Apple’s iPhone 17 Air debuts as the thinnest iPhone ever, but with one less GPU core than the iPhone 17 Pro. Here’s how they compare in performance, battery, design, and price.
Apple’s upcoming iPhone 17 Air is set to be the thinnest iPhone ever at just 5.5mm, but leaks suggest it will carry a slight performance trade-off compared to the iPhone 17 Pro.
According to a Weibo leak, the iPhone 17 Air will ship with a 5-core GPU A19 Pro chip, while the Pro model will feature a 6-core GPU. The difference, likely due to thermal management in the ultra-thin Air, will be negligible for most users. Everyday tasks such as messaging, browsing, and streaming will feel identical, but hardcore mobile gamers may notice the gap in graphics performance.
The Air will also have a smaller 2,800 mAh battery, similar in capacity to the iPhone 12, resulting in slightly shorter battery life than the Pro. However, Apple’s efficient C1 modem — first seen in the iPhone 16e — should help offset the smaller battery size.
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Design-wise, the iPhone 17 Air will weigh just 145 grams and sport a 6.6-inch 120Hz ProMotion display, 12GB of RAM, and a single rear camera lens. This makes it closer in performance to the Pro than to the base iPhone 17, which will ship with 8GB of RAM.
Pricing remains uncertain due to potential U.S. tariffs, but analysts expect the Air to land between the entry iPhone 17 ($799) and iPhone 17 Pro ($1,049) — possibly around $899.
Apple is expected to unveil the iPhone 17 lineup on September 9, with pre-orders opening September 12 and shipping starting September 19.
Bottom line: Unless you demand the Pro’s extra GPU core, camera system, and battery life, the iPhone 17 Air could be the light, thin powerhouse Apple fans have been waiting for.
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