hello. This is Technologytodaynow. The most notable model for the upcoming iPhone 17 series is the portability-focused iPhone 17 Air (tentative name).
This model replaces the existing plus model and plans to introduce a new trend with its thin and light design. However, we’re going to take a closer look at the news that these changes could cost you some features and performance.
Features of the iPhone 17 Air and features expected to be excluded
Ultra-light design and thinness
According to a new report from Information, the iPhone 17 Air prototype currently under development will be between 5 and 6 mm thick. It is expected to be the thinnest iPhone ever, about the same thickness as the M4 iPad 11-inch.
Battery and Cooling System: The ultra-thin design limits the internal structure, which makes battery efficiency and thermal management difficult.
Weight Lightening: We value user convenience most and aim to maintain a light weight.
reduction of camera function
According to what has been reported so far, the iPhone 17 Air is likely to feature only one main camera. It is believed to have removed the ultra-wide-angle and telephoto cameras to free up internal space. This comes with inevitable sacrifices, as interior design space will be limited in order to reduce thickness and lighten weight.
Advantage: Suitable for users who do not often use the photography function.
Cons: However, it can be a limited choice for users who want a variety of shooting options.
Speaker degradation
The report also said that the iPhone 17 Air will feature a single speaker instead of stereo speakers. While this may seem like an inevitable choice to maintain the thin design, it will be a significant downside for content-consuming experiences, such as viewing videos and music. This may be a huge disappointment for iPhone users who already had good speaker performance.
mmWave 5G Support Discontinued
It is also unlikely to support mmWave 5G. The reason mmWave is excluded is that Apple has its own modem. According to the report, Apple’s own modem has a lower top speed and lower ability to maintain cellular network connectivity than Qualcomm’s models. It should be noted that Apple’s own modem performs less than existing Qualcomm modems because this was expected to some extent.
Forced eSIM
Finally, engineers are said to be unable to find a way to add a physical SIM card slot to the iPhone 17 Air. This could make eSIM mandatory for the iPhone 17 Air.
iPhone 17 Air, Key to Success?
Because the iPhone 17 Air is a smartphone that focuses on light weight, many Apple users are interested in it. However, it is not clear how the users will react to the changes such as speaker degradation, camera reduction, and forced use of eSIM. I hope it will be equipped with stereo speakers, but I am more worried than I expected.