Apple is rumored to be launching a brand-new iPhone model this year, dubbed the iPhone 17 Air, which promises to be the thinnest iPhone yet. According to various reports, the iPhone 17 Air will debut as part of Apple's iPhone 17 lineup this fall, marking a significant design shift for the line. The new phone is expected to sacrifice some functionality for a sleeker, slimmer design, similar to the original MacBook Air.

The iPhone 17 Air's thinness is a major talking point, with supply chain analyst Ming-Chi Kuo predicting a 5.5mm phone, while Bloomberg reporter Mark Gurman suggests it will be "about 2 millimeters thinner" than the 8.25mm iPhone 16 Pro. Another analyst, Jeff Pu, estimates it will be around 6mm. Regardless of the exact measurement, the 17 Air will be one of the thinnest Apple products ever, even more so than the iPhone 6, which currently holds the record for thinnest iPhone at 6.9mm.

One of the major challenges Apple faces in achieving this ultra-slim design is fitting enough battery to meet its goals. Rumors suggest the company is working on novel ways to fit more battery capacity, including the use of carbon nanotubes and a mix of materials like nickel, cobalt, manganese, and aluminum for future devices. However, other reports indicate that Apple may be using standard battery tech, with leaker yeux1122 claiming the company had sought to get thinner internals to enable both more battery capacity and a slimmer phone but failed.

Despite the battery woes, the iPhone 17 Air's display is expected to feature an OLED panel with the same LTPO technology found in current Pro models, enabling higher refresh rates and less power consumption. The screen size is rumored to be around 6.6 inches, slightly smaller than the 6.7-inch screen of the iPhone 16 Plus. The phone will also feature a Dynamic Island with Face ID, similar to the rest of the flagship line.

In terms of internal components, Bloomberg's Mark Gurman reports that Apple will outfit the iPhone 17 Air with in-house Wi-Fi and Bluetooth chips, as well as its own bespoke cellular modem. This marks a significant shift for the company, which has been trying to develop its own modem in an effort to ditch Qualcomm. The phone is also expected to feature a regular A19 chip, 8GB of RAM, and support Apple Intelligence AI features.

The camera setup is rumored to be a single 48-megapixel shooter on the back, with a 24-megapixel front-facing selfie cam. This is a significant departure from the dual-camera setup of the base model and the fancy camera array of the Pro phones.

Pricing for the iPhone 17 Air is still uncertain, with some rumors suggesting it could be expensive despite lacking the fancy camera array of the Pro phones or the dual-camera setup of the base model. The Information reports that it could cost more than the $1,299 iPhone 16 Pro Max, while The Wall Street Journal suggests it could be cheaper than the Pro phones, putting it below $999.

So, why is Apple making the iPhone 17 Air? According to Gurman, the company is looking to boost sales, which have been stagnant in recent years. The iPhone 17 Air approach is seen as a "tried-and-true winner" for getting sales, and Apple is hoping to replicate the success of the original MacBook Air. Additionally, the phone is also being used as a testing ground for new technologies, including in-house wireless and cell modem chips, which could eventually lead to the development of a folding iPhone.

Overall, the iPhone 17 Air promises to be a significant departure from Apple's traditional iPhone designs, with its ultra-slim profile, novel battery tech, and in-house chips. While the exact details are still uncertain, one thing is clear: Apple is looking to shake things up in the iPhone lineup, and the iPhone 17 Air could be the key to unlocking new sales growth.