Apple is gearing up to unveil a new addition to its iPhone lineup—the iPhone 17 Air, expected to launch in September 2025 alongside the iPhone 17, 17 Pro, and 17 Pro Max models. This ultra-thin model is set to replace the Plus variant and is expected to be Apple’s slimmest iPhone to date.
According to Bloomberg’s Mark Gurman, the iPhone 17 Air will feature a thickness ranging between 5.5mm and 6.25mm, making it significantly thinner than current iPhones, including the iPhone 16 Pro, which is about 2mm thicker. For context, the iPhone 6, previously the thinnest iPhone at 6.9mm, will be surpassed by this new model, utilizing advanced miniaturization techniques to ensure durability without sacrificing functionality.
The iPhone 17 Air will also mark a milestone in Apple’s transition towards greater self-reliance in its hardware ecosystem. It will debut Apple’s proprietary cell modem, known internally as Sinope, reducing the company’s reliance on third-party suppliers like Qualcomm. Alongside this, the device is rumored to include Apple’s custom Proxima Wi-Fi and Bluetooth chips. Additionally, the iPhone 17 Air will run on the A19 chip, which is expected to be a mid-tier processor, offering an upgrade over the A18 used in the iPhone 16 lineup. It will feature 8GB of RAM and benefit from Apple’s on-device AI capabilities.
Despite being positioned as a mid-tier device, the iPhone 17 Air is expected to include premium features. A 6.6-inch OLED display with ProMotion technology, offering a 120Hz refresh rate, will be part of the package, a feature previously reserved for Apple’s Pro models. However, to maintain its more affordable pricing, the device will feature simplified hardware with a single 48-megapixel rear camera and a 24-megapixel front camera.
Additionally, the iPhone 17 Air is rumored to rely entirely on eSIM technology, meaning it will not have a physical SIM card slot. While this could be a major advantage in markets with widespread eSIM adoption, such as the U.S., it may face challenges in regions like China, where eSIM adoption remains less prevalent.
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