iPhone 17 Air leak hints at Apple’s slim answer to the Galaxy S25 Edge

With WWDC 2025 now in the rearview, Apple is shifting gears toward its next big reveal the annual iPhone launch. Although the event is still a few months away, leaks and whispers are already building excitement. From a sleek new design and upgraded silicon to the debut of iOS 26, the spotlight may soon fall on an entirely new addition to the lineup: the iPhone 17 Air.

Apple is expected to unveil four models in the iPhone 17 lineup the iPhone 17, 17 Pro, 17 Pro Max, and the all-new iPhone 17 Air. Replacing the Plus model, the Air is rumored to feature a stunning 6.6-inch OLED display with 120Hz ProMotion refresh rate, all packed into a sleek body just 5.5mm thick. That would make it Apple’s slimmest phone ever — a clear response to the Galaxy S25 Edge, which measures 5.8mm and sports a titanium frame.

To achieve its ultra-thin form factor, Apple may simplify the rear camera system on the Air. Leaks suggest it will house a single 48MP Fusion camera, leaning heavily on computational photography to deliver high-quality results. This is something we did see on the iPhone 16e.

The front camera across the standard iPhone 17 lineup is expected to see an upgrade to 24MP, though it’s uncertain if the Air will match that spec.

In comparison, the Galaxy S25 Edge brings a more robust camera setup with a 200MP primary sensor and 12MP ultra-wide lens.

Under the hood, the iPhone 17 Air is expected to pack Apple’s next-gen A19 chip, a 2,800mAh battery, and run iOS 26 complete with the new Liquid Glass UI and a suite of AI-driven features. Despite its minimal aesthetic, the Air won’t compromise on speed or longevity. Samsung’s Galaxy S25 Edge, meanwhile, ships with a Snapdragon 8 Gen 4 chip (branded Elite), a larger 3,900mAh battery, and support for both wireless and reverse charging. It runs Android 15 with One UI 7 and promises seven years of software updates — a challenge Apple has historically met with even longer support.Apple may be tweaking its pricing strategy this year. Reports suggest that the iPhone 17 Air could launch in India at ₹99,900, placing it just under the six-figure mark and slightly above the base iPhone 17, which is expected to start at Rs 89,900.

For context, Samsung’s Galaxy S25 Edge starts at Rs 1,09,999 for the 12GB + 256GB variant, positioning the iPhone 17 Air as a competitively priced alternative with a more streamlined design.

While Apple hasn’t confirmed a date yet, the iPhone 17 series is widely expected to be unveiled in early September most likely on September 10 or 11 with pre-orders opening soon after and deliveries beginning the following week. This aligns with Apple’s usual release pattern over the years.