Apple is set to release the iPhone 17, which will break a record held by the iPhone 4 that lasted over 15 years ago. According to current rumors, the iPhone 17 will surpass the iPhone 4’s record by sitting at the top of Apple’s mainline lineup for about 18 months.
The iPhone 4, launched in June 2010, remained Apple’s top iPhone until October 2011, despite a shift in its flagship launch cycle from summer to fall. The phone’s unusually long run was due in part to AT&T being the exclusive carrier in the US and launching it first, followed by Verizon six months later.
Since then, no iPhone has matched the iPhone 4’s record of holding its spot for 15 months. However, the iPhone 11 Pro came close, holding its spot for 13 months after the iPhone 12 launch was delayed during the pandemic.
The upcoming iPhone 17 to iPhone 18 cycle will be different from previous cycles due to the existence of the Pro line. The iPhone 4 to iPhone 4S stretch created an upgrade drought for customers waiting for something new. This time, Apple’s Pro models are expected to arrive annually, alongside what is expected to be the first folding iPhone.
Apple has announced its next event on September 9, which will feature the iPhone 17 line and Apple Watch Series 11/Ultra 3 reveal.
Source: https://9to5mac.com/2025/08/27/iphone-17-availability