Statecraft Replace: July 8 – iPhone 17 Air to come in new light blue finish
This yr, Apple is anticipated to discontinue the iPhone “Plus” machine in its iPhone 17 lineup to make approach for an iPhone “Air,” so-called due to its ultra-thin profile.
Under is a compilation of each rumor and leak we now have registered from respected sources so far about Apple’s new entry in its flagship smartphone lineup.
iPhone 17 “Air”?
In regards to 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 suggest that the machine might be positioned as an “iPhone Air.” Bloomberg‘s Mark Gurman has since come out in settlement concerning 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 effectively, the iPhone 17 Air will characterize a brand new strategy 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 wish to “squeeze the facility of a Professional mannequin into this smaller design.” Nonetheless, he doesn’t count on this to happen earlier than 2027 on the earliest.
Machine Thickness Rumors
Thinner Than iPhone 6
In accordance with The Information, Apple’s all-new iPhone 17 mannequin could have a “considerably thinner” design with an aluminum chassis, relatively 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 recent 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 can be the thinnest iPhone thus far – thinner than the 6.9mm iPhone 6 that got here out in 2014. 5.5mm can be roughly 30% thinner than the iPhone 16, which measures in at 7.8mm thick, and 33% thinner than the iPhone 16 Pro 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 significant one equal to the iPhone X.
Show Measurement
Smaller Than Plus Mannequin
The primary particulars concerning the measurement of the machine’s show arrived courtesy of Haitong Worldwide Securities analyst Jeff Pu, who stated it might be 6.6 inches. Apple analyst Ming-Chi Kuo has since corroborated Pu’s declare.
Display Supply Chain Consultants (DSCC) analyst Ross Young says the machine will characteristic a 6.55-inch show, which might be rounded as much as 6.6 inches. Complicating issues, YouTuber Jon Prosser extra lately claimed that the iPhone 17 Air will likely be outfitted with a 6.7-inch display, relatively than a 6.6-inch show as beforehand rumored. For context, the present iPhone 16 Plus has a 6.7-inch show. Nonetheless, in response to Prosser’s prediction, Younger reiterated his 6.55-inch show measurement declare 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 identical dimensions because the iPhone 17 Pro Max, with the one distinction being within the thickness of the units. Days later, Bloomberg reported that Apple prototyped a bigger ultra-slim iPhone 17 Air with a 6.9-inch show, however in the end determined to not go forward with the machine due to fears that it might be vulnerable to bending. It is fairly potential the China-originating rumor had its origins in Apple’s canned prototype.
The iPhone 17 Air might have ultra-thin bezels as might all the iPhone 17 collection, according to one leaker. Apple says the iPhone 16 Professional and iPhone 16 Professional Max characteristic the thinnest bezels across the display of any product it has ever launched, so maybe we will count on an identical sized bezel for the Air.
At all times-On Show
ProMotion Assist
Apple intends to expand ProMotion to all the lineup in 2025, including 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 mandatory. This will likely be enabled by Apple’s use of Samsung’s excessive efficiency “M14” OLED display panel.
Beforehand, solely “Professional” fashions in Apple’s iPhone lineup used the M1 OLED panel, which is why they’ve solely 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.
Digicam Redesign
Relocated Lens
The Info claimed that the iPhone 17 Air could have cameras in places we’ve not seen earlier than on an iPhone. In accordance with a Could report, the rear cameras might be moved to the “prime heart” 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 because the 2007 mannequin.
Including to the intrigue, Apple analyst Ming-Chi Kuo has claimed that the machine could have only one camera, versus two or three.
Since then, YouTube channel Entrance Web page Tech has revealed the alleged design of the iPhone 17 Air. The renders present an all-new digicam bar throughout the highest of the machine’s rear shell. On the left facet of the bar is a single rear digicam, and on the proper facet there’s a microphone and an LED digicam flash.
Most lately, a CAD render of all of the units in Apple’s upcoming iPhone 17 lineup has been shared on-line by leaker Majin Bu, particularly exhibiting the allegedly totally different rear digicam system designs of the usual iPhone 17, together with the all-new ultra-thin iPhone 17 Air. The CAD exhibits the described horizontal digicam bar design accommodating the one digicam lens.
Alleged iPhone 17 Air proven on far left
Weibo-based leakers Fixed Focus Digital, Ice Universe, and Digital Chat Station have all backed the accuracy of the CAD picture, primarily based on their very own data from Apple’s provide chain in China. “The looks is principally like this,” commented Digital Chat Station in reference to the picture.
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 Protect discovered on iPhone 15 fashions, in accordance with Chinese Weibo leaker Instant 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 is not 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 ground tremor know-how matches the rumor.
Improved Entrance Digicam
Higher Selfies
In accordance with Apple analyst Ming-Chi Kuo, all the 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 the iPhone 16 lineup options the identical {hardware}.
The upgraded decision on the iPhone 17 will enable images 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
Haitong analyst Jeff Pu has claimed the iPhone 17 Air will characteristic 8GB of RAM, in comparison with 6GB of RAM on the iPhone 15 Plus. Nonetheless, extra lately, Ming-Chi Kuo has stated that every one iPhone 17 fashions will likely be outfitted with 12GB of RAM, including the Air.
It is value noting that every one iPhone 16 fashions (together with the brand new iPhone 16e) are fitted with 8GB of RAM – a {hardware} requirement of on-device Apple Intelligence – so it is nearly a surety that the slim machine may even have at the least this quantity of reminiscence.
