Apple’s latest iPhone lineup is official, but the spotlight belongs to a new silhouette: the iPhone Air. Replacing the Plus model, the Air reframes Apple’s mainstream flagship play around thinness, efficiency, and modern connectivity, while the iPhone 17 and 17 Pro models refine performance, cameras, and thermals.
iPhone Air: Thinner by design, bigger on ambition
At 5.6mm, the iPhone Air is strikingly slim—more than 25% thinner than last year’s non-Pro flagships—yet it keeps a sizable 6.5-inch display with Apple’s ProMotion variable refresh rate from 1Hz to 120Hz. The pairing of a near-tablet-grade canvas with wafer-thin dimensions is the point: Apple wants an everyday phone that feels barely there, without cutting into capability.
Power comes from the A19 Pro with a 6-core CPU and 5-core GPU, along with Apple’s new N1 wireless chip supporting Wi‑Fi 7, Bluetooth 6, and Thread for smart-home accessories. Apple also includes its C1X modem in the Air, and goes eSIM-only globally to free internal space—an aggressive move that tracks with GSMA Intelligence’s long-running expectation that eSIM becomes the default in premium phones worldwide.
Despite the profile, Apple cites up to 27 hours of video playback, assisted by the 1Hz refresh rate and silicon efficiency. The titanium frame returns, as does the Action Button with Camera Control. There’s a single rear camera, but Apple leans on computational image fusion: a 48MP main “Fusion” camera designed to mimic multiple focal lengths, plus an 18MP Center Stage front camera. A new square sensor for selfies promises a wider field of view for group shots and vertical video.
The iPhone Air starts at $999 for 256GB, with 512GB and 1TB options. Colors include space black, cloud white, light gold, and sky blue.
Pro models pivot to cooling, reach for longer runtime
Apple’s iPhone 17 Pro and Pro Max shift from titanium to aluminum and add an internal vapor chamber. While last year’s titanium build improved heat dissipation on paper, many benchmark runs still produced warm-to-hot surfaces under sustained load. A return to aluminum, combined with a proper vapor chamber, suggests Apple is targeting consistent performance during prolonged tasks—think 4K capture or graphics-heavy gaming. Third-party stress tests like UL Solutions’ 3DMark will be the real measure, but the design intent is clear.
Both Pros use the A19 Pro with a 6-core CPU and 6-core GPU, ship with the N1 wireless chip, and keep Apple’s ProMotion up to 120Hz and an always-on display. Brightness peaks at 3,000 nits outdoors. Sizes are familiar at 6.3 inches and 6.9 inches. Apple also extends Ceramic Shield protection to the back glass for the first time, addressing a common pain point in drop damage.
Imaging gets a notable lift: the telephoto sensor jumps to 48MP within a 48MP Pro Fusion system (main, ultra wide, telephoto), enabling up to 8x optical zoom at a 200mm equivalent. The 18MP Center Stage front camera remains, with framing that adjusts automatically. Battery claims rise to as much as 39 hours of video playback—an uptick that aligns with the larger back “plateau” housing and eSIM real estate efficiency.
Pricing starts at $1,099 for iPhone 17 Pro and $1,199 for Pro Max (256GB), with 512GB, 1TB, and a new 2TB tier. Finishes include deep blue, silver, and cosmic orange.
iPhone 17: A mainstream upgrade gets Pro tricks
The standard iPhone 17 grows to 6.3 inches and gains ProMotion and an always-on display—features that once defined Apple’s high end. It runs the A19 and the N1 wireless chip, with eSIM onboard and an aluminum frame. Apple cites up to 30 hours of video playback, up from the previous generation.
The 48MP Dual Fusion rear system supports up to 2x optical zoom, while the 18MP Center Stage front camera adopts the same wider, square sensor approach as the Air. The iPhone 17 starts at $799 for 256GB and comes in lavender, mist blue, sage, white, and black.
Why the Air matters for Apple’s lineup
Retiring the Plus in favor of the Air hints at a strategic reset. Industry tracking from Counterpoint Research has shown rising consumer interest in thinner, lighter high-end devices, even as average screen sizes hold steady. The Air leans into that sweet spot with a large display, modern I/O, and premium build—but without the Pro’s camera stack or price escalation.
Going eSIM-only worldwide underscores Apple’s long game: simplify the hardware, reclaim internal space, and accelerate software-driven features. Thread support via the N1 is also telling. By building a thin phone that’s a better smart-home citizen, Apple ties the iPhone more tightly to Home-compatible accessories, a space where adoption has steadily grown according to reports from CSA and market analysts.
Early takeaway
On paper, the iPhone Air is the most interesting device in Apple’s new trio: super-slim, fully modern radios, and strong battery claims that defy its profile. The Pros should please power users with cooler sustained performance, brighter screens, and a genuine telephoto upgrade. But the Air is the statement piece—an approachable flagship that reframes what “thin and capable” can mean in 2025’s smartphone market.