Rumors are that we may soon see ultra-thin iPhones. The rumored iPhone 17 Air – or perhaps called the iPhone Slim – could replace the current iPhone plus the current iPhone in Apple’s next iPhone launch in the coming months.
The buzzing “air” has attracted a lot of attention in the iPhone 17 rumor factory, but the prospect also leads people to ask if Apple may need to sacrifice features to get a super thin phone.
This is the thinness of what we might expect from the latest iPhones.
iPhone 17 air release date: Did iPhone smaller iPhone appear this year?
In the past decade, Apple has held an event in September to announce its new phone. This year, we expect Apple to reveal the iPhone 17 series, including the rumored iPhone 17 Air.
If the iPhone 17 air rumor is correct, Apple will be the latest news to join the Ultra-Thin Phone Trend this year. Last week, I previewed Samsung's new lightweight Galaxy S25 Edge at the World Mobile Conference in March and had a series of shockingly thin phones at the mobile conference in March.
According to Apple analyst Ming-Chi Kuo, the iPhone 17 lineup may be the last roster and information for the model that releases this fall. Starting with the iPhone 18, Apple will report separate its phone releases for lower-cost iPhones in the first half of the year (previously retained for iPhone SE models), and announced the high-end Pro models in the second half. This could mean the rumored iPhone 18 Pro, Pro Max, Air and new foldable iPhone models may debut in the fall of 2026. Remember, iPhones have been flipped or folded for years.
On Friday after the announcement, you may pre-order your new iPhone on Friday after the shipment a week later.
How much does the iPhone 17 cost in the air?
Early rumors about the iPhone 17 Air suggest that it may cost more than the iPhone 17 Pro, but a March Bloomberg report suggests that the phone may cost about $900. This price tag will match the rumor that “air” can replace the current $899 Plus. For comparison, Samsung's Galaxy S25 Edge starts at $1,100.
However, there is another question, how tariffs affect iPhone prices. In the ongoing tariff drama by President Donald Trump, Apple avoids additional taxes primarily by stocking up stocks and putting most of its products on the tariff exemption list.
Apple has moved some production of U.S. iPhones to India to avoid steep tariffs imposed on China. However, Trump recently said he pushed Apple CEO Tim Cook to shift U.S. iPhone production from India to the U.S. All of this may affect how much iPhone price is yet to be determined.
Regardless of how tariffs work, Apple is expected to raise the price of iPhones. These prices are rumored to start from the iPhone 17 line, so now it is ready to pay more for “air”.
iPhone 17 aerial camera: potential downgrade?
The potential sacrifice Apple may have to make to make the phone thicker, which limits camera functionality.
The rumored iPhone 17 series is getting a new camera bar that extends over the width of the phone. But front-page Tech shared an iPhone 17 Air video in February that showed a physical model of a rumor-based phone. One of the more surprising findings was a smaller camera pole with a lens on the left, suggesting that the “Air” phone has a single rear camera similar to the iPhone 16e ($599). It is not clear whether the camera is the same as the 16E, or whether Apple will take the Samsung route and include the iPhone 17 Pro's main camera.
The single camera theory is backed by analyst Ming-Chi Kuo and Bloomberg reports that the rumored air may not have speeding and 5x telephoto lenses that have become a staple for Apple's premium iPhones.
Analyst Jeff PU said that in some good news, there are also rumors that the front “selfie” cameras on all iPhone 17 models, including Air, will be upgraded to 24 megapixels.
iPhone 17 Air vs iPhone 17 Pro
It may have attracted a lot of attention, but the rumored air does not seem to be a high-level professional model, but a replacement for the plus sign.
However, according to analysts Jeff PU and Ming-Chi Kuo, there are rumors that the air will have a 6.6-inch display. If accurate, that would mean the air's display is slightly smaller than the iPhone 16 Plus, with a 6.7-inch display, but larger than the iPhone 16 Pro, which has a 6.3-inch display. The iPhone 16 Pro Max leads with a 6.9-inch display. It is not clear whether the 17 Air screen will be the same as the Pro sports display on the iPhone Pro model.
If the rumored air meets its name, the biggest potential advantage it can offer over the professionals is its size and weight. A Bloomberg report in March pointed out that the iPhone Air is 5.5mm in size compared to the 8.25mm iPhone 16 Pro.
MAC Rumors reported that a leaker on the Korean Langag Naver blog on “Yeux1122” said the rumored iPhone 17 Air weighs about 145 grams (5.11 ounces). Compare it to the iPhone 16 Pro, which weighs 199 grams (7.03 oz). If this rumor proves correct, the air will weigh slightly heavier on the iPhone 13 mini with a specific weight of 141 grams (4.97 ounces).
The Bloomberg report also notes that the iPhone 17 Air is expected to have super slim bezels, as well as camera control buttons and dynamic island cutouts in the display.
iPhone 17 air battery life expectancy
The challenge of reducing iPhones might be figuring out how to reduce battery size without compromising battery life.
Initially, assuming a smaller iPhone would only reduce battery life, as there would be less space to accommodate large batteries. But recently, Appleinsider reported that thicker iPhones may use silicon-animal batteries to help extend battery life.
Yeux1122 says the battery capacity is 2,800mAh based on the details of “mass production confirmation samples”, according to MacRumors. It adds that high-density batteries in the air can increase their “actual capacity” by 15% to 20%.
If the rumored iPhone 17 Air does use silicon battery technology, it would be the first iPhone to do so.
Are iPhone air rumors and leaks trustworthy?
That's the rumor. The speculation that leads to iPhone releases is often based on insider knowledge or information leaked from the team working on iPhone design, but these plans can continue to evolve and are not necessarily reflected in the final product. When Apple officially released its next iPhone, we can only confirm these rumors and we can see them ourselves.
