The iPhone 17 Air hasn't even been released yet, and its Chinese clone is already being revealed. However, the Nubia Air will be thicker and get a larger battery

Apparently, even before Apple manages to introduce its iPhone 17 Air, Chinese Nubia will appear on the scene with its Air model, which strikingly resembles the expected new device from Cupertino. Renowned leaker Evan Blass has published renders and specifications of the phone, which most likely doesn’t copy the iPhone’s design by chance. The ultra-thin Apple device is especially evoked by the horizontally oriented pill-shaped island located at the top of the back.

Striking resemblance to iPhone 17 Air

According to leaked renders, the Nubia Air will arrive with a design that suspiciously resembles the expected iPhone 17 Air. The most striking similarity is found in the camera module, which is placed exactly where we expect it on the new iPhone – at the very top of the back. The Chinese manufacturer may have been inspired by leaks about the upcoming Apple phone and decided to be faster.

From the side, the phone will offer a power button with a color accent and volume controls on the right side. On the bottom edge, we will find a USB-C port surrounded by a SIM card slot and a speaker.

Mid-range specifications in a thin body

Under the hood, the Nubia Air reportedly runs on a Unisoc T8300 processor, complemented by 8 GB of RAM and 256 GB of storage. The phone will run on Android 15 and will be powered by a 5,000 mAh battery. Here, it’s worth pausing for a moment to recall recent leaks about the aforementioned iPhone, which revealed that the phone will only get a 2,900 mAh battery, but one that will be razor-thin. At least in this regard, if probably in no other, Nubia will have the upper hand.

The camera setup is expected to consist of a 20MP selfie camera in a punch-hole display and a trio of rear sensors – a main 50MP camera complemented by 2MP and 0.8MP sensors (in other words: only the primary lens will be truly usable). Of course, an NFC chip for contactless payments and a fingerprint reader, which will likely be integrated into the display, will also be present.

Thickness: Nubia loses to iPhone

In the pursuit of a thin profile, the Nubia Air will not be able to compete with the expected iPhone 17 Air. While Apple is reportedly preparing a phone with a thickness of just 5.5 mm, the Chinese alternative measures 6.7 mm. The difference of 1.2 millimeters may not seem dramatic on paper, but in the category of ultra-thin phones, it is a noticeable difference. With a weight of 172 grams, however, the Nubia Air will be among the lighter smartphones on the market.

No information on availability

From the leaks, we know that the phone will come in at least two color variants, but details on pricing or availability are not yet known. In terms of specifications, the phone will be classified more as a lower-end device, so it certainly won’t be expensive. However, it remains to be seen in which global markets it will be launched and whether it will ever make it to the Czech Republic.

What do you think of the Nubia Air?

Sources: Evan Blass/X, GSMArena