This is the most interesting model in the iPhone 17 series and could be the slimmest iPhone ever. And a new report says that production of the iPhone 17 Air (or is it the iPhone 17 Slim?) has officially begun. According to DigiTimes (via MacRumors), the iPhone 17 Air has now officially entered the “production launch phase” at Foxconn, the Taiwanese manufacturer that assembles many gadgets for Apple.
This means that pilot production can begin in parallel with design validation and prototype testing. This is a precursor to mass production of the device, which is currently underway and is expected to debut in September next year.
The report doesn’t give us many details about the iPhone 17 Air, but DigiTimes again provides a link to a potential foldable model iPhone here. If Apple succeeds in making an ultra-thin iPhone, it could help with the development of a foldable model.
The iPhone 17 Air is rumoured to be just 6mm thick, while the iPhone 16 Plus it will replace is a relatively large 7.8mm thick from front to back.
Sources say the phone will have a single rear camera at the top center. The device may also be too thin to accommodate a SIM card slot, so it will rely entirely on eSIM technology.
Of course, making an ultra-thin iPhone comes with a number of challenges, including fitting all the necessary circuitry without overheating. Apple will undoubtedly benefit from its experience in manufacturing a range of iPads.
Whatever Apple has planned for the iPhone 17 Air, it should be released alongside the other three iPhone 17 models sometime in September 2025. The iPhone SE 4 is expected to hit the market first.
