In the latest Bloomberg newsletter, Mark Gurman details some details about next year’s slim iPhone 17 model, which he refers to as the iPhone 17 “Air.” The analyst goes on to detail Apple’s future iPhone plans, including a “Pro” model with a thinner body, as well as the possibility of a foldable iPhone.
iPhone 17 Air
Apple began experimenting with a fourth flagship iPhone model in 2020 with the iPhone 12 mini. That model was mostly a flop (unfortunately), and the company discontinued the iPhone mini and replaced it with the iPhone 14 Plus starting in 2022. However, that model wasn’t very successful either, so the company is trying to mix it up a bit with something a little more unique.
We started hearing rumors about this thinner iPhone 17 model earlier this year, though it wasn’t entirely clear what purpose the model would serve. We knew it would feature a smaller Dynamic AMOLED display, an aluminum body, a smaller 6.6-inch display (compared to the current iPhone Plus models), and some sort of lower camera setup. It was a weird Frankenstein between the premium and entry-level.
Gurman confirms reports of an ultra-thin iPhone 17, writing that the idea is to create a sort of “air-type” iPhone that would fit between the iPhone 17 and iPhone 17 Pro. He gives a rough idea of how Apple will try to sell the model to consumers:
If you want something a little more stylish than the standard iPhone — but don't really need the performance, screen size, or cameras of the Pro model — you can get something that looks cooler while still maintaining the specs of the regular iPhone.
He also adds that he expects this new slim model to be “more successful” than the iPhone 12/13 mini and iPhone 14/15/16 Plus, returning the iPhone lineup to “significant growth” in 2025. Additionally, he goes on to describe some details about other future iPhone models.
iPhone Ultra? Foldable iPhone?
Later, Gurman noted that Apple “would want to squeeze the power of the Pro model into this smaller design,” though the company is unlikely to achieve that until at least 2027. With the Pro feature set in a thinner form factor, Apple could potentially make a successful “Ultra” iPhone model, which would be much more attractive than the current iPhone 17 Slim rumors, at least to me.
Gurman also adds that he expects Apple to produce a foldable iPhone, although a foldable iPad is “a big priority” internally. He suggests that we may see a foldable iPad model launch first.
Are you excited about the upcoming ultra-thin iPhone 17, or are you more interested in the possibility of an iPhone Ultra or a foldable iPhone? Share your thoughts with us in the comments.
FTC: We use affiliate links to earn automatic income. more.