Apple's iPhone 17 Air may leave out a fan-favorite upgrade
A new rumor about the iPhone 17 Air throws a bit of cold water on the display excitement some of us have been harboring.
The iPhone 17 series has been popping up in rumors for a while now, but it's still pretty early – and Apple's usually great at keeping secrets. So, as you'd expect, the info out there is all over the place. Recently, a leak got us all (me especially) quite hyped about the base iPhone 17 model getting something long overdue... a ProMotion display.
But then new rumors said there will likely not be a ProMotion display for the iPhone 17 or iPhone 17 Air . Curiously, the 120Hz refresh rate is said to stay, but without the ProMotion-ness of Pro-branded iPhones.
iPhone 17 Air concept. | Image Credit - Majin Bu So, what's the difference between ProMotion displays and a regular 120Hz display? Generally, ProMotion displays rock a 120Hz refresh rate, but the key here is that it's adaptable to what you're doing. It can go all the way down to 1Hz to conserve battery life, and that's what enables the Pro models' always-on displays. So, the iPhone 17 Air may get a 120Hz refresh rate, which makes scrolling smooth and animations fluid, but may miss out on the always-on feature that Pro users are used to.
The iPhone 17 Air is expected to replace the 'Plus' model in the upcoming iPhone 17 series. It may come with a new design and a Pixel-like camera island, but its main selling point will undoubtedly be its extra-thin profile. The phone is said to measure around 5.5mm, which is incredibly thin, and its dummy unit has leaked repeatedly alongside other iPhone models, flaunting its thinness.
But the iPhone 17 Air is a mixed bag, at least judging by leaks. It may have a small battery, and although Apple is rumored to be trying to save it from its small battery life fate, it still makes me frown. It seems to me its biggest selling point would be the looks, but I can't help but wonder how important this reported thinness would be if you're bound to throw a case on it anyway...
The iPhone 17 Air is set to rival the Galaxy S25 Edge, another thin beauty that recently got revealed. Despite the fancy looks though, it seems the Galaxy S25 Edge may have failed to meet Samsung's expectations when it comes to sales, at least judging by certain hints... I wonder if the Air will be met with a similar fate.
For me, the lack of ProMotion on the iPhone 17 Air is a big miss, if this rumor is true. What's even worse is that ProMotion may have actually helped with battery life, but hey, Apple does need a way to push people to the Pro models, right?
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Phone Arena
30 minutes ago
- Phone Arena
Amazon launches yet another iPad Pro M4 promo you can't pass up
The ultimate iPad experience doesn't come cheap, but these Amazon deals make the latest iPad Pro M4 models a bit more affordable. Right now, the e-commerce giant offers a $100 discount on the 11-inch model, bringing the Wi-Fi-only 256GB tablet just under the $900 mark. Those who want more screen real estate aren't left out—a $199 price cut is up for grabs on the 13-inch variant. $100 off (10%) The 256GB Wi-Fi-only iPad Pro with an 11-inch display and an M4 chip is down by $100 at Amazon. This solid discount is only available on the model in Space Black. Take advantage and save before it's too late. Buy at Amazon $199 off (15%) Alternatively, you can buy the larger 13-inch iPad Pro M4 for $199 off at Amazon. This promo is available on the 256GB variant with Wi-Fi connectivity in Silver and brings the ~$1,300 tablet just under the $1,100 mark. Buy at Amazon While these aren't the best discounts we've ever seen, they're the only deals available right now. We've checked and found no matching promos at Best Buy and Walmart. And let's be fair: this Apple tablet still delivers massive value for the dual-layered OLED panels and Ultra Retina XDR (i.e., 120Hz refresh rate), this slate delivers stunning visuals, excellent color accuracy, and sufficient brightness for comfortable outdoor use. As you probably know, all other iPads have more modest 60Hz displays, making this one stand out even more. It's not just the display that impresses. We've tested this device extensively (see our iPad Pro M4 review for reference) and found the M4 chip delivers a huge performance boost over the previous model. Needless to say, the tablet is virtually unstoppable, and chances are you'll have a hard time finding an app that can slow it down. Battery life is just as good, by the way. You can expect the larger size to last almost 11 hours with nonstop web browsing and over eight hours with video streaming. All of that, combined with some Apple Intelligence features, make the iPad Pro M4 simply the best iPad money can buy. Undeniably pricey, the iPad Pro M4 still checks all the boxes you could possibly want in an iOS tablet. Plus, both sizes are a bit more affordable than usual thanks to Amazon's latest deals. Get the model that fits you best and save before it's too late.
