Apple is once again gearing up for an overhaul of its iPhone portfolio next year, and it looks like there’s going to be a lot of interesting upgrades. The most notable of these is apparently the introduction of the new “iPhone 17 Slim” model, which some rumors also refer to as the “Air” trim.
So far, the leaks have focused on the phone’s dramatic aesthetic changes. Specifically, it could be the thinnest iPhone ever made. Additionally, it would be a significant departure from Apple’s current design language. And if renderings circulating on social media are to be believed, an all-metal build is on the horizon.
Now, Haitong International analyst Jeff Pu has shared details (via Macrumors and 9to5Mac) about the phone’s internal hardware. First of all, the display size is 6.6 inches, and the Face ID module is installed on the top.
Notably, Pu’s analyst note mentions the choice of aluminum construction, apparently to keep the weight profile low. For the past few years, Apple’s high-end Pro models have relied on stainless steel or titanium metal composites, starting with the iPhone 15 Pro series.
The next “slim” iPhone will be powered by the next-generation A19 SoC, which is based on a 3nm process, similar to the A18 series lineup that powers the iPhone 16 quartet. It will come with 8GB of RAM, but there’s no word on how much storage Apple will pack into this sleek phone.
In the imaging department, the phone offers just one 48-megapixel snapper, which is now mainstream across the iPhone lineup. However, on the front, you are greeted by a 24-megapixel selfie snapper.
Interestingly, according to MacRumors, analysts expect the iPhone 17 Slim to arrive as a “mid-range iPhone.” However, previous reports claimed that this would be the most expensive phone Apple has ever produced, likely costing more than $1,200 each.
Pricing strategy aside, the next mobile phone is said to replace the “Plus” model of the mainstream iPhone series. This is Apple’s second shift in less than five years, following a brief run of the “Mini” trim.
However, keep in mind that these are all very early predictions for a phone that is still nearly a year away from market launch. As expected, prepare for some surprising changes as Apple continues to develop its next-generation smartphones with a healthy dose of skepticism.
