The iPhone 17 Air represents a bold step toward creating an ultra-thin device, but Apple will need to make several trade-offs to achieve this design.
Following the report of changes iPhone 17 Pro, as per report that details Apple’s efforts to release the ultra-thin iPhone 17 Air next year. It is possible that Apple will remove several features to make this innovative iPhone that thin. Apple is reportedly planning to make significant compromises on internal hardware to maintain the ultra-thin profile of the upcoming iPhone 17 Air.
(Image Credit: apple)
It seems that iPhone 17 Air prototypes are between 5 and 6 millimeters thick, which could possibly make it thinner than the iPhone 6, released a decade ago. While the iPhone 16 is 7.8mm thick, this could make the iPhone 17 Air as thin as the new M4 iPad Pro.
iPhone 17 Air design compromises
Apple iPhone 17 Air changes shall be major to keep it ultra-slim. Apple will have to sacrifice several crucial features to achieve this design. As per report Apple engineers are “finding it hard to fit the battery and thermal materials into the device,” which means it will likely have to add a smaller battery to this iPhone. Besides, a major compromise on the iPhone 17 Air might be a single earpiece speaker.
Apple ultra-thin iPhone 17 design missing features
Apple aims to keep the iPhone 17 Air model’s thickness between five and six millimeters by making several internal design changes.
Prototype models of the iPhone 17 Air are expected to measure between 5mm and 6mm in thickness, presenting challenges for fitting components within the compact frame. Early supply chain data indicates difficulties in sourcing appropriate batteries and thermal materials to support the ultra-thin design. To accommodate these constraints, Apple may replace the traditional stereo speaker setup with a single speaker for this model.
iPhone 17 Air changes to camera
Apple may also simplify the camera system for the iPhone 17 Air. This model is anticipated to feature a single rear camera housed in a large, centered camera bump. Though it is a premium phone, the iPhone 17 Air model may lack some high-end camera specifications, such as the periscopic telephoto lens with 5x zoom, which is likely to remain exclusive to the Pro variants. Earlier speculation suggested the inclusion of the telephoto lens in the Air model, but this now seems unlikely.
Apple’s in-house 5G modem
The report also suggests that the iPhone 17 Air could be one of the first Apple devices to use Apple’s in-house 5G modem. This chip is reportedly less powerful than the Qualcomm 5G modems currently used in iPhones, offering lower peak speeds, slightly reduced reliability, and no support for mmWave 5G technology. Apple is still grappling with whether to include a SIM tray in the iPhone 17 Air. While the company has phased out physical SIM cards in markets like the U.S., regions such as China still require a SIM card slot, adding to the design challenges.
Apple ultra-thin iPhone 17 design is it worth the compromise?
The iPhone 17 Air represents a bold step toward creating an ultra-thin device, but Apple will need to make several trade-offs to achieve this design. While the slim profile will appeal to those seeking a sleek and lightweight phone, compromises in battery life, audio quality, camera functionality, and 5G performance may limit its appeal for users who prioritize these features. It would be interesting to see if these trade-offs are worth it for an all-new iPhone design.
