Apple iPhone 17: Price, specs and cheapest plans

Apple has finally made the new iPhone official - and we've got all the details.

Regardless of whether you're after the more general gist or an in-depth breakdown of the specs, we've got you covered. From how it compares to the Apple iPhone 17 Pro to when you can get your hands on the device and how much it will cost in Australia, here's everything you need to know about the Apple iPhone 17.

Telstra, Optus, and Vodafone are all offering the new iPhone 17 on a plan.

No matter which telco you go with, you'll get to choose between a 24-month plan or a 36-month plan. A 36-month plan will always be cheaper, but it means you're paying your phone off over a longer period of time. A 24-month plan is more expensive, but you'll own your Apple iPhone 17 quicker.

To compare for yourself, check out the widgets below for a snapshot of the cheapest 36-month and 24-month iPhone 17 plans.

Here's a look at 36-month plans for the 256GB Apple iPhone 17.

Here's a look at 36-month plans for the 512GB Apple iPhone 17.

If you'd prefer a shorter repayment term, here are 24-month plans for the 256GB Apple iPhone 17.

Here's a look at 24-month plans for the 512GB Apple iPhone 17.

Apple might have introduced a more affordable option in the form of the iPhone 16e earlier this year but those expecting a price cut when it comes to the company's latest flagship lineup are probably going to be disappointed. 

Here's a side-by-side breakdown of the iPhone 17 price range:

The base model iPhone 17 is probably the biggest upgrade over its predecessor than we've seen in some time. Not only does it have the standard year-on-year improvements, we've finally seen the minimum storage option increased to 256GB and a 120Hz refresh rate for the display – both doubled vs. what Apple has delivered for years now.

We'll go over the headline features and specs below, but if you'd like to know more how the phone actually handles, check out our full iPhone 17 review.

• 120Hz refresh rate: This year's iPhone 17 is the first standard model to come with a 120Hz refresh rate and a larger screen. That screen also comes with Ceramic Shield 2 and a new anti-reflective coating. 
• A new processor: As usual, this year's iPhone 17 comes with fresh shiny new silicon in the form of the A19 processor.
• Support for faster wireless charging: The iPhone 17 supports faster wireless charging of up to 30W via MagSafe.

Don't expect too many surprises when it comes to the screen on the new iPhone 17.

Like the iPhone 16 before it, this device comes with a 6.3-inch Super XDR Retina display. In addition to being larger than the 6.1-inch screen on last year's model, the refresh rate has been bumped up to 120Hz this time around. That screen also comes with Ceramic Shield 2, which is said to offer three times as much protection as its predecessor, plus a new anti-reflective coating.

Even so, the screen here isn't as sharp as the one on the iPhone 17 Pro nor as large as the one on the iPhone 17 Pro Max. All the same, it'll likely me more than up to standards of more everyday consumers. Apple's cheapest iPhone might cut a few corners but the screen isn't one of them.

Those who keep score already likely know what's going on under the hood with the iPhone 17.

This year's entry-level iPhone comes equipped with Apple's own A19 processor. Since the new iPhone Air is kitted out with the same silicon found in the Pro models, that means that the iPhone 17 is the only model featuring the standard A19 CPU this time around.

As usual, the handset comes in several different configurations. The cheapest of these comes with 256GB, while the roster tops out at 512GB. 

As for battery life and RAM, we'll have to wait until the iPhone 17 is out in the wild. Apple typically doesn't disclose memory or battery specs so we'll have to wait for a teardown to find out just how this aspect of the device compares against the competition.

At a glance, the camera configuration found on the Apple iPhone 17 is likely to be fairly familiar to those who spent any time with the iPhone 16.

Last year's entry-level iPhone introduced an upgraded camera configuration that offered both a 48MP wide angle camera and a 12MP ultrawide one. The iPhone 17 more-or-less inherits that same setup, plus a new 18MP "Center Stage" selfie camera.

Yes, the Apple iPhone 17 comes with 5G connectivity on par with what you can find in the rest of the iPhone lineup. Of course, you'll need to be located in an area with 5G coverage in order to actually make use of this feature. To see where is 5G available in Australia, use the coverage map below.

The only three mobile providers in Australia that offer Apple iPhone 17 plans are the big three: Optus, Vodafone, and Telstra.

Regardless of which provider you pick, you plan will be structured the same way so be sure to pick the one that best suits your individual needs. Optus, Telstra, and Vodafone offer a variety of perks and plan features, which we'll cover below.

