Apple is expected to launch a slimmer version of the iPhone with the iPhone 17, iPhone 17 Pro, and iPhone 17 Pro Max. This new model, which is being called the iPhone 17 Air, will be about two millimeters thinner than the iPhone 16 Pro, as reported by Mark Gurman in his weekly newsletter. For those who don’t know, it’s barely been a few months since the iPhone 16 series was launched, but, we’ve already started getting leaks and rumors about the iPhone 17 series, which is slated to launch in Q4 2025. Expected to happen.

To provide context, the current iPhone 16 Pro is 8.25mm thick. If the iPhone 17 Air is 2mm thinner, that would be about 6.25mm, making it the thinnest iPhone ever. The previous record was 6.9mm in the name of iPhone 6. Over time, iPhones have generally become thicker, starting with the iPhone

Some earlier rumors suggested that the iPhone 17 Air could be even thinner, around between 5mm and 6mm. This also confirms some reports that suggest the iPhone 17 Air may also not come with a SIM tray. However, most sources now believe the phone will be around 6mm thick. Additionally, the iPhone 17 Air is expected to feature a 6.6-inch display with a 120Hz refresh rate, a single rear camera, and Apple’s in-house SoC, the A19 or whatever the company plans to name it in 2025.

The iPhone 17 Air is also expected to include Apple’s own 5G modem. This chip is smaller than the one currently used, which comes from Qualcomm. Gurman explained that Apple designed its modem chip to work more closely with its other hardware, saving space inside the phone. It’s this extra space that allows Apple to make the iPhone 17 Air thinner while maintaining the same battery life, camera quality, and display performance. In addition to the iPhone 17 Air, Apple plans to use its custom modem chip in the upcoming iPhone SE, which is expected to launch in early 2025, and a lower-cost iPad.

As Apple continues to improve its modem chip technology, the extra space created could make way for innovations like foldable iPhones. And, it may happen sooner rather than later. Gurman says that Apple is actively working on a foldable iPhone concept. Over the next three years, Apple aims to gradually replace Qualcomm modems with its own chips. In the future, Apple may also introduce an SoC that combines the processor, modem, Wi-Fi, and other components. This approach will optimize space and enable better integration of hardware.