iPhone 17 Air: Everything We Know About Apple's Slim iPhone

[MacRumors]

In 2025, Apple is expected to discontinue the iPhone "Plus" device in its iPhone 17 lineup to make way for an iPhone "Air" – although it may not actually be called this when the device debuts in the fall of next year. Even though the iPhone 16 series has only just launched, when you consider that we learned about larger displays on the iPhone 16 Pro models way back in May 2023, rumors about a next-generation iPhone aren't all that unusual so far ahead of time.

While we continue to acclimatize to the new iPhone 16 series, here's a compilation of everything we have heard from reputable sources so far about Apple's so-called iPhone 17 "Air."

iPhone 17 Air: Rumors So Far
About the Name
Apple's rumored slimmer iPhone 17, previously referred to as the iPhone 17 "Slim," could be positioned as an iPhone "Air" to boost sales, according to Bloomberg's Mark Gurman. There has been uncertainty in recent months about the intention of the so-called ‌iPhone 17‌ "Slim" and its rumored position in the lineup. YouTuber Jon Prosser was first to suggest that the device could be positioned as an "‌iPhone‌ Air." Now, Gurman seems to support this idea. Replacing the iPhone "Plus," which, like the "mini" models before it, has not sold well, the ‌iPhone 17‌ "Air" will represent a new approach to the fourth model in Apple's iPhone lineup, offering a device with a substantially thinner design that sits between the ‌iPhone 17‌ and ‌iPhone 17‌ Pro. Gurman has compared the device to the original MacBook Air from 2008, which sat between the regular MacBook and MacBook Pro in the lineup.

Thinner Design
According to The Information, Apple's all-new iPhone 17 model next year will have a "significantly thinner" design with an aluminum chassis, rather than a titanium casing like Apple's Pro models. The news outlet also claims that the device will feature a narrower Dynamic Island (potentially due to Apple's adoption of a smaller "metalens" for the Face ID system) although this specific claim has since been contested. Apple analyst Ming-Chi Kuo expects the handset to have a titanium frame, but with a lower percentage of titanium than used for the iPhone 15 Pro models. Internally code-named D23, the device's redesign has been described as a major one equivalent to the iPhone X.

Smaller Display
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. However, according to Display Supply Chain Consultants (DSCC) analyst Ross Young, it will feature a 6.55-inch display. For comparison, the iPhone 16 Plus has a 6.7-inch display. Apple is still said to be testing different designs for the slimmer phone, so the display size could always change between now and the device's launch.

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. Previously, only "Pro" models in Apple's iPhone lineup have supported ProMotion. Notably, ProMotion would also enable the display on the iPhone 17 "Air" to ramp down to a more power-efficient refresh rate as low as 1Hz, allowing for an always-on display that can show the Lock Screen's clock, widgets, notifications, and wallpaper even when the device is locked.

Relocated Cameras
The Information claimed that the iPhone 17 "Slim" or "Air" will have cameras in locations we haven't seen before on an iPhone. According to a May report, the rear cameras could be moved to the "top center" of the device. Some Android phones like Google's Pixel 8 Pro have rear cameras in a top-center position, but Apple's iPhone camera system has occupied the top-left corner ever since the 2007 model. To add to the intrigue, Apple analyst Ming-Chi Kuo has claimed that the device will have only one camera, as opposed to two or three.

Anti-Reflective Coating
All iPhone 17 models will feature an anti-reflective display that is more scratch-resistant than Apple's Ceramic Shield found on iPhone 15 models, according to Chinese Weibo leaker Instant Digital. The outer glass on the iPhone 17 series is said to have a "super-hard anti-reflective layer" that is "more scratch-resistant." It's not clear whether Apple is planning to adopt the Gorilla Glass Armor that Samsung uses in its Galaxy S24 Ultra, but the description of Corning's latest technology matches the rumor.

