This 12 months, Apple is predicted to discontinue the iPhone “Plus” machine in its iPhone 17 lineup to make manner for an iPhone “Air,” so-called due to its skinny profile.
Beneath is a compilation of each rumor and leak we have now registered from respected sources to this point about Apple’s new entry in its flagship smartphone lineup.
iPhone 17 “Air”?
Concerning the Identify
There was some uncertainty about Apple’s technique for the brand new slimmer iPhone mannequin and its place within the lineup. YouTuber Jon Prosser was first to recommend that the machine might be positioned as an “iPhone Air.” Bloomberg‘s Mark Gurman has since come out in settlement in regards to the naming, which Apple might use to spice up gross sales.
Changing the iPhone “Plus,” which, just like the “mini” fashions earlier than it, has not offered nicely, the iPhone 17 Air will characterize a brand new method in Apple’s iPhone lineup, providing a tool with a considerably thinner design that sits between the iPhone 17 and iPhone 17 Professional.
Gurman believes that the design of the iPhone 17 Air will “simply be a step towards one thing higher” since Apple will finally need to “squeeze the facility of a Professional mannequin into this smaller design.” Nonetheless, he doesn’t anticipate this to happen earlier than 2027 on the earliest.
System Thickness Rumors
Thinner Than iPhone 6
In accordance with The Info, Apple’s all-new iPhone 17 mannequin subsequent 12 months may have a “considerably thinner” design with an aluminum chassis, slightly than a titanium casing like Apple’s Professional fashions.
There have been combined rumors on simply how skinny Apple will be capable to make it. Rumors have hovered round 6mm, nevertheless in a current report, dependable Apple analyst Ming-Chi Kuo stated that he expects the iPhone to measure in at about 5.5mm at its thinnest level. At 5.5mm, the iPhone 17 Air could be the thinnest iPhone to this point – thinner than the 6.9mm iPhone 6 that got here out in 2014. 5.5mm could be roughly 30% thinner than the iPhone 16, which measures in at 7.8mm thick, and 33% thinner than the iPhone 16 Professional fashions, that are 8.25mm thick.
The machine is alleged to have solely a single speaker, within the earpiece, as there’s apparently not sufficient room for a second speaker on the underside edge. The Info additionally claims that the machine will characteristic a narrower Dynamic Island, although this particular declare has since been contested. Internally code-named D23, the machine’s redesign has been described as a serious one equal to the iPhone X.
Show Measurement
Smaller Than Plus Mannequin
The primary particulars in regards to the measurement of the machine’s show arrived courtesy of Haitong Worldwide Securities analyst Jeff Pu, who stated it will be 6.6 inches. Apple analyst Ming-Chi Kuo has since corroborated Pu’s declare.
Nonetheless, in line with Show Provide Chain Consultants (DSCC) analyst Ross Younger, it’ll characteristic 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 totally different designs for the slimmer cellphone, so the show measurement might at all times change between now and the machine’s launch.
At all times-On Show
ProMotion Help
Apple intends to develop ProMotion to the complete lineup in 2025, together with the iPhone 17 “Air,” permitting all iPhone 17 fashions to ramp as much as a 120Hz refresh price for smoother scrolling and video content material when crucial.
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 price as little as 1Hz, permitting for an always-on show that may present the Lock Display’s clock, widgets, notifications, and wallpaper even when the machine is locked.
Digital camera Redesign
Relocated Lens
The Info claimed that the iPhone 17 Air may have cameras in areas we have not seen earlier than on an iPhone. In accordance with a Might report, the rear cameras might be moved to the “prime middle” of the machine. Some Android telephones like Google’s Pixel 9 Professional have rear cameras in a top-center place, or in a runway-style horizontal bar, however Apple’s iPhone digicam system has occupied the top-left nook ever for the reason that 2007 mannequin.
Including to the intrigue, Apple analyst Ming-Chi Kuo has claimed that the machine may have just one digicam, versus two or three.
Extra Sturdy Display
Anti-Reflective Coating
All iPhone 17 fashions will characteristic an anti-reflective show that’s extra scratch-resistant than Apple’s Ceramic Defend discovered on iPhone 15 fashions, in line with Chinese language Weibo leaker Instantaneous Digital.
The outer glass on the iPhone 17 collection 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.
Improved Entrance Digital camera
Higher Selfies
In accordance with Apple analyst Ming-Chi Kuo, the complete iPhone 17 lineup will characteristic a 24-megapixel front-facing digicam with a six-element lens. The iPhone 14 and 15 characteristic a 12-megapixel front-facing digicam with 5 plastic lens parts, and this 12 months’s iPhone 16 lineup options the identical {hardware}.
The upgraded decision on the iPhone 17 will permit pictures to take care of 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.
Extra RAM
Apple Intelligence
Haitong analyst Jeff Pu claims the iPhone 17 Air will characteristic 8GB of RAM, in comparison with 6GB of RAM on the iPhone 15 Plus. It is value noting that every one iPhone 16 fashions are fitted with 8GB of RAM – a {hardware} requirement of on-device Apple Intelligence – so it is virtually a surety that the slim machine will comply with go well with.
Subsequent-Gen Processor
Higher Efficiency
In accordance with The Info and Haitong Worldwide analyst Jeff Pu, the machine will probably be outfitted with Apple’s A19 chip, which is prone to be primarily based on an optimized model of TSMC’s 3nm course of, presumably N3P or N3X. In distinction, the iPhone 17 Professional and iPhone 17 Professional Max are anticipated to incorporate an A19 Professional chip. In comparison with earlier variations of 3nm chips, the N3P chips provide elevated efficiency effectivity and elevated transistor density.
In-Home Parts
Customized 5G Modem and Wi-Fi Chip
The slim machine might also be one of many first iPhones to make use of an Apple-made 5G modem, second solely to the forthcoming iPhone SE 4. Apple’s new modem might convey enhancements, reminiscent of improved pace, higher power effectivity.
In accordance with Apple analyst Ming-Chi Kuo, at least one iPhone 17 mannequin launching subsequent 12 months will probably be outfitted with an Apple-designed Wi-Fi 7 chip, and Kuo additionally expects Apple’s 5G modem for use within the rumored ultra-thin iPhone 17 mannequin.
eSIM Worldwide
No SIM Card Slot
The slim machine will lack a bodily SIM card slot, and as a substitute rely solely on digital eSIM expertise, in line with Ming-Chi Kuo. Within the U.S., all iPhone 14, iPhone 15, and iPhone 16 fashions lack a bodily SIM card tray already, however all iPhones offered in different nations nonetheless have one for now.
The dearth of a SIM card slot in all forthcoming iPhone 17 fashions worldwide has been beforehand reported, however it’s not clear how the gadgets could be offered within the Chinese language market, the place using eSIMs in smartphones will not be at the moment approved.
Pricing Rumors
Premium or Inexpensive?
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 recommendations that it’s going to not be as feature-rich as Apple’s top-tier Max.
Nonetheless, Haitong Worldwide analyst Jeff Pu believes the machine will probably be a mid-tier iPhone that replaces the Plus mannequin. Moreover, a report out of China has claimed that the ultra-thin iPhone 17’s worth will probably be much like that of the iPhone 16 Plus, which begins at $899 in america.
