iPhone 17 Air Allegedly Moves Closer to Production Stage

iPhone 17 Air Allegedly Moves Closer to Production Stage

The iPhone 17 Air has reportedly initiated the new product introduction (NPI) stage, marking its initial step towards production for this ultra-slim model.

It seems Apple is focusing on a sleek design over an expansive feature set for this forthcoming model, potentially making it the priciest option in the iPhone 17 series.

What We Anticipate from the iPhone 17 Air

Every year, Apple has consistently released three iPhone models:

  • The iPhone n
  • The iPhone n Pro
  • The iPhone n Pro Max

So far, the company has experimented with two additional models: a mini and a Plus version. The mini, as the name implies, is a more compact variant of the standard iPhone, while the Plus offers a larger display.

Next year, we expect Apple to explore a new direction with the iPhone 17 Air. This model will likely have a display size comparable to the iPhone 16 Plus, but significantly thinner. Reports suggest this could be Apple’s slimmest iPhone to date, measuring around 6mm thick, which is approximately 25% thinner than the standard version.

In terms of specifications, it is anticipated to resemble the base model more than the Pro model, featuring only a single camera. Nonetheless, there are indications that it could be the most expensive in the lineup, with Apple betting that consumers will be willing to pay a premium for its elegant design.

This move might represent the beginning of Apple’s strategy to adopt a slimmer form factor across its entire lineup in the future.

iPhone 17 Air Enters New Product Introduction Phase

Digitimes reports that the new model has officially entered its first step towards manufacturing: the new product introduction (NPI) phase.

At this stage, Apple collaborates with its suppliers to evaluate the manufacturability of the proposed design. Product engineers at Apple work alongside production engineers at Foxconn to determine the necessary manufacturing methods for assembling the device, ensuring that their planned approaches are feasible. Minor adjustments to the product design may occur during this phase to accommodate manufacturing requirements.

Following the NPI, a small-scale test production line will be established to verify alignment between manufacturing theory and practice.

Image: StrongChimp Bower/DMN

: . More.