Speculation continues to persist regarding Apple’s anticipated iPhone 17 Air. This model is expected to take the place of the “Plus” variant in this year’s iPhone 17 series. A fresh leak has emerged today, revealing what could be a contentious design decision by Apple: a camera bar integrated into the back of the device.
Design Speculations for the iPhone 17 Air
There have been several conflicting reports concerning the thickness of the iPhone 17 Air.
- A report from the supply chain indicated that the iPhone 17 Air will have a thickness of approximately 6.25mm.
- The Information stated that prototypes of the iPhone 17 Air range from 5 to 6 millimeters in thickness.
- Recently, Ming-Chi Kuo noted that the iPhone 17 Air will reach a minimum thickness of 5.5mm.
In comparison, all these estimates suggest that the iPhone 17 Air will be significantly thinner than the existing iPhone 16 versions. This indicates that the iPhone 17 Air could become Apple’s thinnest iPhone to date, surpassing the iPhone 6’s 6.9mm frame.
- iPhone 16: 7.80mm
- iPhone 16 Plus: 7.80mm
- iPhone 16 Pro: 8.25mm
- iPhone 16 Pro Max: 8.25mm
Another point of contention regarding the iPhone 17 Air is its camera bump. It is widely believed that the device will sport a single 48MP camera on the back, marking a notable change from the two cameras found in the iPhone 16 and the three cameras in the iPhone 16 Pro.
In a recent social media update, leaker Majin Bu shared an image purportedly revealing the design of the iPhone 17 Air’s rear. The image originated from a source on Weibo.
Majin Bu has a mixed history regarding the accuracy of Apple hardware leaks, especially at this early stage of the rumor mill. However, I have also encountered separate CAD illustrations from reliable sources that support this camera bar design for the iPhone 17 Air.
This indicates that the iPhone 17 Air’s single camera will occupy the same position as the cameras on existing iPhone models. Earlier reports suggested the camera might be centered on the back, but this remains unverified. Nevertheless, the camera’s flash appears to be placed opposite the camera bar.
If the iPhone 17 Air does adopt this camera bar structure, it likely explains why Kuo specifically mentioned the device would be 5.5mm thick at its “thinnest part.” The thickness will obviously increase at the upper end to accommodate the “hump” of the camera bar.
That being said, we still have eight months until Apple officially reveals the iPhone 17 Air, leaving room for potential design changes. Apple is likely testing various design prototypes and could ultimately opt for a different direction when it comes to the iPhone 17 Air’s styling.
Stay updated on all the latest iPhone 17 Air rumors through our dedicated guide.
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