Myth summary: phone Thin may be Apple’s thinnest smartphone
Renderings of the iPhone Slim
When there is smoke, it usually means there will be fire. Rumors have been swirling about an iPhone Slim in 2024. This would reduce the thickness of Apple’s already thin smartphone. Here are the latest rumors, along with some exclusive renders. The iPhone 17 is already being discussed in the rumor-mill, despite the fact that it’s over a year from release. Some rumors claim that something new is coming. Some rumors claim that the “iPhone Slim”, a new model, will be thinner than any other model. This could be the fabled Ultra that has been mentioned a few time in the past. There are still very few rumors, but it’s early in the rumor-cycle. As the release date of the device approaches, more rumors will be released to confirm the features. iPhone Slim will be thin The name suggests that the iPhone Slim is the thinnest iPhone when it launches. No one is sure how thin it will be. One report from May claimed that a thin iPhone would be available in 2025, as an upgrade to the iPhone 17 line. The model, codenamed D23 is supposedly a massive redesign as big as iPhone X. Ming-Chi Kuo, a renowned analyst, provided a lot of specs for the model, but did not say anything about the iPhone 16 vs. The iPhone Slim. However, the report did not say what the thickness will be. The iPhone SE is currently the thinnest iPhone, measuring 0.29 inches. The iPhone 15 measures 0.31 inches. Apple still has the ability to get thinner. The iPad Pro with the M4 is Apple’s thinnest mobile device, measuring 0.20 inches. The iPad Pro is a large device, but it’s also extremely thin. There should be no reason to make a flagship iPhone match that. Or at least come close. iPhone Slim could be Ultra-expensive The iPhone Ultra was proposed in the past, as a brand-new device that follows the Apple Watch convention. The Ultra is a version that theoretically has higher specifications than standard editions. The Pro models offer this functionality to consumers already, but Ultra is a separate tier. Serial leaker “Ice Universe”, who has been leaking information for years, said in July there would be a model above the iPhone 17 Pro. According to the leaker, this model will start at $1,299. Comparatively, the iPhone 17 will cost $799, while the Pro will start at $1,099 and the Pro Max at $1,199. It may seem that the price has jumped dramatically to consumers. This could be justified if the product is a new edition and has a name like “Ultra”. iPhone Slim could replace iPhone 17 Plus Rumors have suggested that the Plus model of the iPhone 17 generation may be replaced by the iPhone Slim. The flagship smartphone range would have five models if the iPhone Slim was added. Apple may not want to offer this many options to consumers due to the wide range of choices. Apple could drop the Plus model completely for the iPhone 17 range to fix this. Apple could sacrifice its iPhone 17 Plus in favor of the iPhone Slim. In July, Kuo stated that Apple would do this as part his specifications release. He said that it could be a simple decision based on the lack of sales for Plus models. Plus-size iPhones, according to reports, account for less that 10% of sales in any given year. This makes them a significant minority among other models. Kuo insisted that Apple’s decision was not to replace the iPhone 17 Plus but rather to respond to design and usage trends. Apple’s decision is not explained by Kuo’s assertion, but rather by the fact that it was the best model to eliminate based on sales. iPhone Slim display smaller than Plus While the display will be a major part of the iPhone Slim and it is likely that it will replace the Plus, the display won’t be larger. Kuo’s specification list stated that the iPhone Slim would have a display of 6.6 inches. Theoretically, this would put it between the standard iPhone sizes of 6.1 inches to 6.7-inch Plus. Ross Young of DSCC reported in April that the iPhone 17 Plus display would be somewhere between the iPhone 16 standard and iPhone 16 Plus. According to the size claims, it’s possible that Young’s report on the iPhone 17 Plus was actually for the iPhone Slim. The iPhone Slim may have a 120Hz ProMotion Display, according to other display rumors. This would make sense if it were an Ultra-style release since it would have to at least match up to the Pro models. It could use a 2,740 by 1260 display, which is slightly smaller that the 2,796 x 1,290 resolution of iPhone 15 Plus. This will also keep the pixel density close to Apple’s smartphones, which is 460 ppi. According to current rumors, the top of the device will still feature Dynamic Island. Even if Apple changed the aperture on the top of the device for the camera (perhaps using a smaller model), it is likely that the UI will still be used to hide the holes. Other features of the iPhone Slim It’s safe to assume that the iPhone 17 generation will be the most similar in terms of specifications. If it’s Ultra-like, then you can expect that it will be closer to the Pro line in terms of cameras and processor than the non-Pro. If so, you should think A19 Pro and not A19. It would need extra strength as it is a thinner device. Whether it’s at the hands of YouTubers who are eager to share their videos or not. According to some, the casing is made of a “titanium and aluminum alloy frame” which should keep it light but strong. The frame’s strength will likely be similar to thicker models, given the lack of thickness. The iPhone Slim may only have one rear camera due to its thin body. The size constraint could also affect the camera array. Kuo’s list of specs suggests that it may only have one wide rear camera instead of two or three. Battery life is another factor that hasn’t yet been mentioned in rumors. It’s important, but a thin device will ultimately mean a thinner battery and less battery capacity. Apple’s move to Slim could also reduce the battery life of the device unless it can free up more space inside the casing.