Other iPhone 17 Air/Slim is clever marketing to nerf the base iPhones.

[3304614]

There is something called the “decoy effect”. Although — if any phone is going to be the decoy — it’s likely that the iPhone 17 Air is the decoy.

Please note: I’m not saying any of them are decoys. They could all be legit options that Apple genuinely expects to sell well. But if any of them are going to be the decoy (based on what we think we know via rumors), the Air seems like a good decoy-candidate.

 

[Ctrlos]

The XR/11 ‘rebrand’ was because the XR was the most popular model that year. It made sense to recenter the line on that model going forward.

As for future iPhones copying the Air design language: So? It’s kind of like complaining that future iPhones would, at the time copy the design language of the iPhone X instead of keeping with the iPhone 6.

It’s been 8 years the iPhone X. It’s time for another model to dictate the line going forwards.

And it’s still possible Apple could combine all three current lenses into one camera, improving the aesthetics of its models and making every other manufacturer look dated over night all over again.

 

[eyoungren]

I personally think that people are tired of thick and heavy phones with oversized camera bumps. So, an iPhone Air— a thinner and lighter model without a camera bump—would surely be a welcome option. I don’t believe Apple would jump on the gimmick train with a foldable model.

Sigh.

I have an 11 Pro Max. It is neither thick, nor is it heavy. In fact, as I have mentioned many times on MacRumors, I'd prefer a little heavier phone. I am tired of the camera bump though. I never wanted it to begin with. So, if Apple goes back to the thickness of the iPhone 5 to keep the camera flush with the housing then I'm good with that.

Unless you happen to think the iPhone 5 was thick - in which case you and I have very different viewpoints on what 'thick' is and is not.

 

[heretiq]

No conspiracy theory required. Apple simply spent the last 4 years appealing to people who don’t mind bulky products. Apple Silicon improvements now allow Apple to show some love to those who value compactness (and may be willing to pay a premium for it) — without compromising performance and battery life.

The M4 iPad Pro was the first example of this (hopeful) shift and I bought it day 1 precisely because it’s light and thin (I use my iPad almost exclusively as a naked tablet so the impact is pronounced).

An iPhone that comes close to the one-hand experience of my 13 mini and a MacBook with MacBook Air 15” weight and dimensions that also matches my M1 Max MB Pro performance will be purchased on day 1.

 

[iGüey]

I don’t believe Apple would jump on the gimmick train with a foldable model.

Why do you consider that a foldable model would be a gimmick?

Think twice. Common people is buying year to year even bigger phones. The problem is that trend has a physical limit that will be reached when the large phones were not able to be easily pocketable any more. So the only way Apple can satisfy the buyers who want a bigger screen (when unfolded), as well as the ones who need a small form factor, at the same time and even with the very same device is precisely with a flip iPhone.

Obviously Apple has taken its time because we can be sure that they have been perfectioning the folding screens to not have an ugly and notorious crease.

 

[sublunar]

Is the idea for an iPhone Air to make it weigh less than a standard iPhone or for it to be a new ‘thinner’ form factor to generate some marketing buzz because the so called Plus models aren’t as popular as they’d like? Is it because it’s too ‘heavy?’

Maybe Apple are targeting light users who would love a big screen and value portability?

Maybe apple have decided they might like to hear from women who might put a thinner yet lighter iPhone with a big screen in their purse. Is it going to work for them?

This is potentially made possible by the A18 or A19 cpu and I’d say that these users might not mind a lower top bracket of performance in return for better battery life. They’ll be scrolling through social media videos, taking the odd photo, making FaceTime calls and not playing resident evil I’d say.

 

[iBreatheApple]

Wouldn’t a slim version inherently be the Nerf?

 

[kwikdeth]

If Apple indeed releases the rumoured Air model and also the rumoured SE model, it will be interesting to see how the four-tier lineup will differentiate from one another.

I think the Slim *is* the SE 4.

 

[Sami13496]

I think the Slim *is* the SE 4.

Possible. It would mean that Apple is dropping the current SE concept and replacing it with a new type of concept, as I don’t see how the rumoured features would fit into the size, market position, and price of the original idea of SE.

 

[Sami13496]

Why do you consider that a foldable model would be a gimmick?

Think twice. Common people is buying year to year even bigger phones. The problem is that that trend has a physical limit that will be reached when the large phones were not able to be easily pocketable any more. So the only way Apple can satisfy the buyers who want a bigger screen (when unfolded), as well as the ones who need a small form factor, at the same time and even with the very same device is precisely with a flip iPhone.

Obviously Apple has taken its time because we can be sure that they have been perfectioning the folding screens to not have a ugly and notorious crease.

