Apple loves a super-slim smartphone, and it continued that trend today with the iPhone Air, the standout of its newest flagships that replaces the Plus and debuts alongside a standard iPhone 17 and two premium Pro devices.
The full lineup will be available for preorder on Friday, Sept. 12 ahead of a Sept. 19 launch.
iPhone Air
The iPhone Air lands at a barely there 5.6 millimeters. (The iPhone 16 is 7.8mm, while the iPhone 16 Pro Max is 8.25mm.) At 6.5 inches, the Air’s screen is still somewhat sizable, however, landing between the 6.3-inch iPhone 17 Pro and 6.9-inch 17 Pro Max.
You’ll find Apple’s ProMotion variable refresh rate display previously limited to Pro models, which can range from 1Hz to save power up to 120Hz for smoother performance.
(Credit: Eric Zeman/PCMag)
Despite the slimmer profile, Apple says the iPhone Air will deliver up to 27 hours of battery life with video playback. It’s eSIM-only worldwide to make room for other components, like the new A19 Pro chip with a 6-core CPU and 5-core GPU, Apple-built N1 Wi-Fi chip, and updated C1X modem. The N1 supports Wi-Fi 7, Bluetooth 6, and Thread.
There’s one camera on the back. Apple says it “works like multiple advanced cameras in one,” but we’ll have to put it through its paces to see how that shakes out. There’s a 48MP Fusion main camera and an 18MP Center Stage front camera, which will keep you in view for images and video; a square sensor should provide a wider field of view.
The iPhone Air retains the titanium frame from earlier Pro models and includes an Action Button with Camera Control.
The iPhone Air starts at $999 for 256GB model, making it $100 more expensive than the Plus version it replaces. If you need more space, 512GB ($1,199) and 1TB ($1,399) variants are also available. It comes in space black, cloud white, light gold, and sky blue.
iPhone 17 Pro and Pro Max
(Credit: Apple/Screenshot by PCMag)
The Pro models get a slight makeover: the titanium frame is out and aluminum is back in. Though the iPhone 16 Pros included an impressive heat-resistant titanium design, they still got warm when we ran benchmarks in testing. Not as hot as the iPhone 15 Pro models, but a return to aluminum and a new internal vapor chamber might put overheating concerns to bed.
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On the back, the bump—or “plateau,” as Apple refers to it—leaves room for a bigger battery and eSIM support. Apple promises up to 39 hours of video playback. For the first time, Apple also added the Ceramic Shield to the back of the phone for added protection.
The Pro and Pro Max come in 6.3-inch and 6.9-inch sizes, respectively, with ProMotion up to 120Hz, an always-on display, and 3,000 nits of peak outdoor brightness.
The Pro models also run the A19 Pro chip, but feature a 6-core CPU and 6-core GPU. The N1 is here too, but no Apple-built C1 modem, suggesting it’s sticking with Qualcomm.
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Camera upgrades, meanwhile, include a jump from 12MP to 48MP for the telephoto lens on the 48MP Pro Fusion camera system (main, ultra wide, and telephoto), with up to 8x optical zoom at 200mm. It also has the 18MP Center Stage front camera. It will auto-adjust depending on the shot; no need to flip to landscape mode to get everyone in a group selfie.
The iPhone 17 Pro starts at $1,099 and the iPhone 17 Pro Max starts at $1,199 for 256GB, with 512GB, 1TB, and a new 2TB variant available. Get it in deep blue, silver, or a new cosmic orange.
iPhone 17
(Credit: Apple/Screenshot by PCMag)
The standard iPhone 17 gets a small display boost from 6.1 to 6.3 inches. You’ll also find Apple’s ProMotion variable refresh rate and an always-on display. It runs the A19 and N1 chips, but no C1 modem. It sticks with an aluminum frame.
Expect up to 30 hours of video playback, up from 22 on the iPhone 16. There’s a 48MP Dual Fusion camera system with up to 2x optical zoom and an 18MP Center Stage front camera. It also gets the square sensor and selfie tricks.
The 256GB iPhone 17 starts at $799 and comes in lavender, mist blue, sage, white, and black.
About Chloe Albanesius
Executive Editor for News
