Apple’s upcoming iPhone 17 “Air,” expected in 2025, might not achieve the ultra-thin design initially intended. According to a report by the Naver account “yeux1122,” citing industry sources in Korea, Apple is struggling to produce a battery with a thinner substrate essential for the slim design. This technical setback may force Apple to use existing battery technology, impacting the phone’s thickness.
Technical Hurdles Lead to Design Compromises
The primary obstacle in achieving the iPhone 17 Air’s slim profile is the manufacturing complexity of thinner battery substrates, which would reduce the battery’s overall thickness. However, this process has proven costly and technically challenging, prompting Apple to rely on conventional battery designs. As a result, the iPhone 17 Air’s battery may be around 6mm thick, making it unlikely that the device itself will be significantly thinner than Apple’s previous thinnest model, the iPhone 6, which measured 6.9mm.
While Apple had hoped to make the iPhone 17 Air one of its slimmest devices yet, it appears that the iPhone 6, along with other ultra-thin Apple products like the 13-inch iPad Pro (5.1mm) and the seventh-generation iPod Nano (5.4mm), will retain their titles as the company’s thinnest gadgets for the foreseeable future. Currently, the iPhone 16 Plus, the device the iPhone 17 Air is set to replace, is 7.8mm thick.
What to Expect from iPhone 17 Air
Despite the thickness setback, the iPhone 17 Air is expected to debut with notable upgrades, including Apple’s latest “A19” chip, a single rear camera, and a ProMotion display with a refresh rate up to 120Hz. Apple enthusiasts can look forward to its release in the fall of 2025.
Jaja has a degree in journalism and took classes in international law and business communication. Her career spans roles at prominent international media outlets, including International Business Times, Celebeat and Delightful Philippines. As a news editor, Jaja covered a wide range of beats, including legal, business, economy, cryptocurrency, personal finance, gaming, technology, and entertainment.