I just think that the unfolding screen isn’t significantly larger or the right size to offer a noticeable advantage over a regular larger smartphone display. The list of drawbacks is incredibly long compared to this questionable benefit.

Of course, Apple might have something groundbreaking to offer us. But all the current foldables feel more like prototype-like contraptions to me—solutions in search of a problem.

 

[geta]

I personally think that people are tired of thick and heavy phones with oversized camera bumps. So, an iPhone Air— a thinner and lighter model without a camera bump—would surely be a welcome option. I don’t believe Apple would jump on the gimmick train with a foldable model.

I'm tired of big phones with huge camera bumps and FaceID.

 

[CrysisDeu]

X/XS started at $999, XR and 11 at $699 and 11 Pro at $999 as well.

Nothing really got “downgraded” on the expensive models, users just got optional cheaper variant with older display technology 🙄

Before iPhone X, the iPhone (number) was the flagship and those were not 999

 

[TVreporter]

Pretty sure this “Air” model is a mini-test for a future fold model. To see if there is an appetite for a thinner phone.

 

[iGüey]

Pretty sure this “Air” model is a mini-test for a future fold model. To see if there is an appetite for a thinner phone.

I do think this “Air” will be the fold model indeed.

 

[iGüey]

solutions in search of a problem.

Think twice, my friend. The problem is indeed there, even you and many other MR posters haven’t realized it yet: common people is buying year to year even bigger phones. The problem is that trend has a physical limit that will be reached when the large phones were not able to be easily pocketable any more. So the only way Apple can satisfy the buyers who want a bigger screen (when unfolded), as well as the ones who need a small form factor, at the same time and even with the very same device is precisely with a flip iPhone.

I just think that the unfolding screen isn’t significantly larger or the right size to offer a noticeable advantage over a regular larger smartphone display.

Unfolding a screen means that it automatically will double its size, so if you have a 4 inches folded device, unfolded it will reach 8 inches. 4 inches is shorter than the Mini, while 8 inches is larger than the Plus or Max.

The list of drawbacks is incredibly long compared to this questionable benefit.

Obviously Apple has taken its time because we can be sure that they have been perfectioning the folding screens to not have an ugly and notorious crease.

 

[Eriamjh1138@DAN]

I haven’t seen any marketing of the iPhone slim.

 

[eyoungren]

I'm tired of big phones with huge camera bumps and FaceID.

Not tired of big phones here. Will continue to buy the largest phone Apple sells when out to buy, both in physical dimensions and capacity.

I do agree about the camera bump though. Now if Apple wants to make the phone thicker (bigger?) to make that camera bump go away by making it flush with the housing then I'll buy that in a hearbeat.

FaceID? I'm good with that, no problems.

 

[ApplesAreSweet&Sour]

Apple is likely removing the ultrawide on the slim iPhone 17 to make it thin, not to artificially separate it from the iPhone Pro. Base model will likely retain two lenses.

We saw this with M4 iPad Pro and the removal of the second lens. Ultrawide and telephoto lenses and sensors consume a lot on the z-axis.

The 48MP sensor already effectively offers two lenses: regular and 2x telephoto. Do many users prefer a thinner device in exchange for lack of ultrawide and macro? Apple is betting yes.

Most consumers have been conditioned to understand more lenses are better. The slim with a single lens will be seen as a compromise regardless of what it looks like. It won’t win the hearts of most consumers regardless of how Apple markets it.

Everybody knew XR and 11 had an LCD, it’s just nobody cared about it because it didn’t make much difference in the real world. Apple named it XR simply because R was before S in XS. The iPhone 11 was subordinate to 11 Pro.

Apple trying to make slim and sleek happen again for iPhone will fail if Apple asks buyers to compromise and settle for a lesser displays, lesser cameras, lesser battery life than what we've become accustomed to since 11/11 Pro/Max.

"iPhone 17 Air semi-SE" ain't happening.

However, I always wondered why Apple didn't streamline its product naming between iPhones and iPads. And the mid-tier iPhones not having a signifier like "Pro" or "SE" has always made talking about them unnecessarily complicated.

I can totally see Apple relaunching the mid-tier iPhones where they get slimmed down and rebranded to "iPhone Air".

The mid-tier iPhones have, historically, usually been a good bit lighter and a tad slimmer than the bigger Pros. Apple doubling down on this and also having the mid-tier stand out as the slimmest smartphones in the World would probably boost sales of them a good bit.

It could work.

