iPhone 17 Air Thickness: 9.5mm at the Thickest Point with Camera Bump, Maintaining a Sleek 5.5mm Ultra-Thin Design

The upcoming iPhone 17 Air is poised to achieve the title of Apple’s slimmest smartphone to date. While the overall design will emphasize a sleek and slender profile, the camera bump will remain prominent, similar to that found on the current models. Interestingly, Apple is reportedly planning to replace the ‘Plus’ variant with this new ‘Air’ designation, projecting a thickness of approximately 5.5mm.

The iPhone 17 Air’s Design: Beauty Meets Functionality

Positioned uniquely between the iPhone 17 and iPhone 17 Pro, the iPhone 17 Air will be the sole model boasting a noticeably thinner form. Despite its lightweight appeal, it will maintain the dimensions of the iPhone 16 Plus, featuring a generous 6.7-inch display, reminiscent of the iPhone 16 Pro Max.

Recent insights from The Information reveal that the iPhone 17 Air’s thickness could approach 6mm, a measurement that echoes the profile of the iPhone 6, which measured just 5.9mm a decade ago. Although this keeps it from being Apple’s thinnest device—falling short of the new OLED iPad Pro models, which measure between 5.1mm and 5.3mm—analyst Ming-Chi Kuo suggests the Air could indeed reach 5.5mm, while Jeff Pu estimates it at 6mm at its thinnest point. Notably, this highlights that the device will remain slim throughout, with an exception made for the camera bump.

Camera Features and Configuration

Renowned leaker Ice Universe recently disclosed that the iPhone 17 Air’s camera bump may extend to a thickness of 4mm. This indicates a total device thickness of approximately 9.5mm in that area, assuming Kuo’s assessment holds true. The anticipated slim profile will integrate a single-lens camera, encased within a dedicated camera bar or tray that will also house an LED flash and microphone, effectively extending across the upper rear section of the phone.

In terms of overall design and features, the iPhone 17 Air is expected to align closely with Apple’s established layout, including familiar button placement and camera management controls. It may incorporate the same Fusion Camera technology found in the iPhone 16e, along with USB-C connectivity and the cutting-edge custom C1 modem, which has garnered positive feedback competing with existing Qualcomm solutions. The launch of the iPhone 17 Air is anticipated alongside the full iPhone 17 lineup later this year, likely in September.

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