The iPhone 17 Air will be Apple's thinnest iPhone to date, potentially measuring around 5.5mm thin at its thinnest point, minus the camera bar area. However, the thinness of the device also raises concerns about bending, and Apple does not want to go through it again after the iPhone 6 fiasco. Today, Lewis Hilsenteger from the YouTube channel Unbox Therapy showcased the new dummy units of the device, which give us a better look compared to the iPhone 17 Pro models.
iPhone 17 Air dummy units show thinner design, raising Bendgate and battery life concerns
Before we share details, we have to note that these dummy units do not feature the official thinness of the device but are potentially developed for case manufacturing. However, we also have to consider past reports and tips obtained through industry insights, which have pointed to the same dimensions as the dummy units embedded below.
As mentioned, the iPhone 17 Air is expected to be 5.5mm thin at its thinnest point, excluding the camera bar, which houses all necessary sensors. The iPhone 17 Pro models, in comparison, will be 8.725mm thick—significantly more than the 'Air.' Lewis from Unbox Therapy was quite impressed with the thinness of the device and a bit cautious as well, fearing the device would go through the same Bendgate issue as before. Lewis knows more about the Bendgate issue than any other creator, as he did one of the original bend test videos for the iPhone 6, after which his channel went viral.
Apple is also aware of the bending issues, which is why it has capped the display size at 6.6 inches, a wee bit smaller than the iPhone 17 Pro Max. Originally, Apple wanted to keep the display size at 6.9 inches, but since the thinness would make it susceptible to bending, the company decided to go with a slightly smaller panel. This switch shows that Apple is taking measures to prevent the device from becoming another viral problem.
Lewis also questioned whether the thinness of the device will impact the iPhone 17 Air's battery life. We have previously reported that Apple is planning to incorporate silicon-carbon batteries, which are denser than the lithium-ion batteries in current models. This will allow Apple to offer higher mAh batteries in thinner devices, ultimately keeping the battery life the same as current models, if not better. Apple is also shifting to its custom C1 modem, which will further enhance battery life on the iPhone 17 Air, similar to the iPhone 16e. You can check out the full video embedded above for more details.
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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