The iPhone 17 Air has been leaked: extremely thin, redesigned cameras, and much more

The future of the iPhone seems to be marked by thinness, according to the latest leaks of the model that Apple is planning to launch in 2025. The iPhone 17 Air, as it is provisionally known, aims to be one of the thinnest and lightest devices we have ever seen. But as with any such radical advancement, it also involves design changes in other parts of the device.

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As more details emerge, always in the form of rumors and without official confirmation, we have a clearer picture of what Apple is trying to achieve: a balance between design, functionality, and cutting-edge technology. With the information published in The Information, let’s see what we can expect from the iPhone of 2026.

An extremely slim design that requires other changes

According to leaks, the iPhone 17 Air will have a thickness between 5 mm and 6 mm, breaking all previous records. To put this in context, the iPhone 16, which is already notably thin, has a thickness of 7.8 mm. The change, of course, is not just an aesthetic detail; it is a technical challenge that has forced Apple to completely rethink the internal architecture of the device.

To achieve this level of thinness, Apple has had to make changes. The iPhone 17 Air would dispense with the physical SIM card tray, just as current iPhone models do in some regions.

The leaks suggest that the ultra-thin design has also led to reducing the number of speakers. This model will only have one speaker at the top of the device.

Redesigned cameras and other news

One of the most striking changes, however, is the decision to opt for a single 48-megapixel rear camera, housed in a large, centered module. The design contrasts significantly with current models, which include multiple lenses in the upper left part of the back. Thanks to advances in software and hardware, it is more than possible that this camera will offer equally impressive results, despite the reduction in the number of lenses. In this line, we must add a 24-megapixel front camera —instead of the current 12—, which assures us that the iPhone 17 Air will continue to be a benchmark in photography and video.

Regarding performance, the device will feature the A19 chip, a chip we expect to be more energy-efficient and will work in conjunction with 8 GB of RAM. The iPhone 17 Air will also include a 5G modem designed by Apple, more compact and efficient than the current ones, but without support for mmWave 5G, a technology that, although very little widespread across territories, offers even faster speeds than conventional 5G.

According to leaks, the iPhone 17 Air will feature a smaller battery than current models. Although hardware and software optimization is expected to mitigate this change, it remains to be seen how this will translate into daily battery life.

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Given what we’ve seen, the iPhone 17 Air will not just be another evolution; it will be a very significant change in how we understand the design and functionality of Apple’s phones. The commitment to a thinner, lighter, and more minimalist device presents new possibilities, but also new challenges.

With a launch scheduled for September 2025, there is still time for some of these details to change. But if anything is clear, it is that the iPhone 17 Air will mark a before and after.