Whispers about Apple's new iPhone line have been floating around for a while, but a slew of recent leaks have produced some colorful rumors about an ultrathin iPhone -- which might be called the iPhone Air.

It started last week when a Korean blogger named yeux1122 published images of camera covers for what could be the rumored iPhone 17 Air. Later in the week, leaker Majin Bu posted that the rumored Sky Blue color would be exclusive to iPhone Air -- disputing earlier predictions that the Pro models would get the color, too. And this week, consumer tech reviewer Sonny Dickson posted pictures of the rumored color lineup for the iPhone 17 base, Air and Pro models.

Facing competition from the Samsung Galaxy S25 Edge and a slew of shockingly thin phones, Apple might be feeling the pressure to ensure an ultrathin iPhone offers a lot more than a skinny profile, including an A19 Pro processor (more on that later). Among the buzzed-about features are upgraded RAM, new colors and maybe even improved battery life -- thanks in part to iOS 26's Adapative Power feature.

But to make a thinner iPhone, Apple would likely need to make hardware trade-offs, which might include a single rear camera. Any of the improved features could still be overshadowed by looming tariffs, which threaten to hike the price of the new iPhone when it's released.

Here's what we could expect from a skinnier iPhone.

iPhone 17 Air release date: Is the slimmer iPhone coming this year?

For nearly a decade, Apple has held an event on the first Tuesday of September after Labor Day to announce its new phones. We expect Apple to follow a similar schedule this year for the release of its iPhone 17 line, including the rumored iPhone 17 Air. 

However, the first Tuesday is the day after Labor Day in 2025, so Apple may push the dates for its iPhone event to Wednesday, Sept. 3, or Tuesday, Sept. 9. That would mean a release date of Sept. 12 or 19.

The iPhone 17 lineup may be the last to follow this fall-release model, according to Kuo and a report from The Information. Starting with the iPhone 18, Apple will reportedly split its phone releases so that lower-cost iPhones launch in the first half of the year (previously reserved for iPhone SE models) and higher-end pro models are announced in the latter half. That would likely mean a rumored iPhone 18 Pro, Pro Max, Air and new foldable iPhone model could debut in fall 2026. Keep in mind that an iPhone Flip or Fold has been rumored for years.

When will iPhone 17 preorders open?

You'll likely be able to preorder a new iPhone the Friday after the announcement, with the phone shipping a week later. Based on the expected announcement on Sept. 3 or 9, the preorder date could be either Sept. 5 or 12, respectively.

What will the iPhone 17 Air cost?

Early rumors about the iPhone 17 Air's price tag hinted it could cost even more than the iPhone 17 Pro. But a Bloomberg report from March suggested the phone could cost about $900. That price tag would align with the rumor that the Air could replace the Plus, which currently costs $929. For comparison, Samsung's Galaxy S25 Edge starts at $1,100.

However, there's also the question of how tariffs could affect the price of an iPhone. Amid President Donald Trump's ongoing tariff drama, Apple has mostly escaped additional taxes by stockpiling inventory and getting most of its products on a tariff exemption list. 

CEO Tim Cook announced on a May 1 earnings call that Apple was moving some production of US iPhones to India. Trump responded by threatening Apple with a 25% tariff if the company doesn't move iPhone manufacturing to the US.

How much all of this could affect iPhone prices is yet to be determined, but an extra 25% could push an iPhone 17 Air to more than $1,100. That's based on the price of an iPhone 16 Plus, which the iPhone 17 Air is rumored to be replacing. None of the pricing rumors has been confirmed by Apple.

Regardless of how tariffs play out, Apple is expected to raise the price of the iPhone. These price hikes are rumored to start with the iPhone 17 line, so prepare now to pay more for Air.

iPhone 17 Air camera: Potential downgrade?

Among the rumored potential sacrifices Apple may have to make to get a skinnier phone is limiting the camera features. 

The rumored iPhone 17 line may be getting a new camera bar that extends across the width of the phone. But Front Page Tech shared an iPhone 17 Air video in February that showed a physical mockup of the phone based on rumors. One of the more surprising reveals was a smaller camera bar with one lens on the left, suggesting the Air has a single rear camera, similar to the iPhone 16E ($599). It's not clear if the camera would be the same as the 16E or if Apple would go the route Samsung did and include the main camera from the iPhone 17 Pro.

The single camera theory is backed up by Kuo and a Bloomberg report, which said that the rumored Air may not have the ultrawide and 5x telephoto lenses that have become staples of Apple's premium iPhones. 

In a bit of good news, it's also rumored that the front-facing "selfie" camera on all iPhone 17 models, including the Air, will be upgraded to 24 megapixels, according to analyst Jeff Pu. 

Front Page Tech also shared a re-created render of the iPhone 17 Air, which included a glimpse of the camera, in this video on YouTube:

Leaked Specs: iPhone 17 Air vs. iPhone 17 vs. iPhone 17 Pro vs. iPhone 17 Pro Max

Based on rumors, leaks and analysis we've rounded up, here's a comparison of what we expect from the iPhone 17 line. Keep in mind that none of the information in this chart has been confirmed by Apple.

*Estimate based on the corresponding iPhone 16 device.

It may be getting a lot of attention, but the rumored iPhone Air appears to be less of an advanced Pro model, as originally predicted, and more of a replacement for the iPhone 16 Plus.

