iPhone 17 Air has reportedly undergone a design tweak and battery and sim overhaul that is causing a bit of a stir
It doesn’t seem that long ago that the iPhone 16 was setting the smartphone world alight, with some shoppers even hailing the newest addition to the iPhone range “one of the greatest,” particularly after an impressive Amazon deal.
The iPhone 16 Pro is a significant upgrade on older models with big changes to the triple-lens camera, offering enhanced images both day and night, a larger display, and an improved battery and faster charging time.
However, hot on the heels of the device is the iPhone 17 and iPhone 17 Pro which is predicted to land on UK shelves this autumn. And the imminent arrival of the latest Apple gadget is already sending the rumour mill into overdrive.
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The iPhone 17 Air, purported to be a super slim model, is reportedly billed to replace the iPhone 17 Plus, but leaks and speculation around the upcoming handset have only increased as the months have went on.
Most recently, renders and insider reports have shown off Apple’s thinnest iPhone ever, with a dramatically redesigned body, a single camera and a slightly off-centre USB-C port to accommodate the slimmer frame.
It is understood Apple is still putting the finishing touches on the iPhone 17 but there is enough detail to piece together what we might expect from the iPhone 17 Air – including the possible return of a retired Apple accessory.
Apple is planning to release an optional accessory at the same time as the iPhone 17 Air – a case with an integrated battery pack, according to a new report in The Information (via 9to5Mac).
This is reportedly to compensate for some pitfalls in the iPhone 17 Air’s battery life.
Apple used to make a Smart Battery Case for its iPhones. That was stopped after wireless charging was introduced – but might be making a comeback. Sources speaking to The Information say the thinness of the iPhone 17 Air means it only lasts a day without a recharge for 60-70 per cent whereas it’s more like 80-90 per cent for other models.
Mark Gurman claims that the battery life in the iPhone 17 Air will be “on par with current iPhones”.
This will be achieved through a higher-density battery and the removal of an ultrawide camera, providing more room inside the phone for something bigger.
The Information report also suggests there’s no space for a physical SIM, meaning it’ll be eSIM or nothing at all.
In other words, the iPhone17 Air won’t have a SIM tray – even outside the US.
An eSIM is a digital SIM card built into a device like a phone or smartwatch.
It allows you to use mobile data plans without a physical SIM card.
Instead of inserting a physical SIM, you can download a mobile plan by scanning a QR code or through your carrier’s app.
There is apparently only going to be room for one speaker on the device, too, which may impact sound quality, according to TechRadar.
Majin Bu, a leaker with a mixed track record, claimed back in September 2024 that Apple was prototyping an iPhone with the volume and action buttons unified into one single button.
But the iPhone 17 Air’s biggest controversy could be its design overhaul. In March, notorious leaker IceUniverse claimed that the phone could be just 5.5mm thick – thinner than any iPhone Apple has ever released.
The Information report also suggests that all four handsets will have an aluminium frame.
Forbes has even went as far as to dub the iPhone 17 Air design update “ugly”.
Wondering when the new smartphones will launch? There is no set date in the diary, but Apple’s iPhone launches happen every September like clockwork. Experts believe Apple will unveil the iPhone 17 in the second week of September, probably sometime between September 8 and 10, with pre-orders going live on Friday, September 12.
The iPhone 17 lineup could then be released on Friday, September 19.
And the new handsets might not set you back that much. Late last year, an insider claimed on X, previously Twitter, that iPhone 17 prices would be going up this year. Jong Wook Lee, a senior researcher at Samsung Securities Research Center, claimed that Apple’s iPhone prices were expected to increase last year with the iPhone 16.
This did not come to fruition, though, and profit margins took a hit as a result.
This is why the analyst predicts a price rise for the iPhone 17 line-up.
However, according to a report published by Bloomberg’s Mark Gurman in March, the phone will cost the same price as the iPhone 16 Plus which is £899 in the UK. Not cheap, but not lightyears ahead of other models.
