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'iPhone 17 Air' With 'Major' Design Changes and 19-Inch MacBook Detailed in New Report

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Apple is planning a series of "major design" and "format changes" for iPhones over the next few years, according to The Wall Street Journal's Aaron Tilley and Yang Jie.

iPhone-17-Slim-Feature.jpg

The paywalled report published today corroborated the widely-rumored "iPhone 17 Air" with an "ultrathin" design that is thinner than current iPhone models. The report did not mention a specific measurement, but previous rumors have indicated the device could be anywhere from 5mm to 6.25mm thin, whereas the iPhone 16 lineup starts at 7.8mm. The thinnest-ever model was the iPhone 6 at 6.9mm, so the iPhone 17 Air would beat that record.

In line with previous rumors, the report said the iPhone 17 Air will be "giving up" some features available in the Pro models. For example, the report said the device will have a "simplified" camera system, but no other details were provided. Accordingly, the report said the device will be priced lower than the Pro lineup, which in the U.S. starts at $999.

Apple is expected to unveil the iPhone 17 Air in September 2025.

Apple is also planning two foldable devices for release later, according to the report. It said one of the devices will essentially be the largest-ever MacBook with a foldable 19-inch screen, while the other is a foldable iPhone that would unfold to have an inwards-facing display that is larger than the one on the 6.9-inch iPhone 16 Pro Max.

The report said Apple is aiming to release the foldable iPhone in 2026 or 2027, while the MacBook with a foldable screen would likely debut later. Both of the devices have been rumored to be in development several times in recent years.

Apple is said to have faced major challenges with developing a foldable iPhone, including with the device's hinge and the protective layer that covers the screen. Apple apparently once considered a foldable iPhone with an outward-facing display, but it has settled on a large inner display, according to the report.

Article Link: 'iPhone 17 Air' With 'Major' Design Changes and 19-Inch MacBook Detailed in New Report
 
Article Link
https://www.macrumors.com/2024/12/15/iphone-17-air-19-inch-macbook-report/
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The collective goal of all mobile tech seems to be "bigger mobile screens."

As physical sizes grow by whatever means, size & weight grows with them.

Thousands & thousands of thread posts rip Vpro but it already delivers ANY size screen in any on-the-go settings. But size & weight remains the same. Next time some "pile on" the Vpro bash-fest, you might want to give some thought to how else to accomplish the objective of bigger mobile screens WITHOUT scaling size & weight with such growth.

If this rumor is true, I struggle to imagine pricing being much below Vpro for this fixed-sized 19". At what price point does a 16" MBpro start now? Rhetorical: $2499. Add 3 more inches of screen, fold mechanisms, the "oooooh, ahhhhh" factor of something brand new from Apple, etc. $2999? or also $3499? $3999?
 
Well, it’s about time! Lol. All these brilliant people at Apple and this is the only functional design they can come up with? Jeez. Come on, Apple. Their whole marketing with the iPhone 16 series is AI and all its features aren’t available yet. Lol.

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zombierunner said:
19 inch MacBook? but no 27 inch iMac?
Click to expand...

iMac Phoenix will prob be 30" or 32" and priced to the moon... much more like the old iMac Pro pricing than the iMac 27" "starting at" (below $2K) we remember.

full

I do believe a bigger iMac will be resurrected eventually. Anyone interested simply needs to start saving up now and brace yourself for big reveal day.
 
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Apple apparently considered a foldable iPhone with an outward-facing display, but has settled on an inward-facing display.
Click to expand...
If it won’t have an outward-facing display at all, that won’t be very convenient.

And having only an outward-facing display seems like a pretty weird idea. Maybe they noticed the camera bump would get in the way. ;)
 
If they don't put new battery technology (like all new Chinese phones from this year) then good luck with the battery life on this "Air" thing. How long it'll last? 3h screen on time from a full charge?
I really don't understand the point of that phone.
Like is 8mm too thick for people?
 
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I remain highly skeptical that I need or want a foldable phone, but as someone who does a lot of work and play on a 16” MBP, and has portable monitor for WFH and long-term work-away-from-home, a foldable 19” laptop intrigues me.

On the other hand, if they would just add prism support to the dang Vision Pro, the huge virtual monitor capability intrigues me more. A compact laptop with a bit screen would be a dream come true, but a massive ultrawide I can strap to my head sounds even better for anything other than working in an airport or jobsite.
 
Disappointed that the Air will have downgraded features. They should focus on making the flagship phones as thin and light as possible with new battery tech and more efficient processors.. I predict an expensive, gimped Air will sell below their expectations, just like the “Plus” models.
 
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unobtainium said:
Disappointed that the Air will have downgraded features. They should focus on making the flagship phones as thin and light as possible with new battery tech and more efficient processors.. I predict an expensive, gimped Air will sell below their expectations, just like the “Plus” models.
Click to expand...

Well sometimes you have a new model that isn't designed to sell well, but to price other product into other segment and force customers into them, mostly pro.
 
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