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All-New 'iPhone 17 Air' Rumored to Feature Single 48MP Rear Camera, 8GB of RAM, and More

Creating a new model at $999 to replace the $899 plus will move the average entry price from $974 to $1024, and gives the lineup something new and fresh - they can test out the new design and technology like variable aperture without mass producing on a full scale, ramping it up to a redesigned pro the following year.

I wouldn’t be surprised if the base model also gets the single aperture lens following this, making a clear distinction between the base and pro models after they add promotion to the base models. They need to keep them different and push people to the pros somehow. Also the rebrand is an excuse to push the base model to $899.

iPhone Airs
- 6.1 and 6.7 ($899 and $999)
- 6mm, single camera, promotion, aluminium

iPhone Pros
- 6.3 and 6.9 ($1099 and $1199)
- 8mm, pro camera system, promotion with AOD, titanium, best battery life.
 
boak said:
There absolutely is. It allows Apple to market a product with "Starting at $999". It gets customers through the door, then upsell. Why else did the Pro retain the 128 GB option when the Pro Max did not?
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The largest smartphone market in the world doesn't even use $. Neither does the EU.

Many users don't consume more than 128GB storage, especially those that take photos and not 4K60 videos. They do want the prestige of a three camera system, however.
 
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What’s the all new design besides it being really thin? Having only one camera? Who is this device for? It seems like Apple these days is designing products to fill price points more than anything else.
 
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WarmWinterHat said:
The non-pro iPhone 16 has 8gb of RAM, and you have always been able to option up the ram on any model of Mac, so I don't think it really means anything.
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With Apple Intelligence, I kinda wonder if it’s going to be necessary. In Windows land, 16GB is required for Copliot+ PCs. Granted, Windows 11 can gobble RAM pretty good.
 
MacRumors said:
In a research note this week with investment bank Haitong International, analyst Jeff Pu agreed that the slim iPhone 17 model will have a 6.6-inch display, and an A19 chip manufactured with TSMC's same 3nm process that is used for the A18 Pro chip. He also expects the device to feature an aluminum frame, Face ID, a single 48-megapixel rear camera, a 24-megapixel front camera, and 8GB of RAM for Apple Intelligence.
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This rumor suggests that relatively few people use more than the main iPhone camera. This new Air line should offer 2-3 different sizes.
 
I might like it.. we will see, currently sport a iphone13 mini, but have my doubts they will ever go small again, this would be for minimalist that just want basic features and mostly use it as a phone and for text
 
Shix said:
a completely uneccesary iphone to add. especially if its more expensive than the pro max version. if its the same price as the plus version and is a replacement. i suppose it's acceptable.
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It doesn't sound like it'll be more expensive than the pros. But, I do agree that it sounds unnecessary. I really don't understand the point. Is it to get more people to upgrade to bigger phones for some reason? There has to be more to this and we're not seeing the full picture.
 
Amplelink said:
It doesn't sound like it'll be more expensive than the pros. But, I do agree that it sounds unnecessary. I really don't understand the point. Is it to get more people to upgrade to bigger phones for some reason? There has to be more to this and we're not seeing the full picture.
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It's pretty simple. Screen time is increasing. Many people want big displays but don't want the heft associated with it. A 48MP sensor already allows for 2X zoom. An actual telephoto lens and sensor increases thickness. Having an ultrawide sensor also increases thickness.
 
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iPhone will be the thinnest iPhone ever, with half the usual battery but a network of AirPorts which allow constant charging on the go. The AirPorts will be 2-pin in the US and EU and 3-pin in the UK 🤪
 
The only way I would consider this is if it has Promotion, port-less, buttonless, mechanical aperture, ya know, something really “revolutionary”. Otherwise it just sounds like a thinner Plus phone.
 
This model will probably set out the next design language, just like with the X
 
profets said:
It almost feels like they're trying some kind of refreshed design, kind of like iPhone X at the time, but also weird that it'll be below the Pro in terms of specs.

Something very odd about it, especially having just a single camera.
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The single lens camera on this iPhone could be more versatile with a mechanical aperture? Maybe something that will be added to the Pro models in 2026 or 2027? I think we still need more pieces to this puzzle.
 
For those who need bigger batteries, there are always battery packs
 
sw1tcher said:
This seems more like an iPhone SE Plus than a iPhone 17 Plus replacement if it will only have a single rear camera like how iPhone SE's do.

iPhone 16 and 16 Plus have dual rear cameras (a 48 megapixel and 12 megapixel ultra wide). If this is a iPhone 17 Plus replacement, it would be a downgrade if it only has a single 48 megapixel rear camera.
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But notice, they just removed the Ultra Wide camera from the iPad Pro.
They probably will be replacing the second camera with software, and for 99% of people they won't even notice.
Kind of how the 15 advertises a 2X optical Zoom even though that’s just a software crop.
They will justify it with the thinness, and by pushing the pros more as cameras that are also phones, while the new Air will be a phone phone, all about being as light and portable as possible.
 
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The biggest surprise feels like the 6.6" screen, but I guess it being a bit bigger helps it be a bit thinner?

The question comes down to price:

if it's more expensive than the Pro, I'm confused.

If it's around the price point of the Plus, then it's a question of tradeoffs. Are you getting some other Pro features to compensate for losing a camera?

The big unknown seems to be: does it have an always on 120Hz screen?
 
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DavidSchaub said:
iPhone SE Plus, except for it having FaceID, will be thinner, and will cost a lot more?
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Right now, you can get an iPhone 14 for 599. That has two camera lenses. By next year spring, it's feasible that a one camera lens Face ID thinner. iPhone could be 499 and be the iPhone SE.
 
zahuh said:
Right now, you can get an iPhone 14 for 599. That has two camera lenses. By next year spring, it's feasible that a one camera lens Face ID thinner. iPhone could be 499 and be the iPhone SE.
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I still expect, if the iPhone SE is full Apple Intellence (A18, 8 GB of RAM), it will have to cost more?

1729295931729.png
 
I don’t want a larger and thinner phone. I want a smaller phone. 5.7" could be a good size for the next mini. Com’on Apple!
 
What if this is actually a foldable? Would need to be as thin as possible to fit comfortably in the pocket. I feel like most people don’t want a foldable but Apple is missing out on the ones who do and Apple will most likely be the ones that get it right..
 
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