In 2025, Apple is expected to discontinue the “Plus” iPhone in its iPhone 17 lineup to make way for a “Slim” iPhone — though it may not actually be called that when it debuts next fall. Although the launch of the iPhone 16 series is still more than two months away, when you consider that we learned about larger screens on the iPhone 16 Pro models in May 2023, rumors of a second-generation iPhone are not so unusual. so far ahead of time.
As we await this year’s iPhone 16 lineup, here’s a rundown of everything we’ve heard from reputable sources so far about Apple’s so-called “Slim” iPhone 17.
iPhone 17 Slim: Rumors so far
Slimmer design
According to information, Apple’s new iPhone 17 model next year will have a “significantly thinner” design with an aluminum chassis, rather than a titanium case like Apple’s Pro models. The media also claims that the device will feature a narrower Dynamic island, potentially due to Apple’s adoption of a smaller “metal” for the Face ID system. Internally codenamed D23, the device’s redesign has been described as a major iPhone X equivalent.
Smaller screen
The first details about the device’s screen size came from Haitong International Securities analyst Jeff Pu, who said it would be 6.6 inches. However, according to Display Supply Chain Consultants (DSCC) analyst Ross Young, it will have a 6.55-inch screen. By comparison, the iPhone 15 Plus has a 6.7-inch screen. Apple is said to still be testing different designs for the thinner phone, so the screen size could always change between now and the device’s launch.
Displaced cameras
information claimed that the iPhone 17 “Slim” will have cameras in places we haven’t seen before on an iPhone. According to a May report, the rear cameras could be moved to the “top center” of the device. Some Android phones like Google’s Pixel 8 Pro have rear cameras in a top-center position, but Apple’s iPhone camera system has occupied the top-left corner since the 2007 model.
Anti-reflective coating
All iPhone 17 models will have an anti-reflective display that is more scratch-resistant than Apple’s Ceramic Shield found on iPhone 15 models, according to Chinese Weibo publisher Instant Digital. The outer glass of the iPhone 17 series is said to have a “super tough anti-reflective coating” that is “more scratch resistant”. It’s not clear if Apple is planning to adopt the Gorilla Glass Armor that Samsung uses on the Galaxy S24 Ultra, but the description of Corning’s latest technology matches the rumors.
Promotion Technology
According to Elections, all iPhone 17 models will feature OLED displays with low-power back technology, bringing ProMotion to Apple’s non-Pro iPhone models for the first time. ProMotion allows the display to scale up to a 120Hz refresh rate for smoother motion and video content on demand. ProMotion also allows the screen to scale down to a more energy-efficient refresh rate of up to 1Hz, which is why iPhone 15 Pro screens have an always-on capability that shows the lock screen clock, widgets, notifications and wallpaper even when the device is off. locked.
Improved Selfie Camera
According to Apple analyst Ming-Chi Kuo, the entire iPhone 17 lineup will have a 24-megapixel front camera with a six-element lens. The iPhone 14 and 15 have a 12-megapixel front-facing camera with five plastic lens elements, and this year’s iPhone 16 lineup is expected to feature the same hardware. The improved resolution on the iPhone 17 will allow photos to retain their quality even when cropped or zoomed in, while the larger number of pixels will capture finer details. The upgrade to a six-element lens should also slightly improve image quality.
Internal improvements
Haitong analyst Jeff Pu claims that the iPhone 17 “Slim” will have 8GB of RAM, compared to the 6GB of RAM in the iPhone 15 Plus. It is worth noting that all future iPhone 16 models are expected to be equipped with 8 GB of RAM – a hardware requirement of Apple Intelligence in the device. According to informationthe device will also be equipped with Apple’s A19 chip.
The highest price
information reported that the thinner iPhone 17 could be priced higher than the Pro Max model, which currently starts at $1,199, suggesting that the device would become the top model in the line, upstaging the iPhone 17 Pro Max. If so, then maybe the “iPhone Slim” will end up like the “iPhone Ultra” that has been rumored for several years.
