Apple took its engineering prowess to the next stage when it unveiled the 11-inch and 13-inch M4 iPad Pro models. Both tablets feature a thickness of just 5.3mm and 5.1mm, making them the thinnest products ever from the company. However, Apple is not stopping here because the launch of the newest iPad Pro is just the start of the firm’s new strategy of announcing devices with a sleeker design. According to the latest report, the iPhone 17 is next on that list, with the lineup expected to be ‘significantly skinnier.’
The new report does not mention how Apple will combat the negative aspects of a thinner iPhone 17 lineup
Various internal design changes from Apple have witnessed past iPhone launches sporting L-shaped batteries, sandwiched motherboards, and other approaches to save up on space. With the iPhone 16, it appears that the entire lineup will feature L-shaped cells as even the base model is said to have a similar design. It seems that Apple has not made these changes by accident, but it has more ambitious plans for the future, as stated by Mark Gurman in the latest edition of his ‘Power On’ newsletter.
He mentions that the iPhone 17 will sport a thinner chassis, with the technology giant intending to make the future MacBook Pro and Apple Watch models sleeker too. Unfortunately, Gurman has not highlighted the pitfalls of using a thinner chassis, but we have seen negative aspects materialize in the M4 iPad Pro range. Despite using a protective cowling in the center to improve durability, the 13-inch iPad Pro snaps with a fair amount of effort, with the 11-inch version suffering the same fate, though it fares a little better thanks to its smaller footprint.
Even though the iPhone 17 will be a smaller device, the same durability issues can show up if Apple is not careful. We also have to mention that a thinner chassis can lead to a smaller battery capacity, with the iPhone becoming more prone to overheating, with less room being present to dissipate all that heat. Fortunately, Apple is said to have a solution for both problems, and that is by using a cell with a higher energy density on the iPhone 16 Pro Max. Additionally, Apple is exploring a ‘Graphene Thermal System’ for future iPhone releases to allay the overheating problems, meaning that a more robust solution could be used inside the iPhone 17.
However, there is no guarantee that Apple will incorporate all of these internal changes and that its primary goal might just be to introduce thinner products that are aesthetically pleasing but come at a great cost. It is best to treat Gurman’s words with a pinch of salt, and even though he is a reliable source of information, we will have more updates for you in the future.
About the author: Omar Sohail is a reporter and analyst for Wccftech's mobile section, specializing in the technology and business of the mobile industry. His expertise lies in the intricate hardware supply chain, covering developments in semiconductor manufacturing, chip lithography, and camera sensor technology.
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