Apple is preparing to unveil the iPhone 17 lineup this Tuesday, and all eyes are on the company’s first major new iPhone design in years: the iPhone 17 Air. Positioned as the thinnest iPhone Apple has ever made, the model draws inspiration from the MacBook Air of 2008, but it may face the same challenges that Apple’s first “Air” product did at launch.
According to a report from Bloomberg, the iPhone 17 Air mirrors the debut of the original MacBook Air, which in 2008 wowed audiences with its slim form factor and multitouch trackpad but came with trade-offs in power, battery life, and price. That device set a precedent for future Apple designs even though it was not a practical option for most buyers at the time.
Apple is following a similar playbook with the iPhone 17 Air. The device is expected to feature a 6.6-inch display in a remarkably slim body, but compromises come with that thinness. Reports suggest that the iPhone 17 Air will have shorter battery life and only a single rear camera at a time when multi-lens setups have become standard. This raises questions about whether design alone will be enough to make it appealing to everyday users.
The pricing strategy may also place the iPhone 17 Air in an awkward position. It is likely to cost significantly more than the standard iPhone 17, which offers better battery life and multiple cameras, while sitting just a few hundred dollars below the iPhone 17 Pro, which delivers superior performance, advanced cameras, and next-generation display technology. That middle ground could make it a tough sell, much like the first MacBook Air.
Today’s smartphone buyers care most about battery life and camera performance, and Apple’s other models aren’t particularly bulky or cumbersome to begin with. Samsung’s own attempt at a slim premium phone, the Galaxy S25 Edge, has already shown that design alone doesn’t guarantee strong sales. While the iPhone 17 Air may perform better than Apple’s unsuccessful mini and Plus models of past years, expectations for it to become a best-seller remain low.
Still, history shows that the first generation isn’t the full story. The MacBook Air eventually became Apple’s most popular laptop after a redesign in 2010 brought better performance and a lower $999 price. That redesign also influenced the rest of Apple’s Mac lineup, which transitioned to thinner designs, flash storage, and the removal of optical drives.
The iPhone 17 Air may serve a similar role: not as the must-buy iPhone of 2025, but as a preview of Apple’s long-term direction. Once Apple can balance ultra-thin design with strong performance, cameras, and all-day battery life, this form factor could become the new standard. Beyond phones, the technologies developed for the Air – from battery chemistry changes to in-house modem and wireless chip designs – may pave the way for Apple’s first foldable iPhone, expected as soon as next year, and a redesigned Pro model in 2027.
For now, though, the iPhone 17 Air will be more of a statement piece than a practical choice. For most buyers, the regular iPhone 17, iPhone 17 Pro, or iPhone 17 Pro Max will offer a better balance of features, longevity, and value.
