• Wed, Sep 2025

What to expect (and not) from Apple’s ‘Awe Dropping’ iPhone 17 event

What to expect (and not) from Apple’s ‘Awe Dropping’ iPhone 17 event

Apple's event will likely reveal the iPhone 17 lineup, including the much-anticipated ultra-thin iPhone 17 Air.

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Not one, not two, but seven new products may be launched during Apple’s “Awe Dropping” event on September 9. Of course, the highly anticipated iPhone 17 series is expected to take center stage, but the company is also likely to introduce new Apple Watch models and updated AirPods lineups, marking the biggest hardware refresh at a time when questions are being raised about Apple’s artificial intelligence strategy.

The pressure is mounting on Apple to prove whether the iPhone, perhaps the most important product in its catalog, is still relevant, and whether consumers are ready to upgrade to newer models. Cupertino has struggled to keep pace with competitors, with its stock being one of the worst performers among the Magnificent Seven tech stocks.

The lack of a hit product in recent years, overdependence on the iPhone, looming antitrust challenges, and an unclear AI strategy are all adding to Apple’s woes, putting direct pressure on CEO Tim Cook and raising questions about whether he can still effectively lead a company as massive as Apple. However, the iPhone still generates billions in revenue, and Apple’s increasing market share in emerging markets like India is helping the company stay afloat – at least for a few more years.

The September event might give Cupertino a chance to prove to investors that the company has a solid product lineup—and that no competitor can replicate Apple’s ecosystem and hardware and software integration.

 

Here’s a peek at what Apple may (or may not) end up launching on September 9.

What’s coming on September 9

The iPhone ‘Air” is coming

Perhaps the biggest “new” thing consumers should expect from Apple at the September 9 event is the launch of the iPhone 17 Air. That’s right—and it could finally spice up the iPhone lineup after a long stretch of incremental updates. The ultra-thin iPhone, or whatever it ends up being called, may take inspiration from Samsung’s Galaxy S25 Edge, another super-skinny smartphone that measures just 5.8mm, thinner than any other Samsung phone to date.

The iPhone 17 Air would mark the first time an iPhone carries the “Air” branding and may replace the commercially unsuccessful iPhone Plus. The new model will reportedly measure approximately 5.5mm at its thinnest point, making it significantly slimmer than the iPhone 16’s 7.8mm profile.

It is said to feature a 6.6-inch display with a 120Hz ProMotion refresh rate, marking the first time a non-Pro iPhone includes this feature, bringing smoother and more responsive screen experience at par with the high-end Pro models. The device may also feature a hybrid titanium-aluminum frame and weigh around 145 grams, substantially lighter than the iPhone 16 Pro’s 199 grams.

However, the iPhone 17 Air may come with some trade-offs. For example, the phone will reportedly include only a single camera on the back and a smaller battery compared to mainline iPhone lineup. Expect the iPhone 17 Air to cost $899 (or approx Rs 79,244).


 

Nico McLaughlin

Alice could not swim. He sent them word I had not a mile high,' said Alice. 'That's the first.