Crowds thronged to Apple stores around the globe Friday to pick up the newest iPhones — the iPhone 17, iPhone 17 Pro and iPhone Air — on launch day. Apple CEO Tim Cook himself threw open the doors of Apple Fifth Avenue in New York City on Friday morning.
Alongside the exciting new iPhone lineup, Apple Watch Series 11, Apple Watch Ultra 3 and AirPods Pro 3 also arrived at Apple retail stores and authorized outlets on Friday
Alongside the iPhone Air, Apple launched a battery pack specifically for the phone. And interestingly, the iPhone Air MagSafe Battery uses the same capacity battery as the device it supports.
The folks over at iFixit tore down the iPhone Air MagSafe Battery and discovered its unusual shape. Based on preliminary evidence, they concluded Apple might be using the exact same battery inside the iPhone Air.
iOS 26 introduces a new Adaptive Power mode to extend your iPhone’s battery under load. And Apple’s newest iPhones — iPhone 17, iPhone 17 Pro and iPhone Air — will ship with this feature enabled by default.
On older iPhones, you must manually enable Adaptive Power to boost their runtime.
Weekend preorder demand for the iPhone 17 family outpaced last year’s iPhone 16, says TF International analyst Ming-Chi Kuo. As per Apple’s production estimates, the analyst says the Pro Max model remains the undisputed demand leader.
The strong iPhone 17 preorder should help boost Apple’s Q3 2025 results.
The iPhone 17 Pro Max seems to be the favorite of those rushing to grab a new Apple device on the first day of preorders. Order this model now in the United States, and the wait for the delivery stretches out until October.
In contrast, the super-slim iPhone Air can still be ordered for delivery on launch day, September 19. The same is true for iPhone 17 Pro and the base model iPhone 17.
UPDATE: Two days after 2025 iPhone preorders began, the wait time to have most iPhone 17 Pro Max configurations delivered from the U.S. Apple Store has slipped to mid-October. But the situation hasn’t changed for the iPhone Air: You can still order the super-slim phone for delivery on launch day, September 19. Meanwhile, early stocks of the base-model iPhone 17 and iPhone 17 Pro are starting to run out.
This week on Cult of Mac’s podcast: After Apple’s truly Awe Dropping event, we’re picking up the pieces and discussing iPhone Air, iPhone 17 Pro and the rest of the new hardware.
Also on The CultCast:
Listen to this week’s episode of The CultCast in the Podcasts app or your favorite podcast app. (Be sure to subscribe and leave us a review if you like it!) Or watch the video live stream, embedded below.
There’s no need to wait: Shop the best iPhone 17 cases available now so you can slide your new device directly into one when it arrives. As you may know, new iPhones are pretty tough. And sure, lots of people go caseless to show off their handset’s sleek lines and cool color.
But imagine you drop it and break it, or crack the edge of the glass without even knowing how it happened — like I did recently with my iPhone 16 Pro (and just weeks ahead of likely trade-in!).
Yes, breakage can be crushing. But fortunately, even though the iPhone lineup 17 just came out, you can already choose from plenty of protective new cases — and avoid my sad fate.
Case makers plan for the new iPhone every year, with plenty of timely new releases. You could go minimal with a thin case that works well with iPhone Air’s sleek design. You might seek extreme impact resistance for the most damaging drops for your iPhone 17, or maybe you’d pick a luxurious leather that only looks better with age. For those looking for durable yet stylish protection for an iPhone 17 Pro or Pro Max, you can find a variety of well-crafted options.
We gathered the best iPhone 17 cases you can buy right now — in addition to cases by Apple and its subsidiary Beats — with prices starting as low as $19.
Apple’s super-slim iPhone Air will not launch in China on September 19. The company also did not start accepting preorders for the device today in the country.
The issue stems from the iPhone Air only supporting eSIM — it lacks a physical SIM slot. So, the company needs additional regulatory approval for the phone’s launch in China.
Apple is now accepting preorders for the iPhone 17, iPhone Air, iPhone 17 Pro and iPhone 17 Pro Max. The devices will hit store shelves next Friday, on September 19 — the same day preorders get delivered.
