The Deepdive

iPhone17 Air vs The Rest: Worth The Hype?

• Allen & Ida • Season 2 • Episode 7

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Apple is about to shake up the smartphone world with the iPhone 17 Air, a device so impossibly thin it challenges everything we thought we knew about flagship phone design. At a mere 5.5 millimeters thick and weighing just 145 grams, this revolutionary device isn't just an iteration—it's a completely new direction for Apple, replacing the Plus model with something far more ambitious and polarizing.

The Air earns its name through more than just marketing. This featherlight device is actually thinner than the current iPad Pro, featuring a stunning titanium-aluminum frame that's as premium as it is portable. The most distinctive visual element is the horizontal camera bar stretching across the entire width—a complete departure from the triangular camera arrangement we've grown accustomed to. With exclusive color options including a MacBook-inspired sky blue, the 17 Air establishes itself as a product category all its own.

What makes this phone truly fascinating is the set of trade-offs Apple has engineered. You'll get a "Goldilocks" 6.6-inch display with ProMotion's 120Hz refresh rate—a first for non-Pro iPhones—but you'll make do with a single (albeit powerful) 48-megapixel camera relying heavily on computational photography. The A19 Pro chip and 12GB RAM ensure flagship performance, yet battery life could be the Achilles' heel, with capacity below 3,000mAh potentially leaving 30-40% of users searching for a charger before day's end. The irony of Apple potentially offering a battery case—adding bulk to a device whose primary selling point is thinness—perfectly encapsulates the paradox at the heart of this device.

The iPhone 17 Air isn't for everyone, and that's precisely the point. Priced around $949, it targets those who value elegance and portability above all else—people willing to make certain compromises for the sheer joy of holding something revolutionary. As this groundbreaking device prepares for its September debut, the question isn't whether you want it, but whether you're willing to compromise for it. What trade-offs would you make for the ultimate thin design? The answer reveals what you truly value in the technology you carry every day.

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Allan:

Welcome to the Deep Dive. Today, we're really zeroing in on something that's got the tech world absolutely buzzing. It's Apple's next big thing, the iPhone 17 series. But we're not just talking about the usual updates.

Ida:

No, not at all.

Allan:

We're diving into the well, the unexpected star that seems to be stealing the show, that's the iPhone 17 Air.

Ida:

That's right and it's getting attention not just from, you know, the usual Apple crowd, but pretty much anyone interested in where phones are heading.

Allan:

Exactly.

Ida:

This isn't just a minor tweak. The word is the iPhone 17 Air is actually replacing the Pluses model Right, and all the leaks are calling it this super slim edition that's apparently raised the most excitement. It feels like a really bold move for Apple, doesn't it? Maybe even a shift in how they think about design.

Allan:

It really does, and that's basically our mission today. Let's unpack what makes this phone feel so different. You know from this really radical design to well the compromises that might come with it. We want to look at this from your angle, as the person actually using it. What's it going to feel like in your hand? How might it change how you use your phone every day?

Ida:

Yeah, the practical side of it.

Allan:

And if you're already thinking about it, the rumors point to a keynote around what? September 9th.

Ida:

Yeah, september 9th, and pre-orders may be kicking off September 12th and hitting shelves just a week later, september 19th, so not too far off, potentially. And if we're talking radical shifts, I mean the number one thing everyone's talking about with the 17-air is just how incredibly thin it's supposed to be.

Allan:

Okay, yeah, let's get into that thinness, because the numbers I've seen floating around seem well, pretty remarkable. How thin are we actually talking here compared to, you know, phones now, or even older iPhones?

Ida:

Well, potentially we're looking at just 5.5 millimeters thick front to back, wow, which, yeah, would easily make it the thinnest iPhone ever.

Allan:

Okay, put that in context for us.

Ida:

Sure. So you know the Samsung Galaxy S25 Edge. That's pretty new, pretty popular reportedly.

Allan:

Right, I've seen that one.

Ida:

That's 5.8 millimeters, so the Air would be even slimmer than that. And remember the old iPhone 6, the one that had all the Bengate talk.

Allan:

Oh yeah, definitely remember that.

