According to multiple sources, Apple is planning an all-new iPhone 17 model for 2025 with a dramatic design overhaul. Here’s everything we know so far about the so-called iPhone 17 Air (which could also be called the iPhone 17 Slim or something completely different).
iPhone 17 Air design
The big selling point of the iPhone 17 Air will be its design. According to The Information, Apple is focusing on form over function with this new iPhone model. This means we can expect a dramatically different design compared to current iPhone models, but at the cost of higher-end specs and features.
The iPhone 17 Air will reportedly be “significantly thinner” than the current iPhone designs. The Information claims the device will be made from aluminum rather than titanium like the current iPhone Pro models. Ming-Chi Kuo, however, has said the iPhone 17 Air will feature a blend of titanium and aluminum.
Display
According to Ming-Chi Kuo and analyst Jeff Pu, the iPhone 17 Slim will feature a 6.6-inch display. The display is expected to feature a resolution of approximately 2,740 x 1,260 pixels. Reliable analyst Ross Young has indicated the display will more specifically measure 6.55 inches. The screen is expected to feature ProMotion capabilities with a refresh rate up to 120Hz.
Furthermore, The Information has reported that the iPhone 17 Air will have a “smaller hole and pill-shaped cutout for its front-facing camera and sensors.” This could be due to new “metalens” technology Apple is developing for the iPhone’s proximity sensor. Jeff Pu has reported that the “metalens” technology will help Apple dramatically reduce the size of the Face ID sensor.
Finally, a rumor posted to Weibo in March claimed that Apple is developing a new coating technology for future iPhone displays that could debut with the iPhone 17 lineup. This would allegedly make future iPhone displays “more scratch-resistant” and add a new anti-reflection layer.
Cameras
According to multiple sources, one big design change with the iPhone 17 Slim will be that it features a single camera on the back. Currently, the iPhone 16 features two cameras while the iPhone 16 Pro features three cameras. This is one of the concessions Apple will apparently make to make the iPhone 17 Air as sleek and thin as possible.
The iPhone 17 Air’s camera will reportedly be the same 48MP sensor that is currently on the iPhone 16 models today. The front-camera, however, will reportedly be upgraded from 12MP to 24MP across the entire iPhone 17 lineup.
Interestingly, The Information has reported that the iPhone 17 Air’s rear camera could be relocated from the upper-left corner of the back of the phone to the top center. This would be a dramatic change to the camera layout that the iPhone has used for its entire history.
Performance
The iPhone 17 Air will reportedly feature an A19 chip rather than an A19 Pro. It’s also expected to have 8GB of RAM. This separates it from the iPhone 17 Pro models, which will reportedly feature the A19 Pro chip paired with 12GB of RAM.
We haven’t heard much about what to expect from the performance of the A19 chip. Apple, however, isn’t expected to make the switch to TSMC’s next-generation 2nm fabrication process until 2026. This suggests the A19 and A19 Pro will be manufactured using a 3nm process. The process, however, is expected to be an upgraded N3P fabrication process for improved performance and efficiency.
Modem
The iPhone 17 Air could be one of the first iPhones to use Apple’s own 5G modem. Currently, iPhones sold today use modems supplied by Qualcomm. Apple has been developing its own modem technology for years as part of its efforts to reduce its reliance on Qualcomm.
The iPhone SE 4 coming in early 2025 is expected to be the first iPhone to use Apple’s modem. Ming-Chi Kuo has reported that the iPhone 17 Air will also adopt Apple’s custom modem. Kuo has also reported that the modem will not only handle 5G, but also Wi-Fi, Bluetooth, and GPS.
Pricing
According to The Information, the iPhone 17 Air “could be priced higher than the iPhone Pro Max” models. For context, the iPhone 16 Pro Max starts at $1,200. This means the iPhone 17 Air could start at $1,300 or higher.
With that said, however, analyst Jeff Pu has said that he expects the iPhone 17 Slim to have an all-new design and form factor and to serve as a “replacement” for the Plus model. It’s unclear if he is referring to a “replacement” in terms of pricing, screen size, or some other factor.
Generally, pricing and marketing names are the final thing to leak about a new iPhone – if they leak at all. This is because most iPhone hardware rumors emerge from Apple’s supply chain, while marketing and pricing details are generally only known inside small teams at Apple itself.
iPhone 17 Air release date
As of right now, the iPhone 17 lineup is expected to be announced and released in September of 2025. As always, this timeline can shift based on production and supply chain issues.
It’s also important to remember that because we’re still months away from the announcement of the iPhone 17 lineup, it’s possible that Apple’s plans change.
What do you think of the iPhone 17 Air rumors so far? Would you be willing to compromise specs and performance to get an ultra-thin iPhone? Let us know down in the comments.
article curated from: https://9to5mac.com/2024/11/08/iphone-17-air-features-price-release-date/