Recent leaks have unveiled potential design changes for Apple’s upcoming iPhone 17 Air, indicating a significant departure from previous models. A screen protector image shared by leaker Majin Bu reveals that the front camera may be repositioned to the left side of the Dynamic Island, contrasting with its traditional placement on the right. This alteration is exclusive to the iPhone 17 Air, as other models in the lineup maintain the conventional camera placement.
The iPhone 17 Air is rumored to be Apple’s thinnest smartphone to date, measuring approximately 5.5mm at its slimmest point. This ultra-thin design may necessitate internal component rearrangements, including the front camera and Face ID sensors, to accommodate the reduced thickness. Additionally, all iPhone 17 models are expected to feature a 24-megapixel front camera, doubling the resolution of previous iterations. However, this upgrade alone does not account for the camera’s repositioning in the Air model, suggesting other design considerations are at play.
Further leaks indicate that the iPhone 17 Air will introduce a horizontal camera bar on the rear, housing a single 48MP camera. This design choice aligns with the device’s ultra-thin profile and may enhance structural integrity. The camera bar design has been corroborated by multiple sources, including images shared by leaker Majin Bu.
The iPhone 17 Air is also expected to feature a 6.7-inch LTPO OLED ProMotion XDR display with a peak brightness of 2,500 nits, a 20% increase over the iPhone 16 Pro’s screen. The display is anticipated to support a variable refresh rate ranging from 1Hz to 144Hz, adapting seamlessly to various content types. To achieve a truly edge-to-edge display, Apple is reportedly integrating Face ID sensors under the screen, eliminating the need for notches or cutouts.
Performance enhancements are also on the horizon, with the iPhone 17 Air expected to be powered by the A19 chip, built on TSMC’s advanced 3nm process. This chip is anticipated to improve overall performance and efficiency, complemented by 8GB of RAM for enhanced multitasking capabilities. An Apple-designed 5G modem and a rumored Wi-Fi 7 chip are set to provide faster and more reliable connectivity.
Storage options may see a significant upgrade, with the iPhone 17 Air potentially offering up to 2TB of internal storage. The adoption of NVMe storage technology, previously reserved for MacBooks, could result in app launches and file transfers up to four times faster than current standards.
In terms of materials, the iPhone 17 Air is expected to utilize aerospace-grade titanium for its frame, offering a stronger yet lighter structure. An upgraded Ceramic Shield 3.0 is anticipated to improve drop resistance by up to 25% over current models.
The iPhone 17 Air is rumored to replace the Plus model in Apple’s lineup, with an expected announcement in September 2025. Pricing is projected to start around $899, aligning with the iPhone 16 Plus, though some sources suggest prices could exceed $1,199, positioning the Air closer to the Pro Max models.
These leaks suggest that the iPhone 17 Air will be a significant departure from previous models, introducing a range of design and performance enhancements that could redefine Apple’s smartphone lineup.
