Apple’s iPhone 17 series leak is about to shake things up in 2025. Gone is the “Plus” model, and in comes a fresh face — the ultra-slim iPhone 17 Air. With bold design changes, thinner bodies, and an all-new camera layout, this isn’t just another yearly refresh. It’s Apple going full makeover mode.
The iPhone 17 is coming — and it’s not playing it safe!
What’s the deal with the iPhone 17 lineup?
Here’s the rundown: we’re expecting four models—the standard iPhone 17, iphone 17 air, iPhone 17 pro, and iPhone 17 pro max. But notably, no iPhone 17 plus this time. Why? Because Apple read the room: the Plus model just didn’t sell.
Instead, they’re simplifying things. The standard iPhone 17 keeps a familiar look, with a 6.3-inch screen, up from 6.1 inches. That puts it right in the sweet spot—larger than the base iPhone 15 but more compact than the oversized 15 Plus.
“Apple seems to be betting that simpler choices make for smarter shopping.”
The ultra-slim iPhone 17 air: Apple’s new design darling
Now let’s talk about the star of the show—the iPhone 17 air. It’s been floating around the rumor mill under the nickname “iPhone 17 slim,” but “air” makes more sense. After all, we’ve already got a MacBook Air and iPad Air. It signals lightness, elegance, and… thinness. Serious thinness.
How thin? “Bloomberg’s” Mark Gurman suggests around 6.25mm, while other sources like Ming-Chi Kuo say it could be 5.5mm at its thinnest point. That would make it the thinnest iPhone ever, even slimmer than the iPhone 6’s 6.9mm frame.
Not impressed? For context, Apple’s M4 iPad Pro is just 5.1mm thick. Apple’s clearly taking that engineering magic and squeezing it into your next pocket companion.
What does it look like?
According to leaks, the iPhone 17 air will have a single-lens camera housed in a horizontal bar, with the camera centered instead of hanging out in the top-left corner like before.
Leaker Jon Prosser dropped renders that show a clean, futuristic look: the rear camera on the left, microphone and flash on the right—all aligned horizontally like the Google Pixel 8.
“It’s like Apple went to a yoga retreat and came back super zen and symmetrical.”
Expect it to support MagSafe, include an Action Button, and even a Camera Control button—based on 3D dummy models floating around in the tech sphere.
A quick size comparison cheat sheet
If you’re confused by screen sizes, here’s the cheat sheet:
iPhone 17: 6.3 inches
iPhone 17 air: around 6.6 inches
iPhone 17 pro: 6.3 inches
iPhone 17 pro max: 6.9 inches
Yes, the air is technically bigger than the standard version, but way thinner.
The iPhone 17 pro and pro max: The muscle in the room
Now, for the power users: the iPhone 17 pro and pro max are getting some serious upgrades.
First, the frame. Apple is ditching titanium (yeah, that thing they hyped up last year) for aluminum, aiming to make the phone lighter and possibly more drop-resistant. The back? A hybrid of aluminum on top and glass on bottom—allowing for wireless charging while also boosting durability.
But the real drama? That camera bar. “It’s not just a bump—it’s a camera mountain.” Tech insider Sonny Dickson leaked images of real-world iPhone 17 pro cases, and the cutout for the camera bar stretches nearly edge-to-edge.
And he’s not the only one stirring the pot. Majin Bu, another notorious tech insider, also shared CAD renders of the cases reportedly designed for the iPhone 17 Pro and Pro Max. These renders back up rumors of a major redesign — most notably a long, thick camera bar placed across the top of the phone.
Theories are swirling. Some think it’s to fit a 48MP 10x optical zoom telephoto lens, possibly requiring a rearranged LiDAR and flash. Others wonder how Apple will pull off spatial video now that the camera lenses might go horizontal. Will they use AI magic? We’ll find out this fall.
A touch of realism: Are the renders accurate?
CAD renders and dummy units are fun, but take them with a grain of salt. Some fake leaks have already made the rounds. But the consistent theme is that Apple is going horizontal with the cameras on all three higher-end models—air, pro, and pro max.
Still, if Apple truly goes with a bar design à la Pixel, it could change how you hold, case, and clean your phone.
“At this rate, you’ll need a case for your case just to protect all that exposed glass.”
So, should you care?
Absolutely. Whether you’re eyeing a sleek, super-thin phone or a powerhouse camera beast, 2025’s iPhone 17 lineup has something different in store. The iPhone 17 series leak shows that Apple is rethinking what an iPhone looks and feels like—and that means it might finally be time to upgrade.
Stay tuned as more details emerge closer to Apple’s fall keynote. And hey, if the rumors pan out, your next iPhone might just be thinner than your wallet.
