Apple has a big product launch roadmap for 2025, with the ultra-thin iPhone 17 Air one of the most exciting debuts. A recent rumor has me thinking about a MacBook Air-inspired feature that could quickly win me over.
Reimagining iPhone 17 Air’s thickness
Rumors have been consistent for a while that Apple is replacing the ‘Plus’ model in the 2025 lineup with an ultra-thin new design.
Some originally referred to it as an ‘iPhone Slim,’ but ‘iPhone 17 Air’ has stuck as the common name.
Various reports have sought to nail down exactly how thin this new iPhone will be. Recently, somewhere around 6.25mm—or about 25% thinner than the Pro models—has become the standard prediction.
But then last week, Ming-Chi Kuo shared something surprising.
He said the 17 Air would be even thinner, with “the thinnest part around 5.5mm.”
Two details stood out: the 5.5mm number itself, and the reference to the iPhone’s ‘thinnest part.’
This latter phrase immediately made some wonder if Apple was planning a tapered design for the device—like the classic MacBook Air’s look.
5.5mm is substantially thinner than what was expected before.
However, the rumor makes a lot of sense if the tapered design allows the 17 Air to be thinner at some points and thicker at others.
Why a tapered iPhone 17 Air design could be so great
The MacBook Air’s classic wedge design is beloved by many. I know I personally feel this way, as the more modern design introduced by M2 models doesn’t evoke nearly the same affection.
Giving iPhone 17 Air a tapered design would not only serve as a throwback to Apple’s first ‘Air’ product. It would also solve one of my biggest concerns: screen size.
I currently use Apple’s smaller ‘Pro’ size iPhone, and have for years. I even owned an iPhone mini at one point, and loved it.
One advantage I hope the 17 Air will bring is that it can make a larger display more palatable for me.
My preference for the smaller Pro size is entirely because I want to use my iPhone one-handed. The Pro Max doesn’t allow that.
This year’s flagship iPhones are expected to come with the following display sizes:
- iPhone 17 Pro: 6.3-inch
- iPhone 17 Pro Max: 6.9-inch
- iPhone 17 Air: 6.6-inch
The 17 Air sits between the two Pro models, potentially offering an ideal size for lots of users.
My hope has been that the 17 Air’s thinner, lighter weight body would make the device good for one-handed use—despite the larger screen.
A tapered design would undoubtedly make that easier for Apple to accomplish.
If the lower half of the 17 Air—where my hand naturally rests—could be its thinnest portion, that design should mitigate the hazards of a larger screen.
In other words, it could offer a larger display without the drawbacks of the chunky Pro Max model. And that would almost certainly win me over from the 17 Pro line.
What do you think about iPhone 17 Air possibly getting a tapered design? Let us know in the comments.
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