Ida:

That was 6.9 millimeters, so significantly thinner. And get this it's almost as thin as the 11-inch M4 iPad Pro.

Allan:

The new iPad Pro seriously.

Ida:

Yeah, that iPad is 5.4 millimeters, so we're talking really, really thin for a phone. It's not just shaving off a little bit, it feels like a whole new form factor. Plus they're saying it could weigh around 145 grams.

Allan:

Okay, that's light, like iPhone SE Lite or the 13 mini.

Ida:

Exactly Super light. Imagine holding that.

Allan:

That does sound almost impossibly thin for a phone. But doesn't that immediately bring up a big question, like the whole air idea Are they making it super thin just for the sake of it, even if it makes it less practical day to day?

Ida:

You've hit the nail on the head there. That's the core design paradox, isn't?

Allan:

it Right.

Ida:

The main body is, yeah, super sleek at 5.5 millimeter, but then you've got the camera bump where the lenses actually are.

Allan:

Ah, the bump, Always the bump.

Ida:

And that part would reportedly make it 9.5 millimeters thick right there.

Allan:

Okay, so quite a difference.

Ida:

It really shows Apple's prioritizing that feeling of thinness for the main body, even if it means, well, a pretty chunky bit sticking out.

Allan:

And that affects things right, Like putting it down on a table.

Ida:

Exactly, it'll wobble or maybe catching in your pocket. It kind of challenges that idea of a perfectly seamless design, all in the name of being the thinnest.

Allan:

So thinnest iPhone ever, but maybe not the flattest or most balanced. That's a really interesting trade off. What about the look and feel otherwise? Is it just thin, or does it actually look different too?

Ida:

Oh, it looks totally different from the back. Based on these leaks, Apparently it will look unlike any other iPhone from the back.

Allan:

How so.

Ida:

Well, forget the usual triangle camera layout. You see on the Pro and standard models.

Allan:

Okay.

Ida:

The rumor is a horizontal camera panel that stretches right across the width of the phone.

Allan:

Oh, like a Pixel phone or that old Nexus 6P.

Ida:

Exactly like those. It gives the Air this really distinct identity, you know, sets it apart visually and it's still supposed to feel premium. They're talking about a titanium, aluminum alloy metal frame.

Allan:

Okay, so sturdy build quality.

Ida:

Yeah, premium and sturdy. The titanium is supposedly there to help keep it stiff, light and resist bending, which is obviously a concern when you go this thin. Yeah, Apple's really leaning into that Air brand.

Allan:

And the colors, too right I heard they might be exclusive to the Air Helps make it feel special.

Ida:

Absolutely. The chatter is black, a unique white, a light gold and this very specific light blue.

Allan:

Light blue like the MacBook Air.

Ida:

Supposedly just like the sky blue color from the M4 MacBook Air, see Reinforcing that whole air connection.

Allan:

Clever.

Ida:

And even tiny details seem geared towards this thinness, like the USB-C port might not be perfectly centered.

Allan:

Really.

Ida:

Yeah, and the speaker grills simplified to just two holes on either side of the port instead of the usual five Little things to make it all fit. But don't worry, you still get the important stuff like IP68, water and dust resistance.

Allan:

Okay, good.

Ida:

And the action button and a camera control button are supposedly still there too.

Allan:

All right, so the outside is getting a major makeover. Let's peek inside now. What about the screen you'll be looking at all day and the cameras Heard? The display size is hitting a kind of sweet spot.

Ida:

Yeah, they're calling it the Goldilocks display, and for good reason, it seems. Ribber is a 6.6-inch OLED screen.

Allan:

Okay, 6.6. So bigger than the standard, smaller than the Max.

Ida:

Exactly right between the standard and Pro Max sizes, the idea being, you know the standard can feel a bit small for watching videos or getting stuff done, but the Pro Max is just too big for some people's hands.

Allan:

Makes sense.

Ida:

So 6.6 inches could be that just right size More screen, but hopefully still manageable. Apparently it was going to be even bigger, like 6.9 inches, but they supposedly scaled it back because of those bending worries we talked about.

Allan:

Ah, okay. Now the big one for a lot of people, promotion is that 120 hertz refresh rate finally coming to a non-pro iPhone, because that smoothness makes such a difference.