Firstly though, you'll want to consider coverage. When it comes to size, the Telstra network has a well-earned reputation for offering the widest coverage in Australia. Optus sits in second place and Vodafone is a close third thanks to a new network sharing agreement with Optus. As a result, Vodafone customers in regional and rural areas now use the Optus network and benefit from expanded connectivity.

Optus isn't a frontrunner for coverage nor is it usually the cheapest game in town when it comes to iPhone plans, but that middle-of-the-road quality is more of a feature than a bug. 

To start with, Optus' smallest plan has a big 50GB of data. There's also data sharing if you have multiple plans on the same account, which can be handy for families.  The more expensive options also come with unlimited international calls to select destinations. That's great to have if you're looking to keep in touch with friends and family overseas.

If you're planning to travel abroad yourself, Optus has good roaming add-ons too. You can score 5GB of data and unlimited local talk & text for $5 per day when roaming in select countries.

It's also worth remembering that Optus mobile plans come with no data overage fees. If you go over your monthly data limit, you won't incur any unexpectedly high fees but you will have you speed capped at 1.5Mbps until the end of your current billing cycle. 

Optus customers also get access to SubHub – a platform that lets you combine multiple subscription services (such as Netflix, Microsoft 365, and others) into a single bill, along with a 5% or 10% discount, depending on whether you sync two or three or more services.

Even if Vodafone does sit in third place when it comes to coverage, it's often the thriftiest choice for those looking at buying a new iPhone on a plan. 

Vodafone's Apple iPhone 17 plans are just a little cheaper than Optus when it comes to price. As opposed to Optus, the smallest plan is 60GB (excluding promotions), which is much higher than the average national usage. All its plans come with unlimited international texts to select countries, and the more-expensive plans have international call inclusions.

Again, as with Optus, there's plenty of data and perks like no excess data fees. Instead of cutting you off, Vodafone slows your connection to 2Mbps once you pass your monthly limit. This is slightly faster than the 1.5Mbps speed cap that Optus and Telstra employ.

Like its rivals, Vodafone's plans don't include any data banking or rollover for unused data. That said, you can share data between multiple Vodafone mobile plans if they are attached to the same account. You'll also save between 5% and 20% off your total monthly bill, depending on how many services you bundle together. This discount doesn't include any hardware repayments but it's still nice to have. 

In any case, Vodafone's best feature is its international roaming. For just $5 per day, you can use your phone as you normally would while overseas. This kicks in automatically when our phone connects to an overseas network and lasts for 24 hours. It's one of the best roaming options on the market for both value and ease of use.

On the other hand,  Vodafone's biggest drawback is network coverage. Its 4G network is only slightly smaller than the other two networks (98.4% population coverage for Vodafone, compared to the 99.7% of Telstra and 98.5% of Optus), its 5G network is small enough that Vodafone is the only major network provider to hold back on publishing clear 5G coverage figures. 

Telstra's Apple iPhone 17 plans are the most expensive, but Australia's biggest telco is also well known for its wider network coverage and all the perks you'd expect given the premium price.

Once again, the smallest plan has 50GB. This is far higher than the average Australian uses each month and while there are no overage charges for going past your data limit (instead you're slowed to 1.5Mbps), there's no data banking or rollover to let hang onto your unused data. Fortunately, as with the other big three providers, you can share data between up to 10 mobile services on the same eligible account.

All Telstra's Apple iPhone 17 plans come with 30 minutes of international calls to all destinations – not a lot of minutes, but without the usual limit on number of countries that are included. International calling packs are available for additional minutes.

Roaming is relatively easy to do, but not as affordable as Optus or Telstra in most circumstances. Traveling in New Zealand will cost you $5 per day, but most other countries are $10 per day. You'll get 2GB to use per day. 

Finally, you've got the Telstra Plus system. You earn points based on eligible plan payments. You can use these put towards purchases from the Telstra Plus Rewards store, such tech, gadgets, and gift cards. You can also get discounted movie tickets, pre-sale tickets for concerts, and more.

In any case, Telstra's biggest selling point is still the size of its network. With a population coverage of 99.7% for 4G, Telstra sits ahead of Optus' 98.5% and Vodafone's 98.4%. When it comes to 5G, Telstra offers an even bigger lead. With 95% of the population covered with 5G, it's comfortably ahead of Optus' 80.5%. Meanwhile, Vodafone doesn't even publish clear 5G coverage stats, so there's no comparison to be made there.

Even in regional areas that fall outside the reach of the largest mobile network in Australia, Telstra customers can still stay connected via the provider's new Starlink-powered messaging service. If you live in rural Australia, this feature is nice to have. That said, it does come with a few caveats such as being limited to text-messaging, requiring a direct line-of-sight to the sky and only working within the Starlink's satellite coverage footprint.