GSM Arena
2 hours ago
- GSM Arena
Deals: iPhone 16 and 15 series is £100 off, Honor 400 series comes with freebies
This week (almost) the entire lineup of current iPhone models is £100 off – the only exception to that is the iPhone 16e, which sticks to its £600 base price (but it may not be the best phone for that money, as we're about to see). Starting with the top-end model, the Apple iPhone 16 Pro Max is pricey – a situation not helped by expensive storage upgrades. The discount helps, though. For more details on the phone, check out our comparison articles that pit the iPhone 16 Pro Max against the smaller iPhone 16, the Galaxy S25 Ultra and the Pixel 9 Pro XL. Then there is the smaller iPhone 16 Pro – it has the same hardware, besides the screen size and battery capacity. Here's how it compares against the vanilla iPhone 16 and the Galaxy S25. Speaking of, the Apple iPhone 16 is just about the same size as the 16 Pro. It doesn't have a telephoto camera or a 120Hz ProMotion display and it uses the Apple A18 chipset (rather than the A18 Pro). Still, it offers broadly the same Apple experience. The Apple iPhone 16 Plus is for people who prefer a larger screen, but don't want the premium features – and premium price – of the Pro Max. Here are the key differences between the Plus and the vanilla iPhone 16. The older vanilla models are still around too. The iPhone 15 is down to £600, the same price as the 16e. Both have 6.1' displays, but the older model has the better panel (brighter, Dolby Vision). And it has a 12MP ultra-wide camera, while the 16e only has a 48MP main. The 16e does have the newer chipset (Apple A18 vs. A16) with Apple's first-ever 5G modem. The e-phone has wireless charging, but without the magnets it fits awkwardly with the MagSafe ecosystem of accessories. The Apple iPhone 15 Plus is available as a cheaper option to the 16 Plus for those wanting a larger display. Amazon is offering the two new Honor 400 phones with a rich bundle of freebies in lieu of discounts. The Honor 400 Pro comes with a free pair of Honor Choice Earbuds Clip, a free Honor Watch and a free Portable Speaker Pro. The Honor 400 is paired with a free Honor Pad X8a instead – an 11' tablet with a Snapdragon 680 chipset, quad speakers and an 8,300mAh battery. Honor 400 free Honor Pad X8a Read our review 8/256GB - £400 at Amazon UK After a long wait, the Nintendo Switch 2 is finally available – just the console costs at £680, but you can get the bundle with Mario Kart World for £790. You could buy the game separately too, of course, which currently comes out cheaper as the game is £75. Alternatively, you can pick up the Sony PlayStation 5 (slim) for a lot less – just £385. No, it's not a portable console like the Switch, it's strictly for gaming at home (which is how a lot of people use the Switch anyway). You can grab a PlayStation Portal for £200 more and still be under the price of a Switch 2. Sony PlayStation 5 (slim) £95 off Console - £385 at Amazon UK We may get a commission from qualifying sales.
