Apple's much talked about next iPhone, the iPhone 17 Air, has reportedly entered the New Product Introduction (NPI) phase at Foxconn. According to reports, the iPhone 17 Air is going to be Apple's slimmest ever smartphone, and it will replace the 'Plus' model in the iPhone 17 series lineup, which might be released in 2025. According to a report by the Macrumors, NPI phase takes a product from the concept stage to mass production.
The process starts with design validation and prototype testing and then continues with supplier qualification and manufacturing process development.
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iPhone 17 Air: What We Know
A recent report from The Information sheds light on the potential dimensions of the upcoming iPhone 17 Air. According to the report, prototypes suggest the device will be significantly thinner, measuring between 5mm and 6mm. This marks a notable reduction compared to the iPhone 16 and iPhone 16 Pro, which are 7.8mm and 8.25mm thick, respectively.
However, this sleek design may come with trade-offs, such as the elimination of the physical SIM card tray. Instead, the iPhone 17 Air is expected to rely entirely on eSIM technology—a feature Apple has already introduced in the US market starting with the iPhone 14, though physical SIM slots remain in models sold elsewhere.
Additionally, the iPhone 17 Air is rumoured to feature a prominent, centralized camera bump on the back, possibly housing just a single sensor. This would be a step down from the dual-camera system present in the standard iPhone 16 lineup. Battery capacity may also take a hit, as sources suggest the device could include a smaller battery, although the exact specifications are still unknown.
Another reported design compromise involves the audio setup. The iPhone 17 Air might only feature a single speaker located in the earpiece, as space constraints appear to rule out a second speaker in the bottom grille.