The iPhone 17 Air, set to launch this September alongside the iPhone 17 series, will replace the iPhone 16 Plus. Rumored to be thinner at about 5.5mm, it aims to attract more buyers, responding to the poor sales of previous Plus models. However, it features a small 2,800 mAh battery, less than competitors like the Samsung Galaxy S25 Edge. The iPhone 17 Air will weigh 145g, lighter than the S25 Edge’s 163g, but will have only one rear camera compared to the Samsung’s two. A battery case will be available to address concerns about battery life while maintaining its sleek design.
The iPhone 17 Air is expected to be released this September alongside the iPhone 17, iPhone 17 Pro, and iPhone 17 Pro Max, serving as an indirect successor to the iPhone 16 Plus.
With this context, you might be curious about how it stacks up against the iPhone 16 Plus it is set to replace in Apple’s lineup. A recent leak on X provides a side-by-side comparison, as shown in the images below.
Is iPhone 17 Air a good upgrade? pic.twitter.com/AfbYZfKCmv
— Majin Bu (@MajinBuOfficial) May 18, 2025
Historically, the Plus models have been the least popular among Apple’s four primary iPhone releases. Consequently, Apple is introducing the iPhone 17 Air to replace the iPhone 16 Plus, aiming for its slim profile to attract more buyers.
Rumors suggest that the iPhone 17 Air will be a mere 5.5mm (or possibly 5.65mm, depending on the source) thick, reportedly housing a diminutive 2,800 mAh battery to achieve this sleekness. This capacity is significantly smaller than the Samsung Galaxy S25 Edge’s already modest 3,900 mAh battery. However, Apple plans to offer a battery case that could negate the advantages of its extreme thinness.
The iPhone 17 Air is said to weigh 145g, which is lighter than Samsung’s 163g model, but keep in mind that the iPhone features only one rear camera compared to the S25 Edge’s two.