 

[Sami13496]

Think twice, my friend. The problem is indeed there, even you and many other MR posters haven’t realized it yet: common people is buying year to year even bigger phones. The problem is that trend has a physical limit that will be reached when the large phones were not able to be easily pocketable any more. So the only way Apple can satisfy the buyers who want a bigger screen (when unfolded), as well as the ones who need a small form factor, at the same time and even with the very same device is precisely with a flip iPhone.


Unfolding a screen means that it automatically will double its size, so if you have a 4 inches folded device, unfolded it will reach 8 inches. 4 inches is shorter than the Mini, while 8 inches is larger than the Plus or Max.


Obviously Apple has taken its time because we can be sure that they have been perfectioning the folding screens to not have an ugly and notorious crease.

Interesting perspectives. It’s certainly true that, on an abstract level, the idea of a small, pocket-sized device that can transform into a larger one when needed is something that would likely have demand. After all, people already buy iPads for tasks that aren’t comfortable to do on a small screen. If Apple can figure out how to solve this in a way that avoids too many compromises and doesn’t feel like a prototype, unlike current foldables, then maybe it could have potential. Simply eliminating the crease would already be a big step forward.

One more observation: if you watch a widescreen video on a 4-inch folded smartphone or on the same device in its unfolded 8-inch mode, wouldn’t the video be (about) same size on both screens due to its aspect ratio? In that use case, the unfolded screen doesn’t really offer much of an advantage.

I also have to mention that I think there could be demand for a thin and lightweight iPhone without a camera bump. I’d be the first in line for something like that.

So it could be foldable but also it could just be thin and light iPhone.

 

[snipr125]

I personally think that people are tired of thick and heavy phones with oversized camera bumps. So, an iPhone Air— a thinner and lighter model without a camera bump—would surely be a welcome option. I don’t believe Apple would jump on the gimmick train with a foldable model.

Is it a gimmick though or trending innovation? Watch Korean dramas, they all use folding phones and everything Korean right now = potential £$€¥ for Apple

 

[Wanted797]

X/XS started at $999, XR and 11 at $699 and 11 Pro at $999 as well.

Nothing really got “downgraded” on the expensive models, users just got optional cheaper variant with older display technology 🙄

Yes. It’s how they created the pro lineup.

My entire point is they’re about to do it again. But this time by removing features from the base model. This won’t happen in one cycle. It will take time.

 

[kanga1622]

I’ve really enjoyed reading all the perspectives here. This potential lineup just seems so odd to me. My husband and I enjoy our 15+ and planned to upgrade to the equivalent 17 model but it doesn’t look like that is an option. Seems like they are forcing those of us that liked bigger screens to either take a stripped down version or pay $300+ more for the Pro Max.

It does feel like a step toward a 2 or 3 model lineup in the future with the Air as the basic single lens model, then Pro for better camera, and Pro Max for screen size and camera features.

 

[staceyu]

Given they’re pro phones they’ll continue to promote big batteries and multi lens cameras.

LOL
iPhone 16: 3561 mah
iPhone 16 Pro: 3582 mah

iPhone 16 Plus: 4674 mah
iPhone 16 Pro Max: 4685 mah.

By the time the 17 comes out the only difference will be the chipset, design and camera(s). And in the iPhone 14 they used to all use the same SoC.

 

[Bungaree.Chubbins]

Think twice, my friend. The problem is indeed there, even you and many other MR posters haven’t realized it yet: common people is buying year to year even bigger phones. The problem is that trend has a physical limit that will be reached when the large phones were not able to be easily pocketable any more. So the only way Apple can satisfy the buyers who want a bigger screen (when unfolded), as well as the ones who need a small form factor, at the same time and even with the very same device is precisely with a flip iPhone.


Unfolding a screen means that it automatically will double its size, so if you have a 4 inches folded device, unfolded it will reach 8 inches. 4 inches is shorter than the Mini, while 8 inches is larger than the Plus or Max.


Obviously Apple has taken its time because we can be sure that they have been perfectioning the folding screens to not have an ugly and notorious crease.

You have a clear argument, and I respect that, but I think it’s not quite that straightforward. If raw screen size were the issue, you’re looking at a book fold, not a flip. If quality and durability can be solved, great! A screen that unfolds to be essentially square doesn’t serve a whole lot though. It might be nice for people who use spreadsheets, and maybe e-books, but what else? Video won’t be any better than on an equivalent candybar.

 

[Chuckeee]

I haven’t seen any marketing of the iPhone slim.

Not really surprising. Apple marketing of a new phone is typically coordinated closely with the release date (usually in September). I would not expect any marketing from Apple until August or at best July. Until then, marketing will be informal based solely on “leaks” and innuendo.