Till it launches in September, Apple gained’t formally acknowledge the existence of its long-rumored iPhone 17 Air, however the second beta of iOS 26 is already giving us some clues. Hidden within the system code, we discovered references to a brand new show decision that doesn’t match any present or earlier iPhone mannequin, nevertheless it matches the leaked decision of the rumored ultra-thin iPhone 17 Air.
As seen by Macworld, the second iOS 26 developer beta, which was launched on Monday, features a new model of the enduring clownfish wallpaper with a decision of “420×912@3x,” or 1260×2736 pixels. There’s no iPhone mannequin with such a decision, not less than not but.
However right here’s the place issues get extra fascinating. The brand new decision wallpaper we discovered matches a report by analyst Ming-Chi Kuo final yr, which claimed that the iPhone 17 Air would have a display of round 6.6 inches with a decision of roughly 1260×2740.
In different phrases, the wallpaper all however confirms the existence of a brand new iPhone mannequin with that precise show decision. Provided that iOS 26 will nearly definitely be launched in September together with the brand new iPhones, it’s clear that Apple is already making the ultimate changes for the next-generation iPhone.
Since different iOS 26 wallpapers don’t have that decision, most certainly, the wallpaper was forgotten by Apple throughout the construct launched right now for builders and shouldn’t be seen by the general public.
In response to rumors, the iPhone 17 Air will likely be simply 5.5 millimeters thick, making it the thinnest iPhone ever launched. It ought to weigh round 145 grams, a lot lower than present iPhones. We’re hoping to get our first hands-on with the brand new telephone at an occasion in September 2025, however iOS 26 could have simply given us our first concrete clue that the iPhone 17 Air is actual and coming quickly.
