iPhone 17 Air vs 16 Pro: Should You Wait or Upgrade Now?

The iPhone 16 series is still fresh on the market, but let’s face it, the tech world moves fast. With Apple gearing up to launch its next-generation later this year, many people are already wondering: should I upgrade now, or wait for the next big thing?

So far, the iPhone 17 Air (aka the iPhone Slim) is shaping up to be a real game-changer come September. We’re hearing rumors of a lighter, thinner design, the next-gen A19 chip, and a larger display—which could make it tempting to skip the iPhone 16 Pro altogether.

That said, the iPhone 16 Pro comes with some major upgrades already—like the improved telephoto camera with 5x optical zoom, which was previously only available on the Max models. It’s going to take a lot to top that!

In this blog, we will discuss everything you need to know about the iPhone 17 Air and iPhone 16 Pro to help you determine whether you should leap now or later.

Design and Display

Featherlight Feel

Up until now, the iPhone 6 has held the title of Apple’s thinnest iPhone at 6.9mm. The 17 Air could slim this down further to just 6mm. For some, this might be a compelling enough reason to pass up on the iPhone 16 Pro, which sits at 9.3mm.

The iPhone 17 Air is going to be incredibly pocket-friendly, thanks to its slim design. It takes some intense tech wizardry to make it that thin, and the sleek form is bound to be the phone’s most charming aspect. Plus, it’ll probably be lighter too. You can bet that Apple will stick with that thin and light vibe for the 17 Air.

Bigger, Better Display

It’s hard to imagine how the iPhone 17 Air could get thinner and lighter than the iPhone 16 Pro and still feature a larger screen. But that’s exactly what the iPhone 17 Air rumors have been pointing to.

Word on the street is that Apple plans to equip the 17 Air with a 6.6-inch OLED display. In comparison, the iPhone 16 Pro has a 6.3-inch display. This has us wondering: what kind of size dimension changes are in store for the 17 Air? Maybe they’ll make it a little longer or stretch it out.

Like the 16 Pro, the 17 Air is expected to come with ProMotion tech and a 120Hz refresh rate. There’s also talk of a new feature called “touch and display driver integration," which combines the touch and display layers to create a smoother experience.

Redesigned Look

Apple might be switching things up with the iPhone 17 Air. Some leaks suggest a redesigned camera bump, with images showing a pill-shaped, raised camera bar at the top, possibly housing a single rear camera. But should we buy into this rumor? Maybe not.

For one, Apple has never used this design before—and for a company that values design consistency, making such a drastic change seems unlikely. Plus, a wide camera module on a device this thin could mess with its front-facing Face ID components. Apple abandoning Face ID altogether is difficult to envision. Therefore, we’re betting that the back of the 17 Air will stay pretty clean and simple. A single rear camera in the corner—similar to the iPhone SE (2022)—seems like the most likely option.

Another big change could be audio. Unlike the iPhone 16 Pro, which has dual speakers, leaks suggest the iPhone 17 Air might only have a top speaker. That could impact sound quality, so it’ll be interesting to see how Apple balances that out.

Then there’s the Dynamic Island—a feature we’re keeping an eye on. Right now, it takes up a decent chunk of space on the iPhone 16 Pro. But with the iPhone 17 Air, Apple might shrink the cutout. This would make room for a sleeker display while keeping the selfie camera and Face ID sensors intact.

As for materials, Apple will probably use a titanium-aluminum mixture for the frame—lighter than the titanium of the Pro models, but with the same premium feel. Details on the iPhone 17 Air colors are still pretty limited. But if Apple sticks to last year’s iPhone 16 Pro colors, we could see options like Black Titanium, White Titanium, Natural Titanium, and Desert Titanium make a return. Of course, Apple might surprise us with new shades.

Performance and Battery

Apple has launched a new chip pretty much every year. So, 2025 should be no different. The iPhone 17 Air should be equipped with the A19 chip, but don't expect a huge performance jump. It will still use the same 3nm process as the A18 Pro in the iPhone 16 Pro, so any improvements will likely be fairly incremental.

Where Apple can make more visible improvements is in power efficiency. A more efficient chip could help enhance battery life. The iPhone 16 Pro already boasts good battery life, with up to 27 hours of video playback, 22 hours of streamed video, and up to 85 hours of audio playback.

While it would be great if Apple could improve on that, the smaller form factor of the iPhone 17 Air might also mean a smaller battery. If that’s the case, battery life will depend heavily on chip efficiency. Having said that, Apple is reportedly working on new battery adhesives which will simplify battery replacements.

Camera Upgrades

Significant camera upgrades are expected across the iPhone 17 range, with the Pro Max version rumored to feature three 48MP rear cameras—a first for Apple. However, these high-end upgrades likely won't make their way down to the iPhone 17 Air. That said, we can still expect some solid upgrades. A 48MP single rear camera seems likely, and so does a 12MP front camera for better selfies.

The iPhone 16 Pro already had some serious camera improvements, including improved zoom and a larger sensor for improved low-light photography. Assuming Apple continues to improve upon that, the iPhone 17 Air should still have great photos, even if it doesn't quite match the Pro models.

Storage and RAM Options

When you’re comparing the iPhone 17 Air vs. the iPhone 16 Pro, storage is something to consider. The iPhone 16 Pro offers four different storage options, starting at 128GB and going all the way up to a whopping 1TB. The iPhone 17 Air, however, is expected to start at 128GB but likely top out at 512GB.

As for RAM, both models will probably stick with 8GB, which has been consistent across the iPhone lineup. It would be a bit of a shock if Apple decided to increase that.

Pricing and Release Date

The iPhone 17 release date will probably fall somewhere in September. Apple follows a pretty consistent release schedule. That’s pretty clear from last year, when the 16 Pro Max was released on September 9. We can expect this year’s flagship to be released around the same time.

As for the pricing, it’s still early to say with certainty. The iPhone 16 Pro price in Australia starts at a whopping A$1,799. Its launch price was very similar to that of its predecessor. Apple might bump the price a tad bit with its iPhone 17 series. However, rumors claim that the new model will be positioned as a more affordable option to the Pro version. We’ll just wait and see what the iPhone 17 Air price will be.

For those on a budget or looking for a good deal, don’t forget to check out our vast collection of refurbished iPhones.

Verdict

The iPhone 17 Air is shaping up to be an impressive device, no doubt. But it might not be best for everyone. Being a first-generation device, there’s a chance that some features may not be refined enough. So it wouldn’t hurt to wait. Still, we have to admit, the idea of owning an iPhone as slim as the iPhone 17 Air is quite tempting. 

If waiting until fall isn't an option for you, the iPhone 16 Pro is still guaranteed to impress. It’s a powerful device with a stunning design, making it all worth it. Needless to say, the iPhone 16 lineup will no longer be the top dog by that time. Therefore, you should be able to secure a healthy discount on the refurbished iPhone 16 Series.

Finally, settled on an iPhone 16 Pro? Don't forget to protect your investment with an iPhone 16 Pro case or an iPhone 16 Pro screen protector. Both are great ways to keep your device in tip-top shape. Plus, with the discounts on refurbished models, it's a smart pick for those looking for great value. iPhone 16 Pro at Phonebot today and enjoy unbeatable deals.