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ZDNET’s key takeaways
- iPhone 17 Air may debut as Apple’s thinnest phone ever.
- Single rear camera shows Apple’s thinness trade-offs.
- Expected to debut on Sept. 9, 2025, priced around $900.
Apple is rumored to be spicing things for this year’s iPhone event. It could introduce an ultra-thin model for the 2025 iPhone lineup called the iPhone 17 Air. It’s thought to be much slimmer than any iPhone so far — and it will totally replace the Plus line that’s been around for over a decade.
Also: Buy the iPhone 16 or wait for iPhone 17? Here’s how to decide
Due this September alongside the rest of the iPhone 17 family, it’s been repeatedly described as a super-slim new tier, with a target price around $900. But what else makes this phone so different, and why should you care?
Let’s go rumor by rumor.
1. It’s called iPhone 17 Air so far
Bloomberg’s Mark Gurman has described to the upcoming model as “skinny” and repeatedly calls it “iPhone 17 Air.” So, that’s what everyone else is calling it. Apple itself hasn’t confirmed the name, so consider “Air” a working moniker until it debuts in September.
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With any pre-release reporting, details can change. But Gurman is a managing editor with a strong record on Apple scoops. AppleTrack currently rates his accuracy around 86%. This is a site that meticulously tracks, verifies, and rates the accuracy of Apple’s biggest leaks and rumors. MacRumors even graded Gurman’s WWDC 2025 predictions with an A+.
2. iPhone 17 Air is really, really thin
If the rumors are true, the iPhone 17 Air could be the thinnest iPhone ever.
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Noted analyst Ming-Chi Kuo, who has a 72% accuracy according to AppleTrack, says the phone will measure 5.5mm at its slimmest point — but the camera bump is still alive and well. Bloomberg’s Gurman said the Air is slimmer than the current models and has suggested it could be a step 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 point to an ultra-thin chassis as well as a “camera bar” stretching across the back. On one side of it sits a single rear lens, while the other houses a mic and LED flash. Prosser is being sued by Apple for allegedly leaking iOS 26 information, but his leaks align with a supposed iPhone 17 Air shell that surfaced weeks ago.
Of course, making a phone this thin requires some engineering trade-offs. AppleTrack posted a video with dummy models suggesting some compromises, like the USB-C port being nudged closer to the back edge instead of sitting neatly in the middle.
As for weight, MacRumors spotted South Korean leaker yeux1122 had claimed in a blog that the Air will come in at about 145g. That would make it much lighter than the 199g iPhone 16 Pro and slightly heavier than the 141g iPhone 13 Mini.
3. It has a 6.6-inch display
Several leakers and analysts, including Ming-Chi Kuo, said the iPhone 17 Air will have around a 6.6-inch display with very slim bezels. It could have a refined front layout, but it will keep the Dynamic Island largely the same as current models. Meanwhile, Macworld recently spotted a new 1260×2740 wallpaper resolution in iOS 26 betas that doesn’t match any existing iPhones.
4. Let’s talk about that camera
To keep the iPhone 17 Air as thin as possible, Apple is expected to make some changes in the camera department.
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Both Kuo and Bloomberg’s Gurman reported the iPhone 17 Air will drop both the ultrawide and telephoto lens. Instead, it’s shipping with a single rear camera — likely 48MP. Jon Prosser’s renders back this up, showing just one lens inside the top camera bar.
Up front, analyst Jeff Pu said all iPhone 17 models will feature a 24MP selfie camera. AppleTrack has Pu’s record at about 50%.
5. It might not last a full day
A thinner iPhone means a smaller battery, right? Not so fast. Here’s how Apple plans to tackle the issue of battery life:
- Efficient charging and thermal management: Leaker Majin Bu has shared photos and measurements of what’s claimed to be the Air’s battery: an L-shaped, steel-cased module that’s about 2.49mm thick with an estimated capacity of 2,900mAh. The prototype features welded edges, new adhesives to make replacements easier, and could allow for more efficient charging thanks to improved thermal management. Together, these details suggest Apple is optimizing internal space and battery performance.
- High-density battery with silicon-anode cells: Kuo has floated the idea of a high-density battery for the iPhone 17 Air, while AppleInsider, citing a report from DigitTimes, claimed supplier TDK is preparing silicon-anode cells. The combination of this tech would be a major leap, essentially allowing the iPhone 17 Air to store more energy in the same space.
- An Apple-made battery case: The Information’s Wayne Ma reported that Apple’s internal testing shows the Air’s battery life won’t quite hit the company’s usual targets. He said the percentage of users who can go a single day without recharging the thin phone will be between 60% and 70%. To make up for that, Apple has been developing its own battery case.
