Apple Rumored to Launch iPhone 17 Air as Its Slimmest Device Ever

Apple has never been known for making bold hardware claims. The company typically arrives late to industry trends but delivers a polished experience that often sets new standards in the smartphone market. However, the upcoming ultra-thin iPhone 17 Air could mark a shift in this approach in a rather dramatic way.

Renowned leakster Universe has taken to X to reveal that Apple’s upcoming “slim” iPhone 17 series variant will boast an incredibly thin profile of just 5.5mm. According to the leak, apart from its ultra-slim side profile, the iPhone 17 Air will have the same height and width as the iPhone 17 Pro.

If the leak holds true, the iPhone 17 Air could emerge as the thinnest smartphone currently available. To put this into perspective, rumors suggest that Samsung’s Galaxy S25 Edge will have a thickness ranging between 5.85mm and 6.4mm, making Apple’s latest offering significantly slimmer.

An exclusive report also suggests that the iPhone 17 Air and the iPhone 17 Pro Max will share the same dimensions in terms of length, width, screen size, and bezels leaving thickness as the only distinguishing factor. While the iPhone 17 Air is expected to be just 5.5mm thick, the iPhone 17 Pro Max is said to measure 8.725mm in thickness.

At MWC 2025, Tecno impressed the audience with the Spark Slim, a smartphone that claims to be just 5.7mm thick while packing a powerful battery. However, based on the latest leak, it seems unlikely that Tecno’s ultra-thin device will surpass the iPhone 17 Air in the race to become the slimmest smartphone on the market.

Despite its incredibly thin design, Apple won’t be setting any all-time records for smartphone slimness. In the past, Chinese manufacturer Gionee launched models with 5.5mm and 5.1mm thicknesses, respectively. Additionally, the Vivo X5 Max, which debuted in 2014, remains unbeaten in this category with an ultra-slim profile of just 4.75mm, outdoing the Oppo R5 from the same era.