A concept render of the iPhone 17 Air. | Image credit – 4RMD
What we know so far
iPhone 17 Air: in 2025, Apple may be exploring a slimmer iPhone, but major innovation is uncertain.
The newcomer to the iPhone family (its siblings are the vanilla iPhone 17 and the iPhone 17 Pro Max duo), is reported to be thinner than usual, though it may sacrifice practicality.
This is the phone that is rumored to replace the iPhone 16 Plus with: so, no more large vanilla flagships. 2025 is the era of the slim phone, as it turns out. Samsung is also rumored to develop its own Galaxy S25 Edge.
The iPhone 17 Air could arrive with respectable specs, with a thickness varying between 5.44mm to 6.25mm.
The phone is expected to feature a display with a resolution of 1260 x 2740 px and a 120Hz refresh rate somewhere in the 6.5-6.7-inch range. It will likely lack some advanced display technologies, such as Low-Dielectric TEE, that's rumored to be seen in the iPhone 17 Pro.
Battery life could be a trade-off, as the phone's slim design might limit it to a ~3,000 mAh battery, potentially impacting performance. That's concerning, but maybe another rumor will bring some joy for the Apple fans out there.
The iPhone 17 Air could come with an A19 chip, 8 GB of RAM, and storage options of 256 GB or 512 GB. The phone is also likely to feature a single 48 MP rear camera and a 24 MP front camera.
Apple is also planning to offer the phone with an eSIM-only option, eliminating the physical SIM tray.
iPhone 17 Air is the newcomer, but it's expected that Apple uveils it at the regular iPhone 17 presentation around September 2025:
Device family
Announcement
Market release
Apple iPhone 17 Air
September, 2025*
September, 2025*
Apple iPhone 16 Plus
9 September, 2024
20 September, 2024
Apple iPhone 15 Plus
Sept 12, 2023
Sept 22, 2023
Apple iPhone 14 Plus
Sept 7, 2022
Sept 16, 2022
* - probable dates
iPhone 17 Air price and deals
Apple's rumored iPhone Air, previously expected to launch at a price similar to the current Plus model, may debut under different market pressures than any iPhone before it. A series of new tariffs has disrupted Apple's global manufacturing strategy, with higher import duties now applied across countries including China, India, Vietnam, and others.
While this new model was intended to offer a lighter and more affordable premium experience, increased assembly costs could push its pricing upward before it even launches.
Although some production is already shifting to lower-tariff countries like India, the majority of Apple's assembly still takes place in China – where tariffs have risen sharply. As a result, Apple may be forced to re-evaluate how competitively it can price the iPhone Air, especially in markets like the US, where cost increases would hit directly at launch.
Apple iPhone model
Starting price, regardless of storage
iPhone 17 Air
$899-$999*
iPhone 16 Plus (and iPhone 15 Plus)
$899
* - anticipated prices
Back in 2024, there was this rumor that the iPhone Air could be the most expensive model of the four (if the 17 Pro Max stays at $1,199) with a price tag of $1,299.
Another leak then claimed that the iPhone 17 Air will probably cost as much as the soon-to-be-discontinued iPhone Plus: $899 and up.
The consensus before tariffs were announced was that the Air model was to be cheaper than the $999 iPhone Pro model, or, the exact price tag of the soon-to-be-discontinued iPhone Plus.
iPhone 17 Air deals to expect:
Apple: It's unlikely that Apple will abandon its iPhone Upgrade Program, a system that allows users to switch to a new iPhone each year by making 12 monthly payments and trading in their current device. The program includes AppleCare+ and typically starts at $39.50 per month for a 128GB iPhone, $44.91 per month for a 128GB iPhone Plus, etc. So maybe we'll get $45mo. for the iPhone 17 Air. Enrollment is straightforward and can be completed online, through the Apple Store app, or at any Apple Store location. It’s a convenient way for Apple enthusiasts to stay current with the latest devices.
Verizon: Unless there’s a significant shift, the iPhone 17 Air might be offered with a great discount of up to $800. While the standard iPhone 17 is expected to be available for free with certain Unlimited plans and a trade-in of any phone, the iPhone Plus used to come with up to $800 in trade-in credits, likely targeting older models such as the iPhone 13 or 14 series. That's only $99 from the user, which doesn't sound bad.
T-Mobile: Customers could potentially enjoy discounts ranging from $600 to $700 on any iPhone 17 model when opting for the Magenta MAX plan, assuming it remains available in 2025. I expect this to be valid for the new slim model as well. Additionally, if T-Mobile's promotional strategy stays consistent, a buy-one-get-one offer might provide up to $700 off a second iPhone 17 when adding a line to most T-Mobile plans.
AT&T: AT&T is expected to roll out compelling offers for the iPhone 17 lineup. The standard iPhone 17 might be available at no cost upfront when bundled with an eligible plan and a trade-in, regardless of the phone's condition. So this should also be the case for the Air model, or a discount of up to $800 may be offered with a qualifying plan and the trade-in of a relatively recent iPhone model.
