iPhone 17 Air: A Potential Game-Changer in Slim Design
Photo: Ed Hardy/Cult of Mac
A New Era of Slimness
Apple’s highly anticipated iPhone 17 Air might emerge thinner than previous speculations suggested, with sources hinting at an astonishing 5.5mm thickness at its slimmest point—a notable reduction from the anticipated 6mm.
Shifting Market Strategy
This year marks a pivotal shift in Apple’s strategy, as they prepare to eliminate the ‘Plus’ variant from their lineup. Instead, all eyes are on the slim and stylish iPhone 17 Air set to reclaim minimalism in smartphone design. The company aims to revive public interest in slender devices with this release.
Prioritizing Design Over Features
Similar to its counterpart, the iPad Air, Apple appears willing to sacrifice some features for aesthetics with the introduction of the iPhone 17 Air. Reports indicate that it may incorporate a single rear camera, equipped with a robust resolution of 48MP rather than branching out into multiple camera setups.
In an insightful Medium post, renowned Apple analyst Ming-Chi Kuo has evaluated that this new model could even surpass initial predictions by featuring dimensions that place it among Apple’s thinnest offerings yet—just slightly thicker than their M4 iPad Pro device which boasts a slim profile of only 5.3mm.
Challenges Ahead: The Absence of Physical SIM Card Slots
One potential hurdle for Apple could arise from its design choices regarding SIM card slots; given its ultra-slim contour, it’s possible that physical SIM card slots will be absent from this model. While such a development might not affect customers in regions like the US—where eSIM technology prevails—it could prove problematic elsewhere; especially in China where traditional SIM cards are still widely used.
Kuo has pointed out that these limitations may adversely impact market demand for the new phone unless adjustments are made before launch—this concern resonates strongly given all current models sold by Apple within China feature dual-SIM capabilities as standard practice.
Although Kuo anticipates that operational output for the new device will exceed prior Plus models’ figures significantly, he cautions against expecting drastic improvements for overall dwindling sales across Apple’s flagship products. As per his revised projections for total shipments reaching around 220 million units during 2024, followed by a marginal increase up to approximately 225 million units by 2025, these forecasts highlight an ongoing decline when compared against broader market expectations tallying upwards toward 240 million units shipped within just one year’s time frame.
