While Apple has not unveiled its iPhone 16 lineup yet, speculation about the subsequent generation -- the iPhone 17 series -- is already making waves online. A rumoured new addition to the iPhone family, the purported iPhone "Slim" model may replace the current iPhone Plus variant. According to famed Apple industry analyst Ming-Chi Kuo Apple might prioritise a svelte form factor for the iPhone 17 Slim, potentially achieving this by incorporating just one rear camera.
Also read: Users Switching To iPhone From Android Hits Record High, But How Good Is It For Apple?
Kuo shared other likely details of the iPhone 17 Slim and in terms of performance, it could be equipped with a more modest Bionic A19 chip compared to its flagship counterparts. This choice might allow Apple to balance processing power with energy efficiency and cost considerations.
"The Plus model currently accounts for only about 5–10% of total new iPhone shipments. It implies that the other three iPhone models (standard, Pro, and Pro Max) already adequately cover the high-end market segments, making the Plus model redundant," Kuo posted on Medium.
According to the Apple analyst, currently known specifications of the ultra-thin iPhone 17 are as follows:
- Screen size: Approximately 6.6 inches
- Screen resolution: Approximately 2,740 x 1,260
- Processor: A19 chip (with the higher-end iPhones using the Bionic A19 Pro)
- Dynamic island area: Similar to current models
- Metal frame: Adoption of a titanium-aluminum alloy metal frame, with a lower percentage of titanium than the current Pro and Pro Max metal frames (with other iPhone 17 models using aluminum metal frames)
- 5G chip: Adoption of Apple’s in-house 5G chip
- Camera: Single rear camera (wide camera)
Meaanwhile, recent data from Consumer Intelligence Research Partners (CIRP) reveals an interesting trend in the smartphone market, which shows a significant increase in Android users making the switch to Apple iPhone. During the June quarter, a five-year high of 17 per cent of new iPhone purchasers were former Android users, nearly doubling from 10 per cent in the same period last year.