Apple's all-new ultra-thin iPhone 17 Air is expected to debut in September 2025. This release follows Apple's recent trend of introducing new iPhone models annually in the fall.
To unveil the iPhone 17 Air and the rest of the iPhone 17 lineup, Apple is holding an "Awe dropping" event on Tuesday, September 9.
Going on previous years, this suggests the new devices could become available to pre-order on Friday, September 12, with purchase availability in stores and online from Friday, September 19.
iPhone 17 Air: What to Expect
The iPhone 17 Air replaces last year's "Plus" model, and is anticipated to bring a host of new features and enhancements. Here are just a few of the changes that we are expecting:
- Ultra-thin chassis (~5.5 mm): The slimmest iPhone ever, excluding the camera bump (estimated up to ~9.5 mm near the lens).
- 6.6-inch OLED ProMotion display: Featuring a 120Hz refresh rate and LTPO panel, enabling variable refresh down to 1 Hz for always-on functionality.
- Horizontal rear camera bar: A new elongated camera module across the back with a single 48MP lens.
- 24MP front-facing camera: Equipped with a six-element lens for improved selfie and FaceTime performance.
- A19-series chip: Powered by the next-generation A19 Bionic (or possibly A19 Pro with fewer GPU cores than Pro models) on TSMC's 3nm N3P process.
- 12GB of RAM: Matching the Pro models, offering improved multitasking and AI feature support over the standard iPhone 17.
- Apple-designed 5G modem and Wi-Fi 7 support: Includes the in-house C1 modem and the latest Wi-Fi 7 chip.
- Vapor-chamber thermal system: Improved heat dissipation for sustained performance in a thinner form factor.
- MagSafe, Action Button, and Camera Control button: Retains integrated MagSafe charging, plus dedicated physical controls for camera and custom actions.
Apart from the iPhone 17 series, Apple's fall event this year is also expected to see the announcement of the Apple Watch SE 3, Apple Watch Series 11, Apple Watch Ultra 3, and AirPods Pro 3. The company typically issues press invitations roughly one week in advance, so we should have official confirmation fairly soon.
For in-depth information on everything we know about the iPhone 17 series so far, follow the links to our dedicated iPhone 17, iPhone 17 Air, and iPhone 17 Pro roundups.
