Next Year's Slim iPhone 17 Could Be an 'iPhone Air'

Apple's rumored iPhone 17 "Slim" could be positioned as an iPhone "Air" to boost sales, according to Bloomberg's Mark Gurman.

iPhone 17 Slim Feature Single Camera 2
In the latest edition of his "Power On" newsletter, Gurman explained how the "fourth" model in the ‌iPhone‌ lineup since 2020 (the iPhone 12 mini, ‌iPhone‌ 13 mini, ‌iPhone‌ 14 Plus, and iPhone 15 Plus) has largely been a commercial failure. In the case of the Plus model, this is likely because it is just $100 less than the Pro, so most customers simply opt for the higher-end model.

There has been uncertainty in recent months about the intention of the so-called ‌iPhone 17‌ "Slim" and its rumored position in the lineup. Last week, YouTuber Jon Prosser was first to suggest that the device could be positioned as an "‌iPhone‌ Air." Now, Gurman seems to have supported this idea.

The ‌iPhone 17‌ "Air" will represent a new approach to this fourth model in the lineup, offering a device with a substantially thinner design that sits between the ‌iPhone 17‌ and iPhone 17 Pro. Gurman compared the device to the original MacBook Air from 2008, which sat between the regular MacBook and MacBook Pro in the lineup.

The sales pitch will probably go like this: If you want something snazzier than a standard iPhone — but don't really need the performance, screen size or cameras of a Pro model — you can get something that looks much cooler while still having the specifications of a regular iPhone.

At minimum, Gurman expects the ‌iPhone‌ "Air" to be more popular than the ‌iPhone‌ mini and Plus devices from recent years.

Gurman added that the thinner design of the ‌iPhone 17‌ "Air" will "just be a step toward something better" since Apple will eventually want to "squeeze the power of a Pro model into this smaller design." However, he does not expect this to occur before 2027 at the earliest.

Related Roundups: iPhone 17, iPhone 17 Air

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Top Rated Comments

dz5b609 Avatar
7 months ago
The more I hear about this phone the less sense it makes.
Score: 19 Votes (Like | Disagree)
2540497 Avatar
7 months ago
This is going to flop badly if this is the case. Pay more for the same phone just thinner?
Score: 16 Votes (Like | Disagree)
coffeemilktea Avatar
7 months ago

Apple will eventually want to "squeeze the power of a Pro model into this smaller design."
I can predict this phone will also squeeze my wallet into a smaller size. ?
Score: 14 Votes (Like | Disagree)
sniffies Avatar
7 months ago
And no, it won't be more advanced than iPhone Pro Max.

I do believe that there will also be iPhone Ultra at some point in the future.

Also kinda off-topic: I don't see Apple ever ditching 'i' from their product names entirely. iPhone is too iconic a name. And how would they rename iCloud?
Score: 8 Votes (Like | Disagree)
2761216 Avatar
7 months ago
Think it’s time to fire their marketing dept.:rolleyes:
Score: 8 Votes (Like | Disagree)
Andres Cantu Avatar
7 months ago
From mini to plus to air.

Apple really wants a 4th model to work out, huh?
Score: 7 Votes (Like | Disagree)