Apple’s upcoming iPhone ‘Air’ might not even have a charging port: Bloomberg

Apple’s upcoming iPhone 17 “Air,” slated for release this fall, represents a significant shift in the company’s smartphone strategy. Following a formula of releasing four iPhones annually since 2020, Apple is introducing a fresh approach with the addition of a thinner, more efficient device positioned between the standard entry-level iPhone and the high-end Pro models.

The iPhone 17 Air, which mirrors the slim design ethos of the MacBook Air, will feature a 6.6-inch screen with narrow borders similar to the iPhone 16 Pro. The phone will incorporate ProMotion for smoother scrolling and a standard-sized Dynamic Island interface. Despite its thinner build, Apple promises that battery life will remain on par with current models, thanks to innovative efficiency improvements in the phone’s components.

Internally, the Air model, code-named D23, showcases Apple’s commitment to balancing form with function. To achieve its slimmer profile, engineers redesigned display, silicon, and software components to ensure the phone retains optimal performance without sacrificing power. However, the design overhaul does come with some compromises. The device will feature a single 48-megapixel camera, similar to the iPhone 16e, instead of the multiple lenses found in higher-end models. Additionally, the Air will be powered by the standard A19 chip, lacking the more advanced A19 Pro used in the Pro versions.

A key feature of the iPhone 17 Air is Apple’s in-house modem chip, the C1, which debuted with the iPhone 16e earlier this year. This modem is designed to be more power-efficient than Qualcomm’s, helping to maintain the phone’s slim profile. However, the Air will not support mmWave 5G technology, a feature reserved for the Pro models for now.

Despite initial plans to make the iPhone 17 Air a more radical departure, Apple has decided against several ambitious features. The company had considered a larger 6.9-inch screen, but scrapped the idea over concerns about the device’s durability. Apple also explored making the iPhone completely port-free, relying solely on wireless charging and data syncing via the cloud, but ultimately chose to retain the USB-C connector to comply with European Union regulations. However, it is yet to be seen how the upcoming ‘Air’ iPhone turns out as it is upto the company to decide its final specifications.