iPhone 17 Air Is All In on Thin, Report Says

Rumors are heating up that Apple is developing an ultrathin iPhone 17. Bloomberg is reporting that a 6.6-inch iPhone 17 Air will join the lineup, sized between the 6.3-inch iPhone 16 Pro and the 6.9-inch iPhone 16 Pro Max. Apple initially considered making the 17 Air even larger – at 6.9 inches – but abandoned the idea over concerns that a thin device with a larger display could be prone to bending.

That jibes with other recent reports on a potential iPhone 17 Air from analysts Jeff Pu and Ming-chi Kuo.

The device is also expected to have ultraslim bezels, a dedicated camera control button and the Dynamic Island. Apple is reportedly focusing on battery efficiency, as thinner devices often mean compromises in battery capacity.

Apple has not yet offered any details on its next iPhone. Typically, it unveils a new lineup in September.

True to its rumored name, it’s expected to be incredibly thin, measuring just 5.5mm. Other expected specs include a single rear camera, similar to the iPhone 16E, and a blend of entry-level and premium features. It’s projected to cost around $900 – the same price as the iPhone 16 Plus.

The Bloomberg report said Apple also considered making the model completely port-free, which would have signaled the beginning of a new era for iPhones for only wireless charging.

The report coincides with leaked renderings from Sonny Dickson, whose fake but realistic images are frequently referenced by accessory makers ahead of official launches.

Ben Wood, chief analyst at CCS Insight, told CNET “thin is most definitely ‘in'” when it comes to smartphones this year.

Rumors around a super thin iPhone coincide with work going on at other phone makers. At its Unpacked event in January, Samsung teased the slim Galaxy S25 Edge, and at Mobile World Congress last month there was significant buzz around Tecno’s Spark Slim concept phone, which CNET’s Abrar Al-Heeti got to handle.

“If the thinness trend continues, the next challenge designers face will be overcoming the limitations of the mandatory USB-C port, which is 2.6 mm,” he said. “However, we cannot see any company looking to remove this port in the near term, given its necessity for failsafe charging and root device access in the instance of software failure.”  

These rumors emerge as Apple searches for ways to revitalize its product lineup. The company reported a 1% decline in iPhone sales during the holiday quarter, falling below expectations. Meanwhile, delays in the rollout of an AI-enhanced Siri could further impact sales, as rival companies accelerate their AI initiatives.

Apple is also said to be preparing a major redesign of the operating systems for the iPhone, iPad and Mac – described by Bloomberg as “one of the most dramatic software overhauls in the company’s history.” The redesign aims to streamline the user experience, improving navigation and device control. It also seeks to create a more unified look across platforms.

In addition, the company is reportedly developing a foldable iPhone, with plans to launch by late 2026 or early 2027. Apple remains the only major smartphone manufacturer yet to enter the foldables market.