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ZDNET’s key takeaways
- iPhone 17 Air might debut as Apple’s thinnest cellphone ever.
- Single rear digital camera reveals Apple’s thinness trade-offs.
- Anticipated to debut on Sept. 9, 2025, priced round $900.
Apple is rumored to be spicing issues for this 12 months’s iPhone occasion. It may introduce an ultra-thin mannequin for the 2025 iPhone lineup referred to as the iPhone 17 Air. It is considered a lot slimmer than any iPhone up to now — and it’ll completely substitute the Plus line that is been round for over a decade.
Additionally: Buy the iPhone 16 or wait for iPhone 17? Here’s how to decide
Due this September alongside the remainder of the iPhone 17 family, it has been repeatedly described as a super-slim new tier, with a goal value round $900. However what else makes this cellphone so completely different, and why must you care?
Let’s go rumor by rumor.
1. It is referred to as iPhone 17 Air up to now
Bloomberg’s Mark Gurman has described to the upcoming model as “skinny” and repeatedly calls it “iPhone 17 Air.” So, that is what everybody else is asking it. Apple itself hasn’t confirmed the identify, so think about “Air” a working moniker till it debuts in September.
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With any pre-release reporting, particulars can change. However Gurman is a managing editor with a robust document on Apple scoops. AppleTrack currently rates his accuracy round 86%. It is a website that meticulously tracks, verifies, and charges the accuracy of Apple’s largest leaks and rumors. MacRumors even graded Gurman’s WWDC 2025 predictions with an A+.
2. iPhone 17 Air is basically, actually skinny
If the rumors are true, the iPhone 17 Air may very well be the thinnest iPhone ever.
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Famous analyst Ming-Chi Kuo, who has a 72% accuracy according to AppleTrack, says the cellphone will measure 5.5mm at its slimmest level — however the digital camera bump continues to be alive and nicely. Bloomberg’s Gurman stated the Air is slimmer than the present fashions and has recommended it may very well be a step towards Apple’s long-rumored port-free future.
For comparability, the iPhone 16 Professional is 8.25mm thick.
Renders and videos from Jon Prosser’s Entrance Web page Tech level to an ultra-thin chassis in addition to a “digital camera bar” stretching throughout the again. On one facet of it sits a single rear lens, whereas the opposite homes a mic and LED flash. Prosser is being sued by Apple for allegedly leaking iOS 26 info, however his leaks align with a supposed iPhone 17 Air shell that surfaced weeks ago.
In fact, making a cellphone this skinny requires some engineering trade-offs. AppleTrack posted a video with dummy fashions suggesting some compromises, just like the USB-C port being nudged nearer to the again edge as an alternative of sitting neatly within the center.
As for weight, MacRumors noticed South Korean leaker yeux1122 had claimed in a weblog that the Air will are available at about 145g. That may make it a lot lighter than the 199g iPhone 16 Professional and barely heavier than the 141g iPhone 13 Mini.
3. It has a 6.6-inch show
Several leakers and analysts, together with Ming-Chi Kuo, stated the iPhone 17 Air may have round a 6.6-inch show with very slim bezels. It may have a refined front layout, however it can preserve the Dynamic Island largely the same as current models. In the meantime, Macworld not too long ago noticed a brand new 1260×2740 wallpaper decision in iOS 26 betas that does not match any present iPhones.
4. Let’s discuss that digital camera
To maintain the iPhone 17 Air as skinny as potential, Apple is anticipated to make some adjustments within the digital camera division.
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Each Kuo and Bloomberg’s Gurman reported the iPhone 17 Air will drop each the ultrawide and telephoto lens. As a substitute, it is transport with a single rear digital camera — probably 48MP. Jon Prosser’s renders again this up, exhibiting only one lens inside the highest digital camera bar.
Up entrance, analyst Jeff Pu stated all iPhone 17 fashions will function a 24MP selfie digital camera. AppleTrack has Pu’s document at about 50%.
5. It may not final a full day
A thinner iPhone means a smaller battery, proper? Not so quick. This is how Apple plans to deal with the difficulty of battery life:
- Environment friendly charging and thermal administration: Leaker Majin Bu has shared photos and measurements of what is claimed to be the Air’s battery: an L-shaped, steel-cased module that is about 2.49mm thick with an estimated capability of two,900mAh. The prototype options welded edges, new adhesives to make replacements simpler, and will enable for extra environment friendly charging because of improved thermal administration. Collectively, these particulars recommend Apple is optimizing inside house and battery efficiency.
- Excessive-density battery with silicon-anode cells: Kuo has floated the concept of a high-density battery for the iPhone 17 Air, whereas AppleInsider, citing a report from DigitTimes, claimed provider TDK is getting ready silicon-anode cells. The mix of this tech could be a serious leap, primarily permitting the iPhone 17 Air to retailer extra power in the identical house.
- An Apple-made battery case: The Information’s Wayne Ma reported that Apple’s inside testing reveals the Air’s battery life will not fairly hit the corporate’s normal targets. He stated the share of customers who can go a single day with out recharging the skinny cellphone might be between 60% and 70%. To make up for that, Apple has been creating its personal battery case.
