The anticipated reveal of Apple's newest iPhone is just around the corner. For months now, rumors have been swirling about what the upcoming device, likely called the iPhone 17, could look like, from a redesigned camera module to fresh colors to a slimmer "Air" version of the handset. The phones are expected to debut in early September.
Perhaps the biggest looming question is whether iPhones could get pricier, especially with tariffs. President Donald Trump has said Apple will have to pay a 25% tariff on iPhones made outside the US. This would almost certainly lead to a price hike for consumers. We'll have to wait to see how Apple responds and if shoppers really do end up shouldering that extra cost.
Here's what analysts and leakers predict about the iPhone 17 lineup.
A slimmer iPhone 17 'Air'
One of the hottest rumors surrounds a possible iPhone "Air," a thinner version of Apple's flagship device that would replace the iPhone Plus option.
The Air could feature a 6.6-inch screen, making it slightly smaller than the iPhone 16 Plus and iPhone 16 Pro Max but still bigger than the baseline model, according to analysts Jeff Pu and Ming-Chi Kuo. A Bloomberg report from March supports those rumors and notes that the iPhone Air could measure 5.5mm thick. The report also suggests that the phone will cost about $900, putting it on par with the iPhone 16 Plus and maintaining its place in the iPhone hierarchy. But it's not clear if tariffs will affect that price.
See also: Thinking About Buying a New iPhone? Here's Why You Should Wait
For Apple to slim down a device, it would need to make hardware trade-offs and that might include the phone's camera. According to Kuo and Bloomberg, it's possible this version of the iPhone 17 would have only one main camera, doing without the ultrawide and 5x telephoto lenses that have been staples of Apple's premium iPhones for years. This would place the slim iPhone in the same camera camp as the $600 iPhone 16E, as that phone has only one rear lens. The good news, though, is that the selfie camera on the iPhone Air could get a boost; more on that later.
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One key challenge will be maintaining a high battery capacity, as a slimmer build typically means less space for the battery and thus a potential compromise on battery life -- as is the case with the skinny Samsung Galaxy S25 Edge. A May report from AppleInsider suggests the thinner iPhone could use a silicon-anode battery to help extend battery life. Another feature that could play a critical role here is the AI-powered Adaptive Power feature arriving with iOS 26. This can help conserve battery by automatically adjusting your iPhone's performance based on how you're using it at the moment, according to Apple. Adaptive Power could therefore be especially helpful with making the iPhone 17 Air's battery last longer.
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