There has been a whirlwind of rumors about Apple’s upcoming iPhone 17 Air, and there are reports that the company initially considered launching it with no ports at all. Apple intended to eliminate the USB-C port, which would be the first portless iPhone, Bloomberg’s Mark Gurman reported.
However, Apple seemed to have shelved this plan due to potential regulatory concerns in the European Union. The EU has been pushing for universal charging port standards and removing the USB-C port could have raised problems for Apple in the continent. However, Gurman speculates that Apple could potentially revisit the port-less iPhone idea in subsequent models, subject to the success of the iPhone 17 Air in the market.
The iPhone 17 Air, which is supposed to be Apple’s thinnest iPhone to date, will be out this fall along with three other phones. It is rumored to be roughly 2 millimeters thinner than the rest of the iPhone 17 phones, including the standard iPhone 17 and two higher-end versions. Leaker Sonny Dickson has recently shared images of what are purported to be iPhone 17 dummies that reveal just how slender the iPhone 17 Air can appear relative to its peers.
In terms of features, the iPhone 17 Air is expected to feature a 6.6-inch display, a Dynamic Island, and a Camera Control button, holding similar battery life as current iPhone models. It is also reported to cost around $900, which would position it between the budget-friendly iPhone 17 and the high-end models. While these prices are not yet official, they point towards an iPhone that could help users who want a thinner, less expensive phone without sacrificing essentials.
Apple has said nothing officially about the iPhone 17 series, but as speculation and leaks are picking up pace and anticipation for the official announcement is building up. As always, Apple fans and market watchers will be on the lookout for any new news in the coming months.
