What changes does the ultra-thin iPhone offer?

Apple's ultra-thin iPhone, rumored to be called the iPhone 17 Air, could offer several interesting changes compared to other versions.

Ultra-thin design . According to analyst Ming-Chi Kuo from TF International Securities, the iPhone 17 Air is 5.5 mm thick at its thinnest point. For comparison, the iPhone 16 Pro and 16 Pro Max are 8.25 mm thick, while the standard iPhone 16 and iPhone 16 Plus are 7.8 mm thick. On March 12th, leaker Ice Universe predicted the iPhone 17 Air's camera module would be 4 mm thick, meaning the total product thickness would be 9.5 mm. Currently, Apple's thinnest iPhone model is the iPhone 6 (6.9 mm). Image: MacRumors .

New screen size . The ultra-slim design isn't the only hardware advantage of the iPhone 17 Air over the Pro line. Based on rumors, the iPhone 17 Air will have a 6.6-inch screen, slightly smaller than the iPhone 16 Pro Max (6.9 inches) but larger than the iPhone 16 Pro (6.3 inches). Thanks to its ultra-slim design, the iPhone 17 Air's screen could fit comfortably in the hands of current iPhone Pro users, while still providing enough space to satisfy iPhone Pro Max users. Photo: MacRumors .

The 120Hz display supports always-on mode . According to 9to5Mac , the always-on display mode and 120Hz refresh rate will appear for the first time on the basic iPhone 17 and iPhone 17 Air. Previously, only the iPhone Pro and Pro Max had these features. The 120Hz display provides a smoother scrolling and gaming experience, while always-on allows you to view the time and read notifications even when the iPhone is locked. Image: 9to5Mac .

The A19 processor . Similar to the iPhone 16, Apple is expected to introduce two completely new chips for the iPhone 17. While the iPhone 17 Pro and 17 Pro Max will feature the A19 Pro, the standard iPhone 17 and iPhone 17 Air will use the A19 chip. Compared to the A19 Pro, the A19 chip may have reduced performance or GPU capabilities; however, the difference in everyday tasks may not be significant. Image: 9to5Mac .

48 MP rear camera . Compared to other versions, the iPhone 17 Air will have a significant difference in its camera. While the iPhone 17 Pro and standard iPhone 17 retain 3 and 2 rear cameras respectively, the iPhone 17 Air is expected to feature only a single 48 MP rear camera. Although rumors about the camera are scarce, it's likely to have similar specifications to the main camera of the iPhone 16 and iPhone 16e. The camera bump will have a new design, a bar-like shape wrapping around the width of the device. Image: 9to5Mac .

24 MP front camera . Currently, the front camera on all iPhone 16 models only has a 12 MP resolution, which is inferior to the rear camera. However, rumors suggest that Apple will upgrade the iPhone 17's selfie camera to 24 MP. This could be a welcome upgrade for users who enjoy taking selfies with their iPhones. Photo: Apple .

Apple's own 5G modem . The iPhone 17 Air could be the next device to integrate the C1, Apple's own 5G modem. Since its appearance on the iPhone 16e, initial reviews have shown that the C1's speed is not significantly different from Qualcomm modems, but it consumes less power. The first version of the C1 still lacks some features such as mmWave band, but this technology is not very common even in the US or Europe. Photo: Apple .