Apple is reportedly planning to completely remove the port on the iPhone 17 Air but has postponed it to the next generation due to concerns about EU regulations.
TechCrunch quotes expert Mark Gurman as saying that Apple is considering creating a port-less iPhone model in the future. Initially, the company planned to bring this design to the iPhone 17 Air, but in the end, it still equipped the product with USB-C. The reason is to avoid risks from the European Union's regulatory agency.
In addition, Apple also tested a super-thin version of the 17 Air with a 6.9-inch screen but then scrapped it due to the risk of bending. Previously, in 2014, the iPhone 6 Plus model was criticized for being prone to bending when placed in a pocket.
Therefore, according to Gurman, Apple decided to launch the iPhone 17 Air with a 6.6-inch screen, the thinnest iPhone model ever. In addition, the product is expected to use new battery technology, helping to maintain battery life equivalent to other iPhones.
Meanwhile, famous analyst Ming-Chi Kuo of TF Securities said the device measures 5.5 mm at its thinnest point. Meanwhile, "rumor expert" Ice Universe cited his own source as saying that the rear camera cluster of the 17 Air will protrude about 4 mm, meaning the thickest part of the device will be up to 9.5 mm.
The iPhone 17 Air is expected to launch alongside three other iPhone 17 models in September. It will be priced the same as the Plus model, starting at $800, and will be in the mid-range segment. It will feature a custom modem designed by Apple but will not support the fastest mmWave 5G band. Technology site PhoneArena believes that the iPhone 17 Air will help Apple meet the needs of a specific niche market, after the failure of the mini and Plus lines.