GSM Arena
2 hours ago
- GSM Arena
Honor 400 Pro review
The Honor 400 duo is now globally available and it offers plenty of nice perks. And while the jury is still out on which model - the Honor 400 Pro or the Honor 400 - should be the one to enter everyone's shortlists, we are going to explore the more premium Honor 400 Pro first. The Honor 400 Pro comes one year after the Honor 200 Pro, and it brings a more durable design, an improved display, a more powerful chipset, and better main and zoom cameras. The focus this year is on AI, of course, which Honor has taken to the next level with cool features like Image to Video, Outpainting, Cutout background, Open Eyes, and more. The Honor 400 Pro trumps the Honor 400 with faster hardware, a larger display, better durability, Wi-Fi 7 readiness, and a telephoto camera with 3x zoom. Those extra features cost over €250+, though. Honor 400 Pro next to the Honor 400 Indeed, the Honor 400 Pro introduces a durability level like never before - it is IP68 and IP69 rated for dust, water and high-pressure water jets resistance. It has also scored SCS's 5 stars rating for Premium Performance Certification of Drop & Crush Resistance. The phone packs a 6.7-inch OLED display with 1,280p resolution, 10-bit color depth, 120Hz refresh rate, and HDR certification. The Honor 400 Pro is powered by one of the best chips on the market - the Snapdragon 8 Gen 3 with 12GB RAM and 512GB storage. The cameras have always been a strong side of Honor and that is the case with the Honor 400 Pro. The rear camera kit packs a 200MP OIS primary (1x-2x), a 50MP OIS telephoto (3x-6x), and a 12MP ultrawide with autofocus. The front setup accommodates a 50MP selfie imager and a 2MP depth sensor. The Honor 400 Pro comes with a 5,300 mAh Si/C battery capable of up to 100W wired and up to 50W wireless charging. Reverse wireless charging is also an option. Honor 400 Pro comes with Android 15 and MagicOS 9, and you can expect 6 years of Android updates. Honor 400 Pro 5G specs at a glance: Body: 160.8x76.1x8.1mm, 205g; glass front, glass back, plastic frame; IP68/IP69 dust tight and water resistant (high pressure water jets; immersible up to 1.5m for 30 min). 160.8x76.1x8.1mm, 205g; glass front, glass back, plastic frame; IP68/IP69 dust tight and water resistant (high pressure water jets; immersible up to 1.5m for 30 min). Display: 6.70" AMOLED, 1B colors, 120Hz, HDR Vivid, 5000 nits (peak), 1280x2800px resolution, 19.69:9 aspect ratio, 460ppi. 6.70" AMOLED, 1B colors, 120Hz, HDR Vivid, 5000 nits (peak), 1280x2800px resolution, 19.69:9 aspect ratio, 460ppi. Chipset: Qualcomm SM8650-AB Snapdragon 8 Gen 3 (4 nm): Octa-core (1x3.0 GHz Cortex-X4 & 5x2.95 GHz Cortex-A720 & 2x2.0 GHz Cortex-A520); Adreno 750. Qualcomm SM8650-AB Snapdragon 8 Gen 3 (4 nm): Octa-core (1x3.0 GHz Cortex-X4 & 5x2.95 GHz Cortex-A720 & 2x2.0 GHz Cortex-A520); Adreno 750. Memory: 256GB 12GB RAM, 512GB 12GB RAM. 256GB 12GB RAM, 512GB 12GB RAM. OS/Software: Android 15, up to 6 major Android upgrades, MagicOS 9. Android 15, up to 6 major Android upgrades, MagicOS 9. Rear camera: Wide (main) : 200 MP, f/1.9, 1/1.4", PDAF, OIS; Telephoto : 50 MP, f/2.4, 1/2.0", 0.8µm, PDAF, OIS, 3x optical zoom; Ultra wide angle : 12 MP, f/2.2, 112˚, AF. : 200 MP, f/1.9, 1/1.4", PDAF, OIS; : 50 MP, f/2.4, 1/2.0", 0.8µm, PDAF, OIS, 3x optical zoom; : 12 MP, f/2.2, 112˚, AF. Front camera: Wide (main) : 50 MP, f/2.0; Depth : 2 MP, f/2.4. : 50 MP, f/2.0; : 2 MP, f/2.4. Video capture: Rear camera : 4K, 1080p, gyro-EIS, OIS; Front camera : 4K, 1080p, gyro-EIS. : 4K, 1080p, gyro-EIS, OIS; : 4K, 1080p, gyro-EIS. Battery: 5300mAh; 100W wired, 51% in 15 min, 100% in 39 min, 50W wireless, 5W reverse wired, Reverse wireless. 5300mAh; 100W wired, 51% in 15 min, 100% in 39 min, 50W wireless, 5W reverse wired, Reverse wireless. Connectivity: 5G; eSIM; Wi-Fi 7; BT 5.4, aptX HD; NFC; Infrared port. 5G; eSIM; Wi-Fi 7; BT 5.4, aptX HD; NFC; Infrared port. Misc: Fingerprint reader (under display, optical); stereo speakers. It seems like Honor has thought of everything for the Honor 400 Pro, so we have no complaints at the spec sheet level. The price of €799 also seems reasonable for a flagship, especially when Honor is also giving freebies like Honor Choice Earbuds Clip headphones, a 100W charger and premium screen protection with one-time free screen replacement. Unboxing the Honor 400 Pro The phone ships in a thin white paper box. The bundle contains a USB-C cable and nothing else. In previous years, we used to get a charger and case, but not with this generation. The Honor 400 Pro arrives with a factory pre-applied protective folio on the display, which is expected. Page 2