Display

Rumors are that the Air would have a 6.6-inch display, according to analysts Jeff Pu and Kuo, who also said the display resolution would be 1260x2740. That's the same resolution as a wallpaper Macworld found in the iOS 26 beta 2. No current or previous iPhones have this display resolution, which aligns with Kuo's prediction.

If all this is accurate, that would mean the iPhone 17 Air's display is slightly smaller than the iPhone 16 Plus, with a 6.7-inch display, but larger than the iPhone 16 Pro, which features a 6.3-inch display. The iPhone 16 Pro Max leads with a 6.9-inch display. It's unclear if the iPhone 17 Air's screen would be a Pro Motion display like the one found on iPhone Pro models. 

Frame

Rumor is that the iPhone 17 Air will keep its titanium frame -- or perhaps a mix of titanium and aluminum, according to MacRumors -- while the iPhone 17, iPhone 17 Pro and iPhone 17 Pro Max will switch to aluminum frames, Pu suggested in February.

Dimensions

If the rumored iPhone 17 Air lives up to its name, then the biggest potential advantage it could offer over the rest of the line is its size and weight. A Bloomberg report from March notes that the iPhone Air could measure 5.5mm thick, compared to the iPhone 16 Pro at 8.25mm. The iPhone 17 Pro Max could get as thick as 8.725mm to make room for a bigger battery, according to a report by 9to5Mac. 

In May, leaker Majin Bu posted to X a side-by-side comparison of prototypes for the iPhone 17 Pro and iPhone 17 Air:

Weight

Mac Rumors reported in May that a leaker on the Korean-language Naver blog, going by yeux1122, said that the rumored iPhone 17 Air weighs approximately 145 grams (5.11 ounces). Compare that with the iPhone 16 Pro, which weighs in at 199 grams (7.03 ounces). If this rumor proves true, the Air would be just slightly heavier than the iPhone 13 mini, which weighs 141 grams (4.97 ounces).

Memory

Pu predicted that the iPhone 17 Air is expected to step up to 12GB of RAM, similar to the Pro models, MacRumors reported on May 30. Pu said the iPhone 17 base model would stay at 8GB, although Kuo previously said Apple intends to equip the iPhone 17 base model with 12GB of RAM but was dealing with supply issues. 

Colors

The rumored skinny iPhone has had its fair share of colorful predictions. Sky blue was a whispered pick in April. The latest list of colors for the iPhone 17 Air comes from Sonny Dickson, a consumer tech reviewer:

• Sky blue
• Light gold
• Black
• Silver

Dickinson posted a leaked photo on X displaying lens protection covers that will purportedly match the iPhone 17 base model, Air, Pro and Pro Max:

Dynamic Island

Bloomberg's report also notes that the iPhone 17 Air is expected to have superslim bezels compared to the rest of the line, along with a Camera Control button and a Dynamic Island cutout in the display. 

Pu predicted in May that all the iPhone 17 models will use a new metalens technology for the proximity sensor, according to 9to5Mac. That technology could allow Apple to reduce the size of the Face ID sensor and its Dynamic Island. However, Pu's report contradicts Kuo, who previously said that the Dynamic Island would remain "largely unchanged" in the iPhone 17 lineup compared to the iPhone 16.

In a post to X on June 26, Bu said the front camera might be placed on the left of the Dynamic Island, based on leaked screen protector designs. Other iPhone 17 models appear to retain the camera on the right side:

iPhone 17 Air battery life expectations

Among the challenges of slimming down an iPhone could be figuring out how to reduce the battery size without compromising battery life.

Initially, it was assumed that a skinnier iPhone would simply have a reduced battery life since there would be less space to house a large battery. But more recently, AppleInsider reported that a skinnier iPhone might use a silicon-anode battery that could help extend its battery life. 

Yeux1122 said the battery capacity is 2,800mAh, based on details that originate with "mass production confirmed sample," according to MacRumors. It added that a high-density battery in the Air could increase its "actual capacity" by 15% to 20%.

If the rumored iPhone 17 Air does use the silicon battery technology, it would be the first iPhone to do so.

One feature that could help avoid battery drain is the upcoming iOS 26's new AI-powered feature, Adaptive Power. Among other benefits, this feature can help conserve your battery by automatically adjusting your iPhone's performance based on how you're using the phone at that moment, according to Apple. 

Will the rumored iPhone Air 17 get an A19 Pro processor?

Additionally, the rumored iPhone 17 Air's battery capacity could benefit from other upgrades that improve efficiency, like a faster processor. MacRumors reported on July 9 that a Weibo account known as Fixed Focus Digital said the iPhone 17 Air will come with an A19 Pro chip, like the Pro models. But the Air would have a 5-core GPU, according to the rumor, whereas the iPhone 17 Pro and Pro Max would get a 6-core GPU.

That contradicts Pu, who reversed himself on the base's chip this week, saying that the iPhone 17 base and Air would have the A19 chip, while the Pro and Pro Max would get the A19 Pro chip. 

Are iPhone Air rumors and leaks to be trusted?

Rumors are just that. The speculation leading up to the iPhone's release is often based on insider knowledge or leaked information from the teams working on the iPhone's design, but those plans can continue to evolve and are not necessarily reflected in the final product. We'll only be able to confirm these rumors with certainty when Apple officially releases the next iPhone, and we can see it for ourselves.