iPhone 17 Air design leak ahead of September launch: Here is everything we know so far

The leaked iPhone 17 Air design reveals a rectangular camera bump housing a single camera lens. This upcoming model is rumoured to be the slimmest iPhone in the Apple-verse. Let's look at what the leak suggests.

In Short

• iPhone 17 Air is expected to launch in September, along with the rest of the series
• The leaked image shows a pill-shaped, raised camera bar at the top
• It is rumoured to be the thinnest phone in the Apple-verse

The iPhone 17 series is anticipated to hit the market globally in September. In 2025, the rumour has it that the company will release a new entry, iPhone17 Air, replacing the Plus model. While there are several speculations doing rounds online, a recent leak shows what the phone might look like. The leak shared on X (formerly Twitter) revealed the alleged rear panel of the iPhone 17 Air. Aligning with the previous rumours and leaks, a tipster, Majin Bu shared images of two of the back panel, featuring a rectangular camera bump.

In the leak, the tipster shared a hazy image of the alleged iPhone 17 Air's back cover. Even though he posted that it is the design of iPhone 17, the single camera lens indicates otherwise. For a long time now, the standard iPhones have been featuring a dual-camera and the iPhone 17 series is also expected to follow the same. Hence, the single camera lens cut out on the left side of the bar indicates this image belongs to the upcoming iPhone 17 Air. The leaked image also shows a pill-shaped, raised camera bar at the top, which is essentially the revamped design of the iPhone 17 series. The right side appears to house an LED flash and a small microphone opening.

Now, since the launch of iPhone SE 4 or 16e is approaching, X users have been speculating that this leak could also belong to it. And it seems plausible looking at the single-camera lens. However, the design language agrees more with the flagship series.

That said, the exact details will only be revealed during the launch, most likely to take place in September. The iPhone SE 4 launch in April should also clear some air around it.

iPhone 17 Air: What to expect from the slimmest iPhone

Based on the rumours, the iPhone 17 Air is to feature a slim profile with just 5.5mm thickness. If this rumour comes out as the real dimension, the iPhone 17 Air will beat the iPhone 6 (slimmest for now). For this ultraslim design, Apple might cut a few edges, including removal of physical SIM tray, a single camera lens and a smaller battery. It is also interesting to note that the iPhone 17 Air will be in direct competition with the Samsung Galaxy S25 Slim, expected to launch in May.

The iPhone 17 Air is also rumoured to feature a 6.6-inch OLED display with ProMotion technology, enabling a 120Hz refresh rate. If implemented, it will mark the first time Apple extends this feature to non-Pro models, potentially setting a new standard for mid-range devices.

The iPhone 17 Air is rumoured to feature a simplified design, highlighted by a single 48-megapixel rear camera—a shift from the dual-lens systems of current models. This streamlined setup is expected to save space and enhance the device's slim profile. On the front, it may include a 24-megapixel TrueDepth camera, delivering double the resolution of its predecessors.

In terms of performance, the iPhone 17 Air is anticipated to be powered by Apple’s A19 chipset, promising greater efficiency and processing power. Additional upgrades are expected to include 8GB of RAM and Apple’s new in-house modem, codenamed “Sinope.”