Apple iPhone 17 Air May Hint at Future Portless iPhone

Key Takeaways

1. The iPhone 17 Air will debut this fall alongside the iPhone 16 series and will be between the sizes of the iPhone 17 Pro and Pro Max, with a slim profile of 5.5 mm.
2. It features a 6.6-inch display, although Apple initially planned for a larger 6.9-inch screen from the iPhone 16 Pro Max.
3. Early prototypes of the iPhone 17 Air did not include a physical charging port and relied on MagSafe technology for charging and cloud-based file transfers.
4. The potential for a portless iPhone is still alive, depending on the success of the Air model and ongoing discussions about charging standardization.
5. The iPhone 17 Air is expected to maintain strong battery performance and will likely be priced around $899, comparable to the iPhone 16 Plus.

Bloomberg analyst Mark Gurman has provided some fresh details regarding the iPhone 17 Air, which is set to debut this fall alongside the new versions of the iPhone 16, iPhone 16 Pro, and iPhone 16 Pro Max. From the latest leaks and gossip, it appears that Apple’s inaugural ‘Air’ styled iPhone will be positioned in size between the iPhone 17 Pro and iPhone 17 Pro Max, all while featuring a slim profile of only 5.5 mm thick.

Features and Expectations

According to Gurman, the iPhone 17 Air will come equipped with a 6.6-inch screen. However, he points out that Apple initially intended to use a larger 6.9-inch display, likely the same one as the iPhone 16 Pro Max. Additionally, Gurman mentions that the early ‘D23’ prototypes did not include a physical charging port. Instead, they utilized MagSafe technology, with all file transfers conducted solely through the cloud.

Potential Changes Ahead

This concept has been put on hold for now, especially considering Apple’s ongoing issues with the European Commission about standardizing charging ports. Gurman speculates that the long-awaited portless iPhone might still make a comeback, but only if a new ultra-slim model proves successful. In the near future, higher-end Pro models could take advantage of the innovations introduced with the Air if it becomes well-received within a generation or two.

Pricing and Performance Insights

Furthermore, the analyst asserts that advancements in display, battery life, iOS, and modem technologies will ensure that the iPhone 17 Air does not sacrifice battery performance, even with a 120 Hz ProMotion display. Additionally, Gurman anticipates that the iPhone 17 Air will be priced comparably to the iPhone 16 Plus (currently $729.95 – renewed on Amazon). If this prediction holds true, it would mean that Apple’s first ‘Air’ iPhone could launch at around $899.

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