Initial rumors surrounded Apple’s strategy for this new thin iPhone and its place in the lineup. YouTuber Jon Prosser was the first to suggest the name iPhone 17 Air, followed by Bloomberg’s Mark Gurman, who believes the branding could boost sales.

Anticipated as the successor to the iPhone Plus - a line with similarly modest demand as the former “mini” series - the iPhone 17 Air marks a new direction with a significantly slimmer build.

Gurman noted the iPhone 17 Air’s design is “just the beginning of something better,” as Apple ultimately aims to “compress Pro-level performance into this compact form,” though he doesn’t expect that before 2027.

Thinner than the iPhone 6

According to The Information, the iPhone 17 Air will feature a noticeably thinner design using aluminum instead of the titanium found on Pro models.

While some sources suggest it could be around 6mm thick, analyst Ming-Chi Kuo predicts a thickness of just 5.5mm - making it Apple’s thinnest iPhone ever (the iPhone 6 was 6.9mm).

This ultra-slim profile limits space for speakers, resulting in a single speaker setup. Dynamic Island is expected to be narrower, though this is still debated. Internally coded as D23, the device is considered a “major design overhaul” comparable to the shift seen with the iPhone X.

Smaller display than the Plus

Analyst Jeff Pu claims the iPhone 17 Air will have a 6.6-inch screen. Ming-Chi Kuo agrees, while Ross Young of DSCC reports a slightly smaller 6.55 inches - likely rounded up in public specs.

Prosser, however, insists the iPhone 17 Air will have a 6.7-inch screen, like the iPhone 16 Plus. A source from China claims the Air is the same size as the iPhone 17 Pro Max, just thinner. Bloomberg reported that Apple tested a 6.9-inch prototype but abandoned it over durability concerns.

Additionally, the entire iPhone 17 series may adopt ultra-thin bezels, similar to what’s expected on the iPhone 16 Pro and Pro Max.

Always-On Display and ProMotion

Apple is expected to bring ProMotion to the entire iPhone 17 lineup, including the Air, enabling refresh rates from 120Hz down to 1Hz - supporting Always-On Display.

This will be made possible using Samsung’s M14 OLED panels, previously reserved for Pro models.

Redesigned camera layout

The Information reports that the rear camera will move to the center of the top edge - breaking the long-standing tradition of left-corner placement.

Ming-Chi Kuo says the device will have just one rear camera. Renders show a horizontal pill housing the camera, microphone, and flash. CAD files shared by Majin Bu support this. Sources on Weibo, including Fixed Focus Digital, Ice Universe, and Digital Chat Station, all confirm this repositioning.

More durable, anti-reflective display

According to Instant Digital on Weibo, all iPhone 17 models will use glass with a new ultra-hard, anti-reflective coating - more durable than the current Ceramic Shield.

While it’s unclear if Apple will adopt Gorilla Glass Armor like Samsung, the described properties are strikingly similar.

Upgraded 24MP front camera

Ming-Chi Kuo predicts that all iPhone 17 models will feature a 24MP front camera with a six-element lens - an upgrade from the current 12MP, five-element design. This improvement should provide more detailed selfies and better image quality when zoomed or cropped.

More RAM to support Apple Intelligence

Jeff Pu initially expected 8GB RAM, but Kuo now says all iPhone 17 models will have 12GB RAM. This aligns with hardware requirements for Apple Intelligence features. The current iPhone 16 series maxes out at 8GB.

A19 chip for faster performance

The iPhone 17 Air will be powered by the A19 chip, built on TSMC’s enhanced 3nm process (N3P or N3X). The 17 Pro and Pro Max will use the more powerful A19 Pro chip.

Battery remains uncertain

Apple plans to use its custom C1 modem - its most power-efficient modem yet, already appearing in the iPhone 16e.

Rumors suggest the iPhone 17 Air’s battery capacity is around 2,800mAh, similar to the iPhone 12. Japan’s TDK will reportedly begin shipping silicon-anode batteries in June, which could be used in this device.

Gurman says the battery will be “on par with current iPhones,” but The Information suggests it may be worse, prompting Apple to possibly release a battery case for the Air.

Camera button returns

Like the iPhone 16, the iPhone 17 Air is expected to feature a dedicated camera button on the right edge, allowing quick access to the camera app and settings.

Wi-Fi 7 support for better connectivity

Apple will reportedly include a self-designed Wi-Fi chip that supports Wi-Fi 7, enhancing speed, latency, and energy efficiency.

Supports MagSafe and Qi 2.2 wireless charging

Despite its slim design, the iPhone 17 Air will retain MagSafe compatibility and may support Qi 2.2, enabling wireless charging speeds up to 50W.

eSIM-only worldwide

All iPhone 17 models, including the Air, will eliminate the physical SIM slot and use eSIM exclusively.

Currently, only U.S. iPhones have gone SIM-free, but Apple may roll out global eSIM-only models with the iPhone 17 series. It’s unclear how Apple will navigate China, where eSIM is not widely supported.

Exclusive light blue color

A new light blue finish is rumored to be the signature color for the iPhone 17 Air - lighter than any previous blue, appearing nearly white under soft lighting.

Premium or mid-range pricing?

The Information claims the iPhone 17 Air could be priced higher than the 17 Pro Max (from 1,199 USD), despite having fewer premium features.

However, Jeff Pu maintains that it will be a mid-range model replacing the Plus, priced around 899 USD - similar to the iPhone 16 Plus. Gurman and The Wall Street Journal also confirm this estimate but note that U.S. import tariffs could raise prices across the lineup.

The iPhone 17 series is expected to launch in September, following Apple’s usual schedule. The 2025 lineup will likely include the iPhone 17, iPhone 17 Pro, iPhone 17 Pro Max, and iPhone 17 Air. Among them, the iPhone 17 Air remains Apple’s most intriguing unknown.

Hai Phong (CNET, Macrumors, Appleinsider)