Phone vs phone
iPhone 17 vs iPhone Air
Same question, two phones: which costs less over a 24-month contract, which is cheaper to buy outright, and what you actually get for the difference.
bemobiles tips
Which is cheaper over 24 months?
iPhone 17 — its best deal costs £801.96 including April rises, £28 less than the iPhone Air.
Which has the bigger screen and battery?
Screen: iPhone 17 6.3″, iPhone Air 6.5″. Battery: iPhone 17 3,692 mAh, iPhone Air 3,149 mAh.
Is it cheaper to buy either one outright?
iPhone 17: £1,043 SIM-free plus SIM only. iPhone Air: £863. Compare with the contract totals above.
iPhone 17£801.96
iPhone Air£829.96True total of the cheapest deal, April rises included
Live from retailers, rises estimated for a contract starting this month.
The iPhone 17 is the cheaper of the two today: its best contract costs £801.96 over 24 months with April rises, against £829.96 for the iPhone Air — a gap of £28, or about £1.17 a month.
Prices checked 29 October 2026 · How we compare
iPhone 17 vs iPhone Air, side by side
| iPhone 17 | iPhone Air | |
|---|---|---|
| True total (24 months) | £801.96 | £829.96 |
| Cheapest network | iD Mobile | iD Mobile |
| Upfront on that deal | £39 | £19 |
| Monthly on that deal | £29.99 | £31.99 |
| Lowest monthly anywhere | £11.95 | £11.95 |
| SIM-free price from | £899 | £719 |
| SIM-free + SIM only, 24 months | £1,043 | £863 |
| Contract deals tracked | 4,193 | 1,475 |
| Screen | 6.3 inches | 6.5 inches |
| Battery | 3,692 mAh | 3,149 mAh |
| Storage | 256GB | 256GB |
| Weight | 177 g | 165 g |
| Released | September 2025 | September 2025 |
| Colours on sale | 5 | 4 |
Highlighted = better on that line. Prices live from retailers; specifications from our data partner’s catalogue.
Network by network
If you already know which network you want, here is the cheapest deal for each phone on it, April rises included.
| Network | iPhone 17 | iPhone Air | Difference |
|---|---|---|---|
| iD Mobile | £801.96 | £829.96 | £28 |
| Talkmobile | £889.80 | £861.80 | £28 |
| Vodafone | £923 | £931 | £8 |
| Three | £982.20 | £1,036.20 | £54 |
| O2 | £1,035 | £987 | £48 |
Our verdict
On price, the iPhone 17 wins: £28 less over two years once each network’s April rises are counted. That is under £2 a month, so pick on features rather than price.
On the spec sheet, the iPhone Air has the bigger screen (6.5 vs 6.3 inches), the iPhone 17 has the larger battery (3,692 mAh).
Buying outright: iPhone 17 SIM-free plus SIM only costs £1,043, more than its cheapest contract; the iPhone Air costs £863, more than its contract.
Pick the iPhone 17 if…
- You want the lower total — £28 less over 24 months
- Battery size matters most to you
FAQ
iPhone 17 vs iPhone Air questions
Which is cheaper, the iPhone 17 or the iPhone Air?
The iPhone 17. Its cheapest contract costs £801.96 over 24 months including April rises, £28 less than the iPhone Air (£829.96).
What is the cheapest network for each?
For the iPhone 17 it is iD Mobile (£39 upfront, £29.99 a month); for the iPhone Air it is iD Mobile (£19 upfront, £31.99 a month).
Is the iPhone 17 bigger than the iPhone Air?
The iPhone 17 has a 6.3-inch screen and the iPhone Air a 6.5-inch screen; they weigh 177 g and 165 g.
How much are they to buy outright?
SIM-free, the iPhone 17 starts at £899 and the iPhone Air at £719, from retailers we track.