The iPhone 17 Air is easily one of the most highly anticipated variants of the upcoming iPhone 17 series. Built to replace the iPhone 16 Plus, the Air variant will focus on a slim and thin chassis that tries to impart the same in-hand experience as the iPhone 6 from last decade. While the leaks have revealed a lot of the specs and features, a new tip reveals a rather disappointing change – a lower spec processor.
According to a tip from Fixed Focus Digital, a reliable source known for their iPhone leaks, the iPhone 17 Air may fall short of the Pro models in key areas. These compromises, while doing their bit in making the device more affordable, could also make it a less attractive option for demanding consumers.
What downgrades will the iPhone 17 Air bring?
The downgrades revolve around the hardware and display sections. Initially, it was said that the iPhone 17 Air will feature an A19 Pro chipset, which could offer a significant leap in processing power. However, it is now said to have one less GPU core than its Pro counterpart. The differentiation is similar to the A18 and A18 Pro chip in the iPhone 16 Plus and iPhone 16 Pro models.
This subtle difference, which may not bother most users, could translate to a noticeable performance gap, particularly for graphics-intensive apps and games.
Additionally, the display is expected to see several downgrades. While the iPhone 17 Air is rumoured to feature a 120Hz refresh rate, something which the tech fraternity has been begging for years on a non-Pro iPhone, it may lack the variable refresh rate tech. This means that it is likely to miss out on the always-on display feature found on the Pro models. Since the battery is also said to be smaller than the Plus variant, the non-LTPO OLED panel could impact overall battery life.
What else is ‘Air’ about the iPhone 17 Air?
In the photography department, the iPhone 17 Air is rumoured to sport a single rear camera. This is a stark contrast to the multi-lens setups typically found on high-end smartphones, including the Pro models. A single lens camera could significantly limit its photographic capabilities, especially for telephoto or ultrawide shots.
On the other hand, Apple could rely on computational photography to offer digital zoom with the single lens setup, although the ultrawide POV could be a huge miss.
Despite these potential compromises, the tipster believes the iPhone 17 Air will be a commercial success, unlike the iPhone 16 Plus. The phone could entice a group of people wanting a sleek and stylish iPhone instead of the bulky slabs.
