Apple iPhone 17 Slim: A Deep Dive into the Ultra-Thin Revolution of 2025

Apple iPhone 17 Slim: A Deep Dive into the Ultra-Thin Revolution of 2025Apple is reportedly planning a significant addition to its iPhone 17 lineup in 2025: the iPhone 17 Slim. While the iPhone 17 series is conventionally expected in September of this year, 2025's product assortment might see a major shift, with one existing model being replaced

Apple iPhone 17 Slim: A Deep Dive into the Ultra-Thin Revolution of 2025

Apple is reportedly planning a significant addition to its iPhone 17 lineup in 2025: the iPhone 17 Slim. While the iPhone 17 series is conventionally expected in September of this year, 2025's product assortment might see a major shift, with one existing model being replaced. Given the purported underperformance of the iPhone 17 Plus compared to other models, it's likely to be removed. In its place, Apple will introduce the highly anticipated iPhone 17 Slim, a thinner iteration of the iPhone. This article delves into the various rumors and speculation surrounding this ultra-thin smartphone and its potential features.

Unprecedented Thinness: The Thickness of the iPhone 17 Slim

The iPhone 17 Slim's most striking feature is undoubtedly its incredibly thin profile. While the exact thickness remains unconfirmed, numerous leaks point to a remarkably slim figure. The thinnest iPhone currently is the iPhone SE at 0.29 inches (7.37 mm), with the iPhone 16 measuring 0.31 inches (7.87 mm). The iPhone 17 Slim, however, is rumored to surpass this significantly, possibly reaching the thinness of Apple's slimmest mobile devices the iPad Pro and M4 at approximately 0.20 inches (5.08 mm).

As early as May 2024, reports surfaced suggesting Apple would launch a thin and light iPhone with the codename D23 in 2025, described as a significant redesign comparable in impact to the iPhone X's release. However, this report didn't specify thickness.

Two months later, renowned analyst Ming-Chi Kuo also predicted the iPhone 17 Slim, noting a titanium-aluminum alloy frame for enhanced strength, but again without concrete thickness details.

October leaks suggested the iPhone 17 Slim's thickness is constrained by battery technology. A new substrate is needed for a thinner battery, potentially limiting the minimum thickness to 6 mm (0.23 inches).

However, analyst Jeff Pu, in a November report, claimed the iPhone 17 Slim would be just 6 mm (0.23 inches) thick, aligning with the battery rumors. Ming-Chi Kuo, in a January report, went even further, suggesting the thinnest part of the device could measure just 5.5 mm. It's important to note this likely refers to the thinnest point, not the average or thickest point.

Screen Size: Smaller than Plus, but Refined

While the iPhone 17 Slims thickness will be considerably less than future Plus models, its screen size won't necessarily be larger. Early rumor specs from Ming-Chi Kuo indicated a 6.6-inch display, smaller than the iPhone 16 Plus's 6.7-inch screen. Ross Young of DSCC, in an April 2024 report, also mentioned a possible reduction in screen size for the 2025 Plus model. If Young's report refers to the Slim as the Plus replacement, this isn't entirely illogical. Pus October report also mentioned a 6.6-inch display, corroborating Kuo's claim.

Regarding other display specifications, Kuo insists on a 2740x1260 resolution, close to the iPhone 16 Plus's 2778x1290. Furthermore, there are rumors suggesting the Slim might inherit the Pro models' 120Hz ProMotion display system, a rumor reiterated on December 30th. While ProMotion would be a highly attractive feature for the iPhone 17 Slim, particularly if it becomes a key selling point, its inclusion remains uncertain. Adding ProMotion to the Slim could potentially diminish a major selling point of the Pro models.

Connectivity Compromises: eSIM and 5G Choices

Creating an ultra-thin smartphone presents significant engineering challenges, requiring assembly partners and supply chain members to overcome numerous hurdles. This challenge became apparent in December when the model entered the new product introduction (NPI) phase. During NPI, assembly partners review Apple's design and determine how to mass-produce it. The ultra-thin design inevitably necessitates compromises. November reports indicated this would mean some connectivity issues. Due to the thinness, a SIM card tray on the side might be impossible, leading to the iPhone 17 Slim potentially supporting only eSIM.

In the US, this poses less of a problem, as eSIM adoption is widespread. However, in countries like China, which rely more heavily on physical SIM cards, this could be a significant obstacle due to regulatory concerns around eSIM.

5G connectivity may also be compromised. Reports suggest Apple will switch to its own in-house modem instead of Qualcomm's. While a victory for Apple, this new modem allegedly suffers from lower peak speeds and less reliable cellular network performance, forcing Apple to scale back its configuration. This reportedly includes removing mmWave support, meaning it would still support 5G but only sub-6GHz bands, not the high-speed, high-bandwidth bands.

Wireless communication changes might not be limited to 5G. Kuo predicted in October that Apple would reduce its reliance on Broadcom Wi-Fi chips, shifting to its own designs. This transition would begin in the second half of 2025, coinciding with the 17th-generation iPhones, including the Slim.

Camera Design: Single Lens or Camera Strip?

The ultra-thin design might not be the only significant change for the iPhone 17 Slim. Its appearance could undergo a major transformation, potentially impacting the overall thickness. The protruding rear camera bump is a noticeable feature on iPhones primarily because of the significant size of the camera module itself. Even with a slimmer body, the module would still occupy considerable space.

Kuos spec sheet proposes a possible solution: Apple could reduce the bump by reducing the number of cameras. Using just a wide-angle camera, instead of multiple sensors, could satisfy the space requirements. This doesnt seem far-fetched. Apple already simulates a telephoto camera sensor in the iPhone 16 by cropping from its high-resolution main camera, giving users three cameras instead of two. Its not hard to imagine Apple going further on the Slim with only one physical sensor and two cameras. Previous reports from TheElec also raised the issue of limited camera counts, insisting a powerful Slim would not adopt the Pro-style triple-camera setup, more likely opting for the dual-camera setup of non-Pro models.

In December, rumors surrounding the rear camera became more confusing. Speculation emerged that Apple would abandon the square or small camera bump, opting instead for a camera strip running across the width of the iPhone 17 Slim's back, with cameras arranged in a line. At the time, in addition to a Weibo leak, a leaker provided a picture allegedly showing an iPhone chassis, supporting this rumor. However, we can't verify the authenticity of the image. Less than a week later, another Weibo leak claimed the redesign was irrelevant, and the three cameras would still use a triangular layout, not a horizontal strip. That seemed to be that, but another leak in January reignited the rumors. An image from the public internet, shared by a leaker and a Bilibili video, depicted what appears to be an iPhone back with a camera strip-like section at the top with camera holes. Again, we cannot confirm its authenticity. However, the rumored component also covers the location of the front-facing Face ID camera, making the rumor rather dubious.

On a more reliable front, Pu, in an August description of the iPhone 17 lineup, maintained that the TrueDepth camera would upgrade to a 24MP version. This seems more believable and more likely to be included in the Slim.

Conclusion: Expectations and Challenges Await

The potential arrival of the iPhone 17 Slim represents another bold foray by Apple into smartphone design. The ultra-thin profile, streamlined camera configuration, and connectivity compromises highlight Apple's commitment to achieving extreme thinness. However, this pursuit also involves considerable technical challenges and market risks. Ultimately, whether the iPhone 17 Slim succeeds and gains market acceptance remains to be seen.