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CNET
21-05-2025
- CNET
iPhone 17 Air Leaks: Slim iPhone Redesign Coming in 2025?
Rumor has it, we may soon see an ultra thin iPhone. The rumored iPhone 17 Air -- or it might be called the iPhone Slim -- could potentially replace the current iPhone Plus amid Apple's next iPhone release in the coming months. The buzzed-about "Air" is getting a lot of attention in the iPhone 17 rumor mill, but the prospect also has people asking if Apple may have to sacrifice features to get a super thin phone. Here's the skinny on what we could expect with the newest iPhone. iPhone 17 Air release date: Is the slimmer iPhone coming this year? For nearly a decade, Apple has held an event in September to announce its new phones. This year we expect Apple to reveal the iPhone 17 series, including the rumored iPhone 17 Air. If the iPhone 17 Air rumors are true, Apple would be the latest to join the ultra-thin phone trend this year. Last week, I got to try out Samsung's new lightweight Galaxy S25 Edge after previewing it and a slew of shockingly thin phones at the Mobile World Congress in March. The iPhone 17 lineup may be the last to follow this fall-release model, according to Apple analyst Ming-Chi Kuo and a report from The Information. Starting with the iPhone 18, Apple will reportedly split its phone releases so that lower-cost iPhones launch in the first half of the year (previously reserved for iPhone SE models) and higher-end pro models are announced in the latter half. That would likely mean a rumored iPhone 18 Pro, Pro Max, Air and new foldable iPhone model could debut in fall 2026. Keep in mind that an iPhone Flip or Fold has been rumored for years. You'll likely be able to preorder a new iPhone the Friday after the announcement, with the phone shipping a week later. What will the iPhone 17 Air cost? Early rumors about an iPhone 17 Air hinted that it could cost even more than the iPhone 17 Pro, but a March Bloomberg report suggested the phone could cost around $900. That price tag would align with the rumor that the "Air" could replace the Plus, which currently costs $899. For comparison, Samsung's Galaxy S25 Edge starts at $1,100. However, there's also the question of how tariffs could affect the price of an iPhone. Amid President Donald Trump's ongoing tariff drama, Apple has mostly escaped additional taxes by stockpiling inventory and getting most of its products on a tariff exemption list. Apple has moved some production of US iPhones to India to avoid the steeper tariffs imposed on China. However, Trump recently said he pushed Apple CEO Tim Cook to move US iPhone production from India to the US. How much all of this could affect iPhone prices is yet to be determined. Regardless of how tariffs play out, Apple is expected to raise the price of the iPhone. These price hikes are rumored to start with the iPhone 17 line, so prepare now to pay more for "Air." iPhone 17 Air camera: potential downgrade? Among the rumored potential sacrifices Apple may have to make to get a skinnier phone is limiting the camera features. The rumored iPhone 17 line is getting a new camera bar that extends across the width of the phone. But Front Page Tech shared an iPhone 17 Air video in February that showed a physical mockup of the phone based on rumors. One of the more surprising reveals was a smaller camera bar with one lens on the left, suggesting the "Air" phone has a single rear camera, similar to the iPhone 16E ($599). It's not clear if the camera would be the same as the 16E or if Apple would go the route Samsung did and include the main camera from the iPhone 17 Pro. The single camera theory is backed up by analyst Ming-Chi Kuo and a Bloomberg report, which said that the rumored Air may not have the ultrawide and 5x telephoto lenses that have become staples of Apple's premium iPhones. In a bit of good news, it's also rumored that the front-facing "selfie" camera on all iPhone 17 models, including the Air, will be upgraded to 24 megapixels, according to analyst Jeff Pu. iPhone 17 Air vs iPhone 17 Pro It may be getting a lot of attention, but the rumored Air appears to be less an advanced Pro model and more a replacement for the Plus. However, rumors are that the Air would have a 6.6-inch display, according to analysts Jeff Pu and Ming-Chi Kuo. If accurate, that would mean the Air's display is slightly smaller than the iPhone 16 Plus, with a 6.7-inch display, but larger than the iPhone 16 Pro, which features a 6.3-inch display. The