Subsequent-Gen Processor
Higher Efficiency
In accordance with The Info and Haitong Worldwide analyst Jeff Pu, the machine will likely be outfitted with Apple’s A19 chip, which is prone to be primarily based on an optimized model of TSMC’s 3nm course of, probably 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 supply elevated efficiency effectivity and elevated transistor density.
Battery Life
Questions Stay
In accordance with Bloomberg‘s Mark Gurman and trade analyst Ming-Chi Kuo, the iPhone 17 Air will make the most of the identical C1 modem that lately debuted within the iPhone 16e. The C1 is Apple’s first custom-designed modem chip, and may carry important benefits to the upcoming iPhone 17 Air.
The C1 is probably the most power-efficient modem ever featured in an iPhone, and guarantees excellent battery life even inside the body of the iPhone 17 Air’s ultra-thin design. In accordance with Apple’s tech specs, the iPhone 16e affords as much as 26 hours of battery life for video playback, in comparison with as much as 22 hours for the usual iPhone 16. This effectivity comes from Apple’s full management over the modem’s design and integration with its {custom} silicon. The one minor downside to the C1 is that it does not support mmWave.
The iPhone 17 Air might turn out to be the primary Apple smartphone to adopt advanced battery technology, with Japanese provider TDK making ready to ship its new era of silicon-anode batteries by the top of June. One leaker has claimed the machine’s battery capability is 2,800mAh, which would not be far off the iPhone 12, which has a 2,815mAh battery.
Bloomberg reporter Mark Gurman has stated the iPhone 17 Air will present battery life that’s “on par with current iPhones.” Nonetheless, in accordance with a report by The Info, the machine could have “worse” battery life in comparison with earlier iPhone fashions, which might affect Apple’s determination to launch a battery case as an elective accent for the iPhone 17 Air.
Digicam Management
Images Button
The iPhone 17 Air will characteristic the identical Digicam Management button that iPhone 16 fashions have on the right-side of the machine, in accordance with Bloomberg‘s Mark Gurman. The button gives fast entry to the digicam and associated settings, however some individuals discover the button’s contact sensitivity finicky, and lots of customers disable it.
Wi-Fi 7 Assist
For Enhanced Connectivity
Apple will use its personal custom-designed Wi-Fi chip in all upcoming iPhone 17 fashions, together with the iPhone 17 Air, in accordance with industry analyst Ming-Chi Kuo. Kuo stated the change to in-house Wi-Fi chips will “improve connectivity throughout Apple units” whereas additionally giving Apple a value discount.
Apple’s {custom} wi-fi chip will help Wi-Fi 7 specification, in accordance with Jeff Pu, an analyst who covers corporations inside Apple’s provide chain. All present iPhone fashions are outfitted with a mixed Wi-Fi and Bluetooth chip equipped by Broadcom.
For Wi-fi Charging
Regardless of the thinness of the iPhone 17 Air, the machine will help MagSafe, in accordance with a reliable Chinese leaker. The leaker stated that every one 4 iPhone 17 fashions this yr will help MagSafe for magnetic wi-fi charging and magnetic equipment. Apple dropped MagSafe from the low-end iPhone 16e, which left some uncertainty that the know-how would characteristic within the iPhone 17 Air.
Notably, Apple seems to be shifting to the next-generation Qi 2.2 wi-fi charging customary, in accordance with regulatory filings, which will increase the chance that the upcoming iPhone 17 fashions will help the brand new charging customary. Qi 2.2 is technically able to as much as 50W charging output – however that does not assure Apple’s iPhones will cost on the most 50W. Along with sooner charging, Qi 2.2 affords improved magnetic alignment and charging effectivity in comparison with its predecessor. The usual additionally options backward compatibility with older Qi chargers.
eSIM Worldwide
No SIM Card Slot
The slim machine will lack a bodily SIM card slot, and as an alternative rely completely on digital eSIM know-how, according to 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 international locations 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 units can be offered within the Chinese language market, the place using eSIMs in smartphones is just not presently approved.
Shade Choices
Distinctive Blue End
A brand new gentle blue end is rumored to be the signature coloration of the all-new ultra-thin iPhone 17 Air, in accordance with a leak from Asia. The tip, shared by Weibo leaker “Mounted Focus Digital,” means that this blue shade will likely be central to Apple’s advertising and marketing for the brand new machine, which can exchange the Plus mannequin in Apple’s iPhone lineup. Described as considerably lighter than any earlier blue Apple has launched, the colour might seem nearly white in low-light situations.
The iPhone 13 Professional’s “Sierra Blue” end (2021).
The end is alleged to echo Apple’s previous use of lighter tones, significantly the iPhone 13 Professional’s “Sierra Blue.” That coloration marked a shift towards extra delicate, pastel-like shades – metallic and icy, it shifted between blue and lightweight grey relying on the lighting. Apple continued this development with the softer, pastel finishes launched within the iPhone 15 lineup.
Pricing Rumors
Premium or Inexpensive?
The Info reported that the slimmer iPhone 17 might have the next price ticket than the Professional Max mannequin, which presently begins at $1,199, regardless of options 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 likely 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 likely be just like that of the iPhone 16 Plus, which begins at $899 in america. Extra lately, Bloomberg‘s Mark Gurman stated he was advised that the machine may start at roughly $899 within the US, whereas a more recent report by The Wall Street Journal has urged that every one iPhone 17 fashions might have increased costs than traditional due to the impression of U.S. import tariffs on foreign goods.