Apple’s lineup of iPhones in 2025 is getting a newcomer. Instead of the typical base, Plus, Pro, and Pro Max, they’re also planning to add an “Air” model for 2025. The “Air” model is typically the thinnest model in the lineup. For MacBooks, it denotes the entry-level option. However, it’s not the case for their iPads.
For iPhones, it will remain above the base iPhone in terms of pricing. As per DigiTimes, the iPhone 17 Air has entered the “New Production Introduction” phase. NPI source refers to the final process of taking a product from a concept to a clear plan with a final form and the blueprints for mass production. The information is unspecific supply chain sources.
It begins with design validation, where they’ll finalize the camera module design and the size of the phone. After testing multiple prototypes, they’ll decide on one final design for mass manufacturing. After this, the brand will perform regular quality control checks and then align with supply chain logistics for efficiency. It will also decide the approximate scale of devices to produce. Full-scale manufacturing will begin in a few months.
While this is not confirmed, some have said the iPhone 17 Air might actually not be a separate new phone in the lineup, but it actually might replace the existing Plus model. This approach makes a lot more sense. The Air iPhone would otherwise stray too close to the Pro iPhones in pricing, and very few would pick an “Air” model of the iPhone (which already has a cheaper value tag attached to it) over a “Pro” iPhone model.
As per Mark Gurman, the device will be about 2mm thinner than the current iPhone 16 Pro. This is not extremely thin; however, questions arise about its durability since there are many Apple products with questionable bending resistance. There were earlier prototypes with slimmer batteries and an even slimmer design, but they were scrapped due to a variety of issues.
Meanwhile, Samsung is also planning to launch a “Slim” version of the S25. It might have a Pro camera setup. They actually might price it higher than the S25 Plus, and it’ll sit just before the Ultra phone.
The iPhone 17 Air might have a 6.55″ to 6.65″ size, so it’s not exactly a compact device. It’s even larger than the Pro models. As per other leaks, Apple is also adding their own custom-made 5G modem to this phone. The iPhone SE 2025 may get this modem before the iPhone 17 Air.
Design-wise, there’s apparently a large camera bump at the center of the phone, and it only has one single camera. It doesn’t even feature an ultrawide camera, which is a massive disappointment.
