iPhone 17 Air to Replace Plus Model in 2026

Lately, there have been reports about another model, the iPhone 17 Air, to replace the Plus model of this year’s iPhone lineup. It could be thinner than the iPhone 6, leaks would have us believe. According to supply chain sources, mass production of the iPhone 17 Air has already started, which will also be priced accordingly. There are also reports of Apple developing foldable devices such as a foldable iPhone and a big foldable device.

iPhone 17 Air Production Kicks Off, Foldable iPhone Expected in 2026

The iPhone 17 Air will have better specs than the iPhone 17, but not all the features found in the Pro models, but will likely be cheaper than them according to The Wall Street Journal, as a sleeker entry at a lower price point. The iPhone 16 Pro starts at $999, and the iPhone 17 Air is speculated to be priced around $900, similar to the iPhone 16 Plus.

According to a DigiTimes report, the iPhone 17 Air has already entered the New Product Introduction (NPI) stage at Foxconn, indicating that mass production is on schedule. During this phase, designs are validated, prototypes are tested and the manufacturing process is refined. Other leaks indicate that the iPhone 17 Air will come with a single 48MP camera, e-SIM support, and an in-house 5G modem to fit into its slim form. However, it is common to make some design adjustments in the NPI phase to align with manufacturing capabilities.

The Wall Street Journal also mentions Apple’s foldable iPhone plans, slated for a release in 2026, but technical issues, including with the hinge mechanism, could delay the launch. Rumored to be larger than the iPhone 16 Pro Max when opened the foldable iPhone Apple is said to be working on another foldable 19-inch screen for a device that would serve as some sort of laptop replacement. Both devices are still in the works, with Apple preferring inward-folding displays, as all foldable devices do.

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