Next week, Apple will announce the new lineup of iPhone.The big change is the discontinuation of the iPhone 16 Plus phone, instead introducing a new thin form factor design model.This is widely expected to be branded as the iPhone 17 Air.
It will feature the thinnest chassis of an iPhone ever, measuring about 5.5mm at its thinnest point.The tradeoff to achieve the strikingly-thin enclosure is a compromise on camera specs, with the model featuring just one rear lens.But the big question overhanging this launching is exactly how much Apple will charge for its flashy new phone? For the other models, most analysts agree that prices will stay about the same as the 16 series, like-for-like.
As a reminder, the base iPhone 16 is priced at $799, the Plus is $899, the 16 Pro is $999, and the 16 Pro Max is $1199.One price increase that has been suggested as likely is the Pro might jump to a $1099 starting price, but come with 256 GB base storage instead of 128 GB.(That’s the same price as the 256 GB 16 Pro lists at today.) The pricing situation with the wholly new iPhone 17 Air is less clear.
The model the Air will replace is the Plus.The Plus costs $899, and you would imagine that Apple wants to maintain its ladder of pricing tiers such that there is a model around the $900 mark for prospective buyers with a budget that does not quite stretch to the Pro phones, but is slightly more aspirational than the entry-level base.The Air is also about the same physical size as the Plus in width and height, with the Air expected to feature a 6.6-inch screen compared to the Plus’s 6.7-inch display.
The Air will have a 120Hz high-refresh rate screen, though.The Air is also expected to be powered by the base A19 chip, not the A19 Pro.Similarly, the Plus has the A18, not the A18 Pro.
Comparatively, the big loss on the spec sheet going from Plus to Air is the regression from two cameras to one.The Plus has the main lens and an ultra-wide lens; the Air lacks the ultra-wide.There’s also some consternation that the Air’s battery life won’t be as good.
But in exchange, you get the low-profile svelte chassis.As an overview, it does feel like the Plus is a good comparative match for the Air.But will Apple be content with charging the same $899 price for the fancy new design? Some analysts argue Apple could command a price premium for this model.
TrendForce today suggested the iPhone 17 Air could be priced starting at $1099; that’s more than the current 16 Pro costs.The logic here is probably that the Air is the model that will look the most different and the most new.Customers may be willing to spend a bit more for the new look fashion, even though spec-wise it is more comparable to the base iPhone 17.
Personally, I think $1099 is a tad too high, more than what the market would bear.Apple has struggled to create a successful fourth SKU of iPhone several times already, and I think an iPhone 17 Air at $1099 would probably be doomed to the same fate.Practically, while preserving the $899 price tier would be great, I think the Air might come in at $999.
At this price, it could still be marketed as cheaper than the 17 Pro line.As mentioned above, Apple is expected to get rid of the 128 GB Pro to push it up to the current 256 GB base price, or thereabouts.That manoeuvre makes room for a ‘lower tier’ iPhone at the thousand dollar mark.
So, that’s where I’m thinking the iPhone 17 Air will sit in the lineup.We’ll know for sure in just a few days time.Apple’s September event kicks off at 10 AM Pacific Time on Tuesday, September 9.
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