Apple's iPhone 17 Air Rumored to Be the Thinnest iPhone Yet
Apple may introduce its thinnest iPhone with the iPhone 17 Air, potentially featuring significant design changes.
As the excitement around Apple’s iPhone 16 series subsides, rumors about the upcoming iPhone 17 lineup are already taking center stage. Among the four models anticipated next year, the iPhone 17 Air has emerged as the most intriguing, with reports suggesting it could be the thinnest iPhone ever produced by Apple. According to a recent report by The Information, the iPhone 17 Air’s prototypes are reported to measure between 5mm and 6mm in thickness. For comparison, the iPhone 16 and iPhone 16 Pro are significantly thicker at 7.8mm and 8.25mm, respectively.
A Slimmer Design with Trade-Offs
This unprecedented reduction in thickness could come at a cost. Apple is reportedly considering removing the physical SIM card tray from the iPhone 17 Air, opting exclusively for eSIM technology. While eSIM-only models have been available in the US since the iPhone 14, physical SIM trays are still present in devices sold in many other countries. The shift to eSIM for the iPhone 17 Air could mark a more global approach to this feature.
Another notable design change might be a single-camera setup on the back of the iPhone 17 Air, a departure from the dual-camera system present in the standard iPhone 16 models. This central, prominent camera bump could represent a simplification in hardware design but may also signify a trade-off in photographic versatility.
Possible Challenges in Battery and Sound
The report also raises concerns about battery size. The iPhone 17 Air might house a smaller battery to accommodate its ultra-thin design, though exact specifications remain unclear. Additionally, the reduced internal space could lead to fewer audio components, with the possibility of only one speaker being integrated into the earpiece, instead of the current dual-speaker setup.
Early Production and Unfinalized Design
The iPhone 17 Air is still in its early production stages at Foxconn, with Apple reportedly working to finalize the device’s battery and other components. These preliminary design constraints could see adjustments as production progresses, but the current prototypes highlight Apple’s ambitious focus on achieving a sleek, minimalist form factor.
Apple’s pursuit of an ultra-thin design for the iPhone 17 Air reflects its ongoing innovation in smartphone engineering, even as the trade-offs associated with such advancements raise questions about practicality and user experience. The final product, expected to launch in 2025, will reveal how Apple balances these challenges.