A recent leak regarding the iPhone 17 Air suggests that it may be the slimmest model yet, even when encased.

      Majin Bu

      The new iPhone 17 Air is widely speculated to truly embody its name by being a notably slimmer version of the smartphone.

      Thinner than what, exactly? The iPhone 17 Pro Max. But once both devices are placed in cases, will anyone really be able to tell the difference?

      This is what a recent social media post seems to address, showcasing the iPhone 17 Air in a case alongside the Pro model.

      The post features a video of dummy models for the iPhone 17 Air and iPhone 17 Pro Max being placed into cases and compared, as shared by a purported case manufacturer. Indeed, the Air does look slimmer even within the case. However, since the account sharing this content is identified as a Hong Kong-based iOS developer, the origin of the video remains somewhat ambiguous.

      Is the iPhone 17 Air superior?

      One major concern regarding a new, thinner iPhone is that it could come with a smaller battery and reduced battery life. While it will be sleeker and lighter, if that comes at the expense of battery longevity, will it still be appealing?

      Speculations indicate that the iPhone 17 Air may experience a notable decrease in battery life compared to other models in the lineup.

      For this reason, there are suggestions that Apple might bring back its battery case specifically for this model. This would likely be released a few months after the phone itself, similar to past instances.

      This leads to the question: will the iPhone 17 Air actually be any slimmer when a bulky battery case is added? This could undermine the initial aim.

      It’s also important to remember that Apple has been advertising the iPhone 16 as durable enough to be used without a case. This might be a step toward marketing the iPhone 17 Air as a case-free device that can handle daily activities, allowing users to appreciate how slim this new model is.

      iPhone prices are on the rise, but not for the reasons you might assume

      The average selling price of iPhones is rising, but it's not solely due to the usual suspects — or at least, not entirely. According to new data from Consumer Intelligence Research Partners (CIRP), the average cost of an iPhone has increased by $18 to $971, up from $953 in the fourth quarter of 2024.

      While many quickly attribute this to tariffs, the effects of broader economic factors remain unclear. The current trend toward higher-priced iPhones is primarily driven by Apple's recent decision to discontinue the iPhone SE and iPhone 14 lines. Analysts use metrics like the U.S. Weighted Average Retail Price (US-WARP) to calculate the average selling price since Apple ceased publicly disclosing these figures at the end of 2018.

      The iPhone 17 may feature a significant RAM upgrade

      We already anticipated that the iPhone 17 would represent a substantial upgrade, but a fresh rumor suggests it may involve an even greater technological advancement than initially thought. According to the well-known tipster Digital Chat Station, the entire lineup will utilize Apple Intelligence on a "large scale," and every model, from the basic iPhone 17 to the iPhone 17 Pro Max, will incorporate 12GB of RAM.

      This leak supports earlier claims from analyst Ming-Chi Kuo, further enhancing its credibility. Given that current iPhones max out at 8GB of RAM, this signifies a 33% increase — certainly not insignificant. Digital Chat Station also mentions that the phones will feature the TSMC A19 Pro, making it the most powerful chip ever used in an iPhone. When considered as a whole, it's likely that the iPhone 17 series will outperform current models in terms of speed.

      This new Android chip could overshadow the iPhone 17

      The new Snapdragon 8 Elite 2 might be set to compete against the iPhone 17 with considerable power. According to a rumor from Digital Chat Station, Qualcomm is expected to unveil its next-generation mobile chip sooner than predicted.