There’s just one more weekend until we get our first look at the iPhone 17, and all eyes will be on the expected new Air model. For more than a year, we’ve been hearing about Apple’s bold new ultra-thin phone, and in just a couple of days, Apple will finally take the wraps off the not-so-secret handset.
According to a new report, however, the phone might be more high-end than we expected. In its annual iPhone preview, Trendforce reports that the new 6.6-inch handset will come equipped with 12GB of RAM and 256GB of storage, the same as the high-end Pro models. And it could have a high-end price to go with it, starting at $1,099.
The iPhone 17 Air is a replacement for the iPhone 16 Plus, which starts at $899, and most reports say the pricing will be similar to that phone, with the 128GB model coming in at $899 or $949. However, Trendforce says that the iPhone 17 Air, Pro, and Pro Max will all see “increases of $50–$100 per comparable capacity to reflect their design breakthroughs and hardware enhancements,” while the standard model sticks to its $799 price.
That pricing structure would position the iPhone 17 Air as a premium Pro-level device with a sizable $300 gap between it and the standard iPhone 17. With reports that an even higher-priced folding model is arriving next year, the average selling price of the iPhone could be set to increase by a significant amount.
Apple’s Awe Dropping event is set for September 9, 2025. Want to know what to expect? We’re anticipating new hardware releases including the iPhone 17 (running iOS 26), Apple Watch Series 11, Ultra 3 and SE 3rd-gen (running watchOS 26), and potentially new AirPods. Find out how, when, and where to watch the Apple September Event, and keep tuned to our Event Guide for all the latest coverage. If you just can’t wait, here’s our satirical take on the Apple September Event keynote script – and don’t miss the Macworld Podcast iPhone event preview.
Author: Michael Simon, Executive Editor, Macworld
Michael Simon has been covering Apple for more than 20 years. He started covering rumors with Spymac when the iPod was the iWalk, and has owned nearly every iPhone Apple has ever made. He lives in Connecticut with his wife, son, and far too many gadgets.