iPhone 17 vs. iPhone Air Buyer's Guide: 25+ Differences Compared

The iPhone Air costs a whole $200 more than the iPhone 17, yet lacks many of its features. Here's how the two devices compare.

Instead of the familiar split between standard and Pro models, Apple this year introduced the new ‌iPhone Air‌ and expanded the feature gap between tiers. The result is a predicament between the affordable and practical ‌iPhone 17‌, and the super-thin and all-new ‌iPhone Air‌, with distinct trade-offs in size, materials, camera hardware, and battery life along the way. While they both share brighter displays, ProMotion, and an all-new 18-megapixel camera, their designs, display sizes, and camera features are more specialized than ever before.

This guide offers a detailed look at every difference—dimensions, design, cameras, battery life, and pricing—so you can make an informed choice. Whether you prioritize design, photography, or battery life, this year's iPhones are no longer one-size-fits-all devices, and understanding the lineup is key to choosing the best model for you and your budget.

Sizes and Weights





‌iPhone 17‌

‌iPhone Air‌





Height

5.89 inches (149.6 mm)

6.15 inches (156.2 mm)





Width

2.81 inches (71.5 mm)

2.94 inches (74.7 mm)





Depth

0.31 inches (7.95 mm)

0.22 inches (5.64 mm)





Weight

6.24 ounces (177 grams)

5.82 ounces (165 grams)



Designs and Performance



‌iPhone 17‌

‌iPhone Air‌





Anodized aluminum frame

Polished titanium frame







Camera plateau





Ceramic Shield front

Ceramic Shield front and back





6.3-inch display

6.5-inch display





Stereo speakers

Mono speaker





A19 chip

A19 Pro chip





8GB memory

12GB memory





256GB or 512GB storage

256GB, 512GB, or 1TB storage





Available in White, Black, Mist Blue, Sage, and Lavender

Available in Cloud White, Space Black, Sky Blue, and Light Gold



Camera



‌iPhone 17‌

‌iPhone Air‌





Dual rear cameras

Single rear camera





48-megapixel ultra wide camera







0.5x, 1x, and 2x optical zoom options

1x and 2x optical zoom options





Macro photography







Spatial photos







Cinematic mode







Macro video recording, including slo‑mo and time‑lapse





Battery Life and Charging



‌iPhone 17‌

‌iPhone Air‌





3,692 mAh battery

3,149 mAh battery





Up to 30-hour battery life

Up to 27-hour battery life





MagSafe wireless charging up to 25W

‌MagSafe‌ wireless charging up to 20W





Up to 50% charge in 20 minutes with 40W adapter or higher

Up to 50% charge in 30 minutes with 20W adapter or higher, or 30W adapter or higher paired with ‌MagSafe‌ Charger







Support for Apple ‌MagSafe‌ battery



Pricing





256GB

512GB

1TB







‌iPhone 17‌

$799

$999







‌iPhone Air‌

$999

$1,199

$1,399





Which One Should You Choose?

Many users may find it difficult to justify buying the ‌iPhone Air‌ up against the ‌iPhone 17‌. Not only does it cost $200 more, but it misses out on a wide range of features such as stereo speakers and physical SIM. It lacks the Ultra Wide camera and a host of camera features like Macro Photography, Spatial Photos, and Cinematic Mode. It also charges more slowly and has three hours less battery life.

The ‌iPhone Air‌ wins out in terms of design, with a strikingly thin and light polished titanium frame. It has Ceramic Shield back glass and a larger display, as well as the A19 Pro chip with 12GB of memory, which should deliver better performance. It is a whole new take on what the iPhone should be and likely provides a glimpse at the long-term direction of the device, being the basis for a future foldable.

The ‌iPhone 17‌ is an extremely solid device at an affordable price. While the ‌iPhone Air‌ has a slightly larger display and should perform better than the ‌iPhone 17‌, its added cost and lack of features available on the cheaper device may be hard to rationalize for many customers. You should only buy the ‌iPhone Air‌ if you are comfortable with these drawbacks in exchange for a more luxurious, radically thin design.Related Roundups: iPhone 17, iPhone AirBuyer's Guide: iPhone 17 (Buy Now), iPhone Air (Buy Now)Related Forum: iPhoneThis article, "iPhone 17 vs. iPhone Air Buyer's Guide: 25+ Differences Compared" first appeared on MacRumors.comDiscuss this article in our forums