Apple’s latest iOS 26 developer beta may have revealed the first clue about the rumored iPhone 17 Air, and it’s all in the wallpaper resolution.
Clownfish Wallpaper Appears in Mysterious New Size
iOS 26 beta 2, released today for developers, includes a surprising asset: Apple’s iconic Clownfish wallpaper. While this nostalgic wallpaper has resurfaced before (most recently with iOS 16), this version is different, not because of the image itself, but because of its resolution.
According to 9to5Mac, who first spotted the change, the wallpaper appears in a brand-new resolution not used by any current iPhone. Specifically, it’s sized at 420 x 912 points, or 1260 x 2736 pixels when rendered at Retina (3x) scale. That resolution falls right between the current iPhone 16 Pro and 16 Pro Max, suggesting it could belong to a new model entirely, most likely, the iPhone 17 Air.
iPhone 17 Air: Thinner, Sleeker, and Sharper?
Leaks have long suggested Apple is working on a sleek, ultra-thin iPhone for 2025, known as the iPhone 17 Air. Rumors say this model will have a 6.6-inch ProMotion display, combining the thin profile at 5.5mm thick and flagship-level display tech like a 120Hz refresh rate.
Related: iPhone 17 Air Preview: Rumored Features, Specs, Price & Release Details
This new wallpaper resolution lines up almost perfectly with earlier reports of a 1260 x 2740 display. Given its screen size and resolution, the iPhone 17 Air is expected to slot perfectly between the iPhone 16 Pro (6.27 inches) and iPhone 16 Pro Max (6.8 inches), offering a new “sweet spot” for users who want something bigger than the Pro but sleeker than the Max.
Related: iOS 26 Beta 2 and iPadOS 26 Beta 2 Release Notes: Everything New and Known Issues to Watch For
What Does It Mean?
The presence of this specific wallpaper size in the iOS 26 beta is the first concrete software hint that Apple may be preparing for this new iPhone form factor. It’s not confirmation, but it’s a strong signal that the iPhone 17 Air is real, and Apple is getting its software ready ahead of time.
With Apple’s September 2025 event still months away, this small but telling discovery gives developers and Apple watchers a new breadcrumb to follow. Whether the final resolution ends up being 1260 x 2736 or 1260 x 2740, one thing is clear: the iPhone lineup is about to get a serious shake-up.
Comments