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Apple has done it again—or has it gone too far? On Tuesday, the company revealed its brand-new iPhone 17 lineup, headlined by the radically thin iPhone Air. Preorders open Friday, with devices hitting stores September 19.
This year’s collection includes four models: the iPhone 17, iPhone 17 Air, iPhone 17 Pro, and iPhone 17 Pro Max. While Apple fans are buzzing with excitement, critics are already questioning whether thinner really means better.
The Everyday Flagship: iPhone 17
The base iPhone 17 arrives with a 6.3-inch Super Retina XDR display, the new A19 chip, and dual 48MP rear cameras. It’s available in a fresh palette—lavender, mist blue, sage, white, and the ever-classic black. Starting at $799, it’s Apple’s “safe bet” for anyone who wants next-gen features without breaking into four digits.
The Star of the Show: iPhone 17 Air
Say goodbye to the Plus and hello to the Air. Apple swapped out its underperforming big-screen sibling for the company’s thinnest, lightest phone ever. At just 5.6 mm thick and 165 grams, the iPhone Air practically vanishes in your hand. Some love it, some call it fragile, but no one can ignore it.
Running on the A19 Pro chip, the Air offers a gorgeous 6.5-inch display, e-SIM-only setup, and a single 48MP fusion camera designed to punch above its weight. Apple claims the battery lasts all day, but skeptics aren’t so sure—so much so that Apple preemptively launched a new ultra-slim MagSafe battery pack to silence doubters.
Color options scream premium: sky blue, light gold, cloud white, and space black. With a $999 price tag, Apple clearly expects the Air to replace the Plus as the sweet spot for style-conscious buyers.
For the Power Players: iPhone 17 Pro and Pro Max
Apple’s powerhouse duo sticks to the script: the iPhone 17 Pro with its 6.3-inch display and the Pro Max stretching to 6.9 inches. Both feature the A19 Pro chip, triple 48MP rear cameras with up to 8x optical zoom, and USB 3 speeds for faster transfers. Prices start at $1,099 for the Pro and $1,199 for the Pro Max.
This year’s colors lean bold: deep blue, cosmic orange, and silver—clearly Apple’s attempt to add some spice to its “serious” lineup.
The Thinness Wars Begin
Apple’s boldest move isn’t the Pro Max’s beastly zoom or the base model’s dual-camera magic—it’s the Air. At less than the width of four stacked dimes, it undercuts even Samsung’s Galaxy S25 Edge. Apple is betting big on “thin and light” being the new status symbol, just as it once did with the MacBook Air.
But here’s the controversy: does shaving millimeters off the phone justify fewer camera options, smaller batteries, and a higher price? Apple fans are split, with some praising the sleek design and others accusing Apple of selling “less for more.”
Still, history suggests Apple might be onto something. The original MacBook Air was mocked for its compromises before becoming the company’s best-selling laptop. Will the iPhone Air rewrite iPhone history—or repeat the flop of the iPhone Plus?
What Comes Next?
With rumors swirling about a foldable iPhone in 2026, the Air could be Apple’s transitional step toward its boldest smartphone yet. For now, though, one thing is clear: Apple has turned the conversation back on itself, proving once again that even in controversy, it knows how to keep the world talking.
