iPhone 17 Air Production Begins, Slimmer Design Expected

Apple’s next-generation iPhone, the iPhone 17 Air, has officially entered the production phase at Foxconn, signaling a significant step forward in Apple’s phone lineup. According to reports from DigiTimes, the device has begun the “product introduction phase,” which includes pilot production runs, design validation, and prototype testing. This process sets the stage for mass production, with an expected release slated for September 2025.

The iPhone 17 Air is rumored to be notably slimmer than its predecessor, the iPhone 16 Plus. At just 6mm thick, it would represent one of the thinnest iPhones ever made, surpassing the 7.8mm thickness of the iPhone 16 Plus. This radical design change comes with some compromises, as sources indicate that the phone might feature only a single rear camera placed centrally on the top, and it is expected to rely solely on eSIM technology due to the slim profile, potentially excluding the traditional SIM card slot.

While Apple is focusing on making the iPhone 17 Air exceptionally thin, there are challenges to this design. Ensuring that the phone’s internal components don’t overheat in such a compact form is one of the hurdles Apple’s engineers will need to address. However, the company’s experience with the design of its iPad lineup is expected to play a role in overcoming these technical challenges.

Additionally, DigiTimes suggests that the thinness of the iPhone 17 Air could aid in Apple’s future plans for a foldable iPhone model. If the company can perfect the art of creating a super-thin iPhone, it would lay the groundwork for the development of foldable devices in the future.

The iPhone 17 Air will be part of a broader iPhone 17 series, which is expected to be unveiled alongside other models in September 2025. Before that, Apple is likely to announce the iPhone SE 4, offering an additional entry into its mobile device lineup.