iPhone 17 Air May Not Bring A Price Shock After All

Since rumors first emerged about Apple developing an ultra-slim iPhone, there has been plenty of speculation regarding its price point. However, it appears that consumers might not face an excessive “innovation tax” for the upcoming iPhone 17 Air model this year.

According to Bloomberg, the new device could retail for approximately $900. This price is comparable to that of the iPhone 16 Plus, as the iPhone 17 Air is expected to succeed the “Plus” variant in Apple’s lineup later this year.

A Few Pleasant Surprises

The upcoming model is expected to come with a mix of surprises. For instance, while it will feature a 6.6-inch display, it will also incorporate ProMotion technology typically reserved for Apple’s higher-end Pro models. This high refresh rate has thus far been exclusive to those flagship iPhones and iPads.

In addition, the iPhone 17 Air will keep the Camera Control button, despite its slim design. Perhaps the most surprising aspect will be its battery life; Bloomberg reports that, although it has a slimmer battery, its performance per charge will match that of existing iPhone models.

However, to achieve this sleek profile, some compromises were necessary. Notably, the camera hardware is reportedly simplified, featuring just a single 48-megapixel rear camera—similar to what is found in the more budget-friendly iPhone 16e.

On the performance front, the iPhone 17 Air will come equipped with the new A19 chip, while the iPhone 17 Pro variants will use a faster A19 Pro version. Apple has also opted to exclude the physical SIM tray, opting for an entirely eSIM-based approach.

Lastly, the slim device will be fitted with the in-house C1 modem, first introduced in the iPhone 16e earlier this year. So far, there have been no major performance issues reported, but it does lack support for the faster mmWave 5G technology offered by Qualcomm’s modems.

Apple is not the only manufacturer exploring the slim smartphone concept this year. Samsung is set to unveil its Galaxy S25 Edge soon, and Tecno is also poised to introduce its notable Spark Slim in 2025. A number of Chinese brands are similarly preparing to launch their own ultra-slim models this year.