Analyst predicts ‘tempered’ response for iPhone 17 Air, here's why

Bank of America Research analyst Wamsi Mohani has shared his outlook ahead of Apple’s September 9 event, where the company is expected to unveil its iPhone 17 lineup, according to a report by 9to5 Mac.  In a note issued before the official event confirmation, Mohani highlighted cautious expectations for the new models.

“Some media reports and tech websites are highlighting Tuesday, September 9, as a potential launch date for iPhone 17, with pre-orders starting Friday, September 12, and new devices reaching stores on Friday, September 19. We expect the main feature to be the introduction of a slim iPhone (iPhone 17 Air) replacing the current Plus model. While prior form factor changes have driven significant increases in the next iPhone cycle, we believe investor expectations for the benefits from a thinner phone are more tempered,” he wrote.

Despite the cautious outlook for the iPhone 17 Air, Mohani reiterated a “Buy” rating on Apple stock, setting a price target of $250. This is higher than the recent $235 target from Morgan Stanley, which was issued prior to Apple’s latest quarterly results and recent market events in Washington.

Apple confirmed the September 9 event, titled “Awe Dropping.” The company is expected to unveil the iPhone 17, iPhone 17 Air, iPhone 17 Pro, and iPhone 17 Pro Max. Other likely announcements include the Apple Watch Series 11, Apple Watch Ultra 3, and possibly the AirPods Pro 3 and AirTag 2.