iPhone 17 Air hands-on video leaked, could be slimmer than a pencil

India Today

23-04-2025

Apple's next iPhone lineup is still a few months away, but the iPhone 17 Air is already making headlines — and this time, it's about just how incredibly thin it might be. A new leak has surfaced online showing what's claimed to be a dummy unit of the iPhone 17 Air, and it suggests Apple is pushing the limits of smartphone design.advertisementA video, posted by tech YouTuber Lewis Hilsenteger of Unbox Therapy, shows that the iPhone 17 Air measures just 5.65mm. If this turns out to be true, then the 17 Air would be even slimmer than a standard wooden pencil, which is typically around 6mm in diameter. While earlier reports suggested the Air could be as thin as 5.5mm, this slight difference is unlikely to matter to users holding it in hand.Holding up the iPhone 17 Air dummy next to the iPhone 17 Pro Max model — which is about 8.75mm thick — he describes the Air as feeling 'futuristic,' almost half as thick in comparison. While this design looks quite impressive, it will be interesting to see how the phone will hold up in terms of durability.
This ultra-slim form doesn't come without compromises. According to ongoing rumours, Apple has scaled back the rear camera setup on the iPhone 17 Air, equipping it with just a single rear camera. There's also speculation that the battery capacity will be smaller than what we've seen in other models, though actual performance numbers remain under wraps.advertisementApple is reportedly positioning the iPhone 17 Air as a replacement for the Plus model, which has been part of the iPhone family for the last few years. That would mean Apple continues with the usual Standard, Pro, and Pro Max variants, while slotting in the Air as a new lightweight alternative with a focus on design over specs.There is no official word on pricing yet, but a report from Tom's Guide suggests that Apple could keep the starting price close to the current iPhone 16 Plus, which retails for around $899 in the US and Rs 89,900 in India. Some reports, however, hint at a higher price tag, possibly going beyond even the iPhone 16 Pro Max, which currently starts at $1,199 is the US market and Rs 1,44,900 in India. That would make the Air a premium choice, despite having a simpler feature set. But, it would make more sense for Apple to replace it with the Plus model as people won't likely spend more than the Pro Max model because the Air model won't have solid specs.Meanwhile, there's also a larger global backdrop to this story. The US government recently confirmed temporary tariff exemptions on electronics like smartphones, which could help Apple avoid price hikes linked to its China-based manufacturing. But with changing trade policies, especially with the US elections around the corner, pricing for the iPhone 17 series remains something to watch closely.advertisementSet to launch in September 2025, the iPhone 17 Air is expected to compete directly with devices like the Samsung Galaxy S25 Edge, which is said to be around 6.4mm thick. If Apple delivers on the rumoured 5.6mm profile, the Air could easily take the crown for the thinnest premium phone on the market this year.For now, what we've seen is just a mock-up of the Air model — but if Apple sticks to this design, the iPhone 17 Air could be one of the most striking and divisive phones the company has made in years.