iPhone 17 Air: Everything to know about the 'ultra-thin' Plus killer coming in September

Follow ZDNET: Add us as a preferred source on Google.

ZDNET’s key takeaways

• iPhone 17 Air may debut as Apple’s thinnest phone ever.
• Single rear camera shows Apple’s thinness trade-offs.
• Expected to debut on Sept. 9, 2025, priced around $900.

Apple is expected to introduce an ultra-thin model in the 2025 iPhone lineup. Called the “iPhone 17 Air,” it’s supposed to be much slimmer than any other iPhone to date and will replace the Plus models.

Also: Buy the iPhone 16 or wait for iPhone 17? Here’s how I help friends and family decide

Due this September alongside the rest of the iPhone 17 family, it’s been repeatedly described as a super-slim new tier, with a target price around $900. But what else makes this phone so different, and why should you care?

Let’s look at all the rumors and leaks to date.

Why is it called iPhone 17 Air?

Bloomberg’s Mark Gurman has referred to the upcoming model as “skinny” and repeatedly calls it “iPhone 17 Air.” So, that’s what everyone else calls it. Apple hasn’t confirmed the name just yet, so consider “Air” a working moniker until it debuts in September.

Also: 5 Apple products you definitely shouldn’t buy this month (and 7 to get instead)

With any pre-release reporting, details can change. But Gurman is a managing editor with a strong record on Apple scoops. AppleTrack currently rates his accuracy around 86%. This site tracks, verifies, and rates the accuracy of Apple leaks and rumors. MacRumors also graded Gurman’s WWDC 2025 predictions as an A+.

How thin is the iPhone 17 Air really?

If the rumors are right, the iPhone 17 Air could be the thinnest iPhone ever.

Also: Best iPhone 2025: I tested the top models and found the best options for you

Noted analyst Ming-Chi Kuo, who has a 72% accuracy according to AppleTrack, says the phone will measure 5.5mm at its slimmest point — but the camera bump isn’t going anywhere. Still, Bloomberg’s Gurman described the Air as slimmer than current models and suggested it could be a step toward Apple’s long-rumored port-free future. For comparison, the iPhone 16 Pro is 8.25mm thick.

Renders and videos from Jon Prosser’s Front Page Tech also point to an ultra-thin chassis as well as a “camera bar” stretching across the back. On one side sits a single rear lens, while the other houses a mic and LED flash. Prosser is being sued by Apple for allegedly leaking iOS 26 information, but his leaks align with a supposed iPhone 17 Air shell that surfaced weeks ago.

Of course, making a phone this thin requires some engineering trade-offs. AppleTrack posted a video with dummy models suggesting subtle hardware compromises, like the USB-C port being nudged closer to the back edge instead of sitting neatly in the middle.

As for weight, MacRumors spotted South Korean leaker yeux1122 claimed in a Naver blog that the Air will come in at about 145g (5.11 ounces). That would make it much lighter than the 199g iPhone 16 Pro, but it’ll be slightly heavier than the 141g iPhone 13 Mini.

What is the display size?

Several leakers and analysts, including Ming-Chi Kuo, said the iPhone 17 Air will have around a 6.6-inch display with very slim bezels and a refined front layout, and it’ll keep the Dynamic Island largely the same as current models. Meanwhile, Macworld recently spotted a new 1260×2740 wallpaper resolution in iOS 26 betas that doesn’t match any existing iPhones.

What about the cameras? 

To keep the iPhone 17 Air as thin as possible, Apple is expected to make some concessions.

Also: How to clear your iPhone cache (and why you should do it before the iOS 26 update)

Both Kuo and Bloomberg’s Gurman reported the phone will drop ultrawide and telephoto lenses, instead shipping with a single rear camera — likely 48MP. Jon Prosser’s renders back this up, showing just one lens inside the top “camera bar.” Up front, analyst Jeff Pu said all iPhone 17 models will feature a 24MP selfie camera. According to AppleTrack, Pu’s record sits at about 50% accurate.

Will iPhone 17 Air last all day?

A thinner iPhone means a smaller battery, right? Not so fast. Here’s how Apple plans to tackle the issue of battery life:

• Efficient charging and thermal management: Leaker Majin Bu has shared photos and measurements of what’s claimed to be the Air’s battery: an L-shaped, steel-cased module that’s about 2.49mm thick with an estimated capacity of 2,900mAh. The prototype features welded edges, new adhesives to make replacements easier, and could allow for more efficient charging thanks to improved thermal management. Together, these details suggest Apple is optimizing internal space and battery performance.
• High-density battery with silicon-anode cells: Kuo has floated the idea of a high-density battery for the iPhone 17 Air, while AppleInsider, citing a report from DigitTimes, claimed supplier TDK is preparing silicon-anode cells. The combination of this tech would be a major leap, essentially allowing the iPhone 17 Air to store more energy in the same space.
• An Apple-made battery case: The Information’s Wayne Ma claimed Apple’s internal testing shows the Air’s battery life won’t quite hit the company’s usual targets. He said the percentage of users who can go a single day without recharging the thin phone will be between 60% and 70%. To make up for that, Apple has been developing its own battery case.
• Software tricks: Let’s also not forget that iOS 26 introduces a new feature called Adaptive Power, which was widely discussed during and after WWDC. Apple’s iOS 26 overview doesn’t go into much detail, but ZDNET’s Adrian Kingsley-Hughes tested it and reported that the system automatically adjusts performance and background tasks to stretch battery life when needed.

Any information on other specs?

If you’re wondering about which A-series chip the iPhone 17 Air will get or how much RAM it’ll have, here’s what’s leaked so far:

• Processor: Bloomberg’s Gurman claimed the iPhone 17 Air will get the standard A19, while the iPhone 17 Pro models will get the A19 Pro chip. A counter-rumor from Fixed Focus Digital on Weibo (via MacRumors) claimed the A19 Pro is coming to the Air.
• RAM: Kuo said to expect 12GB DRAM on at least three iPhone 17 models.
• Wi-Fi: Kuo also said Apple’s in-house Wi-Fi chip will be used across all iPhone 17 models, meaning it’s moving away from Broadcom. This reporting echoes earlier coverage from Reuters outlining Apple’s in-house Wi-Fi/Bluetooth transition.

Will there be new colors?

Leaker Majin Bu — posting on his own site and X — has repeatedly said the iPhone 17 Air will be available in four colors: a very light “sky” blue, silver, black, and a light gold. You can see these colors, as well as the other iPhone 17 models’ colors, in the tweet below.

How much will iPhone 17 Air cost?

Bloomberg’s Gurman reported that the iPhone 17 Air will be priced around $900, in line with the idea that it will replace the Plus tier. 

Also: Apple’s tariff costs and iPhone sales are soaring – how long until device prices are too?

However, in May 2025, President Donald Trump publicly threatened a 25% tariff on iPhones not built in the US — a move that, if enacted and applied to the Air’s supply chain, could affect pricing.

When will iPhone 17 Air release?

Apple traditionally holds its iPhone event in early to mid-September to unveil the latest models, which usually go on sale within a couple of weeks. While Apple hasn’t confirmed the iPhone 17 Air, it has said its next event will take place on Sept. 9, 2025, and multiple reports, including Bloomberg’s Gurman most recently, suggest the ultra-thin model will debut during this event.