Is Apple about to once again redefine the term "thin"? Whispers are spreading. A recent leak shows a video that perhaps gives a glimpse into a device stated to be incredibly slinky - the iPhone 17 Air. Imagine an iPhone that is thinner than the ever-famous iPhone 6. Is the doc in the air?
Ultrathin and Ultrachic?
The iPhone 17 Air, if it is to be believed, could have a thickness of 5.5 mm at the thinnest portion. To put this into context, the iPhone 6 itself was an impressive 5.9 mm thin. While the title of world's thinnest would be held by Apple's own 13-inch OLED iPad Pro at 5.1 mm, the iPhone 17 Air would surely be the slimmest iPhone to ever rest in our pockets. The tussles are heating up as, rumor has it, Samsung is working on the ultra-slim Galaxy S25 "Edge". It will surely turn into a mini contest.
Camera Bar: A Streamlined Look Across the Lineup
Apart from the thinness, the leak suggested a radical design turn: a camera bar at the back. Oddly enough, that camera bar is not reserved for the "Pro" models anymore. It appears that Apple may now be angling for a unified aesthetic across the whole iPhone 17 lineup. That camera bar on this "Air" model seems to be much like we've seen on "Pro" iPhones, although perhaps a bit more refined in that it is one fairly thin phone.
Just last week, we saw the leak concerning the iPhone 17 Professional's design which included a camera bar, too. However, the bar on the 'Pro' is expected to be larger to take into account the more elaborate triple-lens camera system, LiDAR and other components. The 'Air' camera bar, in distinction, appears to be more minimalist, housing what looks like a single-lens setup, along with a mic and flash.
M14 OLED: Brighter and Better for Everyone?
But design is not the only thrilling rumor going around. The word is that Apple is planning to bring its top-shelf M14 OLED display technology to the iPhone 17 and this 'Air' model. Until now, this superior display technology has been exclusive to the 'Pro' iPhones. If this turns out to be true, it will be a stupendous advantage for less than standard models and may even give one or more of the following advantages:
- Higher brightness: With some estimates suggesting brightness possibly increased by 30% from earlier OLEDs.
- Higher lifespan: M14 technology is rumored to be much more energy-efficient and last longer.
This would ideally be a massive point for Apple, providing an exceptionally impressive screen experience to even the cheaper iPhones. Acknowledged as perhaps putting a response to the competition, it certainly would give them the upper hand. Indeed, even against the likes of Galaxy S25 Ultra that surprisingly did not get the M14 OLED.
Let's wait with bated breath...
And obviously, these are still all relatively mere leaks and rumors. Jon Prosser, who carried the latest rumors, appears to have had an inconsistent track record with Apple predictions. Nonetheless, this rumored hypothetical ultra-thin iPhone 17 Air with the 'Pro'-style camera bar and an OLED display is a very interesting concept. We will remain alert for all the latest developments leading up to the supposed iPhone 17 launch.
