Apple has introduced the iPhone 17 Air, a radically slimmed-down addition to its smartphone family, during its “Awe Dropping” event on 9 September.
The new model, which measures just 5.6 millimetres thick and weighs 165 grams, is roughly a third thinner than the iPhone 16 Pro.
With a 6.5-inch ProMotion display housed in a titanium-aluminium frame, the Air replaces the mid-range Plus series but is framed by Apple as an experiment in design rather than a direct successor.
“It’s a paradox you need to hold to believe,” said John Ternus, Apple’s senior vice president of hardware engineering.
The iPhone 17 Air runs on the A19 Pro chip, which Apple describes as delivering “MacBook Pro levels of compute in an iPhone.” It features multiple camera focal lengths, including 28mm and 35mm lenses, alongside a Center Stage-enabled front camera.
Accessories include a detachable battery pack capable of extending video playback to 40 hours, a translucent case under 1mm thick, a bumper case, and a cross-body strap.
The Air will be available in four colours — black, white, light gold, and light blue — starting at $999 for the 256GB version. Pre-orders open on 12 September, with the device set to launch worldwide on 19 September.
The broader iPhone 17 line was also unveiled at the event, as Apple continues to refine its premium smartphone strategy with a mix of performance upgrades and design departures.