Ida:

That's the really exciting bit. The leaks are pointing strongly towards yes, 120 hertz for the iPhone 17 Air.

Allan:

Yeah so.

Ida:

For you that means things like scrolling animations, just moving around the interface. It'll all feel much smoother, much more responsive.

Allan:

Definitely a pro feature trickling down.

Ida:

It is. It's a big deal for the user experience. But there's a little caveat, a nuance. Some leaks suggest it won't support the fully adaptive refresh rate that goes all the way down to 1 hertz, like the pros do, meaning the always on display might not be quite as feature rich or maybe not as power efficient as it is on the pro models.

Allan:

Ah, okay, so you get the 120 hertz smoothness.

Ida:

Yeah.

Allan:

But maybe not the super efficient. Always on Something to think about, depending on how much you use that.

Ida:

Exactly. It's a detail that you know power users might notice more.

Allan:

Right. Okay, on to the cameras. With all this focus on being thin, how are they handling the camera system Sounds like maybe a different approach.

Ida:

It's a very different approach. The reports say the iPhone 17 Air will have just one camera on the back, just one really. A 48 megapixel main sensor, probably similar to the one expected in the regular iPhone 16. But the insight here isn't just the number of cameras. It seems Apple's betting big on computational photography, you know, using AI and software smarts to get pro-like shots from that single lens without needing all the extra hardware bulk.

Allan:

So they think software can make up for not having an ultra wide or a telephoto.

Ida:

That seems to be the bet they're banking on the idea that, honestly, most people use the main camera 90% of the time anyway.

Allan:

Fair point, can it still zoom?

Ida:

Yeah, they can still offer that 2x zoom equivalent by just cropping into the middle part of that big 48 megapixel sensor using the central 12 megapixels basically.

Allan:

Okay, clever workaround, but no spatial video, then, I guess. Or true, optical zoom.

Ida:

Right, no ultra-wide, no dedicated telephoto and probably no spatial video, unless they figure out some new software trick. It's definitely a trade-off. But what about the front camera? That's becoming more and more important.

Allan:

Good question. Any news there? Figure out some new software trick.

Ida:

It's definitely a tradeoff. But what about the front camera? That's becoming more and more important. Good question Any news there? Actually? Yeah, this is where the Air is rumored to get a major upgrade, a jump to a 24 megapixel front-facing camera 24.

Allan:

Up from 12.

Ida:

Exactly, that's a massive upgrade. Think much sharper selfies, better FaceTime calls clearer video for social media.

Allan:

That's a big improvement. Okay, that's definitely a plus. So sleek design, nice screen, potentially a really good main camera through software and a killer selfie camera. What's actually running the show inside this super thin phone? Are they cutting corners on performance?

Ida:

Doesn't seem like it, not significantly anyway, Under the hood it's likely getting the A19 Pro chip.

Allan:

A19 Pro, so next-gen chip.

Ida:

Yep, Although maybe with one fewer GPU core compared to the actual Pro models that year. Still that's going to be incredibly fast and, crucially, it's expected to have 12 Jubeis of RAM 12 gigs.

Allan:

That's Pro-level RAM, isn't it?

Ida:

It is Brings it right up to par with the Pro models, and that's really important for things like Apple intelligence you know Apple's new AI stuff and just better multitasking in iOS 26.

Allan:

So it should feel plenty fast and capable, even being so thin. What about heat? Thin phones can sometimes get hot under load.

Ida:

That's definitely something they need to manage. And this is where the leaks get a bit fuzzy. Some sources say all the iPhone 17 models will get a proper vapor chamber heat sink. That's a pretty advanced cooling system, good for thin devices.

Allan:

Okay.

Ida:

But other sources suggest the air because it's so thin and cramped. Might have to use a simpler copper heat sink, maybe like the M4 iPad Pro.

Allan:

So maybe not quite as good at cooling as the other 17s.

Ida:

Potentially it highlights how these leaks are still evolving, but either way, they have to be thinking about cooling with that chip in the body.

Allan:

Makes sense. And connectivity Are we finally seeing Apple use its own modems in a big way? They've been working on that for ages.