Keep in mind that it's all predictions and wishful thinking at this point, so these offers might or might not materialize.
iPhone 17 Air camera
The new model could have only a single camera on its back.
What to expect: 48 MP main, 24 MP selfie
That's not a typo. For the time being, the rumors have it that the iPhone 17 Air will come with a single camera on its back with a 48 MP sensor. According to prominent Apple expert Ming-Chi Kuo, the Cupertino giant will skip the ultra-wide and telephoto units.
On the front, the newcomer in the iPhone 17 family will pack a 24 MP selfie camera.
Variable aperture?
The iPhone 17 Air could come with a variable aperture for its rear-sided camera, but that's far from cemented. Traditional smartphone cameras usually have a fixed aperture, limiting control over light exposure. This can result in overexposed or underexposed images in varying lighting conditions. A variable aperture allows photographers to adjust the lens opening based on the environment.
iPhone 17 Air storage
What to expect:
128 GB*
256 GB
512 GB
If the iPhone 17 Air comes at a lower price point than the base Pro model, we could have the 128 GB option available as well.
If it's costlier, the 128 GB option will probably be ditched – or it should be.
However, maybe it's not best to hope for a 1 TB option for this slimmer form factor. Maybe 512 GB is the sweet spot when it comes to the maximum option?
iPhone 17 Air design
Is that it? | Image credit – Majin Bu
The iPhone 17 Air has a slightly different design compared to its siblings.
We're nowhere near the iPhone 17 Air official unveiling, so don't expect any Apple-released promos and design teasers right now.
Earlier, there was this leak, though, which provides a few renders.
These are the aforementioned iPhone 17 Air renders. Apple is reportedly embracing a Pixel-inspired design across its iPhone 17 lineup, with the iPhone 17 Air featuring a sleek horizontal camera bump. Unlike the bulkier Pro model, the Air's slim design enhances its lightweight aesthetic, drawing strong comparisons to the Pixel 9.
The iPhone 17 Pro and Air eventual thicknesses compared. | Image Credit – Majin Bu
The Air model is significantly thinner than the its Pro sibling, as shown in March 2025 leaks.
A couple of concept videos
At the very end of 2024 there was this concept video, showing the iPhone 17 Air in its full "glory":
Next came March 2025 and with it, this video that we told you about came along:
Keep in mind that this is an unofficial video, showcasing dummy units (that are based on alleged internal documents), not something that Tim Cook and co. released. However, we can clearly see the new horizontal camera bar for the iPhone 17 Air – and it's a single camera setup on the rear. This corroborates earlier rumors and may very well be really close to the original. We'll have to wait some more months to find out.
Additionally, another leak claimed that the iPhone 17 Air will be similar to the iPhone 17 Pro Maxin terms of length and width (and even bezel thickness), just noticeably thinner.
Metal Molds
Additionally, a few unofficial metal molds for the iPhone 17 family popped up online and they Air model looks like we've reported earlier, so this might very well be its final form.
5.44mm thin
The iPhone 17 Air could be... 6mm "thick". Apple is reportedly moving forward with plans to achieve a 6mm thickness for the iPhone 17 Air, making it the slimmest iPhone ever and thinner than the 6.9mm iPhone 6.
This claim was corroborated by another leak in early 2025: the Air model was going to be 6.25mm thick.
However, just some days later, industry insider Ming-Chi Kuo said the phone could be 5.5mm at its thinnest part.
In March, another leak revealed the iPhone 17 Air and it claimed the phone is going to 5.44mm in its thinnest part, which is respectable.
However, it's possible that the iPhone 17 Air could feature a 4.0mm-thick camera bar, making the top part of the phone 9.5mm thick.
No ports?
Initial rumors suggested it could be portless, but those were walked back. Concerns over EU regulations led Apple to scrap the portless design and make other adjustments, including reducing the screen size from 6.9 to 6.6 inches to prevent durability issues.
Color options
The device should come in a few exclusive color options – after all, it's a new variation of the standard iPhone 17 lineup that we're dealing with here.
While earlier reports called for a 6.55-inch display, a recent leak claims that the iPhone 17 Air is to arrive with a larger 6.7-inch panel. Despite the mixed reports, one thing seems certain: the iPhone 17 Air will feature a large display.
Not the greatest resolution
The rumored 1260 x 2740 px resolution of the potential iPhone 17 Slim is lower than the 1290 x 2796 resolution of the iPhone 15 Pro Max display. It's not that much lower, but a 2025 iPhone could arrive with fewer pixels than an iPhone from 2023.
Advanced display technology... or not?
Bad news is that the iPhone 17 Air will most likely arrive without the 'Low-Dielectric TEE' display technology that the iPhone 17 Pro is rumored to benefit from.
Low-Dielectric TEE is expected to make devices more durable, improve energy efficiency, and deliver faster performance. By reducing power consumption, it can help extend battery life, ensuring that devices run longer on a single charge. Additionally, it enhances response times, making interactions smoother and "better", generally speaking.
