iPhone 17 Air: Everything to know about the 'ultra-thin' Plus killer coming in September

MacRumors / Elyse Betters Picaro / ZDNET

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ZDNET's cardinal takeaways

• iPhone 17 Air whitethorn debut arsenic Apple's thinnest telephone ever.
• Single rear camera shows Apple's thinness trade-offs.
• Expected to debut connected Sept. 9, 2025, priced astir $900.

Apple is expected to present an ultra-thin exemplary successful the 2025 iPhone lineup. Called the "iPhone 17 Air," it's expected to beryllium overmuch slimmer than immoderate different iPhone to day and volition regenerate the Plus models.

Also: Buy the iPhone 16 oregon hold for iPhone 17? Here's however I assistance friends and household decide

Due this September alongside the remainder of the iPhone 17 family, it's been repeatedly described arsenic a super-slim caller tier, with a people terms astir $900. But what other makes this telephone truthful different, and wherefore should you care?

Let's look astatine each the rumors and leaks to date.

Why is it called iPhone 17 Air?

Bloomberg's Mark Gurman has referred to the upcoming model arsenic "skinny" and repeatedly calls it "iPhone 17 Air." So, that's what everyone other calls it. Apple hasn't confirmed the sanction conscionable yet, truthful see "Air" a moving moniker until it debuts successful September.

Also: 5 Apple products you decidedly shouldn't bargain this period (and 7 to get instead)

With immoderate pre-release reporting, details tin change. But Gurman is simply a managing exertion with a beardown grounds connected Apple scoops. AppleTrack currently rates his accuracy astir 86%. This tract tracks, verifies, and rates the accuracy of Apple leaks and rumors. MacRumors besides graded Gurman's WWDC 2025 predictions arsenic an A+.

How bladed is the iPhone 17 Air really?

If the rumors are right, the iPhone 17 Air could beryllium the thinnest iPhone ever.

Also: Best iPhone 2025: I tested the apical models and recovered the champion options for you

Noted analyst Ming-Chi Kuo, who has a 72% accuracy according to AppleTrack, says the telephone volition measurement 5.5mm astatine its slimmest constituent -- but the camera bump isn't going anywhere. Still, Bloomberg's Gurman described the Air arsenic slimmer than existent models and suggested it could beryllium a measurement toward Apple's long-rumored port-free future. For comparison, the iPhone 16 Pro is 8.25mm thick.

Renders and videos from Jon Prosser's Front Page Tech besides constituent to an ultra-thin chassis arsenic good arsenic a "camera bar" stretching crossed the back. On 1 broadside sits a azygous rear lens, portion the different houses a mic and LED flash. Prosser is being sued by Apple for allegedly leaking iOS 26 information, but his leaks align with a expected iPhone 17 Air ammunition that surfaced weeks ago.

Of course, making a telephone this bladed requires immoderate engineering trade-offs. AppleTrack posted a video with dummy models suggesting subtle hardware compromises, similar the USB-C larboard being nudged person to the backmost borderline alternatively of sitting neatly successful the middle.

As for weight, MacRumors spotted South Korean leaker yeux1122 claimed successful a Naver blog that the Air volition travel successful astatine astir 145g (5.11 ounces). That would marque it overmuch lighter than the 199g iPhone 16 Pro, but it'll beryllium somewhat heavier than the 141g iPhone 13 Mini.

What is the show size?

Several leakers and analysts, including Ming-Chi Kuo, said the iPhone 17 Air volition person astir a 6.6-inch show with precise slim bezels and a refined beforehand layout, and it'll support the Dynamic Island largely the aforesaid arsenic existent models. Meanwhile, Macworld precocious spotted a caller 1260×2740 wallpaper solution successful iOS 26 betas that doesn't lucifer immoderate existing iPhones.

What astir the cameras? 

To support the iPhone 17 Air arsenic bladed arsenic possible, Apple is expected to marque immoderate concessions.

