Apple can bring back the bumper case with iPhone 17 Air, first seen on iPhone 4 in 2010
If a phone is as smooth as it is being talked about, then who would want to keep it in a chunky case and add excess thickness? On the other hand, the phone-the good looking and smooth as they are-are quite fragile, and a casual decline can actually increase the repair cost. So, what is the solution? Well, Apple may have an answer.

Rumor to replace the iPhone 17 Air – Plus model – The iPhone 17 is expected to be launched with the rest of the family in September. Its thinness and form factor-in addition to its top-level hardware-is being postponed as its biggest highlight, with the iPhone 17 Air that it is said to be the thinnest iPhone at about 5.5 mm thick about 5.5 mm thick. Naturally, this question arises: If a phone is as smooth as it is being talked about, then who would want to keep it in a chunky case and add additional thickness? On the other hand, the phone-the good looking and smooth as they are-are quite fragile, and a casual decline can actually increase the repair cost. So, what is the solution? Well, Apple may have an answer.
As Mark Gurman of BloombergApple iPhone 17 can consider a bumper case for Air, as it was introduced for the iPhone 4 after an antenagate issue. In your post on X, Gurman Writes, “I believe that Apple has at least consider/tested a new case for Slimmer iPhone this year that surrounds the edges, but does not cover the back. It is a similar concept for the iPhone 4 bumper since 2010.”
This can be a very interesting step, especially looking at the alleged “ultra-thin” profile of the iPhone 17 Air. Many buyers will hesitate to insert such a thin tool in a regular case, as it will beat the entire purpose of the design. A bumper case, however, attacks a clean balance. It provides protection to edges and corners, which usually have the weakest parts during drops, while still highlighting the back. In this way, users can enjoy the phone’s look and feel without worrying more about casual knocks or scratches.
It will also be a throbac for iPhone users for a long time. Back in 2010, Apple launched bumper matters for the iPhone 4. They were made of rubber, and at that time, Apple left them for free due to an antenagate issue, where the phone was kept in a certain way due to a poor network reception. While the dispute is unlikely to repeat, the bumper itself was a clever design solution – and one that could understand a lot again in 2025 with the iPhone 17 Air.
Interestingly, there are also reports that Apple can issue a battery case for iPhone 17 Air. The company used to sell batteries cases for old iphones, especially before and after transferring the MAGSAFE battery pack for the iPhone 11 series, iPhone 12 models. However, the accessory has been closed since then, leaving a place to re -view the idea in a new form for Apple. If the bumper case comes, users may get more flexibility by pairing it with an alternative battery case.
At the end of the day, most people want two things from their iPhone: smooth design and reliable protection. A bumper case looks like the perfect middleground between using the phone and putting it in a heavy case. It protects the edges, adds minimal thickness, and yet lets you show the design of the phone. Keeping the source in mind here Mark gurmanWhich is usually spot-on with apple-related predictions, a good chance that it can turn into reality.
For now, however, nothing is official. Apple will reveal all when the iPhone 17 series is launched in September. But if the bumper case returns, it can be one of the more thoughtful items issued in recent years.