Apple’s iPhone 17 lineup will probably be bizarre. We’re simply weeks away from the iPhone 16 launch, however it’s 2025’s fashions on the heart of a number of rumors. Particularly, the ultra-slim ‘Air’ mannequin stands to shake up the iPhone 17 lineup. Right here’s why subsequent yr’s revolutionary iPhone Air received’t be the perfect mannequin, however it is going to be the long run.
Untangling the iPhone Slim/Extremely/Air rumors
When rumors started coming onerous and quick a couple of distinctive new iPhone mannequin subsequent yr, all indicators pointed to an iPhone Extremely.
The gadget was stated to be dearer than the 17 Professional Max, include a radical ultra-thin design, a redesigned digicam system, and extra.
Apple has discovered a number of success with the Apple Watch Extremely, and its more-premium-than-ever M4 iPad Professional fashions. So an iPhone 17 Extremely made sense.
That ‘Extremely’ identify began breaking down earlier than lengthy, nevertheless.
The offender? New reporting that indicated the mysterious iPhone mannequin would include a worse chip than its Professional siblings, and solely a single rear digicam.
In different phrases, this iPhone couldn’t probably be referred to as ‘Extremely,’ as a result of in a number of methods it will be worse than the remainder of the iPhone 17 lineup.
Enter the iPhone 17 Air
All of this led to quite a lot of confusion about easy methods to view this new iPhone mannequin.
Some much-needed readability got here, nevertheless, when Mark Gurman referred to as it the iPhone 17 Air.
The ‘Air’ branding might not imply what it used to. However right here’s how Apple makes use of ‘Air’ with its MacBook and iPad fashions as we speak.
- The MacBook Air is the thinnest, lightest pocket book Apple sells
- The iPad Air doesn’t match that very same invoice, however it sits between the bottom iPad and iPad Professional as a mid-tier choice
Apple appears set to faucet into each meanings with its upcoming iPhone 17 Air.
Just like the MacBook Air, it is going to be the thinnest and lightest iPhone the corporate sells.
Just like the iPad Air, it can sit above the bottom iPhone 17 mannequin, however under the 17 Professional and Professional Max.
Thus, with the present naming conference in thoughts, iPhone 17 ‘Air’ is an effective match.
17 Air is the way forward for iPhone, however not the perfect iPhone
The iPhone 17 Air wouldn’t solely observe Apple’s present developments for ‘Air’ naming, it will additionally carry the custom of the very first MacBook Air.
The MacBook Air initially debuted in 2008 as a remarkably skinny and light-weight laptop computer. Steve Jobs famously pulled the gadget out of a manilla envelope throughout his Macworld presentation.
The gadget earned a number of rightful reward, however it additionally got here with its justifiable share of criticism. Why? As a result of it very clearly was not the ‘greatest’ MacBook.
To attain its thinness, the primary MacBook Air sacrificed quite a lot of then-common utility. It got here with:
- no optical drive
- fewer ports, dropping Ethernet and FireWire
- worse battery life than the norm
- a crazy-expensive SSD choice that maxed out at 64GB
In different phrases, it was a compromised machine. Its industrial design paved the best way for future MacBooks, however it was definitely not the perfect MacBook.
Equally, the iPhone 17 Air seems set to return with its personal shortcomings. These will embrace:
- a worse digicam system than the Professional fashions, and perhaps even the bottom mannequin
- nearly definitely its battery life received’t measure as much as its siblings both
- its A19 chip can have some disadvantages in comparison with the Professional fashions’ A19 Professional
Come subsequent fall, when the iPhone 17 line formally launches, the iPhone 17 Air won’t be the perfect iPhone you will get. The 17 Professional and Professional Max are set to maintain that title.
However—if it affords a radically glossy design that ‘wows’ like the unique MacBook Air did?
Then it is going to be very clear that we’re the way forward for the iPhone.
Would you purchase an iPhone 17 Air over a Professional or Professional Max? Tell us within the feedback.
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