- The iPhone 17 Air is going to replace the not so successful Plus model in the manufacturer’s portfolio
- Above all, it will offer a very thin construction without obvious limitations in equipment
- It definitely shouldn’t be more expensive than the Plus model, at least the first generation will keep the price under 30,000 crowns
Probably no one could have missed that the latest generation of iPhones is kind of spinning in a circle. Mostly the same or very similar design, only slight hardware innovations and software improvements, but limited to US users only. However, this should change in 2025. Apple digs deep into its portfolio and presents a real novelty – the iPhone 17 Air.
iPhone 17 Air, nebo Slim?
What do we know about this mysterious model? It is likely that Apple will introduce its classic four models in 2025, but with one variation. The basic iPhone 17 and the top models 17 Pro and Pro Max will be complemented by the brand new iPhone 17 Air. It will replace the overgrown model with the nickname “Plus”, which is more or less stagnant in sales.
Speculations regarding the new model have been with us since 2023. Since then, the phone has been referred to as the “iPhone 17 Slim”. Only in August of this year, a YouTuber Jon Prosser expressed the idea – which was later supported by analyst Mark Gurman – that the new iPhone would bear the designation “Air”.
Apple has been using this moniker for its products for a long time. In 2008, he introduced the first MacBook Air, followed by the iPad Air 5 years later. Both of these products are united by a thin and light construction while maintaining a full-fledged equipment. And that’s exactly what the iPhone 17 Air should boast about.
Slim, but still quite large
The iPhone 17 Air will therefore replace the Plus model in the portfolio, as we have already said. However, it should definitely not be a spiritual successor to the iPhone Mini. The Air will offer a display diagonal of 6.5″ or 6.6″ – so yes, it will still be quite large, significantly larger than the basic iPhone 17, but a hair smaller than what would be expected from the Plus version.
Don’t overlook
Ultra-thin iPhone 17 Air on the horizon! We have new details for you
So the main and most important aspect should be the thin construction. So far, however, speculation can’t agree on how thin the Air could actually be. The last four generations of basic iPhones had a thin body of 7.7 or 7.8 millimeters. The glaring exception was the iPhone 12, which had a thin chassis of only 7.4 millimeters.
According to our estimation, the iPhone 17 Air should have a body thickness somewhere between 7 and 7.4 millimeters in order to clearly distinguish it from the rest of the portfolio and, above all, to justify calling it the “thin Air model”.
Equipment and camera
As already mentioned, the thin construction should not limit the new iPhone in terms of equipment. Therefore, at least the same specifications as the basic iPhone 17 are expected. According to The Information server estimates, we therefore expect the deployment of the Apple A19 chipset based on TSMC’s 3nm architecture and 8 GB of RAM, which is a basic prerequisite for supporting Apple Intelligence functions.
A possible form of the iPhone 17 Air
The overall equipment must clearly reflect that it will be a more affordable iPhone, so it must remain below the level of the Pro model. Among other things, this means maintaining a low refresh rate of the display of 60 Hz (ie without the ProMotion function) or keeping a dual camera setup: 48 Mpx main and 12 Mpx wide-angle.
Some leakers mentioned a camera duo located in the middle of the upper half of the back, but this sounds extremely unlikely given the design language of current iPhones. On the contrary, it is expected that the iPhone 17 and 17 Air will use the design of the current iPhone 16, only changing the color variants.
Price: will it get more expensive?
The price of the iPhone 17 Air is a big topic among insiders. Logically, it would be reasonable not to increase the price compared to the Plus model, because this could discourage customers. It can therefore be expected that the price will remain the same: that means 899 dollars in the USA, or 26,990 crowns for the basic variant with 128GB of storage.
What we know about the iPhone 17 ‘Air’ so far 👀
The new model is expected to replace the iPhone 16 Plus next year pic.twitter.com/DL2a9OgoE7
— Apple Hub (@theapplehub) October 7, 2024
However, Mark Gurman from Bloomberg in one of his August analyses devoted to the idea that the Air model could gradually rise in the portfolio up to the level of the Pro and Pro Max models. It would of course be reflected in both the equipment and the price. The iPhone 17 Air could become the phone with the best ratio of price and equipment in Apple’s offer, as it would also take over some functions from premium models.