Ida:

It looks like it. The iPhone 17 Air is expected to be one of the first iPhones rocking an Apple designed C1 5G modem chip C1, okay. Yeah, while the other iPhone 17 models might stick with Qualcomm for now, the big plus for Apple's chip is supposed to be power efficiency.

Allan:

Ah key for the Air's potential battery situation.

Ida:

Exactly the potential downside, though it might actually be a bit slower than Qualcomm modems and maybe limited to sub-6 gigahertz speeds.

Allan:

Meaning no super-fast MMWay 5G.

Ida:

Probably not for the air. Yeah, that might be reserved for the pros, at least initially.

Allan:

Okay, interesting internal shift. What about Wi-Fi and Bluetooth? Any upgrades?

Ida:

Yep, Wi-Fi 7 is expected. That would be Apple's first custom-designed Wi-Fi chip. 2. And Bluetooth 5.3. So more custom silicon chip 2 and Bluetooth 5.3. So more custom silicon Seems like the focus is on making everything tightly integrated and more energy efficient, Again all serving that thin design and likely battery life concerns.

Allan:

Gotcha, and you mentioned one more connectivity change eSIM only globally.

Ida:

That's a big one. Yeah, the rumor is the air might go e-sim only everywhere, not just in the us like current models wow, okay, that's convenient for a lot of people just activating digitally for sure, but for people who travel a lot and swap physical sims or just prefer having that physical slot, it could be an annoyance.

Allan:

Definitely a shift I think I read something kind of weird about the speakers something, something missing.

Ida:

Ah yeah, that's another intriguing, maybe slightly, concerning design choice. The leaks suggest no bottom speaker.

Allan:

No speaker on the bottom, just the earpiece.

Ida:

Apparently the earpiece doubling as a mono speaker, mono audio on an iPhone.

Allan:

That's surprising. Apple usually cares a lot about sound.

Ida:

It is surprising. It would definitely affect stereo sound when you're watching videos or gaming without headphones. But you know Apple. If they're doing this, they've probably worked hard on software processing to make that single speaker sound as good as possible. Still, it's a potential compromise to watch out for.

Allan:

Definitely OK. We've covered a lot of the cool stuff the design, the screen, the internals and some definite tradeoffs but now we got to talk about the elephant in the room, the thing that could make or break this phone for a lot of people.

Ida:

Uh-huh, let me guess Battery life.

Allan:

Bingo, the potential Achilles heel. This is where things get really interesting and maybe a bit controversial.

Ida:

Yeah, this is the big one, and it comes right back to that design. Being super slim just means less room for the battery. It's physics.

Allan:

Right. So what are the leaks saying about capacity?

Ida:

They're suggesting it could be below 3,000 milliamp hours, maybe around 2,800 or 2,900 milliamp hour.

Allan:

Oof. That sounds small for a modern flagship Like iPhone 12 small.

Ida:

Pretty much exactly. It would be one of the smallest batteries in a flagship iPhone in recent memory.

Allan:

So the obvious worry is it just won't last all day for most people, right? How bad could it be compared to other iPhones?

Ida:

That's the major concern. Yeah, the rumors say it won't last as long as other iphones. Apparently, apple's own internal tests found only maybe 60 70 percent of users could get through a full day without needing a charge 60 to 70 percent compared to what for other models compared to usually 80 90 for other iphone models, that's a significant drop wow, yeah, that means a lot more people will be hunting for a charger mid-afternoon.

Allan:

That changes how you use your phone. It absolutely does. It's a significant drop. Wow, yeah, that means a lot more people will be hunting for a charger mid-afternoon.

Ida:

That changes how you use your phone. It absolutely does. It's a potentially serious limitation for a phone that's supposed to be your main device.

Allan:

Is there any hope, any counterargument? Is Apple just going to release a phone with subpar battery life?

Ida:

Well, there is another perspective, Mark Gurman, who's usually pretty reliable. He suggested battery life could actually be on par with current iPhones. Really how, with that small battery through a combination of hardware and software tricks? Basically, apple's banking heavily on the power efficiencies and the new processors.

