In 2025, Apple is predicted to discontinue the iPhone “Plus” system in its iPhone 17 lineup to make manner for an iPhone “Air” – though it might not truly be referred to as this when the system debuts within the fall of subsequent yr. Though the iPhone 16 sequence has solely simply launched, when you think about that we realized about bigger shows on the iPhone 16 Professional fashions manner again in Might 2023, rumors a few next-generation iPhone aren’t all that uncommon thus far forward of time.
Whereas we proceed to acclimatize to the brand new iPhone 16 sequence, this is a compilation of every little thing we now have heard from respected sources thus far about Apple’s so-called iPhone 17 “Air.”
iPhone 17 Air: Rumors So Far
Concerning the Identify
Apple’s rumored slimmer iPhone 17, beforehand known as the iPhone 17 “Slim,” may very well be positioned as an iPhone “Air” to spice up gross sales, in accordance with Bloomberg‘s Mark Gurman. There was uncertainty in current months in regards to the intention of the so-called iPhone 17 “Slim” and its rumored place within the lineup. YouTuber Jon Prosser was first to recommend that the system may very well be positioned as an “iPhone Air.” Now, Gurman appears to help this concept. Changing the iPhone “Plus,” which, just like the “mini” fashions earlier than it, has not bought properly, the iPhone 17 “Air” will symbolize a brand new strategy to the fourth mannequin in Apple’s iPhone lineup, providing a tool with a considerably thinner design that sits between the iPhone 17 and iPhone 17 Professional. Gurman has in contrast the system to the unique MacBook Air from 2008, which sat between the common MacBook and MacBook Professional within the lineup.
Thinner Design
In keeping with The Info, Apple’s all-new iPhone 17 mannequin subsequent yr may have a “considerably thinner” design with an aluminum chassis, relatively than a titanium casing like Apple’s Professional fashions. The information outlet additionally claims that the system will function a narrower Dynamic Island (doubtlessly attributable to Apple’s adoption of a smaller “metalens” for the Face ID system) though this particular declare has since been contested. Apple analyst Ming-Chi Kuo expects the handset to have a titanium body, however with a decrease proportion of titanium than used for the iPhone 15 Professional fashions. Internally code-named D23, the system’s redesign has been described as a significant one equal to the iPhone X.
Smaller Show
The primary particulars in regards to the dimension of the system’s show arrived courtesy of Haitong Worldwide Securities analyst Jeff Pu, who stated it could be 6.6 inches. Apple analyst Ming-Chi Kuo has since corroborated Pu’s declare. Nevertheless, in accordance with Show Provide Chain Consultants (DSCC) analyst Ross Younger, it would function a 6.55-inch show. For comparability, the iPhone 16 Plus has a 6.7-inch show. Apple remains to be stated to be testing completely different designs for the slimmer cellphone, so the show dimension might at all times change between now and the system’s launch.
ProMotion Help
Apple intends to increase ProMotion to your complete lineup in 2025, together with the iPhone 17 “Air,” permitting all iPhone 17 fashions to ramp as much as a 120Hz refresh fee for smoother scrolling and video content material when essential. Beforehand, solely “Professional” fashions in Apple’s iPhone lineup have supported ProMotion. Notably, ProMotion would additionally allow the show on the iPhone 17 “Air” to ramp right down to a extra power-efficient refresh fee as little as 1Hz, permitting for an always-on show that may present the Lock Display screen’s clock, widgets, notifications, and wallpaper even when the system is locked.
Relocated Cameras
The Info claimed that the iPhone 17 “Slim” or “Air” may have cameras in areas we have not seen earlier than on an iPhone. In keeping with a Might report, the rear cameras may very well be moved to the “prime middle” of the system. Some Android telephones like Google’s Pixel 8 Professional have rear cameras in a top-center place, however Apple’s iPhone digicam system has occupied the top-left nook ever because the 2007 mannequin. So as to add to the intrigue, Apple analyst Ming-Chi Kuo has claimed that the system may have just one digicam, versus two or three.
Anti-Reflective Coating
All iPhone 17 fashions will function an anti-reflective show that’s extra scratch-resistant than Apple’s Ceramic Defend discovered on iPhone 15 fashions, in accordance with Chinese language Weibo leaker Immediate Digital. The outer glass on the iPhone 17 sequence is alleged to have a “super-hard anti-reflective layer” that’s “extra scratch-resistant.” It isn’t clear whether or not Apple is planning to undertake the Gorilla Glass Armor that Samsung makes use of in its Galaxy S24 Extremely, however the description of Corning’s newest expertise matches the rumor.
ProMotion Know-how
In keeping with The Elec, all iPhone 17 fashions will function OLED shows with low-power backplane expertise, bringing ProMotion to Apple’s non-Professional iPhone fashions for the primary time. ProMotion permits the show to ramp as much as a 120Hz refresh fee for smoother scrolling and video content material when required. ProMotion additionally permits the show to ramp right down to a extra power-efficient refresh fee as little as 1Hz, which is why the iPhone 16 Professional screens function an always-on functionality that exhibits the Lock Display screen’s clock, widgets, notifications, and wallpaper even when the system is locked.
Improved Selfie Digital camera
In keeping with Apple analyst Ming-Chi Kuo, your complete iPhone 17 lineup will function a 24-megapixel front-facing digicam with a six-element lens. The iPhone 14 and 15 function a 12-megapixel front-facing digicam with 5 plastic lens components, and this yr’s iPhone 16 lineup options the identical {hardware}. The upgraded decision on the iPhone 17 will enable images to keep up their high quality even when cropped or zoomed in, whereas the bigger variety of pixels will seize finer particulars. The improve to a six-element lens must also barely improve picture high quality.
Inside Upgrades
Haitong analyst Jeff Pu claims the iPhone 17 “Slim” or “Air” will function 8GB of RAM, in comparison with 6GB of RAM on the iPhone 15 Plus. It is value noting that each one iPhone 16 fashions are fitted with 8GB of RAM – a {hardware} requirement of on-device Apple Intelligence. In keeping with The Info, the system can even be outfitted with Apple’s A19 chip, which is prone to be based mostly on an optimized model of TSMC’s 3nm course of, probably N3P or N3X. The system might also be one of many first to make use of an Apple-made 5G modem.
Increased Value
The Info reported that the slimmer iPhone 17 might have a better price ticket than the Professional Max mannequin, which at the moment begins at $1,199, regardless of options that it’s going to not be as feature-rich as Apple’s top-tier Max. The cool issue of a very new thinner design is predicted to entice prospects nonetheless. Gurman believes that the design of the iPhone 17 “Air” will “simply be a step towards one thing higher” since Apple will ultimately need to “squeeze the ability of a Professional mannequin into this smaller design.” Nevertheless, he doesn’t count on this to happen earlier than 2027 on the earliest.