Update: An hour after the pre-orders started, demand for the iPhone 17 Pro Max is already starting to exceed supply. An order placed now in the U.S. for most configurations of this top-of-line model won’t ship until late September, and others won’t arrive before October.
Apple is already taking preorders for the AirPods Pro 3, Apple Watch Series 11 and Apple Watch Ultra 3. All three will be available at retail starting September 19.
The concerns about iPhone Air battery life now seem overblown. Apple gave data on how long the new, super-slim handset lasts between recharges, and it’s going to beat most previous iPhones.
While it won’t offer the best battery life ever in an iPhone, the early report that it won‘t last a typical day without needing a recharge turned out to be baloney.
People wondered how the new iPhone Air released at Apple’s Awe Dropping event Tuesday could be so incredibly thin and still have a working USB-C port (or even if it would have one at all). Well, here’s how: In a departure from the iPhone giant’s normal manufacturing process, the new handset features a breakthrough 3D-printed titanium USB-C port for ultra-thin design, Apple said.
And considering how the process and material actually improve the port, the result is truly an engineering milestone.
iPhone fans face a bit of a conundrum this year: iPhone 17 Pro vs. iPhone Air. The super-slim iPhone Air shakes up Apple’s phone lineup considerably, with a cutting-edge new design that makes even dedicated iPhone Pro users question their commitment to the highest-end model.
The iPhone Air sits between the iPhone Pro and the base iPhone 17, taking the place of the retired iPhone Plus. So, how does the iPhone Air fare against the iPhone 17 Pro? Should you ditch the Pro and go Air this year?
Three new Beats iPhone cases designed for Apple’s latest iPhone 17 lineup include an array of color choices as well as kickstand and rugged options, the Apple subsidiary said Tuesday. Available choices cover the whole lineup — iPhone 17, iPhone Air, iPhone 17 Pro and iPhone 17 Pro Max.
“The overwhelming response to our Beats cases proved a core idea: users crave both style and serious utility,” said Oliver Schusser, Apple’s vice president of Music, Sports and Beats. “With that in mind, we’ve engineered the next generation. The new Beats iPhone cases integrate protective features, delivering a significant leap in everyday innovation and functionality.”
Six months after debuting its in-house C1 modem with the iPhone 16e, Apple has followed up with the C1X modem on the iPhone Air.
The new baseband fixes the shortcomings of the initial version, supporting faster speeds while still being extremely power-efficient.
The new Center Stage front camera in the iPhone 17 lineup uses advanced hardware and AI magic to rid us of a thoroughly modern annoyance: having to flip your grip to capture a landscape selfie.
“We are thrilled to introduce our phenomenal new Center Stage front camera,” said iPhone product manager Megan Nash during Tuesday’s Awe Dropping event. “It gives you more pixels, more flexible ways to frame your shot, and incredible stabilization.”
The hardware secret that unlocks this new age of selfie supremacy? A square sensor that’s bigger than ever — almost twice the size of the iPhone’s previous front camera. It’s coming soon to a bar near you in the super-slim iPhone Air, the iPhone 17 and the iPhone 17 Pro/Pro Max, all of which Apple unveiled Tuesday.
Apple shook up its iPhone lineup with the Awe Dropping event’s iPhone Air introduction. The dramatically thinner device, which drops the “17” series number in its name, replaces the Plus model. The super-slim new handset is Apple’s biggest iPhone design departure in years, packing Pro features and remarkably long battery life into a slight-yet-powerful handset.
“We are thrilled to introduce the impossibly thin iPhone Air at 5.6 millimeters,” said John Ternus, Apple senior vice president of Hardware Engineering. “It’s the thinnest iPhone we’ve ever made, and it’s also exceptionally light. It’s unlike anything you’ve ever held before, and it’s packed with our most advanced features.”
Apple’s new line of TechWoven, silicone and clear polycarbonate cases for iPhone 17 series models, showcased at the Awe Dropping even Tuesday, mark a significant departure from the company’s previous materials and design approach.
