According to a report from The Wall Street Journal last month, the iPhone 17 Air is set to be priced lower than the iPhone Pro models. This goes against the expectation that the new ultra-slim iPhone would be priced even higher than the Pro Max models. Given this new pricing strategy, the phone seems to present a more logical option than ever.
New Pricing Insights
A recent report from The Wall Street Journal shared the following regarding the much-anticipated iPhone 17 Air:
Apple plans to launch a thinner iPhone next year, one with a profile less than the 8-millimeter height of current models, as per sources familiar with the company’s plans. This model is intended to be less expensive than the Pro versions, featuring a simplified camera system to cut costs.
This contradicts earlier reports. Back in May, The Information provided insights on the device, stating:
The slimmer iPhone could debut alongside the iPhone 17, anticipated in September 2025, according to three insiders and two others familiar with the initiative. They suggested it could be priced higher than the iPhone Pro Max, which currently starts at $1,200.
Significance of the Pricing Change
If the previous reports were true, being more expensive than the iPhone Pro Max would mean a starting price of at least $1,199, possibly reaching $1,299. Such pricing for a thinner iPhone with fewer features—a compromised battery life and a single camera—seemed a bit excessive. While the design might be aesthetically pleasing and could set the stage for future slimmer models, it wouldn’t justify the cost.
Recent updates also indicate that the iPhone 17 Air may forgo a second speaker, relying solely on the earpiece for audio. With so many trade-offs, paying a premium would have been hard to justify.
However, if the latest reports are accurate, we now expect a model priced below the Pro models. It’s uncertain what this entails exactly, as there could be an increase in the iPhone 17 Pro’s price. Nonetheless, it seems the iPhone 17 Air should come in under $1,000. If the iPhone 17 Pro’s price remains stable, the 17 Air might start as low as $899, matching the price of the iPhone 16 Plus.
This significantly alters the value proposition, making the new model potentially up to $400 more affordable than initially assumed.
Conclusion
Even though you would be sacrificing battery life and a second camera compared to the iPhone 16 Plus, as well as missing a second speaker, you’d still receive the sleek, shiny, and significantly slimmer iPhone at last year’s price. Apple likely sees this as a key selling point. It will be the first iPhone in numerous years that appears notably different from its predecessor.
Additionally, in contrast to the iPhone 16 and iPhone 16 Plus, the base iPhone 17 and iPhone 17 Air will feature 120Hz ProMotion displays, appealing to tech enthusiasts as well.
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