Apple just launched its new iPhone Air, which arrives in place of the Plus model we’ve become accustomed to in the past few generations. The tech giant has confirmed iPhone Air pre orders for the 12th of September, with wide availability a week later. It arrives as the thinnest iPhone ever, and this particular model generated a bit of buzz in the days, weeks, and months before the reveal – thanks to plenty of leaks on the way.

Now that the iPhone Air has been officially announced (not the iPhone 17 Air as we first expected it to be called), we know all there is to know about its release date, specs, and price. Essentially, we can throw away the previous rumors and leaks. It will be available at the same time as the iPhone 17, Pro & Pro Max models. So, let’s jump into everything you need to know.

iPhone Air release date schedule

The new iPhone Air follows the same release schedule as the iPhone 17 series. After being announced on Tuesday, September 9th, it will be available for pre-order on the following Friday, and then wide availability, i.e. when you can buy it directly in stores, starts seven days later.

• Launched on September 9
• Available for pre-order on Friday, September 12
• Release date on Friday, September 19 (this is when the phones are widely available for purchase)

iPhone Air specs

Like the other 2025 models, there were plenty of leaks in the build-up to the iPhone Air launch. One of which was a 6.6″ screen size. It turns out it’s actually 6.5″, and the Air gets Apple’s latest A19 Pro Chip – not the basic one the base iPhone 17 gets. As Apple’s slimmest iPhone, it is just 5.64 millimeters thick, which is one of the reasons why it’s eSIM-only worldwide – the first time Apple has forced an eSIM-only model outside of the United States. The table below delves into the specs a little more.

iPhone Air price & storage variants

Despite previous rumors saying the iPhone Air could cost over $1,000, this has now been dismissed by Apple. The cheapest model arrives at $999, for 256GB of storage. The slimline phone is also available in 512GB and 1TB storage options. It’s worth nothing that the Air isn’t the cheapest option this gen – that title still belongs to the base iPhone 17, which starts at $799.

When was the iPhone Air announced?

Along with the iPhone 17 series, Apple announced the new iPhone Air at its September event on the 9th of the month. The tech giant introduces the new Air model as the thinnest iPhone to date, and it’s a fierce contender for Samsung’s Galaxy S25 Edge, which was released earlier this year. You can see the full Apple Event presentation below – there’s a timestamp for the iPhone Air segment of the presentation if you want to skip ahead.

Does the iPhone Air replace the iPhone Plus?

Yes, Apple has dropped the less popular Plus model in favor of a new iPhone Air. As such, there is no iPhone 17 Plus. Even though it doesn’t carry the ’17’ moniker, the Air launches alongside the new iPhone 17 series. The iPhone Air arrives as Apple’s thinnest smartphone and echoes what Samsung has done with the Galaxy S25 Edge. It is priced from $999 and is available in 256GB, 512GB, and 1TB storage options.

About the Author

Jack Goodall

At PC Guide, Jack is mostly responsible for reporting on hardware deals. He also specializes in monitors, TVs, and headsets and can be found putting his findings together in a review or best-of guide.