Ida:

Like that a 19 chip okay and also new adaptive battery software in iOS 26, powered by Apple intelligence. The idea is the phone learns your habits and dynamically adjust things like performance, screen brightness, maybe even that 120 Hertz refresh rate, to save power when you don't need it hmm, smart battery management exactly. Plus, they're likely using a very high density battery chemistry, maybe even that advanced silicon anode battery technology people have been talking about. That tech basically packs more energy into the same physical space.

Allan:

So lots of clever engineering to try and make up for the smaller size.

Ida:

Yeah.

Allan:

But I also heard about a slightly ironic backup plan.

Ida:

Huh, you mean the battery case.

Allan:

Yeah, is that really a thing they might offer? The?

Ida:

rumors suggest yes. A new battery case specifically for the Air is an optional accessory.

Allan:

That's kind of funny, isn't it? They go to all this trouble to make it incredibly thin.

Ida:

And then sell you a case to make your thin iPhone thicker, just so the battery lasts all day.

Allan:

It perfectly sums up the whole compromise, doesn't it?

Ida:

It really does. Oh, and for charging itself, MagSafe is still expected, which is good for aligning properly for wireless charging. Wired charging speeds probably stay at 35W, but wireless charging with the newer Q2 standard chargers could maybe hit 25W, which is up from 15W now, so a bit faster wirelessly potentially.

Allan:

All right, let's try and wrap our heads around this. All these features, the radical design, the clear compromises, who is this phone actually for and what's it going to cost?

Ida:

Price-wise, the early guesses are hovering around $949.

Allan:

Okay, so not cheap. Is that more or less than the Pro?

Ida:

It seems like it might reflect a small like $50 price bump across the whole iPhone 17 line. There was some back and forth, but the latest info suggests it will be less expensive than the actual iPhone 17 Pro models.

Allan:

So still premium pricing, but sitting below the top pro tier, which brings us back to who buys this paradoxical device. It's not really a pro. That is definitely not the basic model either.

Ida:

That's the million dollar question, isn't it? And it kind of reveals Apple's strategy. I think this phone is a paradox.

Allan:

Yeah.

Ida:

You get that super premium, incredibly thin design. You get the upgraded front camera, maybe the high refresh rate screen. But, you lose cameras, you lose battery capacity, maybe even some audio quality. It seems like Apple is betting on a new kind of consumer.

Allan:

Someone who values looks over longevity.

Ida:

Kind of Someone who values form over function, maybe Someone who wants the most elegant iPhone Apple's ever made and is willing to accept those compromises to get it. They're prioritizing how it feels to hold that incredibly thin light device above all else.

Allan:

Sacrificing some practicality for the ultimate sleekness. I bet that's causing some debate online.

Ida:

Oh, absolutely. It's really polarizing. You see some people saying they're very interested. Maybe they have wrist issues or they just don't care about battery because they're always near a charger. For them, thin and light is a luxury.

Allan:

And the other side.

Ida:

Others are calling it a clear cash grab or saying it's a product no one asked for, especially with those battery question marks. It really shows there isn't one perfect phone for everyone, right? Different needs, different priorities. And hey, maybe it's also a stepping stone product for Apple, a way for them to test out these super thin designs and materials before they, you know eventually launch a foldable iPhone.

Allan:

Interesting thought Well, what a deep dive. This has been the iPhone 17 Air. Interesting thought Well, what a deep dive. This has been the iPhone 17 Air. It's definitely shaping up to be one of the most intriguing, maybe controversial, apple devices we've seen in a while For sure. Arguably above some core functionalities, it feels like it's designed for a very specific person, someone who thinks yeah, maybe less can be more.

Ida:

Yeah.

Allan:

But only if the right compromises are made. And that's the big question mark, isn't it?

Ida:

It really challenges what we think a flagship phone has to be. Does it need three cameras? Does it need two-day battery life? Yeah, or can pure design lead the way sometimes?

Allan:

Exactly so. As we finish up, here's something for you to think about. In a world where phones keep getting more powerful, often bigger and thicker, what trade-offs are you personally willing to make for that cutting-edge design, for ultimate portability? Will this iPhone 17 Air actually redefine what a flagship can be, or will those compromises, especially the battery, just be too much for most people?

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