Apple has introduced the iPhone Air, its thinnest handset to date at 5.6mm, during a September 9 event. CEO Tim Cook described the release as the “biggest leap ever for iPhone,” and the first major addition to the lineup since the iPhone X in 2017. Priced at $999, the Air sits between the iPhone 17 ($799) and the iPhone 17 Pro ($1,099). It launches alongside the iPhone 17, 17 Pro, and Pro Max.
All new iPhones are powered by the A19 Pro chip, the company’s most advanced processor, and the N1 wireless chip, which introduces Wi-Fi 7, Bluetooth 6, and Thread. Pro models incorporate a vapor chamber to improve cooling. The lineup debuts Apple’s new “Liquid Glass” design with iOS 26.
Additional announcements included the Apple Watch Series 11, which adds 5G and hypertension detection, and the Watch Ultra 3, which supports satellite connectivity. The AirPods Pro 3 were also revealed, featuring heart-rate tracking, expanded workout support, stronger noise cancellation, and live translation, priced at $249.
In AI, Apple introduced modest improvements, adding live translation to its Apple Intelligence platform launched last year. Analysts suggest Apple’s AI ambitions remain limited for now, with more significant progress expected by the iPhone’s 20th anniversary in 2027.
