Apple is reportedly going to ditch the Plus variant and introduce an ultra-slim variant this year called iPhone 17 Air. While the device has been in rumours for a while, the new updates have suggested some design tweaks and specifications of the device. The upcoming device is said to feature a titanium design, which we get to see with the iPhone 16 Pro and iPhone 15 Pro models.
According to reports citing analysts Ming-Chi Kuo and Jeff Pu, Apple will equip the iPhone 17 Air with a titanium-aluminum alloy frame. However, the report indicates that the device may contain a lower percentage of titanium than the current Pro and Pro Max models.
For the uninitiated, the leaks indicate that Apple is returning to an aluminum frame for the upcoming iPhone 17 Pro series, implying that the iPhone 17 Air will be the only variant in the series to debut with a titanium frame. The iPhone 17 Pro and iPhone 17 Pro Max are lighter than stainless steel but heavier than aluminum.
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According to the report, the Air will be a more affordable model in the 2025 iPhone lineup, but it will use more ‘premium’ materials than the higher-priced Pro variants. Analysts believe the decision was influenced by the iPhone 17 Air’s rumoured slim and lightweight profile, which could benefit from titanium’s strength and rigidity without adding significant weight. However, this explanation has not completely convinced industry observers, especially since aluminium is already the lightest of the three metals used by Apple in recent iPhones.
It is worth noting that these details are not confirmed by Apple yet. The iPhone 17 Air is said to debut along with the iPhone 17, iPhone 17 Pro, and iPhone 17 Pro Max in September. Recently, the leaks have suggested that the iPhone 17 series could be announced on September 8.