Apple iPhone 17 Air may be way more expensive than previously thought
Just yesterday, we covered a report from an analyst at J.P. Morgan which estimated the pricing details for Apple's upcoming iPhone 17 lineup. While the base iPhone 17 and the highest-end iPhone 17 Pro Max are expected to sport prices similar to last year, the new iPhone 17 Air and the iPhone 17 Pro are likely to boast $50-$100 price bumps.
Now, yet another report from TrendForce has stated that the iPhone 17 Air is likely to be far more expensive than earlier rumors have hinted. TrendForce claims an $1,099 starting price for the entry-level variant with 256 GB storage, with the highest-end variant costing a cool $1,499. This makes the iPhone 17 Air and the iPhone 17 Pro differ in price by only $100 according to the report, which isn't all that surprising, to say the least.
The iPhone 17 Pro is expected to boast a smaller 6.2-inch display compared to the Air's 6.6-inch, although the Pro variants are tipped to feature the more powerful A19 Pro SoC. The iPhone 17 Air is also certain to be far thinner than the iPhone 17 Pro, and feature a titanium frame as opposed to the Pro's rumored aluminum frame. On the other hand, the iPhone 17 Pro will most certainly have a far superior camera system consisting of three shooters, whereas the Air will have to settle for only one.
Clearly, the iPhone 17 Air and iPhone 17 Pro are hugely different, and the close pricing indicates that Apple will position the two devices somewhat horizontally rather than vertically. In simpler terms, the Air is not meant to be a cheaper version of the Pro, but rather a different device entirely, targeted at a separate set of people who prioritize thinness over camera performance.
With less than a week remaining until Apple's "Awe Dropping" event, potential customers don't seem to have much waiting left to do. For those who would like to read a summary of what we can expect from the iPhone 17 and 17 Pro, feel free to refer to our Leak Lounge article for the same.
Source(s)
MacRumors, Teaser image by 4RMD via YouTube
