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This year, Apple is expected to discontinue the iPhone "Plus" device in its iPhone 17 lineup to make way for an iPhone "Air," so-called because of its ultra-thin profile.

iPhone-17-Air-Fanned-Feature.jpg

Below is a compilation of every rumor and leak we have registered from reputable sources thus far about Apple's new entry in its flagship smartphone lineup.

iPhone 17 "Air"?
About the Name
There has been some uncertainty about Apple's strategy for the new slimmer iPhone model and its position in the lineup. YouTuber Jon Prosser was first to suggest that the device could be positioned as an "‌iPhone‌ Air." Bloomberg's Mark Gurman has since come out in agreement about the naming, which Apple could use to boost sales.

Replacing the iPhone "Plus," which, like the "mini" models before it, has not sold well, the ‌iPhone 17‌ Air will represent a new approach in Apple's iPhone lineup, offering a device with a substantially thinner design that sits between the ‌iPhone 17‌ and ‌iPhone 17‌ Pro.

Gurman believes that the design of the ‌iPhone 17‌ Air will "just be a step toward something better" since Apple will eventually want to "squeeze the power of a Pro model into this smaller design." However, he does not expect this to occur before 2027 at the earliest.

Device Thickness Rumors
Thinner Than iPhone 6
According to The Information, Apple's all-new iPhone 17 model will have a "significantly thinner" design with an aluminum chassis, rather than a titanium casing like Apple's Pro models.

There have been mixed rumors on just how thin Apple will be able to make it. Rumors have hovered around 6mm, however in a recent report, reliable Apple analyst Ming-Chi Kuo said that he expects the ‌iPhone‌ to measure in at about 5.5mm at its thinnest point. At 5.5mm, the ‌iPhone 17‌ Air would be the thinnest ‌iPhone‌ to date – thinner than the 6.9mm ‌iPhone‌ 6 that came out in 2014. 5.5mm would be approximately 30% thinner than the iPhone 16, which measures in at 7.8mm thick, and 33% thinner than the iPhone 16 Pro models, which are 8.25mm thick.

iPhone-16-Pro-vs-iPhone-17-Air-Feature.jpg

The device is said to have only a single speaker, in the earpiece, as there is apparently not enough room for a second speaker on the bottom edge. The Information also claims that the device will feature a narrower Dynamic Island, though this specific claim has since been contested. Internally code-named D23, the device's redesign has been described as a major one equivalent to the iPhone X.

Display Size
Smaller Than Plus Model
The first details about the size of the device's display arrived courtesy of Haitong International Securities analyst Jeff Pu, who said it would be 6.6 inches. Apple analyst Ming-Chi Kuo has since corroborated Pu's claim.

Display Supply Chain Consultants (DSCC) analyst Ross Young says the device will feature a 6.55-inch display, which could be rounded up to 6.6 inches. Complicating matters, YouTuber Jon Prosser more recently claimed that the iPhone 17 Air will be equipped with a 6.7-inch display, rather than a 6.6-inch display as previously rumored. For context, the existing iPhone 16 Plus has a 6.7-inch display. However, in response to Prosser's prediction, Young reiterated his 6.55-inch display size claim for the iPhone 17 Air.

In mid-March 2025, we reported on a rumor out of China claiming that the iPhone 17 Air shares the same dimensions as the iPhone 17 Pro Max, with the only difference being in the thickness of the devices. Days later, Bloomberg reported that Apple prototyped a larger ultra-slim iPhone 17 Air with a 6.9-inch display, but ultimately decided not to go ahead with the device because of fears that it could be susceptible to bending. It's quite possible the China-originating rumor had its origins in Apple's canned prototype.

Always-On Display
ProMotion Support
Apple intends to expand ProMotion to the entire lineup in 2025, including the iPhone 17 "Air," allowing all iPhone 17 models to ramp up to a 120Hz refresh rate for smoother scrolling and video content when necessary. This will be enabled by Apple's use of Samsung's high performance "M14" OLED display panel.

120-hz-14-holepunch-feature.jpg

Previously, only "Pro" models in Apple's iPhone lineup used the M1 OLED panel, which is why they have exclusively supported ProMotion. Notably, ProMotion would also enable the display on the iPho... Click here to read rest of article

Article Link: iPhone 17 Air Design, Specs, and More: All the Rumors So Far
 
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would be hard to pick between the Air & the Pro. if it has Pro cameras it would be nice, but that’s not how Tim Apple works
 
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I still believe this phone is going to cost $999


Look at what we’re predicting for the iPhone 17 Pro. There are some upgrades, of course, camera being one, but how else outside of camera features will the Pro separate itself from this Air model? Greater screen brightness? I don’t know. There seems to be a considerable amount of parity between this Air model and what the Pro models currently offer. Either this will be a rather unimpressive year of updates for the Pro or we’re about to be surprised when we see the price tag of the Air. My guess, if tariffs have no impact on current pricing…

iPhone 17 @ $799
iPhone 17 air @ $999
iPhone 17 pro @ $1099 (now starts at 256gb)
iPhone 17 pro max @ $1199
 
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Both the MBA and iPad Air are cheaper than the pro models. I would expect that policy to continue with the iPhone Air.
 
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Maybe I’m not very good at product strategery but a single camera, IMO, fairly shouts “budget smartphone.”

And doubly so by the launch of the budget iPhone 16e.

(Talking about perception, not reality.)
 
I believe this is a very deliberate step in the direction of a foldable iPhone.

Get people used to the idea that thin = good.

Optimize the tech as you develop and get real-world data to improve the next iteration.

Thinner, so the folded form-factor isn’t as chunky as it would be if you folded a current iPhone model.

Melt some minds when that thinner iPhone ‘suddenly’ folds in half.
 
Maybe I’m not very good at product strategery but a single camera, IMO, fairly shouts “budget smartphone.”

Apply the other kind of $tratergy: SUBTRACT tangible elements like more than one camera, one speaker, as much battery, etc. but redirect attention on "thinner" which gets 10 or 20 seconds of "oooooooooh, ahhhhhhhhhh" at the launch... and you can sell a very profitable new phone. 💰💰💰

"Thinner" by subtraction of useful pieces is likely just fattening margin at tangible utility losses by buyers. But that redirect to "thinner" in historical subtraction scenarios has worked every time... so why not? Shareholders have mouths to feed. "Another record quarter" doesn't just magically occur. Customers have a pattern of sometimes griping about tangible losses but then rolling right over and buying anyway. 💰💰💰
 
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Should be a nice phone but not for me. Too big and still probably has flat uncomfortable sides.
 
I'm probably in a minority here, but I like camera 'bars' - less wobble!
 
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If this does indeed have a 120hz panel, it will without a doubt be my next iPhone. Upgrading from a 14 Pro.
 
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