iPhone 17 Air Rumors: Everything to Know About Apple’s Slim Phone

As September approaches, we’re getting closer to learning whether Apple will unveil a super-thin iPhone with the rest of its upcoming lineup.

Apple hasn’t confirmed any details about the iPhone 17, but that hasn’t stopped the rumor mill from churning — especially as it relates to this supposedly thin new model, which has been dubbed the «iPhone 17 Air» in the meantime. It could serve as a successor to the iPhone 16 Plus, with a 6.6-inch display, making it smaller than the iPhone 16 Pro Max but bigger than the baseline and Pro models. It could also include higher RAM, new colors and a battery boost — thanks in part to iOS 26’s Adaptive Power feature.

Apple’s ultra-thin phone could be the latest to join a slew of skinny phones, including the Samsung Galaxy S25 Edge. But in its effort to slim down the device, Apple would likely need to make hardware trade-offs, which might include a single rear camera. Plus, there’s the possibility of a high price tag, which could also be impacted by tariffs.

The wait is almost over, but for now, we’re rounding up all the latest rumors, leaks and speculation about the new iPhone. Let’s dig in.

Read more: Should You Buy an iPhone 16 or Wait for the iPhone 17?

iPhone 17 Air size: How thin will it be?

If the rumored iPhone 17 Air lives up to its name, then the biggest potential advantage it could offer over the rest of the lineup is its size and weight. A Bloomberg report from March notes that the iPhone Air could measure 5.5mm thick, compared to the iPhone 16 Pro at 8.25mm. The iPhone 17 Pro Max could get as thick as 8.725mm to make room for a bigger battery, according to a report by 9to5Mac.

Matt Talks Tech posted a YouTube video on July 19 comparing the thickness of an iPhone 17 Air model with an iPhone 6, the last thinnest iPhone:

Mac Rumors reported in May that a leaker on the Korean-language Naver blog, going by yeux1122, said that the rumored iPhone 17 Air weighs approximately 145 grams (5.11 ounces). Compare that with the iPhone 16 Pro, which weighs 199 grams (7.03 ounces). If this rumor proves true, the Air would be just slightly heavier than the iPhone 13 mini, which weighs 141 grams (4.97 ounces).

iPhone 17 Air camera: Potential downgrade?

To slim down the iPhone, Apple may have to make some camera compromises.

In July, analyst Ming-Chi Kuo reiterated the long-standing rumor that the iPhone 17 Air will only feature one rear camera for wide-angle shots. That would place it in the same camp as the $599 iPhone 16E, which has a single rear camera with a 48-megapixel sensor — though it’s not clear if the iPhone 17 Air will have the same sensor. Bloomberg also noted earlier this year that the rumored Air may not have the ultrawide and 5x telephoto lenses that have become staples of Apple’s premium iPhones.

In a bit of good news, it’s also rumored that the front-facing «selfie» camera on all iPhone 17 models, including the Air, will be upgraded to 24 megapixels, according to analyst Jeff Pu.

In February, Front Page Tech shared a re-created render of the iPhone 17 Air, which supposedly includes a glimpse of the camera, in this video on YouTube:

Display: Smaller than a Plus, bigger than a Pro?

Rumor has it that the Air will have a 6.6-inch display, according to analysts Pu and Kuo, who also said the display resolution would be around 1260×2740 pixels. That aligns with the wallpaper resolution Macworld found in the second iOS 26 developer beta — a resolution that no existing iPhone currently has.

If rumors are accurate, the iPhone 17 Air’s display will be slightly smaller than the iPhone 16 Plus, which has a 6.7-inch display, but larger than the iPhone 16 Pro, which features a 6.3-inch display. The iPhone 16 Pro Max leads with a 6.9-inch display. It’s unclear if the iPhone 17 Air’s screen would be a Pro Motion display like the one found on iPhone Pro models.

Performance: Could an Air get the A19 Pro chip?

The iPhone 17 Air could benefit from some performance boosts.

Bloomberg reported back in March that the rumored phone will have a standard A19 chip, instead of the A19 Pro landing on the Pro versions. Kuo shared the same prediction as recently as July 24.

But a Weibo account known as Fixed Focus Digital said the iPhone 17 Air will come with an A19 Pro chip, MacRumors reported on July 9. But the Air would have a 5-core GPU, according to the rumor, whereas the iPhone 17 Pro and Pro Max would get a 6-core GPU.

Apple is also reportedly bringing more design in-house to improve connectivity across all devices. In February, Kuo said Apple will swap out Broadcom’s Wi-Fi chips for in-house chips across the iPhone 17 lineup.

iPhone 17 Air battery life expectations

One of the key challenges of slimming down a phone is figuring out how to not compromise battery life.

Initially, it was assumed that a skinnier iPhone would simply have reduced battery life, since there would be less space to house a battery. But more recently, AppleInsider reported that a skinnier iPhone might use a silicon-anode battery to help extend battery life.

Leaker Yeux1122 said the iPhone 17 Air’s battery capacity is 2,800mAh, based on details from a «mass production confirmed sample,» according to MacRumors. The leaker adds that a high-density battery in the Air could increase its «actual capacity» by 15% to 20%. Kuo also noted back in March that the phone could have that «high-density» battery.

