The “iOS 26 developer beta 2” was rolled out to the public a few days ago, and with it came a few interesting details about the iPhone 17 Air. Apparently, the update has a wallpaper file noting the display resolution of a completely new device. The rumor mill believes it could be the new iPhone 17 Air.
The wallpaper file, which seems to be associated with a Clownfish icon, had a resolution of 420×912 pixels. As you can see in the image released by 9to5Mac, those wallpaper dimensions are converted to 1260 x 2736 pixels resolution at 3X scale. It’s obvious that Apple has an entirely new display in the works.
So far, none of the Apple products have come out with such a unique pixel count. This wallpaper has a higher resolution than the iPhone 16 Pro’s display. And it’s just a hair shorter than the 16 Pro Max’s resolution. We won’t be seeing a “Plus” variant with the next iPhone lineup.
The only device that could possibly use such a resolution is an iPhone 17 Air. Several leaks from the past claimed a similar pixel count for this device: 1260×2740 pixels. The new iOS 26 developer beta has now put all the suspicions to rest. There is indeed an Apple iPhone latest model in the making.
Another leaked image pointed out the size of the iPhone Air with respect to the current iPhone 16 Pro and Pro Max. The newcomer’s size sits almost halfway between the 6.3” Pro variant and the 6.9” Pro Max. No one knows the exact measurement, but the best guess so far is that it could be a 6.7” device, just like the iPhone 16 Plus.
The iPhone 17 Air will be an ultra-thin competitor facing the Galaxy S25 Edge head-on. Rumor has it that it could measure nearly 5.5mm thin, which is a bit slimmer than the Edge. But this sleek design is not without its compromises. The biggest trade-off will be the battery, which is reportedly a 2800mAh pack.
Apple will use every trick in the book to make this small battery last longer on the iPhone 17 Air. So, this slim phone is bound to feature a 120Hz display with a variable refresh rate. That will give you smoother animations and save power as well. More details about the iPhone 17 Air are likely on the way, so stick around if you want to stay in the loop.