The iPhone 16 is still a distant glimpse on the horizon, but that hasn’t stopped the rumor mill from going wild. New leaks suggest the Plus model of the iPhone 17 could be dropped in favor of the iPhone 17 “Slim”.
This Slim iPhone model looks set to appeal to a different area of the market, as it will focus on design rather than packing in revolutionary specs. Rather than taking part in the constant camera arms race like other top 5G phones, this Slim phone is rumored to feature a single rear camera.
By reducing the phone’s technical capabilities, Apple could be creating the thinnest iPhone ever. This could follow in the footsteps of Apple’s iPad Pro, which is said to be just 5mm deep. However, while the iPhone Slim will focus on reducing its depth, it doesn’t seem to mean any loss in screen length or width. Leaks suggest the iPhone 17 Slim will feature a 6.6-inch screen with a resolution of 1260×2740. Inside the device is said to be the A19 chip, Apple’s own 5G chip, and the same Dynamic Island found in the iPhone 15 series (and likely the iPhone 16 series as well).
Analyst Ming-Chu Kuo says the Plus has generated the worst sales in Apple’s current lineup, accounting for just 5-10% of sales across the entire iPhone lineup. Meanwhile, rumours from earlier this year suggested the iPhone 17 range could receive some significant hardware upgrades – this includes a 120Hz LTPO panel across all four expected models (the base iPhone 17, 17 Pro, 17 Pro Max and 17 Slim).
The upcoming Slim model could be the thinnest iPhone ever, but rumor has it that it will come with a pretty hefty price tag. Kuo stated that it will reportedly cost $1,299, which would be higher than the Pro Max in the same price range. This is despite the phone being “focused on design over hardware specs,” which means the 17 Slim won’t have the competitive specs we’ve typically come to expect from a model in this price range.
An iPhone designed primarily with aesthetics in mind is an captivating proposition. It will be captivating to see if this rumor has any basis – and whether it could be a earnest contender for the title of best gaming phone.