- Software program tips: Let’s additionally not overlook that iOS 26 introduces a brand new function referred to as Adaptive Energy, which was extensively mentioned throughout and after WWDC. Apple’s iOS 26 overview does not go into a lot element, however ZDNET’s Adrian Kingsley-Hughes tested it and reported that the system robotically adjusts efficiency and background duties to stretch battery life when wanted.
6. Data on different specs
If you happen to’re questioning about which A-series chip the iPhone 17 Air will get or how a lot RAM it’s going to have, here is what’s leaked up to now:
- Processor: Bloomberg’s Gurman claimed the iPhone 17 Air will get the standard A19, whereas the iPhone 17 Professional fashions will get the A19 Professional chip. A counter-rumor from Fixed Focus Digital on Weibo (by way of MacRumors) claimed the A19 Professional is coming to the Air.
- RAM: Kuo stated to count on 12GB DRAM on at the least three iPhone 17 fashions.
- Wi-Fi: Kuo additionally stated Apple’s in-house Wi-Fi chip might be used throughout all iPhone 17 fashions, which means it is transferring away from Broadcom. This reporting echoes earlier protection from Reuters outlining Apple’s in-house Wi-Fi/Bluetooth transition.
7. What about new colours?
Leaker Majin Bu — posting on his own site and X — has repeatedly stated the iPhone 17 Air might be out there in 4 colours: a really gentle “sky” blue, silver, black, and a light-weight gold. You may see these colours, in addition to the opposite iPhone 17 fashions’ colours, within the tweet beneath.
8. How a lot it can value
Bloomberg’s Gurman reported that the iPhone 17 Air might be priced round $900, in step with the concept that it can substitute the Plus tier.
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Nonetheless, in May 2025, President Donald Trump publicly threatened a 25% tariff on iPhones not constructed within the US — a transfer that, if enacted and utilized to the Air’s provide chain, could affect pricing.
9. When to count on the Air
Apple historically holds its iPhone occasion in early to mid-September to unveil the newest fashions, which then go on sale inside a few weeks. Whereas Apple hasn’t confirmed the iPhone 17 Air, its next event will take place on Sept. 9, 2025, and a number of studies, together with Bloomberg’s Gurman most not too long ago, recommend the ultra-thin mannequin will debut throughout this occasion.
What is the fast TL;DR for iPhone 17 Air?
This is a fast record of all of the rumors and leaks I discussed above for the iPhone 17 Air:
- Chassis: Extremely-thin “Air” design measuring 5.5mm at its slimmest level.
- Show: ~6.6-inch panel with a ~2740×1260 decision.
- Cameras: Single rear (huge) digital camera, 24MP selfie digital camera, and Dynamic Island largely unchanged.
- Chip: Both A19 or A19 Professional.
- Wi-fi silicon: Apple’s in-house Wi-Fi might be in all iPhone 17 fashions.
- Battery: Metal-cased pack round ~2,900 mAh; Apple battery case reportedly within the works.
- Colours: 4 rumored finishes (black, silver, gentle gold, and lightweight blue).
- Worth: Round $900 for Air, per Bloomberg.
- Launch date: September 2025 unveil alongside the remainder of the iPhone 17 household.
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Is “Air” actually the ultimate identify?
Bloomberg makes use of “Air” to explain the skinny mannequin changing Plus, however Apple’s official names are solely confirmed on occasion day.
Why will the iPhone 17 Air have just one rear digital camera?
Kuo says it can, and Prosser’s renders present the identical. If true, Apple appears to be prioritizing thinness with the iPhone 17 Air.
Does Apple plan to launch different iPhone fashions in 2025?
Sure. A number of studies level to a four-phone lineup in September 2025: iPhone 17, iPhone 17 Air (changing the “Plus” fashions), iPhone 17 Professional, and iPhone 17 Professional Max.
Why will iPhone 17 Air kill the Plus line?
For the previous few years, Apple has provided 4 fashions: a typical iPhone, a barely bigger Plus mannequin (which prices $100 extra), and two iPhone Professional fashions (a daily Professional and a bigger, costlier Professional Max). It sounds just like the iPhone 17 Air will undertake the beginning value of the iPhone 16 Plus, and its display screen measurement might be near that mannequin. Add all of it up, and there is simply no want for a Plus anymore.
How huge is the display screen in comparison with different fashions?
Kuo estimated the iPhone 17 Air’s show at about 6.6 inches, which might put the Air between the usual iPhone 17 and the Professional fashions. Display analyst Ross Young, nonetheless, extra particularly listed it at 6.55 inches in his breakdown of the lineup, as proven beneath. With a 92% accuracy rating from AppleTrack, his numbers are probably near what we’ll truly see.
- iPhone 17: 6.27-inch show (up from 6.12 inches)
- iPhone 17 Air: 6.55-inch show
- iPhone 17 Professional: 6.27-inch show (similar as iPhone 16 Professional)
- iPhone 17 Professional Max: 6.86-inch show (no change from iPhone 16 Professional Max)
