Apple has stuck with the same iPhone lineup for several years now, with only the number changing with each annual refresh. By now you should be used to the following options: the standard iPhone; the slightly larger iPhone Plus; the powerful iPhone Pro; and the large and powerful iPhone Pro Max.
But with reports showing disappointing sales of the Plus models, Apple looks set to refresh its options in 2025. It looks like we might see an iPhone 17 Air next year, replacing the larger model with something that instead focuses on thinness.
The Plus has struggled to carve out a clear identity in the lineup, squeezed between the standard iPhone and the feature-packed Pro series. By introducing the Air, Apple seems to be betting on uniqueness: an ultra-thin, stylish phone that could generate excitement and differentiate itself.
Currently, it’s not clear how the screen size might compare with other models, but DigiTimes reports that internal tests have begun and the prototypes clock in at just 6mm thick, roughly 25% thinner than the iPhone 16 Plus.
To scale back the size so much, space-saving compromises must be made. Namely, no physical SIM slot and a single rear camera. It’s unclear whether Apple would market this as a budget device, much like the iPhone SE, or a premium device that stands out from the rest by virtue of its “near impossible” lightness,
This ultra-thin design reflects Apple’s longstanding obsession with lightweight minimalist hardware, a design philosophy that has persisted even after the departure of former chief designer Jony Ive.
Meanwhile, rumors of iPhone SE 4 abandoning its small form factor next year could pave the way for iPhone 17 Air to be a genuine alternative, although it does beg the question of whether we need two models that cater to the same, already dwindling crowd.
Some even speculate that the iPhone 17 Air’s development is a stepping stone toward a foldable iPhone. Apple’s success in creating a super-thin device would demonstrate its ability to pack essential components into a smaller footprint, a crucial step in building a functional folding phone. We’re not so sure, but it’s certainly one to keep an eye on.