If you place the iPhone 17 Air next to last year’s 16 Plus, they look almost the same. Flat edges, same 6.3-inch OLED screen, 120Hz refresh, nothing flashy on the outside. But there are a few notable changes worth noting.
The 17 Air is a bit lighter and a bit brighter. That helps outdoors, but not a huge deal for most people.
What matters more is performance. The new A19 Pro chip and 8GB RAM combo is faster than the 16 Plus’s A18 and 6GB. The Apps open quicker, games run smoother and multitasking feels snappier. Still, battery life is about the same.
Camera hardware hasn’t changed, still 48MP but image quality has. Night shots and videos look better thanks to upgraded processing. Charging got a slight bump too: 30W vs 27W. Nothing major, but handy if you’re topping up in a rush.
So, if you’re using a 15 or older, the 17 Air feels like a nice step up. If you’re already on the 16 Plus, maybe skip this one and wait for what’s next.