Apple unveils iPhone Air, its thinnest-ever phone, and the iPhone 17

Apple has launched its thinnest-ever smartphone, unveiling the iPhone Air at an event in California overnight, alongside a trio of more traditionally proportioned phones plus new watches and earbuds.

At 5.6mm thick and weighing in at 165g, the iPhone Air makes some concessions in order to achieve its thin frame — such as paring back to only one rear camera, and being incompatible with physical SIM cards — but Apple claims it’s more durable and power efficient than any previous iPhone.

The iPhone Air has the same chip as the new Pro phones and a larger screen than the standard iPhone 17, but is thinner and lighter.

“Our intention was to make an iPhone that feels like a piece of the future. Powerful, yet so thin and light it seems to disappear in your hands,” said industrial designer Abidur Chowdhury during the event.

The phone has Apple’s Ceramic Shield coating on the front and back, which the company said made it three times more resistant to scratches and four times more resistant to cracks. It has a titanium frame, and a new “plateau” design on the rear that houses the 48MP camera and most of the phone’s internal hardware, including the new A19 Pro chip. In Australia, it will start at $1800 for a model with 256GB of storage.

The standard iPhone 17 has caught up to the Pro models, and practically every Android phone, with a high refresh always-on display.

The company also revealed a redesigned iPhone 17 and 17 Pro — both of which are thicker and heavier than the Air and have smaller screens — plus an iPhone 17 Pro Max which is larger overall.

The standard iPhone has been upgraded with a slightly larger 6.3-inch screen that now features a variable 120Hz refresh rate, making for smoother motion and better battery life, as well as an always-on display. Apple said its battery will last up to eight hours longer than that of the iPhone 16.

The iPhone 17 Pro has a new design, with an aluminium unibody.

The Pro models have moved back from a titanium to an aluminium construction, and for the first time feature a unibody design. Apple said the frame is 20 times better at dissipating heat than last year’s Pro, providing performance and longevity gains paired with a bigger battery and the new chip.

“iPhone 17 Pro is by far the most powerful iPhone we’ve ever made, rebuilt from the inside out to maximise performance and deliver an enormous leap in battery life,” said Apple marketing boss Greg Joswiak.

“With three 48MP Fusion cameras and pro-level video features, the creative opportunities are endless.”

All four smartphones have a new front camera with a wider field of view, which lets users take selfies in any orientation without rotating the device. The camera uses AI to detect additional people in the frame and switch to a wider view. The phones also get a new feature that captures video from the front and back cameras simultaneously.

The devices will be available in Australia on September 19. The starting price for the standard model is unchanged from last year at $1400, even though it now has twice as much storage. The Pro and Pro Max models, however, are more expensive, starting at $2000 and $2200 respectively. Apple will continue to sell the iPhone 16, 16 Plus and 16e at a reduced price.

In addition to phones, Apple also unveiled new AirPods Pro and three new models of Apple Watch at the event.

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The AirPods Pro 3 have foam-infused ear tips in five sizes, which the company said helps achieve twice the active noise cancellation. They have a live translation feature, more robust waterproofing, a heart rate sensor for fitness tracking even without a watch, and a longer battery life. They will sell for $430.

The $680 Apple Watch Series 11 is thinner and more durable, supports 5G in the more expensive cellular model, has a battery life up to 24 hours and will now give a daily sleep score. Pending regulatory approval, it will also detect potential high blood pressure.

The $400 Apple Watch SE has the same S10 chip as the Series 11 and features an always-on display, while the $1400 Apple Watch Ultra 3 has been upgraded with a bigger screen, satellite connectivity and a battery life of up to 42 hours.

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