New leak reveals the thickness of the iPhone 17 Air.
The thinnest iPhone in history.
There has been talk for some time about the possible emergence of the iPhone 17 Air, a model that would apparently replace the iPhone 16 Plus next year. According to a well-known analyst, this new device could be approximately 2 millimeters thinner than the iPhone 16 Pro.
The iPhone 16 Pro has a thickness of only 8.3 mm, which means this reduction represents a significant slimming of around 24%. If realized, the iPhone 17 Air would be the thinnest model from the company to date, surpassing the iPhone 6, which had a thickness of 6.9 mm.
One of the factors contributing to this reduced thickness is Apple’s anticipated shift to using its own modems in next year’s phones, instead of relying on Qualcomm chips. Such rumors have been mentioned before and have resurfaced.
The new Apple modem is expected to be introduced first in the iPhone SE 4, scheduled for launch in March 2025. It will then be incorporated into the iPhone 17 models, with an improved version planned for the iPhone 18 in 2026. Additionally, Apple is considering using its own modem chipset to provide cellular connectivity for products like the Mac and the Apple Vision Pro, although it is anticipated that this will not happen before 2026, as the technology needs to be developed further.
Regarding the iPhone 17 Air, it has been mentioned that it might do away with the physical SIM card slot in order to maintain its slim design. Furthermore, it is suggested that it will feature a thinner and more efficient display than current models.
This entire slimming process could eventually facilitate the creation of Apple’s first foldable iPhone, although according to the analyst, this device would not be ready for launch before 2026, but it is confirmed to be in development.
