Rumors of the iPhone 17 Slim or iPhone 17 Air have been steadily flowing over the previous few weeks. Whereas the sources are break up on whether or not it will substitute the Plus fashions, or be a brand new fifth kind of iPhone, it is sounding like Apple’s subsequent try to seek out one other profitable department of the iPhone household tree alongside the essential, Professional and Professional Max ones.
I’m excited to see any new iPhone launch, and to check out its capabilities. However setting my love for novel tech apart, I’m not offered on the thought of this specific iPhone 17. Apple’s iPhone lineup doesn’t lack smooth and opulent fashions, however what it has lacked since 2022 is a small one. Which is why I imagine Apple must carry the iPhone mini again greater than it wants a Slim or Air model.
On the subject of cellular tech, thinness is all the time spectacular, and I like to see seemingly stable {hardware} boundaries damaged. However iPhones are already slim sufficient to slot in the skinniest of pockets. Getting one other millimeter or two slimmer would do little to change this, and sure influence the sturdiness too. Understand that the thinnest iPhone up to now, the iPhone 6, additionally occurs to be the one linked to the “Bendgate” scandal, and the iPhone 17 Air would apparently be even thinner.
It’s not simply the dimensions that appears odd to me. The very fact the iPhone 17 Air has been rumored to make use of just one rear camera quite than the anticipated two on commonplace flagship iPhones is wild to me. The dimensions might have an effect on the battery capability or thermal efficiency of the cellphone too. Foldable phones have had issues like this, however no less than you get an enormous inside versatile display in return. The trade-off for a slim iPhone on this type doesn’t appear value it in any respect.
Making the Air a dearer cellphone, as rumored, additionally appears ridiculous. Even when you are able to do spectacular issues with the design, you must nonetheless get some fundamentals like twin rear cameras. Plus it might be a weird option to presumably substitute the $900 Plus mannequin with one 50% dearer, costing more than the cheapest Pro Max model.
And all this goes for Samsung and its alleged Galaxy S25 Slim, too. Even when the rumors level to Samsung attempting to maintain extra premium options intact, I nonetheless suppose a mini Galaxy could be significantly better for smartphone patrons, as it might be for Apple.
Let’s clear the Air — the small cellphone wants a rennaissance
The small phone is a dying breed, and there’s no good cause for it to be. I get pleasure from utilizing them lots, such because the Asus Zenfone 10 from final yr. And their disappearance is impacting a key demographic of customers who like or want smaller telephones, together with my very own mom.
My mother makes use of an iPhone 12 mini she’s owned since launch, however because the cellphone will get older, replacements have gotten onerous to seek out, on each the iPhone and Android sides. The iPhone 13 mini does exist however upgrading to that will solely purchase a restricted period of time because it’ll doubtless drop off Apple’s replace record in about two years.
Downgrading to the iPhone SE brings the identical restricted replace drawback in addition to the iPhone 13. And now that the iPhone SE 4 is tipped to develop to six.1 inches just like the iPhone 16 within the new yr, ready for the brand new model wouldn’t assist.
A brand new iPhone mini could be not solely very best for her, however doubtless extra sensible for a better majority of individuals than one other, presumably dearer iPhone with fewer options. The iPhone Air would impress individuals if it ever launches, however I am not satisfied it is sensible as a cellphone with the rumors as they at present stand.
I reserve the correct to alter my thoughts if additional info comes out and a few of the stranger particulars of this cellphone turn into inaccurate. But when the iPhone 17 Air is actual, and launches within the kind that we imagine it’ll, it will likely be one other underwhelming extra mannequin for Apple’s biggest-selling product.
