The iPhone 17 Air price could come in lower than previously rumored. A new report sheds additional light on Apple’s slimmer-than-usual iPhone, which is expected to launch in September 2025.
The device apparently will help Apple revive growth, impressing potential customers with its sleek design.
Apple might make iPhone 17 Air surprisingly affordable
Multiple leaks and reports suggest Apple is developing a thinner iPhone 17 Air for 2025 (though it won’t necessarily go by that name). The phone supposedly will replace the 6.7-inch iPhone 17 Plus model in the company’s current lineup, and stand out for its slim design.
It will be a millimeter or two thinner than current-gen iPhones, with one report suggesting it may be Apple’s slimmest iPhone yet. The iPhone 17 Air price tag might be smaller than expected, too.
A Sunday report in The Wall Street Journal says the phone will cost less than its Pro siblings. It will ship with a “simplified camera system” to keep costs in check. That falls in line with previous rumors, which indicated the iPhone 17 Air might ship with a single 48MP rear camera, primarily due to space constraints in the wafer-thin chassis.
Given that the super-slim iPhone will replace the Plus model, it could carry the same $899 price tag as the latter. This would also make the phone $100 cheaper than the Pro model.
Apple seemingly plans to rely on the iPhone 17 Air’s slim design as a key feature to attract customers. The company purportedly hopes the slender form factor will be enough for many consumers to look over its other compromises.
New 5G modem and Wi-Fi chip too?
Besides a less-capable camera system, the iPhone 17 Air might use Apple’s in-house 5G modem. Reports indicate that the first-generation modem might only support sub-6GHz 5G, so it won’t deliver the ultrafast gigabit speeds associated with mmWave 5G. The modem supposedly will launch on the iPhone SE 4 in the first quarter of 2025.
Additionally, the iPhone 17 Air could use Apple’s in-house Wi-Fi + Bluetooth chip, replacing long-term partner Broadcom.