iPhone 16 Pro Max leads with a 6.9-inch display. It's unclear if the 17 Air's screen would be a Pro Motion display like the one found on iPhone Pro models. If the rumored Air lives up to its name, then the biggest potential advantage it could offer over a Pro is its size and weight. A Bloomberg report from March notes that the iPhone Air could measure 5.5mm thick, compared to the iPhone 16 Pro at 8.25mm. Mac Rumors reported that a leaker on the Korean-langauge Naver blog, going by "yeux1122," said that the rumored iPhone 17 Air weighs approximately 145 grams (5.11 ounces). Compare that to the iPhone 16 Pro, which weighs in at 199 grams (7.03 ounces). If this rumor proves true, the Air would be just slightly heavier than the iPhone 13 mini, which weighs 141 grams (4.97 ounces). Bloomberg's report also notes that the iPhone 17 Air is expected to have super slim bezels compared to the rest of the line, along with a Camera Control button and a Dynamic Island cutout in the display. iPhone 17 Air battery life expectations Among the challenges of slimming down an iPhone could be figuring out how to reduce the battery size without compromising battery life. Initially, it was assumed that a skinnier iPhone would simply have a reduced battery life since there would be less space to house a large battery. But more recently, AppleInsider reported that a skinnier iPhone might use a silicon-anode battery that could help extend its battery life. Yeux1122 said the battery capacity is 2,800mAh, based on details that originate with "mass production confirmed sample," according to MacRumors. It added that a high density battery in the Air could increase its "actual capacity" by 15 to 20%. If the rumored iPhone 17 Air does use the silicon battery technology, it would be the first iPhone to do so. Are iPhone Air rumors and leaks to be trusted? Rumors are just that. The speculation leading up to the iPhone's release is often based on insider knowledge or leaked information from the teams working on the iPhone's design, but those plans can continue to evolve and are not necessarily reflected in the final product. We'll only be able to confirm these rumors with certainty when Apple officially releases the next iPhone and we can see it for ourselves.
Android Authority
12-05-2025
- Android Authority
From concept to life: The ultra-thin TECNO SPARK Slim is becoming a reality
Harley Maranan / Android Authority Ultra-thin phones often make for eye-catching tech demos, but they rarely make it to market. That's not the case with the TECNO SPARK Slim. First revealed as a concept device earlier this year, TECNO has confirmed that it plans to launch a global production model in the second half of 2025. That means this isn't just a design experiment — it's the beginning of a new product trend built around what TECNO calls 'millimeter-level' slimness. Unlike past concept phones that sacrificed practicality for style, the SPARK Slim Concept is designed to be both stunningly thin and functionally excellent. At just 5.75mm thick, it will be the world's thinnest smartphone to pack in a 5,200mAh battery — a feat that TECNO says redefines what's possible in ultra-slim smartphone design. With a 3D curved AMOLED display, 144Hz refresh rate, 1.5K resolution, and peak brightness of 4,500 nits, the SPARK Slim isn't just thin — it's ambitious in nearly every spec. TECNO describes it as a phone that's ready for daily multitasking, gaming, and entertainment, not just one that looks good in press shots. Fast charging, long-lasting performance, and refined ergonomics are all part of the package. However, the bigger story might be that TECNO sees this as more than just a one-off. The company is positioning the SPARK Slim as the spearhead of a broader strategy — one that challenges the industry trend of increasingly bulky phones and aims to deliver flagship design to more affordable segments. What makes the SPARK Slim so thin — and so different TECNO Designing a phone under 6mm thick is more than a cosmetic challenge; it's a fundamental rethink of how smartphones are built. TECNO says it pushed beyond conventional engineering methods to make the SPARK Slim possible, relying on a mix of miniaturized components, creative internal layouts, and new materials. At the heart of the device is TECNO's innovative Honeycomb-Structure Stacking Technology. This allows the internal parts to be compressed and arranged with extreme precision, increasing component density without sacrificing performance. By reducing