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iPhone 17 Air to Feature A19 Pro Chip With Reduced GPU Performance

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Apple's upcoming iPhone 17 Air will include an A19 Pro chip with a 5-core GPU, according to Weibo leaker Fixed Focus Digital. The Chinese account, which has over two million followers, claims that only the iPhone 17 Pro models will have the full 6-core GPU A19 Pro configuration.

iPhone-Air-A19-Pro-Feature.jpg

It's the second time in as many months that Fixed Focus Digital has claimed to reveal accurate details about the ultra-thin device's chip specifications. The reduced GPU core count suggests Apple is using binned chips based on yields, or may be managing thermal constraints in the slimmer form factor, but most users are unlikely to notice the performance difference during typical usage.

The claim contradicts earlier reporting from industry analyst Ming-Chi Kuo, who over a year ago predicted the iPhone 17 Air would use a standard A19 chip, rather than the Pro variant.

The Weibo leaker also claims that the base iPhone 17 model will use an A19 chip. A few months ago, supply chain analyst Jeff Pu said the device would have an A18 chip, but he has since rescinded the claim – he now also expects the regular iPhone 17 model to be equipped with the A19.

Fixed Focus Digital previously broke the news ahead of launch about the iPhone 16e name for Apple's upcoming iPhone SE successor.

Apple is expected to debut the iPhone 17 lineup next month, with an announcement rumored to be happening on Tuesday, September 9, so we don't have long to wait to find out all the specifics.

Article Link: iPhone 17 Air to Feature A19 Pro Chip With Reduced GPU Performance
 
Article Link
https://www.macrumors.com/2025/08/12/iphone-17-air-a19-pro-chip-reduced-gpu-cores/
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BelgianChoklit said:
The iPhone gets a lot of hate but I'm very interested because I find the Pros too heavy (I have the 15 Pro which is lighter than the 16 Pro). I only don't like that it's rumored to have a larger display.
Click to expand...
I’m also very interested in the Air, particularly if it gets ProMotion. The battery might be what tips me to the 17 Pro Max.
 
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Mazda 3s said:
Honestly, my phone is used primarily for:

Texting
Making calls
Streaming YouTube Music
Safari
Social media
Taking photos
Banking/Health apps
Various other smart home things

Why would I care about the GPU?
Click to expand...
you would care about battery life, not GPU
 
As I get older, I care less about GPU (I game 1/10 of what I used to) so it’s nice to see a lighter option with less horsepower. I just hope it keeps a decent camera system and reasonable price.
 
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How is this supposed 5-core GPU version of the A19 Pro going to be any different from the standard A19? From what I can see, the only difference between the A18 and A18 Pro was a 5 core versus 6 core GPU? Or are my eyes too tired and my Google search powers fading for the day?
 
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orbital~debris said:
You wouldn't, it appears.

But others may well.
Click to expand...
Oh, I completely get that. I guess my point is, Apple Silicon has advanced so much at this point that are we that hard up for performance advances in a phone form factor? I've had every flagship phone since the iPhone 13 Pro, and the day-to-day performance benefits going from generation to generation have seemed "eh".

Besides gaming and content creation, I'm just trying to see where people would be "disappointed" performance-wise with this move. The number one thing that people have bitched about regarding the iPhone 17 Air seems to be the battery, so this move seems "OK". Those who want performance and battery will probably cater more towards the Pro anyway.
 
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JoshuaBru said:
Same. But all of those chew through battery life. I won’t want a phone that lasts until 1pm
Click to expand...

I can't imagine that it would be that bad. I do the same on my phone, minus social media, and I usually get a full day with my 16 pro, and often go to bed with >40%.

The battery could be half of what I currently have and still last a day.
 
McWetty said:
As I get older, I care less about GPU (I game 1/10 of what I used to) so it’s nice to see a lighter option with less horsepower. I just hope it keeps a decent camera system and reasonable price.
Click to expand...
GPU can be utilized by any app that requires number crunching. Many photo editing tools on real computers will use its GPU.
 
MacRumors said:


Apple's upcoming iPhone 17 Air will include an A19 Pro chip with a 5-core GPU, according to Weibo leaker Fixed Focus Digital. The Chinese account, which has over two million followers, claims that only the iPhone 17 Pro models will have the full 6-core GPU A19 Pro configuration.

iPhone-Air-A19-Pro-Feature.jpg

It's the second time in as many months that Fixed Focus Digital has claimed to reveal accurate details about the ultra-thin device's chip specifications. The reduced GPU core count suggests Apple is using binned chips based on yields, or may be managing thermal constraints in the slimmer form factor, but most users are unlikely to notice the performance difference during typical usage.

The claim contradicts earlier reporting from industry analyst Ming-Chi Kuo, who over a year ago predicted the iPhone 17 Air would use a standard A19 chip, rather than the Pro variant.

The Weibo leaker also claims that the base iPhone 17 model will use an A19 chip. A few months ago, supply chain analyst Jeff Pu said the device would have an A18 chip. It's unclear if Fixed Focus Digital has more up-to-date information.

Fixed Focus Digital previously broke the news ahead of launch about the iPhone 16e name for Apple's upcoming iPhone SE successor.

Apple is expected to debut the iPhone 17 lineup next month, with an announcement rumored to be happening on Tuesday, September 9, so we don't have long to wait to find out all the specifics.

Article Link: iPhone 17 Air to Feature A19 Pro Chip With Reduced GPU Performance
Click to expand...
It’s been known for months. Not a news
 
So the Pro's get the full A19 Pro chip. The Air gets one less gpu core which in the past would have made it the A19, but now keep calling it a Pro chip which is misleading. The non pro phones will probably get a 4 gpu core A19 which previously was the third tier chip found in the budget 16e. I can only wonder if there is a 17e what would be in that. Apple is definitely gimping the non pro and I feel is being misleading about it as most of Apple customers know little to nothing about specs and won't even realize what they are really buying. On top of all this there is speculation that phone prices will increase this year. Not a good time to buy a non Pro phone in my opinion if all this turns out to be accurate.
 
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I don't see how this phone is a big seller unless it is marketed as a budget option.... probably won't be
 
elrojo69 said:
I don't see how this phone is a big seller unless it is marketed as a budget option.... probably won't be
Click to expand...
Because many people want a smaller lighter phone . The current iphones are heavier than nokia ‘brick’ phones from 25 years ago. I hate having my phone weigh down my shorts or pants when walking about. I actually leave my phone behind sometimes so i am looking forward to a lighter phone as are many. Also we dont mind about batteries since we have access to charging and battery packs throughout the day. We arent ‘road warriors’ its no big deal to charge a phone for 15 min here and there if needed.
 
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