Apple announces thinnest ever iPhone 17 Air

Apple has introduced the iPhone 17 Air, the thinnest iPhone it has ever made, describing it as a combination of lightweight design and professional-level performance. The device was unveiled on September 9 at the company's headquarters in California.

Thinnest design

At just 5.6 millimetres thick, the iPhone 17 Air is the slimmest iPhone to date. The handset uses a grade 5 titanium frame with a polished finish and a new internal structure designed to maximise space for the battery. 

The phone comes with a 6.5-inch Super Retina XDR display that supports ProMotion, with an adaptive refresh rate of up to 120Hz. The screen can reach a peak outdoor brightness of 3,000 nits, according to Apple.

Both the front and back are protected with Ceramic Shield, with Apple claiming triple the scratch resistance and improved protection against cracks.

Apple Silicon

The device is equipped with Apple's A19 Pro processor, supported by two additional in-house chips, the N1 networking chip and C1X cellular modem. Together, Apple says, they deliver the most power-efficient iPhone to date.

The A19 Pro includes a new six-core CPU and five-core GPU, designed to improve performance for gaming and artificial intelligence applications. According to Apple, the N1 chip supports Wi-Fi 7 and Bluetooth 6, while the C1X modem is twice as fast as the previous version, using 30 percent less energy.

Camera features

The iPhone 17 Air also has Apple's "Center Stage" front camera featuring an 18-megapixel sensor. It allows video recording in 4K HDR and supports simultaneous capture with the rear camera.

On the back, a 48-megapixel Fusion camera system offers multiple focal lengths, including 28mm and 35mm options. An optical-quality 2x telephoto function and improved image processing are aimed at better colour accuracy and low-light performance. 

Video recording is supported in 4K60 with Dolby Vision and enhanced audio tools for clearer sound.

Battery life

Despite its thinner build, the iPhone 17 Air is designed to maintain "all-day" battery life. Apple credits this to its redesigned internal architecture, power-efficient chips and new software-based Adaptive Power Mode in iOS 26.

Pricing and availability

The iPhone 17 Air will be available in four colours — space black, cloud white, light gold and sky blue — with storage options of 256 GB, 512 GB and 1 TB. Prices start at $999 in the United States.

Pre-orders open on September 12, with availability beginning September 19 in more than 60 countries.