each model targets specific user segments, from everyday users to professional photographers and mobile gaming enthusiasts.
” To avoid confusion like in recent years, there is no “Mini” or “Plus” version of the iPhone for 2025. Instead Apple has come up with their new ultra-thin iPhone Air model replacing the “Plus” and “mini” models. “
iPhone recent lineup 2025
What’s New in iPhone 17?
The latest iPhone lineup for 2025 brings significant upgrades and an entirely new model that redefines smartphone design. For Japanese consumers trying to navigate these new options, this comprehensive buying guide examines every aspect of the iPhone 17 series and the groundbreaking iPhone Air, helping you make an informed decision based on your needs, preferences, and budget.
The iPhone 17 series represents Apple’s most ambitious smartphone upgrade yet, with revolutionary changes across design, performance, and capabilities.
Design and Display Comparison
iPhone 17
Smarter, brighter, and more powerful than ever.
Design & Display
The iPhone 17 features a sleek new design with contoured edges, thinner borders, and a stronger build. Its 6.3-inch Super Retina XDR display delivers incredible clarity with peak brightness of 3000 nits and 33% fewer reflections for improved outdoor visibility. ProMotion technology with an adaptive refresh rate of up to 120Hz ensures smooth scrolling, responsive gaming, and immersive viewing. On the front, the new Ceramic Shield 2 offers three times better scratch resistance, making it the toughest glass on any smartphone. You can choose from the colors Black, White, Mist Blue, Sage and Lavender.
Performance & Battery
Powered by the advanced A19 chip with a 5-core GPU and Neural Accelerators, the iPhone 17 offers a huge performance leap with up to 50% faster CPU speeds and more than double the graphics performance compared to its predecessor. Apple’s efficiency improvements allow for all-day use, supporting up to 30 hours of video playback. Fast charging is supported with a high-wattage adapter, delivering up to 50% charge in just 20 minutes. Running on iOS 26, the device introduces a redesigned interface, smarter tools, and seamless integration of Apple Intelligence for everyday tasks.
Camera
The iPhone 17 debuts a new 48MP Dual Fusion camera system, including a 48MP Fusion Main camera with a 2x telephoto zoom and a 48MP Fusion Ultra Wide camera that captures four times more detail than the previous generation. Photos are now sharper, brighter, and more detailed, even in low light, with Night mode and advanced Photographic Styles. The 18MP Center Stage front camera introduces new framing options for smarter group selfies and video calls, while Dual Capture allows recording with both front and rear cameras at once. For video, users can shoot in cinematic quality with 4K 60 fps Dolby Vision, complete with stabilized recording and professional editing tools like Audio Mix and Clean Up.
iPhone Air
The power of Pro, in the thinnest iPhone ever.
Design & Display
The iPhone Air is Apple’s thinnest and lightest iPhone ever, measuring just 5.6mm and weighing 165g. Despite its slim form, it maintains incredible strength with a polished Grade 5 titanium frame made from 80% recycled titanium. It features a large 6.5-inch Super Retina XDR display with 3000 nits peak brightness, ProMotion technology up to 120Hz, and improved anti-reflection for comfortable outdoor use. The front is protected by Ceramic Shield 2 with 3x better scratch resistance, while the back uses Ceramic Shield with 4x greater crack resistance. Available colors include Sky Blue, Light Gold, Cloud White, and Space Black.
Performance & Battery
Powered by the A19 Pro chip, the iPhone Air delivers pro-level performance in the thinnest iPhone design yet. Its 6-core CPU and advanced GPU with built-in Neural Accelerators handle demanding tasks such as AAA gaming, Apple Intelligence, and creative workflows with ease. The Apple-designed C1X modem and N1 wireless chip provide efficient cellular and wireless performance, supporting Wi-Fi 7, Bluetooth 6, Thread, and 5G. Thanks to its redesigned internal structure, the device accommodates a high-density battery, offering up to 27 hours of video playback. Fast charging allows 50% charge in about 30 minutes with a high-wattage adapter.
Camera
The iPhone Air features a 48MP Fusion Main camera with 2x telephoto zoom, capable of capturing high-resolution 48MP photos or optimized 24MP shots by default. Its advanced computational photography enables Night mode, next-generation portraits, and customizable Photographic Styles. The new 18MP Center Stage front camera introduces flexible framing, automatic group adjustments, and portrait/landscape switching without rotating the phone. Dual Capture lets users record from the front and rear cameras simultaneously, while video recording supports smooth 4K 60 fps Dolby Vision and an Action mode for enhanced stabilization. Additional tools like Clean Up and Audio Mix enhance creative control.
iPhone 17 Pro and iPhone 17 Pro Max
Design & Display
The iPhone 17 Pro and Pro Max feature a heat-forged aluminum unibody design that maximizes strength, thermal conductivity, and battery capacity. Both models are equipped with Ceramic Shield 2 on the front for 3x better scratch resistance, and a reinforced Ceramic Shield back for 4x higher crack resistance. The Pro has a 6.3-inch Super Retina XDR display, while the Pro Max offers a larger 6.9-inch display. Both displays support ProMotion with up to 120Hz adaptive refresh rate, 3000 nits peak brightness, and improved anti-reflection. The bold color options include Cosmic Orange, Deep Blue, and Silver, and the overall design includes a horizontal camera “plateau” to house the advanced camera system.
Performance & Battery
Both models are powered by the A19 Pro chip, paired with a 6-core GPU with Neural Accelerators, delivering up to 40% better sustained performance. Advanced thermal management is achieved with a laser-welded vapor chamber inside the aluminum unibody, allowing the device to maintain high performance for extended workloads, including graphics-intensive gaming and AI tasks. Battery life has been significantly improved: the iPhone 17 Pro offers up to 33 hours of video playback, while the Pro Max reaches up to 39 hours. Both devices support fast charging, reaching 50% charge in 20 minutes with a high-wattage adapter.