The Air model, however, may benefit from Samsung Display's M14 panel. On paper, this one can reach a brightness of 3,000 nits (which is a lot!), but its full potential wasn't seen in the iPhone 16 Pro and Pro Max which did not get that bright.
iPhone 17 Air battery
What will the battery on the iPhone 17 Air be like? Will its super-thin body allow for a large battery? Probably not, but the 6.6-inch display could compensate for the reduced overall depth of the phone.
Big mAh numbers are great, but if the phone's software and hardware are not optimized correctly, power drainages could occur. It's interesting to see what battery tech Apple is going to implement for its 2025 phones.
The battery glue used on the non-Pro iPhone 16 models will be used on all four iPhone 17 series models. | Image credit-iFixit
The ultra-slim iPhone 17 Air, set to replace what would have been the iPhone 17 Plus, could feature a new adhesive and electrically induced adhesive peel technology. This innovation enables Apple to eliminate certain battery components like brackets, screws, clips, and mounts, helping the device maintain its sleek profile.
Speaking of batteries, if the iPhone 17 Air team went through some battery challenges. The company aimed to reduce battery thickness using new materials but faced unforeseen technical hurdles.
A leak from mid-January 2025 claimed that the thin phone will indeed suffer from its battery – or, realistically speaking, its owners are going to suffer. The leaks claims the iPhone 17 Air might come with a ~3,000 mAh capacity battery.
This is a technology that enhances energy storage within a compact design. This advancement should allow for greater power efficiency without increasing the device's size, which is crucial for ultra-thin gadgets like the 17 Air.
High-density cells achieve this by refining material composition and structural engineering, enabling more energy to be stored in the same physical space.
iPhone 17 Air features and software
2025 is not the year that Apple is to embrace the realm of artificial intelligence.
Last June at WWDC 2024, Apple unveiled iOS 18 and promised to focus on AI for the iPhone. However, Apple Intelligence is available on only a handful of iPhones.
These are:
iPhone 15 Pro
iPhone 15 Pro Max
iPhone 16 series
But the iPhone 17 is not going to showcase it out of the box.
What's more, the new Siri assistant is also postponed to 2026 (or 2027).
iPhone 17 Air hardware and specs
What to expect:
CPU: Apple A19 chip
RAM: 8 GB
Battery: ~3,000mAh
Storage: 256 GB, 512 GB
Camera setup: Single main 48MP unit, 24MP selfie
On the outside, the upcoming Apple handset should be impressive. On the inside, however, not so much. In fact, it could come with some rather dull specs.
The first rumored specs for the iPhone 17 Air, as mentioned, include a 6.7-inch ProMotion display with a 120Hz dynamic refresh rate, the A19 (non-Pro!) processor, 8 GB of RAM, and a starting price of $899.
It may have a single rear camera with variable aperture, improving depth-of-field and low-light photography, and smaller cutouts for the Dynamic Island.
Analyst Ming-Chi Kuo provided insights, calling a 6.6-inch display with a 1260 x 2740 resolution and a titanium-aluminum alloy frame. According to Haitong International analyst Jeff Pu, though, the iPhone 17 Air could be made solely of aluminum.
Apple's in-house chip
The iPhone 17 Air will be the second iPhone, after the iPhone 16e, to feature Apple's in-house 5G modem chip, replacing Qualcomm's.
The C1 in-house modem was believed to be the very reason that the iPhone 16e doesn't offer MagSafe support, but thankfully, that claim was refuted. So, even if the Air does pack the C1 modem, it might very well offer MagSafe support.
With a high price and minimal hardware upgrades, Apple is focusing on the phone's innovative form factor rather than specs to appeal to a niche group of users.
Apparently, the iPhone 17 Air will come with an eSIM option only. The ultra-thin design of the iPhone 17 Air has reportedly forced Apple engineers to omit a sliding SIM tray and limit the device to a single rear camera due to space constraints.
Should I wait for the iPhone 17 Air?
You should wait for the iPhone 17 Air if you're into sleek and classy phones and don't care that much about the price tag. Be prepared: this one could be extremely pricey! But if it's just 5.5mm thick, it might attract attention. Maybe thin phones are what we've been looking for all these years?
You should not wait for iPhone 17 Air if you're not invested in the Apple ecosystem. Given that this will be a first generation device, it's quite possible that some things are not refined enough. Also, if you drop your phones quite often, this will most likely be a no-no choice for you.
Sebastian, a veteran of a tech writer with over 15 years of experience in media and marketing, blends his lifelong fascination with writing and technology to provide valuable insights into the realm of mobile devices. Embracing the evolution from PCs to smartphones, he harbors a special appreciation for the Google Pixel line due to their superior camera capabilities. Known for his engaging storytelling style, sprinkled with rich literary and film references, Sebastian critically explores the impact of technology on society, while also perpetually seeking out the next great tech deal, making him a distinct and relatable voice in the tech world.
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