Apple is preparing 7 new features for the iPhone 17 Air smartphone

This fall, the iPhone lineup will be replenished with a completely new model – the iPhone 17 Air. Apple plans to abandon the Plus version in favor of a device with an updated form factor, which may interest many users of the Pro versions.

Ultra-thin design

The iPhone 17 Air will be one of Apple's thinnest smartphones, inspired by the design of the M4-based iPad Pro. According to Ming-Chi Kuo, its thickness at its thinnest point will be only 5.5 mm, excluding the camera module. This is significantly less than the iPhone 16 Pro (8.25 mm) or the iPhone 16 and 16 Plus (7.8 mm). For comparison, the thinnest iPhone in history – the iPhone 6 – was 6.9 mm thick.

New 6.6-inch display

In addition to the thin body, the iPhone 17 Air will receive a unique 6.6-inch display, which will be a compromise between the iPhone 17 Pro (6.3 inches) and the iPhone 17 Pro Max (6.9 inches). Thanks to its slim body, the device will be comfortable for users looking for a balance between compactness and a large screen area.

Always On and increased refresh rate

For the first time, the base iPhone models will feature Always On and ProMotion. The iPhone 17 Air is expected to feature a 90Hz refresh rate display or a full 120Hz ProMotion version. This is a significant improvement for users who value smooth display.

New A19 chip

Apple will continue to split its processor lineup: the iPhone 17 Air and iPhone 17 will feature the A19 chip, while the Pro versions will feature the A19 Pro. The difference between them may be minimal for everyday tasks, but the A19 will still provide high performance and support for artificial intelligence.

A single 48-megapixel camera with a unique design

The iPhone 17 Air will differ significantly from other models in the series with its camera. Instead of two or three modules, as in the basic and Pro versions, it will receive only one 48-megapixel sensor with Fusion technology. A unique design of the camera unit is also expected, which may bring new capabilities.

24-megapixel front camera

Apple will update the front camera of the iPhone for the first time, increasing its resolution from 12 MP to 24 MP. This will significantly improve the quality of selfies and video recording.

Apple's built-in 5G modem

The iPhone 17 Air will be one of the first models to receive Apple's own 5G modem. It will debut in the iPhone SE 4 in the spring, and later appear in the 17 Air. Despite concerns about its performance compared to Qualcomm, deep integration with the Apple ecosystem is expected to ensure its efficiency.