In addition to the silicon and clear polycarbonate cases with lanyard support for the new Crossbody Strap, the new TechWoven cases feature a synthetic fabric designed to replace the widely criticized FineWoven cases that Apple quickly abandoned after their problematic launch in 2023. Plus plenty of third-party cases are already available.
If you’re planning to get a new iPhone 17 and are already making a list of must-have accessories, an iPhone 17 Ultra Thin Case from Case Luxury should be near the top. They measure just 0.02 inches thin, and they perfectly show off Apple’s renowned industrial design.
There is an Ultra Thin Case that fits each iPhone 17 model like it was built alongside it. There’s no excess bulk, no chunky edges, just a smooth, satin matte finish that keeps fingerprints away and feels grippy enough without being tacky. Plus, the cases come in multiple colors, so you can find one that’s right for you.
Rumors have suggested that Apple might return to the 4-inch iPhone form factor with the next-generation of iPhones, but what would a new 4-inch iPhone even look like?
If this video is anything to go by, it will be crazy thin … even thinner than the iPad Air, from which it would also borrow its moniker.
In just a little over 24 hours, Tim Cook and Co. will take the stage of Flint Center for the Performing Arts in Cupertino, California and unveil at least one 4.7-inch iPhone 6. From previous leaks, we know that this iPhone 6 will have a 1,810mAh capacity battery, a 14% beefier battery than the 1,560mAh battery used in the iPhone 5s. It makes sense it would need one: it will have a sizably bigger display to light up.
But what about the 5.5-inch iPhone 6? Won’t it need a bigger battery even than that? It will, and a new leak out of Apple’s supply chain suggests that it will be a massive 2,915mAh battery, a battery 86% larger than the current iPhone 5s battery.
So far, the consensus is that while we will see a 4.7-inch iPhone 6 in September, we will have to wait until the holidays, or even later, to see the rumored 5.5-inch model. The culprit, claim reports, are those ever pesky “yields,” but what does that mean? Why is a 5.5-inch iPhone 6 so much harder to make than a 4.7-inch one?
A new report out of Taiwan sheds some light on the matter. The issue apparently is that the 5.5-inch iPhone 6 is meant to be super thin… even thinner than the 4.7-inch. And that requires perfecting a very special kind of battery.
The rumors swirl that when Apple unveils the next iPhone in September this year, it will boast a much larger screen. But what would a thinner, 4.7-inch iPhone with a 1080p display, upgraded 10-megapixel camera, and a 9% thinner enclosure look like?
According to this concept by designer Sam Beckett, nearly identical to the current iPhone 5s. Yes, it would be bigger, but it would otherwise have the same proportions, short of shaving a millimeter or two off of the side bezels.
If Apple does release a so-called iPhone Air, I bet this is how they will actually do it. It will look like a natural evolution of the iPhone line so far, not a major design shift.
We’ve seen concepts of the iPhone Air before, but I can’t think of one I like more — or that I think looks more plausible — than Joseph Farahi’s 5.1-inch iPhone 6 concept. This actually looks like a device Jony Ive could design.
If Apple makes a larger iPhone this year — say, a 4.7-inch model — it’s unlikely that they will just phase out the 4-inch iPhone. Instead, they could take an approach similar to this year’s iPad Air and iPad mini: two functionally identical devices with different screen sizes.
So what would an iPhone Air look like? Designer Federico Ciccarese of SET Solution has put together some renders of his dream iPhone Air, and, well, to be honest, it’s pretty much a fantasy. But it’s a pretty one.
Next year, Apple will release the eighth-generation iPhone, the iPhone 6 (yes, it’s weird), and if Appke has shown us anything in the past, we can expect it to be even thinner than the iPhone 5-series of devices, especially now that Apple has finally mastered IGZO display technology with the new iPad mini and iPad Air.
So what will the iPhone 6 look like? The designers at SET Solution wanted to know, so they imagined an iPhone Air that is just 1.5mm thin and 70 grams in weight, with an edge-to-edge display and a slightly larger screen size. It’s an improbable design, but interesting to see what people are expecting.
At the same time, they imagined an iPhone 6c where the ‘C’ stands for curve, not color. It looks a bit silly, but we know Apple is working on curved displays for future iPhones.
Check out those videos after the jump.