The iPhone 17 Air will be a promising device with an ultra-thin design, and a new report claims that the company has even considered launching it without a USB-C port. Apple potentially has plans to launch a device with no physical ports, and if MagSafe does not make sense to you until now, Apple will keep it around for the future.
Apple originally considered the iPhone 17 Air to have no ports, including USB-C
In his latest Power On newsletter, analyst Mark Gurman claims that Apple considered launching the forthcoming iPhone 17 Air without a USB-C port, which would have made it the first device to offer a portless design. Ultimately, the company decided to go with a USB-C port, but the idea of an iPhone without any physical ports is still on the table for future variants of the device. Gurman claims that the iPhone 17 Air will "foreshadow a move to slimmer models without charging ports."
The analyst also claims that the iPhone 17 Air will be a kind of experimental device, opening doors for a "sea of changes for Apple." We already know that the iPhone 17 Air will be an ultra-thin device, potentially reaching thickness levels as low as 5.5mm at its thinnest point, while the camera bump is rumored to be 9.5mm.
"Apple executives say that if this new iPhone is successful, the company intends to again attempt to make port-free iPhones and move more of its models to this slimmer approach."
The idea of an iPhone without a port is not new at all, as prominent industry analyst Ming-Chi Kuo predicted that the company's first portless device would launch in 2021. Unfortunately, the report did not pan out, as the company only recently shifted to USB-C on the iPhone. This also indicates that the company's plans are not always tied to the near future, and we might have to wait for Apple's wireless technology to advance further to offer an all-new single wireless charging solution.
The iPhone 17 Air will also bring a handful of additional novelties to the lineup apart from a slimmer form factor. The company is also expected to make use of its custom C1 chip, which will be more efficient than the Qualcomm modems in the iPhone 16. More efficient chips are a necessity for Apple, as the slimmer form factor of future iPhone models could lead to comparatively smaller batteries. We will keep you up to date with Apple's future plans, so be sure to keep an eye out.
About the author: Ali Salman is a technology reporter for Wccftech mobile section with a specialized focus on Apple and the intellectual property that drives mobile innovation. He has cultivated a unique expertise in analyzing and deconstructing complex technology patents, translating dense legal and technical documents into clear, insightful reports on future products.
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