If you thought Apple was done mixing things up, the iPhone 17 rumors are about to change your mind. The usual suspects—iPhone 17, 17 Pro, and 17 Pro Max—are supposedly being joined by a fresh face: the iPhone 17 Air. This isn’t just an extra model tacked on. The Air is set to outright replace the Plus version, signaling Apple’s push toward sleeker, lighter, and, yes, thinner devices.
What really grabs attention is the Air’s rumored profile. At just 6mm thick, it’s shaping up to be one of Apple’s slimmest major releases in years. Imagine sliding a smartphone into your pocket that feels closer to a slice of glass than a brick. The display? A generous 6.6 inches. For those who like big screens without sacrifice on comfort, this could be a sweet spot. What’s even more interesting is that leakers say Apple will keep the Air’s price the same as the old Plus: $899 in the US, £899 in the UK.
Dropping a new design without adding cost sounds almost too good to be true. Analysts and leaks hint that the sleek shell might come with trade-offs—maybe battery life or certain camera features will differ slightly from the Pro variants. Bloomberg’s Mark Gurman claims Apple is determined not to blame any price tweaks on trade issues, but still, price bumps across the whole lineup are possible thanks to new features and design changes. If Apple does hike the price, it’ll be careful about how it tells that story.
Let’s talk about what’s under the hood. The base iPhone 17 could reuse the A18 chip that’s already part of the iPhone 16, while the Pro and Pro Max will likely get shiny new processors to justify their extra cost. That’s becoming a pattern: Apple reserves its newest tech for those willing to pay up. But you still get software updates and the Apple ecosystem, so older chips don’t always mean a dry experience.
Mark your calendars—the iPhone 17 should drop in early September 2025. Pre-orders? Usually just days after the first unveiling, with retail shelves stocked not long after. If traditions hold, the iPhone 17 launch window might intersect with a wave of global pricing headaches, mostly thanks to politics. Former president Donald Trump is threatening a 25% tariff on iPhones made outside the US, and that could have a ripple effect on what everyone pays at launch. Apple has started pushing production lines into India to cushion against tariffs, but no one’s sure if that’s enough. If the tariffs hit, prices in the US and maybe elsewhere might feel the pinch.
All eyes are now on how Apple will present this mix of innovation, design refresh, and behind-the-scenes trade battles. If the leaks prove true, the iPhone 17 Air is more than a new label. It might be Apple’s next big move in a changing smartphone game.
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