iPhone 17 Slim is 'Step Toward Something Better' [Gurman]
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Posted August 11, 2024 at 3:38pm by iClarified
Apple's plan for a slim version of the iPhone 17 with standard level specifications is just a step towards something better, according to Mark Gurman.
Apple has been trying to find a fourth model that will resonate with customers for years. It has tried an iPhone mini model and an iPhone Plus model, but both have underperformed expectations.
Gurman believes that the iPhone Slim will be another attempt at finding an additional model that will complement the iPhone, iPhone Pro, and iPhone Pro Max.
The approach this time around: a far thinner design. The idea is to create an "Air" version of the iPhone of sorts, something that sits in between the iPhone 17 and iPhone 17 Pro. The most apt comparison is probably to the original MacBook Air from over a decade ago, which was somewhere between the regular MacBook and MacBook Pro. The sales pitch will probably go like this: If you want something snazzier than a standard iPhone — but don't really need the performance, screen size or cameras of a Pro model — you can get something that looks much cooler while still having the specifications of a regular iPhone.
Notably, Gurman thinks that this Slim model may just be a step to something better. Eventually, Apple will try to squeeze the power of a Pro model into the thinner design; however, that likely won't happen until at least 2027.
Apple is also working on a foldable iPhone to add to its lineup, but that is also said to take until at least 2027, though a foldable tablet could arrive sooner.