iPhone 17 Air Revealed: All the Latest Rumors Before Apple’s Keynote!

If you’ve been following along, after delving into the details of the iPhone 17 Pro (Max), AirPods Pro 3, and iPhone 17, it should come as no surprise that today we turn our attention to the iPhone 17 Air. As the designated successor to the iPhone 16 Plus, this model aims to breathe new life into the lineup with a focus on slimness and lightness, attributes that Apple had somewhat neglected in recent years.

A Large Phone with the Weight of an iPhone Mini

The iPhone 17 Air is expected to boast a minimal thickness of 5.5 mm, along with a slightly more pronounced horizontal pill-shaped camera bump. This would make it the thinnest iPhone ever produced, over 2 mm slimmer than the iPhone 16 (7.8 mm). Currently, the iPhone 6 holds the record with its 6.9 mm thickness.

Featuring a 6.6-inch screen, the iPhone 17 Air will offer a slightly smaller display compared to the iPhone 16 Plus it replaces. Its slimness will primarily contribute to a significantly lighter feel than the standard iPhone models.

Apple is reportedly opting for a hybrid titanium and aluminum chassis, weighing around 145 g. For comparison, this is just slightly heavier than the iPhone 13 mini!

Like the Pro models, the iPhone 17 Air is expected to incorporate less glass in its structure, making it more durable in case of drops.

This pursuit of thinness has led to a few compromises: the USB-C port is not perfectly centered at the bottom of the device, and the speaker grills have been simplified with fewer openings.

In terms of colors, Apple would offer black, white, a light gold, and a pale blue reminiscent of that on the MacBook Air.

Questions About the Screen

The 6.6-inch screen of the iPhone 17 Air would continue using the LTPO OLED panels from Samsung, already employed in the iPhone 16 Pro. As a result, it boasts a brightness 30% higher than that of the iPhone 16 or iPhone 16 Plus screens.

As mentioned yesterday for the iPhone 17, it would finally feature a refresh rate of 120 Hz, enhancing the perception of smoothness. However, it is uncertain whether this screen will include the ProMotion technology, which dynamically adjusts the refresh rate based on the displayed content.

Considering that battery life is a major challenge for this model, it seems unlikely that Apple would omit this technology, previously reserved for the Pro models from its lineup.

A19 or A19 Pro?

Being a new model, the technical choices Apple has made for the iPhone 17 Air remain unknown. Numerous rumors suggest that this model could feature the A19 Pro chip. This would be a surprising move, as this model is not included in the Pro range.

Regardless, A19 or A19 Pro, the new device from Apple will sport a cutting-edge processor. Like all other models in the lineup, it will include a vapor chamber cooling system, designed to better distribute heat and enhance thermal performance. Given the slimness of the iPhone 17 Air, this feature is likely essential for this model. Lastly, this model would come with 12 GB of RAM.

The Major Challenge of Battery Life

Intended to serve as a technological base for the foldable iPhone 17, the iPhone 17 Air will undoubtedly be an impressive technical showcase of Apple’s expertise. However, this will only be complete if the model has adequate battery life.

From the outset, its battery has been the focus of much speculation. All rumors agree: it would remain below the 3,000 mAh threshold. Some sources suggest 2,900 mAh, while others speculate about 2,800 mAh. Of course, capacity alone doesn’t tell the whole story about battery life, but one would have to look back to the iPhone 12 or 13 to find a model under this symbolic threshold. For comparison, the iPhone 17 Pro Max would have a battery around 5,000 mAh.

A Unique Camera Sensor like the iPhone 16e

With limited internal space, the iPhone 17 Air would feature a single rear camera sensor, similar to the iPhone 16e. Apple would rely on a 48 Mpx wide-angle lens, but with only one lens, it’s unlikely that this model would support spatial video or photo capture.

However, the entire iPhone 17 range would benefit from an upgraded front camera: 24 Mpx, up from just 12 Mpx for the current iPhone 16 models, resulting in improved image quality.

The First iPhone with 100% Apple Chips for Networks

The iPhone 17 Air could be the first iPhone to feature Apple chips for managing wireless technologies. Like the iPhone 16e, this model would incorporate the C1 chip for managing 5G.

This chip isn’t the fastest on the market, nor does it handle millimeter wave 5G, which anyway has limited utility here, but it is remarkably energy-efficient and integrates well with iOS.

Additionally, like other models to be introduced next week, the iPhone 17 Air should include a new chip designed by Apple for managing Wi-Fi and Bluetooth.

Price and Availability

The iPhone 17 Air would not feature a SIM card slot in Europe. This time, Apple has decided to use this space to fit a larger battery. The device would feature an Action button and support MagSafe.

The question of price remains: according to the latest updates, it would start between $899 and $949. In the first case, it would cost as much as the 16 Plus, which it replaces; in the second, it would be a $50 increase (the 16 Plus is sold for 1,119€ in our region).

With this model, the challenge for Apple will be to create a lasting “wow” effect among consumers. Otherwise, the iPhone 17 Air may face a similar fate to the iPhone mini and Plus models in the short to medium term.