In a surprising shift, Apple is reportedly planning to replace its iPhone Plus lineup with a new device — the iPhone 17 Air, expected to launch in September 2025. According to early leaks and reports, the upcoming model will be a slim, performance-packed phone aimed at users who want a lightweight and premium iPhone experience. This move also aligns with Apple’s rumored strategy to simplify its iPhone offerings.
Here’s a full breakdown of what we know so far about the iPhone 17 Air — from design to performance, camera, and battery life.
iPhone 17 Air: Key Specifications
| Feature | Details |
|---|---|
| Display | 6.6-inch OLED, 120Hz ProMotion |
| Thickness | ~5.5mm |
| Weight | 145g |
| Processor | A19 chip |
| RAM | 12GB |
| Front Camera | 24MP |
| Rear Camera | 48MP Wide |
| Battery | 2,800mAh (with potential boost from high-density tech) |
| Charging | 35W fast wired charging |
| Operating System | Apple Intelligence (AI-enhanced features) |
| Modem | Apple C1 (custom-designed) |
| Wi-Fi | Apple-designed chip |
| Speaker | Single speaker in earpiece |
| SIM Tray | No SIM tray (eSIM-only) |
| Launch Date | September 2025 |
| Starting Price | $899 |
Design: Ultra-Slim and Lightweight
The iPhone 17 Air stands out for its ultra-thin profile, measuring just 5.5mm thick, making it the slimmest iPhone ever created. Weighing only 145 grams, it aims to deliver comfort in hand while maintaining Apple’s signature premium build.
Despite the thin frame, Apple has managed to pack powerful internal components, including the latest A19 chip, 12GB of RAM, and advanced connectivity options. Apple’s design strategy seems to focus on making the device elegant and highly portable — perfect for users who prioritize convenience without sacrificing performance.
Display
The iPhone 17 Air features a 6.6-inch OLED display with 120Hz ProMotion technology. This ensures smoother scrolling, more responsive touch, and better overall interaction with the UI. The Always-On Display also returns, offering glanceable info like time, widgets, and notifications even when the screen is locked.
Bezels have been reduced, and there’s support for Dynamic Island, continuing Apple’s efforts to make full use of the display real estate.
Performance: Powered by A19 Chip and Apple Intelligence
At the heart of the iPhone 17 Air is the all-new A19 chip, expected to offer significant improvements in performance and power efficiency compared to previous generations. It also introduces enhanced AI capabilities, thanks to the new Apple Intelligence system that’s deeply integrated into iOS.
This system is expected to power features like smart notifications, on-device language processing, and camera scene recognition. Combined with 12GB RAM, multitasking should be seamless. Apps will launch quicker, and demanding tasks like video editing and gaming should be handled with ease.
Camera Setup
Apple seems to have taken a minimalist approach to the camera setup on the iPhone 17 Air. Instead of a dual or triple-lens module, it features a single 48MP wide rear camera. But don’t be fooled by the single lens — this camera is packed with software enhancements that allow for sharp photos, even in low light.
The front camera is a 24MP sensor, which is a major jump for selfie lovers. Whether it’s FaceTime, video blogs, or social media, this upgrade is sure to impress. The camera system will also benefit from Camera Control and Apple’s new AI capabilities to enhance clarity, skin tones, and background blur automatically.
Battery and Charging
One of the trade-offs with a thinner phone is usually battery life, and the iPhone 17 Air comes with a 2,800mAh battery. While this may seem small compared to other flagship devices, Apple may include a high-density battery, which could boost the effective capacity by 15–20%.
In addition, Apple’s software optimizations with the A19 chip and iOS (combined with Apple Intelligence) could help manage battery drain more effectively. Despite its size, the device is expected to deliver “good battery life,” as stated in early leaks — enough to last a full day for average users.
Apple also includes 35W fast wired charging, allowing the phone to charge significantly faster than older models. However, wireless charging is not confirmed yet for this model, which could be due to its slim form factor.
No SIM Tray
Just like the iPhone 14 models sold in the U.S., the iPhone 17 Air will completely ditch the SIM card tray and rely entirely on eSIM technology. Apple seems determined to push this transition globally, which could help with water resistance, internal space efficiency, and improved security.
This also means users will need to ensure their carrier supports eSIM if they plan to buy this phone. It’s a bold move, but Apple is known for driving industry trends forward—even when it means killing legacy features.
Software Experience
The iPhone 17 Air is expected to debut alongside a more advanced iOS version that deeply integrates Apple Intelligence — Apple’s in-house AI system. While details are still limited, the features may include:
- Smarter app suggestions
- On-device language understanding
- AI-enhanced photo editing
- Scene recognition in the camera
- Smart replies and text generation
iPhone 16 Plus vs iPhone 17 Air pic.twitter.com/NtVzoI9LAv
— Apple Hub (@theapplehub) May 7, 2025
Related Post: iPhone 17 Pro Max Full Leak
Should You Wait for the iPhone 17 Air?
If you’re someone who values:
- Lightweight and slim design
- High-end performance without Pro pricing
- Clean, minimalistic camera setup
- Advanced AI-powered software
Then the iPhone 17 Air is shaping up to be a very appealing option. However, power users who need large batteries, better speakers, or advanced camera systems (like ultrawide or telephoto) might still prefer the iPhone Pro models.
For now, Apple seems focused on creating a new category within the iPhone lineup, something between the base and Pro—without just repeating the “Plus” formula.
