Apple has officially introduced the all-new iPhone 17 Air, marking the most significant design shift in years.
At just 5.6mm thick, the iPhone 17 Air becomes the slimmest iPhone ever produced, with Apple describing it as “a paradox you have to hold to believe.” The device replaces the iPhone 16 Plus and delivers a fresh balance of performance, portability, and style.
The iPhone 17 Air features a large 6.5-inch LTPO Super Retina OLED display with ProMotion technology, offering up to 120Hz refresh rate for smooth performance. The screen supports 3,000 nits peak brightness and is protected by Ceramic Shield 2, which Apple claims is more durable than before.
To achieve its slim profile, Apple made some trade-offs. Unlike the Pro models, the iPhone 17 Air carries a single 48MP rear camera paired with an 18MP Center Stage front camera for selfies and video calls. Despite fewer lenses, Apple assures users that photography quality remains top-tier.
Powering the device is the latest A19 Pro chipset, built with a 6-core CPU and 5-core GPU. Apple claims the iPhone 17 Air delivers MacBook Pro-level performance, making it one of the most powerful slim smartphones on the market. Connectivity also gets a boost with the debut of Apple’s N1 networking chip, supporting Wi-Fi 7 and Bluetooth 6.0, alongside the new C1X modem, which is twice as fast and 30% more energy-efficient than the previous generation.
While Apple did not disclose exact battery size, the company promises “all-day battery life.” Users can also opt for a $99 low-profile MagSafe battery pack, which extends video playback up to 40 hours.
The iPhone 17 Air will be available in four finishes: Space Black, Cloud White, Light Gold, and Sky Blue. Pricing starts at $999 for the 256GB model, with pre-orders opening on September 12 in 63 markets including the US, UK, Canada, China, India, and the UAE. Deliveries begin September 19, followed by 22 additional markets on September 26.