That is why there is no doubt that the iPhone 17 Air – and thus its successors – will indeed be one of the most important new products for Apple in a long time.
Author of the article
Jakub Fischer
Journalist, fan of modern technology, summer months and Asian food. I like Lynch movies, Pollock paintings, french house and Arsenal football club. In my spare time, I play PlayStation and go jogging.
The iPhone 17 Air: A Confused Airplane Ride or a Smooth Flight?
Ah, Apple – where a day without speculation about their next device is like a day without sunshine, or perhaps a day without the opportunity to intertwine your fingers in debt. In a world awash in iPhones, the latest gossip suggests that the iPhone 17 Air is landing to replace the much-maligned Plus model. And honestly, it’s about time. That Plus model barely crept out of its own shadow! Perhaps it was more of a ‘Plus-ly’ disappointment?
So, What’s the Big Idea?
Let’s take a closer look. Apple, the tech giant that seemingly stumbles across innovation every couple of years, is reportedly launching the iPhone 17 Air in 2025. Yes, 2025! You’d think they’re naming it after an airline – it certainly offers the same level of turbulence when it comes to excitement. Rumor has it, however, that this model will be thinner (and thus possibly more fragile – great for those of us who enjoy a little of that *vintage shuffle* when texting). The specs promise to ‘not limit’ the users, which is what everyone hopes for when they invest in a phone that costs more than a decent used car!
The Quest for Slimness: Are We Getting Too Slim?
Now listen, we’ve got to talk about this infamous slipstream of thinness. The iPhone 17 Air is boasted to be around 7.4mm or thinner! Sure, it sounds great until you remember that one time you accidentally sat on your phone. Look, if I wanted to see my phone bend like a contestant on “Dancing With The Stars,” I’d just try out a yoga class! But alas, Apple intends to keep great specifications while sporting a wardrobe that’s tighter than a pair of Spanx on a bad day.
What’s Cooking Under The Hood?
As for the hardware, we’ve got the new Apple A19 chipset in the mix. Sounds exciting, right? Yes, it does! It’s like a fresh new suit for a middle-aged man with a midlife crisis. He may still have the same dad jokes and a penchant for beige, but hey, now he looks good doing it! Expect an 8GB RAM to make multitasking feel like a breeze—just don’t mention how much space those cat videos take!
The Facade of Affordable Choice
Price-wise, Apple is allegedly aiming to keep the cost under 30,000 crowns. That’s right – they won’t raise the bar too high (for now) because they’ve realized that not everyone has a trust fund lurking behind their names. Perhaps they’re feeling the pinch from fierce competition from brands that don’t surge prices like a rollercoaster after a successful IPO. But mark my words, Apple will eventually sneak in those price hikes like an ex at a party – unexpected and slightly unwelcome.
Will It Actually Fly?
And don’t get me started on the camera! There are whispers about a dual 48 MP and 12 MP setup, positioned right in the center of the back. Sounds like a plan until you consider something even more ludicrous: does anyone truly buy an iPhone for its camera? Who are these people? Whether it’s model shoots or holiday snaps of questionable decor, the fact remains: a phone is a phone and a camera is a camera—unless it’s an iPhone, in which case it’s a *lifestyle choice*.
The Bottom Line: A Balloon or A Bust?
To wrap it up, whether the iPhone 17 Air flaps around like a smoothly crafted paper airplane or crashes and burns remains to be seen. While the excitement is palpable, the tech world holds its breath, waiting to see if Apple can actually deliver something that stands out—rather than just another over-hyped gadget. So, will it replace the Plus model? Sure! Will it transform our lives? Perhaps it will make texting while walking a bit more stylishly precarious! Stay tuned, tech fans – this ride is only beginning!
