Apple is on the verge of introducing its thinnest-ever phone next year. According to a recent report from Bloomberg's Mark Gurman, the iPhone 17 Air (or possibly iPhone 17 Slim) is set to be 2 millimeters (0.08 inches) thinner than the iPhone 16 Pro. With the iPhone 16 Pro measuring 8.25 mm (0.32 inches) thick, this means the iPhone 17 Air will clock in at around 6.25mm (0.24 inches). While this is a bit thicker than some earlier rumors suggesting a thickness of 6mm (0.23 inches), it still represents a significant reduction in thickness compared to the thinnest Apple smartphone to date, the 2014 iPhone 6 which measured 6.9mm (0.27 inches).

How Apple Achieved the Thinning

To achieve this remarkable feat of slimming down the phone without sacrificing essential components like the battery life, camera array, or display size, Apple plans to make a significant change. It will ditch the Qualcomm modems it has traditionally used for iPhones and instead adopt a thinner, in-house 5G modem. This new modem is expected to be more tightly integrated with other in-house components, taking up less space and battery power. As a result, Apple can create a smartphone that is about 2 millimeters thinner than the iPhone 16 Pro while still accommodating the necessary components.

In lab tests, sources told Bloomberg that Apple's first modem reportedly "caps out at download speeds of about 4 gigabits per second, less than the top speeds offered by non-mmWave Qualcomm modems." However, Gurman notes that in real-world usage, the difference in speeds may not be noticeable to customers. This indicates that Apple is focused on achieving a thinner device rather than prioritizing maximum download speeds.

The report also claims that Apple's suite of lower-end iPads in 2025 and the upcoming iPhone SE 4 could also pack this in-house modem. But for now, it seems that higher-end products will not see this change anytime soon.

Specifications and Features

In terms of specifications, the iPhone 17‌ Air is tipped to pack a simplified camera array consisting of just a single-lens rear camera. This design choice aims to reduce the overall size and thickness of the phone. Additionally, it will feature a 6.6-inch display, which falls between the size of the iPhone 16 Pro and iPhone 16 Pro Max.

While the slimming down of the phone is likely to come at a premium, rumors suggest that the iPhone 17 Air could be the most expensive Apple handset ever, even more expensive than the $1,199 iPhone 15 Pro Max. This price increase may be due to the advanced technology and materials used in creating the thinnest iPhone yet.

Stay tuned to our iPhone 17 Air hub for all the latest leaks and updates as they emerge. We'll keep you informed about the progress and features of this highly anticipated device.