Surprising report claims the iPhone 17 Plus will have a smaller screen

Since the first iPhone launched with a 3.5-inch screen back in 2007, Apple has followed a path of slow but steady increase, from the 4-inch iPhone 5 in 2012 to the 6.7-inch 15 Pro Max last year. But one reliable analyst has predicted that next year, one iPhone’s screen will get smaller.

Ross Young, an analyst who specializes in the displays supply chain and has an enviable track record, this week released a report (via 9to5Mac) in which he makes the startling claim that the iPhone 17 Plus will have a smaller screen than the 15 Plus (which is 6.7 inches) and 16 Plus (which is expected to be the same). He doesn’t name a specific measurement but says the 17 Plus will “sit in between” the smaller handsets–the 17 and 17 Pro–and the 17 Pro Max.

Oddly enough, before we get to that point, Apple is expected to increase the screen sizes of two models later this year. Whereas the 15-series handsets line up like this:

• 15: 6.1 inches
• 15 Plus: 6.7 inches
• 15 Pro: 6.1 inches
• 15 Pro Max: 6.7 inches

The 16-series handsets are expected to see size increases on the two Pro models:

• 16: 6.1 inches
• 16 Plus: 6.7 inches
• 16 Pro: 6.3 inches
• 16 Pro Max: 6.9 inches

Assuming the rest of the line holds steady, that means the 17 Plus will have a screen somewhere between 6.3 and 6.7 inches. This seems like an odd regression, but makes a certain sense. Apple has in recent years shown itself to be very keen on pushing customers toward the more expensive models, and this would give the top-end 17 Pro Max yet another advantage over the cheaper 17 Plus. But it would be the first time an iPhone display got smaller after an update, even if we’re only talking about a couple of tenths of an inch.

We only believe this rumor because Young generally is very reliable on display rumors. But even so, this is all a long way off. There’s still roughly five months to go until Apple launches the iPhone 16, and plans can change. Watch this space for more developments.

Before the iPhone 17 arrives, we’re expecting the iPhone 16 and iPhone SE 4 to launch. iPhone 16 will arrive at a September launch event – find out how to watch the Apple September event live stream. For iPhone SE 4 and other new Apple products, see when is the next Apple event. You might also like our iPhone buying guide, best iPhone deals, and comparison of every iPhone that is available to buy today.