the spacing between memory modules and packing elements tightly onto the main board, TECNO managed to keep things compact while maintaining speed and responsiveness. Connectivity was another obstacle in a chassis this thin. The SPARK Slim rethinks antenna design with a split-recombination layout, allowing Wi-Fi, Bluetooth, and GPS to operate reliably even with reduced internal clearance. In short, you won't lose signal just because the phone is slim. Perhaps most impressively, TECNO managed to fit in a large battery and keep the device cool. The SPARK Slim uses an Ultra-Crystalline Graphene Cooling System with a thermal dissipation area of over 24,000mm², designed to significantly enhance heat transfer efficiency. That means users can stream, game, and multitask without the risk of thermal throttling or overheating, which is a common concern in thin phones. Altogether, it showcases how smart engineering and materials innovation can flip the script on what ultra-thin phones are capable of. With the SPARK Slim, TECNO isn't just aiming for the slimmest phone, it's aiming for the most complete one at this size. Rethinking durability in slim phones TECNO When you hear 'ultra-thin smartphone,' you might also hear 'fragile.' It's a fair assumption — slimming down often means cutting corners somewhere. But TECNO's approach with the SPARK Slim turns that expectation on its head. Despite measuring just 5.75mm thick, the phone is built with durability in mind. The frame incorporates modified high-strength materials, reinforced through over 2,000 high-precision simulations. That's not just marketing fluff — it means the structure has been digitally stress-tested to handle the knocks and pressure of everyday life. On the outside, Corning Gorilla Glass 7i provides top-tier scratch resistance and impact protection, helping the device survive the kind of drops and scrapes that thinner phones usually fear. But strength isn't just about surviving a fall. It's also about lasting power. TECNO has equipped the SPARK Slim with a 5,200mAh battery — an impressively large capacity for such a slim phone. To support battery health over time, the device uses a low-current self-repair algorithm and AI-optimized charging, which together help extend lifespan and reduce wear from daily use. That means you're not just getting all-day power, you're getting all-year endurance, too. And when it comes time to top up, the SPARK Slim supports 45W fast charging, getting you back to full power in no time. For a phone that's focused on looking sleek and feeling light, TECNO has made sure it's tough under the hood. TECNO's big picture with its slim strategy TECNO The SPARK Slim might be a hardware marvel, but it's also a signal of where TECNO wants to go next. While other brands push for bigger batteries, larger camera bumps, and thicker designs, TECNO is betting that a new generation of users is ready for something sleeker. According to the company, demand for slim and lightweight devices is growing, particularly in emerging markets where users want stylish, capable phones that don't weigh them down, physically or financially. The SPARK Slim answers that call by pairing ultra-thin design with performance specs that don't require compromise. And despite competing with the likes of Apple and Samsung, TECNO isn't trying to charge flagship prices. Its goal is to bring ultra-slim innovation to more accessible price points, redefining what mid-range smartphones can look and feel like. As TECNO SPARK Product Manager Protos Guo says, 'Pain points exist—consumers just grew accustomed to them.' For years, bulky phones with oversized camera modules and stacked batteries were seen as inevitable trade-offs. TECNO is betting that users are ready to move on, and that now, with the right technology, they finally can. This push toward making advanced design available to more users extends beyond the SPARK Slim. TECNO has already experimented with sustainable materials and bold aesthetics in recent models, and the company says it sees plenty of room to keep innovating. Whether it's eco-conscious design like coffee-ground back covers, or new ways of balancing form and function through ergonomics and CMF technology, TECNO wants its future products to feel as fresh as they look. The SPARK Slim may have started life as a concept, but it's quickly becoming the blueprint for TECNO's next chapter. An era where thin doesn't mean weak, stylish doesn't mean expensive, and innovation doesn't come at the cost of usability.