- Software tricks: Let’s also not forget that iOS 26 introduces a new feature called Adaptive Power, which was widely discussed during and after WWDC. Apple’s iOS 26 overview doesn’t go into much detail, but ZDNET’s Adrian Kingsley-Hughes tested it and reported that the system automatically adjusts performance and background tasks to stretch battery life when needed.
6. Information on other specs
If you’re wondering about which A-series chip the iPhone 17 Air will get or how much RAM it’ll have, here’s what’s leaked so far:
- Processor: Bloomberg’s Gurman claimed the iPhone 17 Air will get the standard A19, while the iPhone 17 Pro models will get the A19 Pro chip. A counter-rumor from Fixed Focus Digital on Weibo (via MacRumors) claimed the A19 Pro is coming to the Air.
- RAM: Kuo said to expect 12GB DRAM on at least three iPhone 17 models.
- Wi-Fi: Kuo also said Apple’s in-house Wi-Fi chip will be used across all iPhone 17 models, meaning it’s moving away from Broadcom. This reporting echoes earlier coverage from Reuters outlining Apple’s in-house Wi-Fi/Bluetooth transition.
7. What about new colors?
Leaker Majin Bu — posting on his own site and X — has repeatedly said the iPhone 17 Air will be available in four colors: a very light “sky” blue, silver, black, and a light gold. You can see these colors, as well as the other iPhone 17 models’ colors, in the tweet below.
8. How much it will cost
Bloomberg’s Gurman reported that the iPhone 17 Air will be priced around $900, in line with the idea that it will replace the Plus tier.
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However, in May 2025, President Donald Trump publicly threatened a 25% tariff on iPhones not built in the US — a move that, if enacted and applied to the Air’s supply chain, could affect pricing.
9. When to expect the Air
Apple traditionally holds its iPhone event in early to mid-September to unveil the latest models, which then go on sale within a couple of weeks. While Apple hasn’t confirmed the iPhone 17 Air, its next event will take place on Sept. 9, 2025, and multiple reports, including Bloomberg’s Gurman most recently, suggest the ultra-thin model will debut during this event.
What’s the quick TL;DR for iPhone 17 Air?
Here’s a quick list of all the rumors and leaks I mentioned above for the iPhone 17 Air:
- Chassis: Ultra-thin “Air” design measuring 5.5mm at its slimmest point.
- Display: ~6.6-inch panel with a ~2740×1260 resolution.
- Cameras: Single rear (wide) camera, 24MP selfie camera, and Dynamic Island largely unchanged.
- Chip: Either A19 or A19 Pro.
- Wireless silicon: Apple’s in-house Wi-Fi will be in all iPhone 17 models.
- Battery: Steel-cased pack around ~2,900 mAh; Apple battery case reportedly in the works.
- Colors: Four rumored finishes (black, silver, light gold, and light blue).
- Price: Around $900 for Air, per Bloomberg.
- Release date: September 2025 unveil alongside the rest of the iPhone 17 family.
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Is “Air” really the final name?
Bloomberg uses “Air” to describe the thin model replacing Plus, but Apple’s official names are only confirmed on event day.
Why will the iPhone 17 Air have only one rear camera?
Kuo says it will, and Prosser’s renders show the same. If true, Apple seems to be prioritizing thinness with the iPhone 17 Air.
Does Apple plan to release other iPhone models in 2025?
Yes. Multiple reports point to a four-phone lineup in September 2025: iPhone 17, iPhone 17 Air (replacing the “Plus” models), iPhone 17 Pro, and iPhone 17 Pro Max.
Why will iPhone 17 Air kill the Plus line?
For the past few years, Apple has offered four models: a standard iPhone, a slightly larger Plus model (which costs $100 more), and two iPhone Pro models (a regular Pro and a larger, more expensive Pro Max). It sounds like the iPhone 17 Air will adopt the starting price of the iPhone 16 Plus, and its screen size will be close to that model. Add it all up, and there’s just no need for a Plus anymore.
How big is the screen compared to other models?
Kuo estimated the iPhone 17 Air’s display at about 6.6 inches, which would put the Air between the standard iPhone 17 and the Pro models. Display analyst Ross Young, however, more specifically listed it at 6.55 inches in his breakdown of the lineup, as shown below. With a 92% accuracy rating from AppleTrack, his numbers are likely close to what we’ll actually see.
- iPhone 17: 6.27-inch display (up from 6.12 inches)
- iPhone 17 Air: 6.55-inch display
- iPhone 17 Pro: 6.27-inch display (same as iPhone 16 Pro)
- iPhone 17 Pro Max: 6.86-inch display (no change from iPhone 16 Pro Max)