iPhone 17 Pro and Air Leak Roundup: Release Date, Design Changes, iOS 26 Upgrades, and Pricing Details
The iPhone 17 Pro and Air are more than just annual upgrades—they reflect Apple’s evolving vision for performance, design, and intelligence.
Apple’s next flagship phones are shaping up to be some of its most distinctive yet. The iPhone 17 Pro and Air, along with the standard and Max models, are expected to launch this September—and if the rumors hold, the Air could mark Apple’s boldest design shift in years.
Apple’s Fall Tradition Continues
Apple typically announces its new iPhones in September, and all signs suggest the iPhone 17 series will stick to that pattern. However, industry insiders hint this may be the last time Apple bundles all models into a single event. Starting with the iPhone 18 series in 2026, Apple may stagger Pro and standard model launches into different seasons.
Meet the iPhone 17 Air: Apple’s Thinnest iPhone Yet
The all-new iPhone 17 Air will prioritize form factor above all else. It’s expected to be ultra-thin, feature a 6.6-inch display, and carry a single-lens rear camera—likely a trade-off for slimming down the device. It will reportedly debut with Apple’s base-level A19 chip and integrate the company’s in-house modem, first introduced in the iPhone 16e.
The Air may also borrow cues from the MacBook naming convention, emphasizing lightweight construction. Despite early talk of aluminum-titanium blends, analyst Jeff Pu believes the Air will be the only model in the lineup to feature a full titanium frame, potentially making it premium in both materials and price.
Pro Models Stay Powerful, Max Gets Bigger
While the Air goes light, the iPhone 17 Pro and Pro Max are expected to stick with the tried-and-true formula of performance and size. The Pro and Max will reportedly feature aluminum bodies (oddly lighter than titanium), upgraded cameras, and larger batteries. The Max model, in particular, will likely maintain its place as the battery life king of the Apple ecosystem.
Meanwhile, the standard iPhone 17 should round out the lineup with balanced performance and features—likely retaining a dual-camera system and the same A19 chipset.
No Portless Future—Yet
Apple had reportedly considered making the Air completely portless, relying solely on wireless charging and data transfer. Fortunately, that plan has been shelved for now, meaning the Lightning or USB-C port will stick around for another generation.
Color Options: Soft and Bold
If you care about aesthetics, Apple’s color lineup this year may impress. According to Macworld:
- iPhone 17 colors: Black, white, steel gray, green, purple, light blue
- iPhone 17 Air colors: Black, white, light blue, light gold
- Pro/Pro Max colors: Black, white, gray, dark blue, orange
Expect the Air’s finishes to be more muted and pastel-inspired, while the Pro series leans toward rich, saturated tones.
iOS 26: New AI Features and Visual Identity
All models in the iPhone 17 lineup will ship with iOS 26, Apple’s first operating system to follow a year-based naming convention. The update introduces Liquid Glass, a new visual design with transparent effects (though some of these are being scaled back in beta).
Key software highlights include:
- Live translation in Phone, FaceTime, and Messages
- Sensitive content detection that can freeze inappropriate video for child accounts
- Visual Intelligence, an AI-powered image search feature
- Support for polls in group texts and finally, custom snooze durations for alarms
Pricing and What to Expect
Rumors suggest the iPhone 17 Air may start at $900, placing it between the base model and the Pro in terms of pricing. Given its design-first philosophy, it’s unlikely to replace the SE or 16e tiers, which remain Apple’s current budget offerings.
The Bottom Line
With a thinner design, new chipsets, bold AI integrations, and a fresh lineup of colors, the iPhone 17 Pro and Air promise a clear break from previous models. Whether you’re after power, portability, or a bit of both, Apple’s fall launch could bring something for every kind of iPhone user.
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