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iPhone Air vs iPhone 17e

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Starting at

£637.19

£999 new

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Starting at

£604.85
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iPhone AirStarting at £637.19See options
iPhone 17eStarting at £604.85See options

In a nutshell

They share the same 48MP main camera and the same IP68 rating. The iPhone 17e has the lower launch price, longer OS support until about 2033 (est.) and the newer A19 chip. The iPhone Air counters with a 120Hz screen, more memory with 12GB of RAM and Wi-Fi 7.

At 256GB, the iPhone Air launched at £999 and the iPhone 17e at £599.

Available models

iPhone Air

Capacity

Condition grades in stock

Pristine, Excellent, Great, Good

iPhone 17e

Capacity

Condition grades in stock

Great

Durability

iPhone Air 94/100
iPhone 17e 95/100

The iPhone 17e should be supported for longer, with OS updates until about 2033 (est.) against about 2032 (est.) on the iPhone Air.

Software support:The iPhone Air should get OS updates until about 2032 (est.) and the iPhone 17e until about 2033 (est.). That gives the iPhone 17e the longer support window.

Frame:The iPhone Air has a titanium frame and the iPhone 17e an aluminium one.

Weight:The iPhone Air weighs 165g and the iPhone 17e 170g, so the iPhone Air is the lighter phone.

Water and dust:Both are rated IP68, the same protection against dust and water.

Released

2025
2026Newer

Updates until (est.)

2032
2033Supported for longer

Water resistance

IP68
IP68

Frame

Titanium
Aluminium

Weight

165gLighter
170g

Release date

19 September 2025
11 March 2026

Front glass

Ceramic Shield 2
Ceramic Shield 2

Dimensions

156.2 x 74.7 x 5.64 mm
146.7 x 71.5 x 7.8 mm

Biometrics

Face ID
Face ID

Repairability

EU repairability class C
EU repairability class C

Performance

iPhone Air 94/100
iPhone 17e 92/100

The iPhone 17e has the newer chip, the A19.

Chip:The iPhone Air runs the A19 Pro and the iPhone 17e the A19. The A19 is the newer chip, from 2026.

Memory:The iPhone Air has 12GB of RAM against 8GB on the iPhone 17e, which helps keep more apps open in the background.

Storage:The iPhone Air launched in 256GB, 512GB and 1TB and the iPhone 17e in 256GB and 512GB.

AI features:Both support Apple Intelligence, the same AI suite.

Chip

A19 Pro
A19

RAM

12GBMore memory
8GB

Storage options

256GB, 512GB, 1TB
256GB, 512GB

AI features

Yes
Yes

Screen quality

iPhone Air 98/100
iPhone 17e 62/100

The iPhone Air has the smoother screen, 120Hz against 60Hz.

Size:The iPhone Air's 6.5-inch screen is bigger than the 6.1-inch screen on the iPhone 17e.

Smoothness:The iPhone Air refreshes at up to 120Hz against 60Hz on the iPhone 17e, so scrolling looks smoother.

Panel:The iPhone Air uses a Super Retina XDR OLED panel at 2736 x 1260 and the iPhone 17e a Super Retina XDR OLED panel at 2532 x 1170.

Brightness:The iPhone Air peaks at 3000 nits against 1200 on the iPhone 17e, by the makers' figures, so it is easier to read in bright sun.

Screen size

6.5"Bigger screen
6.1"

Screen type

Super Retina XDR OLED
Super Retina XDR OLED

Refresh rate

120HzSmoother scrolling
60Hz

Resolution

2736 x 1260
2532 x 1170

Peak brightness

3000 nits (maker figure)
1200 nits (maker figure)

Camera

iPhone Air 40/100
iPhone 17e 35/100

The same 48MP main camera on both, so everyday shots start from the same resolution.

Selfies:The iPhone Air has an 18MP selfie camera against 12MP on the iPhone 17e.

Zoom:Neither has a telephoto lens, and both offer the same 2x crop from the main sensor.

Video:Both record video at up to 4K 60fps Dolby Vision, the same top setting.

Main camera

48MP
48MP

Ultrawide

None
None

Telephoto

None
None

Optical zoom

None
None

Front camera

18MPSharper selfies
12MP

Video recording

4K 60fps Dolby Vision
4K 60fps Dolby Vision

2x zoom

Crop from the main sensor, no telephoto lens
Crop from the main sensor, no telephoto lens

Battery

iPhone Air 78/100
iPhone 17e 71/100

The iPhone Air lasts longer on Apple's figures, up to 27 hours of video against 26.

Battery life:Apple rates the iPhone Air at up to 27 hours of video playback and the iPhone 17e at up to 26 hours.

Capacity:The iPhone 17e has the bigger battery, 4005mAh against 3149mAh.

Wireless charging:For wireless charging, the iPhone Air supports MagSafe 20W, Qi2 20W and the iPhone 17e MagSafe 15W, Qi2 15W.

Battery

3149mAh
4005mAhBigger battery

Wireless charging

MagSafe 20W, Qi2 20W
MagSafe 15W, Qi2 15W

Video playback (maker)

Up to 27 hours
Up to 26 hours

Connectivity

iPhone Air 78/100
iPhone 17e 64/100

The iPhone Air has the newer Wi-Fi, Wi-Fi 7.

Wi-Fi:The iPhone Air has Wi-Fi 7 against Wi-Fi 6 on the iPhone 17e, which only pays off with a newer router.

SIM:The iPhone Air takes Dual eSIM and the iPhone 17e Nano-SIM + eSIM.

Bluetooth:The iPhone Air has Bluetooth 6 and the iPhone 17e Bluetooth 5.3.

5G:Both have the same 5G support.

5G

Yes
Yes

Port

USB-C (USB 2, 480Mb/s)
USB-C (USB 2, 480Mb/s)

Wi-Fi

Wi-Fi 7
Wi-Fi 6

SIM

Dual eSIM
Nano-SIM + eSIM

Bluetooth

Bluetooth 6
Bluetooth 5.3

Our verdict

Buy the iPhone Air if you want a 120Hz screen and more memory with 12GB of RAM. Buy the iPhone 17e if you want the lower launch price and longer OS support until about 2033 (est.).

Buy the iPhone Air if

  • You want a 120Hz screen
  • You want more memory with 12GB of RAM
  • You want Wi-Fi 7
Shop from £637.19

Buy the iPhone 17e if

  • You want the lower launch price
  • You want longer OS support until about 2033 (est.)
  • You want the newer A19 chip
Shop from £604.85

FAQs

The iPhone Air should get OS updates until about 2032 (est.) and the iPhone 17e until about 2033 (est.). That gives the iPhone 17e the longer support window.

The iPhone Air's 6.5-inch screen is bigger than the 6.1-inch screen on the iPhone 17e.

Every Reboxed phone has a minimum of 80% battery health. If you want the closest thing to new, some phones offer our New Battery Upgrade, professionally installed before your phone is dispatched. If it's available, you'll see it on the product page.

Pristine, Excellent, Great and Good. Pristine has zero blemishes and at least 90% battery health. Good can show noticeable wear on the casing but works perfectly. Every grade is TechCheck certified and comes with a 12-month warranty.

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