Camera
The camera system is fully 48MP Pro Fusion, including Main, Ultra Wide, and Telephoto lenses. The Pro Telephoto camera delivers up to 8x optical zoom, the longest ever on an iPhone, with 16x total optical range. Other camera features include Low-light and Night mode, latest-generation Photographic Styles, macro photography, and Clean Up for removing unwanted objects from photos. The 18MP Center Stage front camera allows flexible framing, automatic group adjustments, and Dual Capture for recording front and rear video simultaneously. Video capabilities include 4K 60 fps Dolby Vision, ProRes RAW, Apple Log 2, Genlock, and 4K 120 fps recording for cinematic-quality content.
Comparison of the Specs at a Glance
Spec | iPhone 17 | iPhone Air | iPhone 17 Pro | iPhone 17 Pro Max |
|---|---|---|---|---|
Chip | A19 chip: 6-core CPU (2 performance + 4 efficiency), 5-core GPU with Neural Accelerators | A19 Pro chip with more powerful GPU | A19 Pro chip (6-core GPU) | A19 Pro chip (6-core GPU) |
Display Size & Resolution / Refresh | 6.3-inch Super Retina XDR OLED, ProMotion up to 120Hz | 6.5-inch Super Retina XDR OLED, 120Hz ProMotion | 6.3-inch OLED, ≈ 2622×1206 at 460 ppi, ProMotion 120Hz | 6.9-inch OLED, ≈ 2868×1320 at 460 ppi, ProMotion 120Hz |
Battery Capacity & Video Playback | ~ 3,692 mAh; up to 30 hours video playback | ~ 3,149 mAh; up to 27 hours video playback | ~ 4,252 mAh; up to 33 hours video playback | ~ 5,088 mAh; up to 39 hours video playback |
Weight & Dimensions | 149.6 × 71.5 × 7.95 mm • 177 g | 156.2 × 74.7 × 5.64 mm • 165 g | 150.0 × 71.9 × 8.75 mm • 206 g | 163.4 × 78.0 × 8.75 mm • 233 g |
Rear Cameras | Dual 48MP Fusion: Main + Ultra Wide | Single 48MP Fusion Main with 2× telephoto crop | Triple 48MP: Main, Ultra Wide, Telephoto (tetraprism zoom design) | Triple 48MP system with extended optical zoom and larger sensors |
Front Camera | 18MP Center Stage with square sensor, framing/rotate features, Dual Capture video | 18MP Center Stage with framing/rotate features | 18MP Center Stage with advanced Pro video options | 18MP Center Stage with advanced Pro video options |
Colors Available | Lavender, Mist Blue, Sage, Black, White | Sky Blue, Light Gold, Cloud White, Space Black | Cosmic Orange, Deep Blue, Silver | Cosmic Orange, Deep Blue, Silver |
Other Common Features for All the New iPhones
All models in the new iPhone 17 series — from the standard iPhone 17 to the iPhone 17 Pro Max and the groundbreaking new model iPhone Air— share a powerful set of features designed to enhance usability, safety, and everyday convenience.
- Apple Intelligence: Smart tools like Visual Intelligence for on-screen search and actions, Writing Tools for rewriting and summarizing text, Genmoji creation, Clean Up for photo editing, and Live Translation across apps.
- iOS 26: A fresh design with Liquid Glass effects, dynamic lock screen, call screening for unknown numbers, hold assist for queues, and built-in polls in Messages.
- Connectivity: Seamless and fast with Wi-Fi 7, Bluetooth 6, 5G, and eSIM support for global flexibility.
- Safety Features: Messages and Roadside Assistance via satellite, Emergency SOS when off the grid, Crash Detection with advanced motion sensors, and Find My for secure location sharing.
Together, these features make the entire iPhone 17 lineup smarter, safer, and more connected than ever before.
Pricing in Japan
Here are the official prices for iPhone 17 series in Japan:
| Model | 256GB | 512GB | 1TB | 2TB | Display Size |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| iPhone 17 | ¥129,800 | ¥164,800 | – | – | 6.3 inch |
| iPhone Air | ¥159,800 | ¥194,800 | ¥229,800 | – | 6.5 inch |
| iPhone 17 Pro | ¥179,800 | ¥214,800 | ¥249,800 | – | 6.3 inch |
| iPhone 17 Pro Max | ¥194,800 | ¥229,800 | ¥264,800 | ¥329,800 | 6.9 inch |
*All prices include tax.
Note: iPhone 17 Pro now starts with 256GB storage (double the entry storage of previous models), and iPhone 17 Pro Max offers up to 2TB storage for the first time.
Where and How to Buy in Japan
Pre-order and Release Dates
You can buy phones from the Apple stores, Apple website (online) as well as Amazon Japan website. Right now pre orders are going on. The official release date is September 19, 2025 (Friday).
Experienced Apple customers know that popular models and configurations can sell out quickly during the pre-order period, so those wanting to secure their device on launch day should hurry up!
iPhone 17 Cases in Japan
If you are looking to buy a case or cover for your brand-new iPhone you can click the following link:
The information provided in this article has been published after analysis of the available data from different resources. If you have any questions, please do not hesitate to contact us. And, if you are planning to buy any other product like wireless earphones, portable power banks, best tablets in Japan, best best smart watches or the best laptops for students you can read those expert reviews. You can also check our Electronics Products and Travel & Outdoor Products category articles on the Sakuron Japan website.
– Our editorial team reviewed this article and approved it according to our editorial policy.