ProMotion Technology
According to The Elec, all iPhone 17 models will feature OLED displays with low-power b... Click here to read rest of article

Article Link: iPhone 17 Air: Everything We Know About Apple's Slim iPhone

 

[huntyc]

Wait so is it Pro or not Pro? Or Ultra? that’s a confusing lineup

 

[scorpio vega]

Please no top center camera. It looks ugly on the pixels.

Also, why is it 2024 and the selfie camera is still so low res.

It would be a game changer if we could get near similar qualities between front and back cameras.

Granted I use Snapchat usually for selfies but still.

 

[AAPLGeek]

I'd rather have an iPhone 17 mini than any more phablet variations

 

[adamw]

Thinner is better? Well in some cases. Just hope we do not have BendGate with the iPhone 17 Slim phones. Hope they don't skimp on the battery power capacity though.

 

[HobeSoundDarryl]

iPhone Slim(mer) wallet incoming. Or perhaps that's (money) outgoing???

 

[winxmac]

This is Apple's version of Samsung Galaxy Z Flip...

 

[usbwire]

There is a typo in your last paragraph. In the sentence, "suggesting that the device would become the ew highest-end model in the lineup,", the word "ew" should be "new".

 

[frou]

If in doubt, increase the price again!

 

[wonderings]

At this point why is thinner better? I am guessing thinner means they have to make the parts smaller which I assume jacks the price up more. What are we really gaining with thinner? Are peoples arms getting weaker and holding these heavy brick phones becoming tiresome? They thankfully reversed course with the MacBook Pros, bringing back ports and performance with a thicker laptop.

 

[coffeemilktea]

I know that picture in the article is just some artist's "concept render," but I gotta say... I like to think Apple has better designers than whoever is working on the Pixel 9's camera bar 😩

 

[appleguy123]

I don’t believe it will be more expensive than the pro max while having an aluminum casing. If it’s gonna be the most expensive iPhone, it will be made of titanium.

 

[Shalev Lazarof]

WHAT ABOUT THE MINI???

 

[Plutonius]

What many of us want is a smaller (not thinner) iPhone with all of the newest features.

 

[Rodney Williams]

Not so sure about the rumors. Just have to wait and see.

 

[miq]

There is a typo in your last paragraph. In the sentence, "suggesting that the device would become the ew highest-end model in the lineup,", the word "ew" should be "new".

Nah, it's actually pretty ew.

 

[ersan191]

If battery life is going to be worse then I don't see the point.

 

[cocky jeremy]

Smaller screen? No thanks.

 

[newdeal]

if slim equals less battery life (which it will) then they are going the wrong way

 

[WarmWinterHat]

The Pro is already at the upper-limit of screen size that I want.

Naa.

 

[2low_tech]

If this is going to be the new top end iphone, why only 8GB of RAM? Apple Intelligence needs 8GB minimum, so why not make the "ultra" iphone more future proof?

 

[jmgregory1]

if slim equals less battery life (which it will) then they are going the wrong way

Not necessarily…the new M4 iPad Pro has far better battery life compared to the M1 and M2 models. I‘m guessing Apple will use what it learned with the M4 iPP‘s and do the same thing with a version of the iPhone.

 

[Cervisia]

There is a typo in your last paragraph. In the sentence, "suggesting that the device would become the ew highest-end model in the lineup,", the word "ew" should be "new".

After reading the article, the "ew" is perfect for this phone.

 

[h.gilbert]

According to The Elec, all iPhone 17 models will feature OLED displays with low-power backplane technology, bringing ProMotion to Apple's non-Pro iPhone models for the first time.

So this year's iPhone 16 won't get 120Hz? What a joke if that's the case. My old $250 android from 3 years ago had a 120Hz AMOLED panel.

 

[Cervisia]

I know that picture in the article is just some artist's "concept render," but I gotta say... I like to think Apple has better designers than whoever is working on the Pixel 9's camera bar 😩

View attachment 2394593

That's Bender from Futurama!