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The iPhone 17 Air, or possibly the iPhone 17 Slim, is rumored to set a new standard for thinness. According to renowned Apple analyst Ming-Chi Kuo, the iPhone 17 Air will measure just 5.5mm at its thinnest point. For comparison, the iPhone 16 and iPhone 16 Plus are 7.8mm thick, meaning the new model could be nearly 30% thinner. The thinnest iPhone to date was the iPhone 6, which measured 6.9mm.
It seems the industry is once again focusing on device thinness as a key feature. This trend isn’t new—about a decade ago, manufacturers showcased devices under 6mm thick as a standout feature. Now, thinness is making a comeback. Just last month, Samsung previewed its Galaxy S25 Edge, which reportedly measures 6.4mm. If the reports are accurate, the iPhone 17 Air will be almost a full millimeter thinner than its closest competitor.
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Predictably, though, there are going to be some substantial trade offs, particularly with the camera. Samsung’s ultra-thin Edge sacrificed one rear camera sensor to maintain its sleek profile. Reports suggest the iPhone 17 Air will feature a single 48-megapixel rear camera, though the exact placement remains uncertain. Leaker Majin Bu speculates it could adopt a Google Pixel-style camera bar spanning the entire rear panel. However, this claim is questionable. Apple has never used such a design in any of its 46 prior iPhone models. Additionally, a camera bar on an ultra-thin phone could interfere with the front-facing Face ID system. As a result, it’s likely Apple will maintain a relatively clean rear panel design—or so the speculation goes.
Another potential limitation is Apple’s tendency to maintain consistent design across its product lines while avoiding copying competitors’ designs, even at the expense of certain technological advantages. A prime example is Apple’s years-long reluctance to adopt under-display fingerprint scanners or move away from the notch for Face ID in favor of a punch-hole design.
Battery concerns in an ultra-thin design
One potential downside of the iPhone 17 Air could be its battery life. According to leaker Digital Chat Station, both Apple’s thin iPhone and Samsung’s Galaxy S25 Edge will feature batteries ranging from 3,000mAh to 4,000mAh. While this isn’t trivial, it may not be sufficient for more than a day’s use, especially if the phone’s screen exceeds 6.5 inches. Additionally, thinner designs pose challenges for effective cooling solutions, which are critical for maintaining battery health and performance. Overheating can reduce battery efficiency and longevity. The iPhone 17 Air will likely require at least an A17 Pro chip to handle Apple’s advanced AI processing. Most leaks predict it will feature an A19 chip with 8GB of RAM.
The eSIM transition
In the U.S., iPhones have lacked a physical SIM card slot since September 2022. However, models sold in Europe and other regions still include a physical SIM tray. This could change with the iPhone 17 Air, as its ultra-thin design might leave no room for a SIM slot. While eSIM support is now available in most parts of the world (including Israel), this isn’t yet the case everywhere. Nevertheless, Apple’s shift to eSIM-only devices could push global carriers and competing manufacturers to adopt the technology more widely.
What does thinness signal about innovation?
The move toward ultra-thin devices as an additional configuration in leading smartphone series suggests that manufacturers may be running out of groundbreaking ideas to improve their products. It also highlights that the smartphone form factor might have reached its peak evolution.
This plateau in innovation isn’t surprising. Most devices eventually settle into specific, efficient designs over time, whether for user convenience or manufacturing practicality. Cars, for instance, still resemble boxes with engines at the front or back, trunks, and four wheels. Home refrigerators remain tall, narrow cabinets, while TVs and computers have retained their basic shapes, only becoming thinner with the advent of LCD technology. Similarly, the smartphone may now be following this trend.