Next year, Apple is gearing up to revolutionize its smartphone lineup with what is set to be the slimmest iPhone ever. This ambitious endeavor aims to beat the record held by the iPhone 6, which boasted a svelte 6.9mm frame a decade ago. Despite some initial battery-related challenges that led to a slight deviation from the originally intended thinness, the iPhone 17 Air (or iPhone 17 Slim) is on track to join the lineup as scheduled next September.

Supply Chain and NPI Phase

According to a recent report on the DigiTimes Asia website, which cited supply chain sources, the handset has entered the crucial new product introduction (NPI) phase at Apple's Taiwanese manufacturing partner, Foxconn. This is the stage where a design concept transforms into a tangible reality. Apple's product engineers collaborate closely with Foxconn's production team to determine the assembly process and ensure its practicality. At this point, the design is mostly finalized, leaving very little room for significant changes. Once the details are agreed upon, pilot productions are carried out to verify the assembly process and maintain quality control across a few devices before the mass production phase begins. This indicates that a September launch is highly likely, making the slim model the thinnest member of the upcoming iPhone 17 family.

Replacing the Underperforming Models

It's a strategic move for Apple as the iPhone Air is set to replace the underperforming Plus model. The Plus model was introduced to address the shortcomings of the previous iPhone 12 and 13 mini models, which also faced performance issues. Rumors suggest that the iPhone 17 Air will be just 6mm thick, featuring a 120Hz screen and a single camera lens on the back. While this 6mm thickness would make it the thinnest iPhone to date, it's important to note that the latest iPad Pro is even thinner at 5.1mm. The iPad has a wider shell to accommodate the battery, and Apple has likely determined that the sacrifices in battery life required to make the iPhone even thinner are not worth it.

Impact on Folding iPhone Development

Interestingly, the DigiTimes report draws a parallel between the slim iPhone and the long-awaited folding iPhone. The folding iPhone recently achieved a significant milestone in its journey towards becoming a commercially available product. The reasoning is that if Apple can successfully build a super-thin iPhone, it will contribute to the development of a folding model as well. Since the closed state of a folding iPhone doubles its thickness, every millimeter shaved off by the regular iPhone becomes crucial. However, it's important to note that the iPhone Flip is still a long-term product, with an expected launch date of 2026 or 2027.Get instant access to breaking news, the hottest reviews, great deals and helpful tips.