Also: How to wide your iPhone cache (and wherefore you should bash it earlier the iOS 26 update)

Both Kuo and Bloomberg's Gurman reported the telephone volition driblet ultrawide and telephoto lenses, alternatively shipping with a azygous rear camera -- apt 48MP. Jon Prosser's renders backmost this up, showing conscionable 1 lens wrong the apical "camera bar." Up front, expert Jeff Pu said each iPhone 17 models volition diagnostic a 24MP selfie camera. According to AppleTrack, Pu's grounds sits astatine astir 50% accurate.

Will iPhone 17 Air past each day?

A thinner iPhone means a smaller battery, right? Not truthful fast. Here's however Apple plans to tackle the contented of artillery life:

• Efficient charging and thermal management: Leaker Majin Bu has shared photos and measurements of what's claimed to beryllium the Air's battery: an L-shaped, steel-cased module that's astir 2.49mm heavy with an estimated capableness of 2,900mAh. The prototype features welded edges, caller adhesives to marque replacements easier, and could let for much businesslike charging acknowledgment to improved thermal management. Together, these details suggest Apple is optimizing interior abstraction and artillery performance.
• High-density artillery with silicon-anode cells: Kuo has floated the thought of a high-density artillery for the iPhone 17 Air, portion AppleInsider, citing a study from DigitTimes, claimed supplier TDK is preparing silicon-anode cells. The operation of this tech would beryllium a large leap, fundamentally allowing the iPhone 17 Air to store much vigor successful the aforesaid space.
• An Apple-made artillery case: The Information's Wayne Ma claimed Apple's interior investigating shows the Air's artillery beingness won't rather deed the company's accustomed targets. He said the percent of users who tin spell a azygous time without recharging the bladed telephone volition beryllium betwixt 60% and 70%. To marque up for that, Apple has been processing its ain artillery case.
• Software tricks: Let's besides not hide that iOS 26 introduces a caller diagnostic called Adaptive Power, which was wide discussed during and aft WWDC. Apple's iOS 26 overview doesn't spell into overmuch detail, but ZDNET's Adrian Kingsley-Hughes tested it and reported that the strategy automatically adjusts show and inheritance tasks to agelong artillery beingness erstwhile needed.

Any accusation connected different specs?

If you're wondering astir which A-series spot the iPhone 17 Air volition get oregon however overmuch RAM it'll have, here's what's leaked truthful far:

• Processor: Bloomberg's Gurman claimed the iPhone 17 Air volition get the standard A19, portion the iPhone 17 Pro models volition get the A19 Pro chip. A counter-rumor from Fixed Focus Digital connected Weibo (via MacRumors) claimed the A19 Pro is coming to the Air.
• RAM: Kuo said to expect 12GB DRAM connected astatine slightest 3 iPhone 17 models.
• Wi-Fi: Kuo besides said Apple's in-house Wi-Fi spot volition beryllium utilized crossed each iPhone 17 models, meaning it's moving distant from Broadcom. This reporting echoes earlier sum from Reuters outlining Apple's in-house Wi-Fi/Bluetooth transition.

Majin Bu

Will determination beryllium caller colors?

Leaker Majin Bu -- posting connected his own site and X -- has repeatedly said the iPhone 17 Air volition beryllium disposable successful 4 colors: a precise airy "sky" blue, silver, black, and a airy gold. You tin spot these colors, arsenic good arsenic the different iPhone 17 models' colors, successful the tweet below.

How overmuch volition iPhone 17 Air cost?

Bloomberg's Gurman reported that the iPhone 17 Air volition beryllium priced astir $900, successful enactment with the thought that it volition regenerate the Plus tier. 

Also: Apple's tariff costs and iPhone income are soaring - however agelong until instrumentality prices are too?

However, in May 2025, President Donald Trump publically threatened a 25% tariff connected iPhones not built successful the US -- a determination that, if enacted and applied to the Air's proviso chain, could impact pricing.

When volition iPhone 17 Air release?

Apple traditionally holds its iPhone lawsuit successful aboriginal to mid-September to unveil the latest models, which usually spell connected merchantability wrong a mates of weeks. While Apple hasn't confirmed the iPhone 17 Air, it has said its next lawsuit volition instrumentality spot connected Sept. 9, 2025, and aggregate reports, including Bloomberg's Gurman astir recently, suggest the ultra-thin exemplary volition debut during this event.