Highlights
- Apple might launch the slimmest iPhone 17 Air in the next lineup.
- This model could be around 2 millimetres thinner than current iPhones.
- Other rumoured features – 6.6-inch ProMotion OLED display with 120Hz refresh rate, a 48-megapixel rear camera, 24MP front camera, Apple’s A19 chip and 8GB of RAM to support AI-driven features.
- Other expected Apple launches in 2025 include a smart home hub.
We have been hearing about the possibility of Apple introducing its slimmest iPhone this year for a while now. More recently a confirmation has come from Bloomberg’s trusted Apple reporter Mark Gurman. In his recent Power On newsletter for the publication, Gurman revealed that Apple might introduce a new model to its iPhone lineup called the iPhone 17 Air.
This could be Apple’s way of extending its successful “Air” branding, which has worked well for its thinner MacBook and iPad models.
Gurman notes that the iPhone 17 Air will feature Apple’s first in-house modem expected to debut in the new iPhone SE in the spring. Moreover, it’s rumoured to be Apple’s thinnest phone to date — about 2 millimetres slimmer than current iPhones.
This shift could be a step toward Apple’s reported plans to launch foldable iPhones and iPads by 2026 or later.
The name fits Apple’s pattern of using “Air” for its slimmest products such as the MacBook Air and iPad Air. Gurman mentions the iPhone 17 Air will be around 5.5mm to 6.25mm thick making it thinner than any previous iPhone including the iPhone 6.
But the slim design isn’t just about aesthetics. Gurman explains that achieving such thinness will pave the way for Apple’s future foldable devices. The 17 Air is also expected to be a testing ground for Apple’s in-house modem codenamed “Sinope.”
While this modem is set to launch in the iPhone SE first, the 17 Air could help refine its performance.
Other rumoured features include a 6.6-inch ProMotion OLED display with a 120Hz refresh rate (currently exclusive to Pro models), a single 48-megapixel rear camera and a 24-megapixel front camera. It may also house Apple’s A19 chip and include 8GB of RAM to support Apple’s AI-driven features.
Gurman also highlights other Apple launches expected in 2025 such as a smart home hub. However, there’s no word yet on a new version of Apple’s mixed reality headset the Vision Pro.
FAQs
Q1. What is the iPhone 17 Air?
Answer. The iPhone 17 Air is rumoured to be Apple’s slimmest iPhone yet featuring Apple’s first in-house modem. It is expected to be around 2 millimetres thinner than current iPhones.
Q2. What are the expected key features of the iPhone 17 Air?
Answer. The iPhone 17 Air is rumoured to include a 6.6-inch ProMotion OLED display with a 120Hz refresh rate, a 48-megapixel rear camera, a 24-megapixel front camera, Apple’s A19 chip and 8GB of RAM to support AI-driven features.
Q3. How does the iPhone 17 Air relate to Apple’s future plans for foldable devices?
Answer. According to reports, the upcoming iPhone 17 Air is expected to be a precursor to Apple’s future foldable devices, which are anticipated to launch by 2026 or later. Achieving its slim design will help pave the way for these foldable devices and the 17 Air may also serve as a testing ground for Apple’s in-house modem codenamed “Sinope.”
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