After the launch of the Apple iPhone 16e, all eyes are on the iPhone 17 Air, which is speculated to be Apple’s slimmest model to date, even thinner than the iPhone 6’s 6.9mm profile. While the iPhone 17 series is projected for release in September 2025, the Air variant may debut slightly later due to its distinctive design.
However, this ultra-slim design comes with certain compromises, as reports indicate that the iPhone 17 Air will forgo three key features typically found in flagship models: a dual-camera system, a bottom speaker, and a physical SIM tray.
According to a report from MacRumours, the iPhone 17 Air is expected to incorporate a single-camera configuration, marking the first instance in eight years that an Apple flagship will feature only one lens, reminiscent of the iPhone 8 released in 2017. This design choice, necessitated by the device’s ultra-thin profile of 5.5mm, represents a notable shift from the recent trend of dual and triple-camera setups.
Despite its single-camera design, the iPhone 17 Air is anticipated to be priced comparably to the iPhone 16 Plus, which has a starting price of $899 (approximately PKR 251,000).
Another anticipated modification is the elimination of the bottom-edge speaker, resulting in the iPhone 17 Air being equipped with only a single speaker located in the earpiece. This change would remove the stereo sound experience that current iPhone models offer.
Leaked 3D renders corroborate this information, depicting the bottom edge of the device with only a few microphone openings, indicating a move towards a more minimalist aesthetic in favor of the ultra-thin design.
Furthermore, the iPhone 17 Air is rumored to be eSIM-only, lacking a physical SIM card tray in several regions, although specific locations have not been disclosed. This follows Apple’s earlier introduction of eSIM-only iPhones in the United States with the iPhone 14 series.
However, the situation in China, where eSIMs have not been widely accepted, adds an element of uncertainty regarding availability. Apple has advocated for eSIMs due to their enhanced security features, as they cannot be physically stolen or removed, and they allow users to manage up to eight eSIMs concurrently.
For more daily updates, please visit our News Section.