Apple’s flashiest new iPhone launch this year will be the iPhone 17 Air / iPhone 17 Slim, a new entrant in the lineup featuring a striking 5.5mm thin chassis.
The Air is expected to replace the current Plus SKU, with a price point in the range of $900-$1000. Based on numerous leaked schematics, the iPhone 17 Air will sport a 6.6-inch display, nestling between the Pro and the Max in terms of size. But Ming-Chi Kuo says Apple is already working on a future generation Air with a bigger screen.
After the 17 Air this fall, Kuo says Apple will release a spec-bump update iPhone 18 Air in fall 2026, forming a regular annual update scheduled for the device. He says Apple is currently targeting a release date for the updated model with a bigger screen in the second half of 2027, which would make it the iPhone 19 Air.
Details on how much bigger the screen is planned to get were not shared. However, we may already know based on earlier reporting from Bloomberg.
Back in March, Bloomberg’s Mark Gurman said that Apple originally prototyped the slim iPhone with a 6.9-inch display, matching the Pro Max screen size. However, it backtracked during development over fears the device was too fragile and prone to bending. The company did not want a repeat of ‘Bendgate’.
But perhaps the ambitions for a slim 6.9-inch device have persisted and Apple is now working to bring that original design to market when it can, seemingly in 2027.
The future of the iPhone lineup is exciting with many new designs and form factors in the offing. As well as the new Air model, Apple is expected to dramatically redesign the Pro phones in 2026 and 2027. The company will also launch its first foldable iPhones, starting in late 2026.
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