iOS 26 Beta Hints at iPhone 17 Air Display Resolution

Apple’s latest iOS 26 developer beta may have quietly revealed our first real clue about the upcoming iPhone 17 Air — a device rumored to feature an all-new ultra-thin design and mid-sized display.

Clownfish Wallpaper Hints at New Device

Spotted in iOS 26 beta 2 is a fresh version of the iconic clownfish wallpaper — first used in the original iPhone and remastered in iOS 16. But this time, it's available in a brand-new resolution: 420 x 912 points, or 1260 x 2736 pixels in Retina 3x mode.

This resolution doesn’t match any current iPhone, but it fits squarely between the iPhone 16 Pro and iPhone 16 Pro Max — both in screen size and pixel dimensions.

Perfect Match for Rumored iPhone 17 Air

Reports over the past year suggest Apple is working on a super-thin iPhone 17 Air with a 6.6-inch display and a screen resolution close to 1260 x 2740 pixels — almost identical to the asset found in iOS 26 beta 2.

Positioned between the standard iPhone 17 and the Pro Max model, the iPhone 17 Air is expected to appeal to users who want a larger screen without the bulk. It’s also rumored to include a 120Hz ProMotion display, Apple’s C1 modem, and a single-lens rear camera, all packed into a chassis that could be as thin as 5.5mm.

Launch Expected This Fall

With iOS 26 scheduled to debut alongside the iPhone 17 lineup in September, it’s highly likely that these new wallpaper assets are being prepared for the iPhone 17 Air’s launch. While Apple hasn’t officially confirmed the device yet, these early signs from iOS 26 beta 2 add fuel to the excitement.