iPhone 17 Air: Apple’s new model clears an important hurdle

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Apple is taking the next step by sending the thinnest iPhone of all time to the product launch phase at Foxconn, a contract manufacturer. Thus, the iPhone 17 Air is taking the next hurdle to actual mass production.

Update from 16.12.2024: According to supply chain sources, the rumored iPhone 17 Air has reached Foxconn’s so-called NPI (New Product Introduction) phase, which involves transitioning from concept to mass production. In this phase, prototypes are tested, manufacturing processes are developed, and logistics are coordinated with suppliers to prepare for mass production (source: DigiTimes).

iPhone 17 Air: Expert settles on 6.25 millimeters
The existence of the iPhone 17 Air has long since ceased to be a secret. The rumor mill has been buzzing about the new smartphone for months. Apple will present it with the regular iPhone 17, the iPhone 17 Pro, and the iPhone 17 Pro Max in fall 2025. There will not be an iPhone 17 Plus, so the new model is set to take its place and conquer new customer groups.

The question of how much thinner the iPhone 17 Air will be remains unanswered. Mark Gurman from Bloomberg now thinks he has the answer. According to him, the iPhone 17 Air will be around two millimeters thinner than the current iPhone 16 Pro (source: Bloomberg). The current Pro model is 8.25 millimeters thick, so the iPhone 17 Air would be 6.25 millimeters thick.

With these dimensions, Apple would break the previous record, as the iPhone 6 from 2014 is still the thinnest iPhone of all time, with a thickness of 6.9 millimeters. After the iPhone 6, Apple’s smartphones gradually became thicker again, as more space was needed for the battery, camera lenses, and other components.

Apple’s 5G modem is a prerequisite
To make as few compromises as possible with the iPhone 17 Air, Apple is installing its own 5G modem in the new model. These are smaller than the 5G modem chips from Qualcomm that have been used to date. This allows Apple to save space without compromising battery life, the camera, or display quality. Incidentally, we will also be able to discover the same 5G modem in the new iPhone SE 4 and a new low-priced iPad next year. The latest space-saving modem could also enable new shapes for the iPhone in the future—keyword: foldable display.

However, the iPhone 17 Air is not without compromises. According to consistent reports, the new model will only have a rear-facing camera with a lens. The display, measuring around 6.6 inches, is positioned between the iPhone 17 (Pro) and the iPhone 17 Pro Max. It is slightly smaller than the previous iPhone 16 Plus (6.7 inches).