iPhone 17 Air to Be Priced Below Pro Models; Apple to Launch Foldable iPhone in 2026: Report

The slimmer version of the iPhone will be equipped with a simplified camera system to keep costs low, report suggests.

Written by Shaurya Tomer, Edited by Manas Mitul | Updated: 16 December 2024 09:44 IST

iPhone 17 Air to Be Priced Below Pro Models; Apple to Launch Foldable iPhone in 2026: Report

Photo Credit: Apple

iPhone 17 Air is speculated to have a single rear camera system

Highlights

iPhone 17 Air may feature a slimmer design and simplified camera
Apple is reported to develop two foldable devices for a 2026 release
Foldable iPhone may have a larger display than the iPhone 16 Pro Max

iPhone 17 series is expected to hit the market in Fall 2025. Apple's next-generation iPhone lineup is speculated to feature a new model in addition to the standard variants in the form of the iPhone 17 Air — a new handset with a slimmer profile and toned-down features. Now, a report suggests that this purported smartphone may be priced lower than the iPhone 17 Pro models. However, Apple may cut down on a marquee iPhone feature on its slim phone to achieve the same. Further, the Cupertino, California-based technology giant is developing two foldable devices with a targeted release in 2026.

iPhone 17 Air

According to a Wall Street Journal report, the iPhone 17 Air is aimed at reviving growth at the company. In recent years, the iPhone maker has offered incremental upgrades, but its purported Air model could be the first new iPhone introduced in the market since the iPhone 14 Plus in 2022.

As the name suggests, the iPhone 17 Air is reported to be thinner than the approximately 8-millimetre profile of the current models. The report claimed that the new iPhone model would be equipped with a simplified camera system in a bid to keep costs low. The iPhone camera system is a marquee feature on Apple's smartphones, but the report suggested that cutting down on camera capabilities might enable the company to place the iPhone 17 Air below the Pro models in terms of pricing. Presently, an expanded camera system is one of the most prominent features that separates Pro and base iPhone models.

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The new claim corroborates previous leaks that suggest the purported handset could feature a single rear camera with a 48-megapixel sensor, while also including the 2x telephoto functions of the current iPhone 16. And while the exact dimensions of the iPhone 17 Air were not revealed, reports suggested that Apple could launch the iPhone 17 Air with a thickness of 6mm.

Foldable iPhone Models

The WSJ report further claimed that Apple had two foldable devices in development — a foldable iPhone and a larger laptop replacement. The former is speculated to come with a bigger display than the iPhone 16 Pro Max. Meanwhile, the foldable laptop might be equipped with a 19-inch screen when unfolded.

While both products have been in development for years, Apple is said to be facing numerous challenges related to the display cover and hinge mechanism. The report revealed the company had experimented with several iPhone designs over the years, such as a device with an outward-facing display when folded. However, Apple has reportedly finally settled on the traditional foldable smartphone design with an inward-facing screen.

Citing people familiar with the matter, WSJ reported that Apple executives were planning a 2026 release for the foldable devices but might delay the launch by up to a year to address any potential challenges.

iPhone 16

KEY SPECS
NEWS

Display 6.10-inch

Processor Apple A18

Front Camera 12-megapixel

Rear Camera 48-megapixel + 12-megapixel

RAM 8GB

Storage 128GB, 256GB, 512GB

OS iOS 18

Resolution 1179x2556 pixels

More Apple mobiles Apple mobiles price in India

iPhone 16 Pro Max

REVIEW
KEY SPECS
NEWS

Design
Display
Software
Performance
Battery Life
Camera
Value for Money

Good
Massive screen size
Brilliant display
Performance beast
Camera Control is a boon
Fantastic battery life

Bad
Big phone for one-hand use
Expensive
No Apple Intelligence at launch
Slow-wired charging support

Read detailed Apple iPhone 16 Pro Max review

Display 6.90-inch

Processor Apple A18 Pro

Front Camera 12-megapixel

Rear Camera 48-megapixel + 12-megapixel + 48-megapixel

RAM 8GB

Storage 256GB, 512GB, 1TB

OS iOS 18

Resolution 1320x2868 pixels

More Apple mobiles Apple mobiles price in India

iPhone 14 Plus

REVIEW
KEY SPECS
NEWS

Design
Display
Software
Performance
Battery Life
Camera
Value for Money

Good
Good overall performance
Great camera quality in daylight
iOS ecosystem and ease of use
Excellent battery life

Bad
Dated design and notch
Same SoC as iPhone 13 series
Relatively slow charging
Expensive

Read detailed Apple iPhone 14 Plus review

Display 6.68-inch

Processor Apple A15 Bionic

Front Camera 12-megapixel

Rear Camera 12-megapixel + 12-megapixel

Storage 128GB, 256GB, 512GB

OS iOS 16

Resolution 1284x2778 pixels

More Apple mobiles Apple mobiles price in India

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Further reading: iPhone 17 Air, iPhone, Apple, iPhone 17, Foldable iPhone

Shaurya Tomer

Email Shaurya Tomer

Shaurya Tomer is a Sub Editor at Gadgets 360 with 2 years of experience across a diverse spectrum of topics. With a particular focus on smartphones, gadgets and the ever-evolving landscape of artificial intelligence (AI), he often likes to explore the industry's intricacies and innovations – whether dissecting the latest smartphone release or exploring the ethical implications of AI advancements. In his free time, he often embarks on impromptu road trips to unwind, recharge, and ...More