iPhone 17 Air Could Be World’s Thinnest Phone

Apple has never been one to boast about groundbreaking hardware advancements. While the company often lets others take the lead, they typically refine their products to offer one of the finest experiences in the smartphone market. However, the highly anticipated iPhone 17 Air may just change that perception in an impressive way.

According to insider leaks shared by Universe on X, the forthcoming “slim” version of the iPhone 17 series is expected to boast an astonishing thickness of merely 5.5mm. Apart from its side profile, the dimensions—height and width—will reportedly match that of the iPhone 17 Pro.

With a thickness of just 5.5mm, the iPhone 17 Air is likely to claim the title of the slimmest smartphone available. For comparison, rumors suggest that the Samsung Galaxy S25 Edge will have a thickness ranging from 5.85 to 6.4mm.

Exclusive leak: The dimensions (length, width, screen size, and bezel) of the iPhone 17 Air and iPhone 17 Pro Max are identical.
The only difference is in thickness: the iPhone 17 Air is 5.5mm, while the iPhone 17 Pro Max measures 8.725mm. pic.twitter.com/YjcMFva5IW

— ICE UNIVERSE (@UniverseIce) March 7, 2025

At MWC 2025, Tecno also impressed crowds with its Spark Slim, a sleek device claiming a thickness of 5.7mm, along with a robust battery. Yet it seems unlikely to outdo the iPhone 17 Air in the quest for the slimmest phone title, based on current information.

Despite aiming to be the thinnest, Apple won’t be setting records in this arena. Previously, China’s Gionee introduced models measuring 5.5mm and even 5.1mm in thickness, and back in 2014, the Vivo X5 Max was released at just 4.75mm, surpassing the Oppo R5 at that time.

However, achieving the title of the world’s thinnest smartphone in 2025 may come at a price. Alleged designs suggest that the iPhone 17 Air will feature a single rear camera, in contrast to competitors that are incorporating dual-camera systems.

iDeviceHelp and I have been collaborating on something special to share soon. Stay tuned! pic.twitter.com/n5AKqSOoWz

— Majin Bu (@MajinBuOfficial) March 6, 2025

Industry expert Ming-Chi Kuo has indicated that the iPhone 17 Air will utilize a high-density battery to compensate for its smaller form factor. While he did not disclose specific technical details, it is likely that Apple will opt for a silicon carbon battery, known for its higher energy density without sacrificing charging speed or overall battery life.

Furthermore, the company may implement its new battery packaging technology, which was first used in the iPhone 16, simplifying the battery repair and replacement process. This method involves a metallic shell combined with an ionic liquid battery adhesive, separated through a technique known as electrically induced adhesive debonding.

The iPhone 17 Air is set to take the place of the outgoing “Plus” model this year. However, it could be priced higher than the current iPhone 16 Plus and may feature an updated variant of Apple’s new C1 modem, which recently made its debut with the iPhone 16e model.