Samsung intended to start a revolution when it launched the Galaxy S25 Edge not long ago, but the reality is that the phone turned out to be underwhelming. I’ve been using it for more than two months now, and given my experience with the ultra-thin phone, Apple certainly has the opportunity to steal its thunder with the iPhone 17 Air.
It’s one of the many new iPhones tipped for reveal at an upcoming rumored Apple September event. The iPhone 17 Air could end up being the most compelling model the company introduces in years. I’ve been keeping tabs on all the rumors and leaks, so while it’s unlikely we’ll see dramatic changes between now and its reveal, there are still ways Apple could make it a more compelling thin phone.
I know there are areas where we could see compromises, but I’ll explain how the iPhone 17 Air could still succeed where the Galaxy S25 Edge failed. Here’s how.
A single rear camera that just works
Since I’m a camera guy, I’m most interested in the cameras rumored to accompany the iPhone 17 Air — or should I say, camera? While I’m a bit forgiving about Apple’s decision to give the iPhone 16e a single rear camera, it feels wrong to do it with the iPhone 17 Air.
So far, the rumors suggest that it will have a single 48MP camera on the back, which isn’t appetizing when you’re used to a triple camera setup. This might be an area where I could say the Galaxy S25 Edge is better than the iPhone 17 Air, but Apple can still surprise us.
That’s because I need to just look back at my 200 photo shootout between the iPhone 16e and Pixel 9a, like the side-by-side shot above. Even though the iPhone 16e narrowly lost, it did impress me for its strong telephoto and dynamic range performances. It’s proof of Apple’s excellent image processing with its iPhones, so it could do the same for the iPhone 17 Air.
Another thing worth pointing out is all the leaked images and renders of the iPhone 17 Air. The back of the phone shows a prominent camera bar that spans one side to the other, which could lead me to suspect that there could be a larger sensor in there — perhaps the same one for the iPhone 17 Pro and 17 Pro Max. If so, that would give it more leverage.
The only thing it would lack is an ultrawide, but I wouldn’t mind keeping it to just a single camera if its field of view ends up being a smidge wider.
Thin phone doesn’t have to mean shorter battery life
There’s no denying that the iPhone 17 Air is going to be a remarkable feat of engineering for a modern device. So far, it looks like it’s going to be thinner than the Galaxy S25 Edge with rumors of it being as thin as 5.5mm. In comparison, the S25 Edge measures in at 5.8mm.
As I’ve noted in my Galaxy S25 Edge review, the biggest compromise to designing a thin phone is that battery life is dramatically impacted. A thinner phone means less room for a battery, subsequently resulting in a much shorter battery life. However, Apple could squash any battery drain concerns with the iPhone 17 Air — by looking at what the current iOS 26 beta offers.
Apple’s latest iPhone software has a ton of features, but one that’s overlooked is the new adaptive power mode. I suspect this could be the answer to addressing any anxiety about its battery endurance, by dynamically adjusting the phone’s performance to get more juice out of the battery.
Plus, I think the A19 Pro chip rumored to power the iPhone 17 Air would be power efficient enough to hopefully make it last longer than the standard iPhone 17.
Higher price point doesn't mean paying more
I’m hoping that the iPhone 17 Air ends up taking the same $899 price point that the current iPhone 16 Plus holds in Apple’s lineup. However, I’m not as optimistic about that given the price of the Galaxy S25 Edge and Galaxy Z Fold 7.
There are rumors that the iPhone 17 Air could end up being even more costly than the iPhone 17 Pro Max. Hopefully, that’s not true because it would have an even tougher time convincing people (myself included).
Realistically, Apple could fit the Air in between the iPhone 17 Pro and 17 Pro Max — which would put it at $1,099, assuming Apple maintains its pricing structure from before. This would put it in direct competition with the Galaxy S25 Edge, but a higher price point still wouldn’t make it a dealbreaker.
Even though I’m all about the best cheap phones, I would be shocked if there aren’t deals for the iPhone 17 Air at launch to bring down its price. Nearly every major carrier will offer some kind of deal because that’s been their standard procedure with every major phone release. Take the iPhone 16 Pro Max last year when it dropped down in price to a penny less than a month after its launch.
Sure, you’ll have to sign off on some sort of phone plan, but the end result was getting a new iPhone on the cheap. This could happen for the iPhone 17 Air, so I’m not too worried about a higher price point. It would only really affect those buying the phone outright.
Follow Tom's Guide on Google News to get our up-to-date news, how-tos, and reviews in your feeds. Make sure to click the Follow button.
More from Tom's Guide
- iOS 26 public beta 3 has already arrived — here's what's new
- Right now is the worst time to buy a new iPhone — here’s why
- I’ve been using apps on the Samsung Galaxy Z Flip 7's cover screen with this download — but I’m not totally in love with it
You must confirm your public display name before commenting
Please logout and then login again, you will then be prompted to enter your display name.