If the rumored iPhone 17 Air does use the silicon battery technology, it would be the first iPhone to do so.

One feature that could help avoid battery drain is Adaptive Power in iOS 26. This can help conserve battery by automatically adjusting your iPhone’s performance based on how you’re using the it at that moment, according to Apple.

And while the appeal of a skinnier iPhone may be its sleekness, Apple could still release a battery case as an iPhone 17 Air accessory, according to a May report from Wayne Ma with The Information.

Memory upgrade

In April, Kuo noted the iPhone 17 Air will sport 12GB of RAM, just like the upcoming Pro models. (The baseline iPhone 17 is expected to stay at 8GB, according to both Kuo and Pu.) Tipster Digital Chat Station noted that the boost is largely thanks to the «large scale» use of Apple Intelligence and AI on the devices.

Colors for the iPhone 17 Air

Current rumors suggest the iPhone 17 Air come come in these shades:

• Black
• Blue gray
• Light gold
• Silver

On Aug. 3, Majin Bu posted photos on X of the predicted color lineup across the iPhone 17 series:

Dynamic Island: Front camera could move

Bloomberg’s report also notes that the iPhone 17 Air is expected to have superslim bezels compared to the rest of the line, along with a Camera Control button and a Dynamic Island cutout in the display.

Pu predicted in May that all the iPhone 17 models will use a new metalens technology for the proximity sensor, according to 9to5Mac. That technology could allow Apple to reduce the size of the Face ID sensor and its Dynamic Island. However, Pu’s report contradicts Kuo, who previously said that the Dynamic Island would remain «largely unchanged» in the iPhone 17 lineup compared to the iPhone 16.

In a post to X on June 26, Bu said the front camera might be placed on the left of the Dynamic Island, based on leaked screen protector designs. Other iPhone 17 models appear to retain the camera on the right side:

Air or Slim? What we know about the name

The title for the rumored skinny iPhone is still unclear — in fact, we still don’t know if Apple’s new lineup will even be called the iPhone 17, as it’s been known to switch up its naming conventions. (Take, for example, its decision to follow iOS 18 with iOS 26, instead of the expected moniker iOS 19, to coincide with the upcoming year.)

We likely won’t find out the phone’s official name until Apple announces its new iPhone lineup. But most rumors and leaks — including this video Bu shared of a dummy model on X on July 9 — refer to the skinnier iPhone as «Air»:

iPhone 17 Air release date: Is the slimmer iPhone coming this year?

For nearly a decade, Apple has held an event on the first Tuesday of September after Labor Day to announce its new phones. We expect Apple to follow a similar schedule this year for the release of its iPhone 17 line, including the rumored iPhone 17 Air.

However, the first Tuesday is the day after Labor Day in 2025, so Apple may push the dates for its iPhone event to Wednesday, Sept. 3, or Tuesday, Sept. 9. That would mean a release date of Sept. 12 or 19. Most rumors point to Sept. 9 as the expected date for Apple’s iPhone reveal event.

The iPhone 17 lineup may be the last to follow this fall-release model, according to Kuo and a report from The Information. Starting with the iPhone 18, Apple will reportedly split its phone releases so that lower-cost iPhones launch in the first half of the year (previously reserved for iPhone SE models) and higher-end Pro models are announced in the latter half. That would likely mean a rumored iPhone 18 Pro, Pro Max, Air and new foldable iPhone model could debut in fall 2026. Keep in mind that an iPhone Flip or Fold has been rumored for years.

You’ll likely be able to preorder a new iPhone the Friday after the announcement, with the phone shipping a week later. Based on the expected announcement on Sept. 3 or 9, the preorder date could be either Sept. 5 or 12, respectively.

See also: The iPhone 17 Air Could Hint at Apple’s Foldable Future

What will the iPhone 17 Air cost?

Early rumors about the iPhone 17 Air’s price tag hinted it could cost even more than the iPhone 17 Pro. But a Bloomberg report from March suggested the phone could cost about $900. That price tag would align with the rumor that the Air could replace the Plus, which currently costs $929. For comparison, Samsung’s Galaxy S25 Edge starts at $1,100.

However, there’s also the question of how tariffs could affect the price of an iPhone. Amid President Donald Trump’s ongoing tariff drama, he’s threatened Apple with a 25% tariff if the company doesn’t move iPhone manufacturing to the US.

How much all of this could affect iPhone prices is yet to be determined, but an extra 25% could push an iPhone 17 Air to more than $1,100. That’s based on the price of an iPhone 16 Plus, which the iPhone 17 Air is rumored to be replacing. None of the pricing rumors has been confirmed by Apple.

Regardless of how tariffs play out, Apple is expected to raise the price of the iPhone. These price hikes are rumored to start with the iPhone 17 line, so prepare now to pay more for Air.

Are iPhone Air rumors and leaks to be trusted?

Rumors are just that. The speculation leading up to the iPhone’s release is often based on insider knowledge or leaked information from the teams working on the iPhone’s design, but those plans can evolve and are not necessarily reflected in the final product. We’ll only be able to confirm these rumors with certainty when Apple officially releases the next iPhone.