Industry projections suggest that the upcoming iPhone 17 series from Apple, expected to be released in the second half of next year, will feature the most significant changes among the iPhones launched in recent years.
Considering Apple's emphasis on product security, unusually much information about the iPhone 17, which is still some time away from its official launch, is being revealed. Foreign media outlets are flooded with articles trying to discern the truth or falsehood surrounding rumors about the iPhone 17.
◇iPhone 17 Air, to be unveiled in the second half of next year, expected to be less than 6mm thick... 'the thinnest iPhone' anticipated
On the 9th (local time), Forbes noted, “The iPhone series is increasingly capturing attention for how much thinner it can become,” and “the iPhone 17 series is expected to be over 25% thinner than the previous model (iPhone 15), with not only the introduction of a new form factor, the iPhone 17 Air, but also significant changes in existing models.” An IT media outlet, The Information, reported, “Although prototypes or designs are not yet finalized, the prototype of the iPhone 17 Air is expected to be 5-6mm thick, making it the thinnest iPhone ever.” The recently launched iPhone 16 model has a thickness of 7.8mm, while the iPhone 16 Pro measures 8.25mm.
However, as the thinnest iPhone in history is set to be born, there are growing concerns internally. According to IT media The Verge, Apple engineers are deliberating on where to place the SIM card, battery, and thermal materials in the iPhone 17 Slim. While the iPhone has not included a SIM card for several years, it is mandatory in China, making it a necessary challenge to overcome.
According to various foreign media sources, the standout features of the iPhone 17 Air are expected to include ▲ the thinnest 'ultra-slim design' in history ▲ 6.6-inch display ▲ aluminum frame ▲ A19 chip ▲ Face ID ▲ Dynamic Island ▲ 48-megapixel single rear camera ▲ 24-megapixel front camera ▲ 8GB RAM to support Apple Intelligence.
According to a report from Digitimes in Taiwan, Apple is said to implement Touch and Display Driver Integration (TDDI) technology in OLED panels to achieve a slim design. TDDI is a technology that combines the touch sensor layer and display driver into a single unit. As a result, the iPhone 17 Air is expected to feature an 'ultra-slim design.' While TDDI technology is not revolutionary, the industry reports that it could play a decisive role in reducing smartphone thickness.
Additionally, it is expected that the Plus model will be discontinued in the iPhone 17 series, with a Slim model being added. The iPhone 17 Slim model will be powered by a 6.65-inch display and the standard A19 chip rather than the A19 Pro, and it is anticipated to have a single camera on the back instead of a dual or triple camera.
The iPhone 17 Pro lineup is likely to feature at least 12GB of RAM. Considering that the iPhone 16 Pro lineup launched this year has 8GB of RAM, it is expected that multitasking and AI functionalities, including Apple Intelligence, will become much faster. Storage options are anticipated to start at 128GB and go up to 1TB.
The front camera, capable of taking selfies, is expected to feature improved 24-megapixel lenses across all iPhone 17 models. The iPhone 16 series used a 12-megapixel selfie camera, and with the pixel count doubled, it is expected to allow for more vivid photography. There are also rumors that the iPhone 17 Air will feature a single camera on the back instead of a multi-camera system. Forbes reported, 'According to a report related to the iPhone SE 4, scheduled to be released next spring, there is a possibility that even the cheapest iPhone will have a 48-megapixel rear camera, so a similar feature may also be included in the iPhone 17 Air.'
There are projections that the iPhone 17 Air will be released at the highest price point among all iPhones launched to date. Although it is set to replace the Plus model, some experts speculate that it will be priced even higher than the Pro Max. Additionally, it is expected to enable faster and more stable Wi-Fi connections by using 2.4GHz, 5GHz, and 6GHz bands simultaneously.
However, there are mixed predictions regarding the potential success of the iPhone 17. Bloomberg reported, 'Apple is introducing the ultra-thin iPhone 17 Air this fall, inspired by the success of the MacBook Air; however, there is a possibility it may fail like the iPhone Mini and Plus models.'