If there’s one factor that annoys me, it’s the best way Apple describes its telephones as being “7.8mm skinny.” Not thick, like the best way individuals discuss within the English language, however skinny. As if the 7.8mm a part of the sentence isn’t already telling you that. I’m wondering what they’ll do when the brand new fashions come out? Maybe they need to go along with “The iPhone 17 Air measures simply 5.6mm dangerously fragile.”
That’s what we’re all pondering, isn’t it? Final week, two leakers confirmed off breathtaking early samples of the ultra-slim 17 Air, one calling it “unbelievably skinny” and the opposite merely “loopy.” I can’t be the one viewer who instantly began desirous about Bendgate. And keep in mind that the iPhone 6 Plus, the one which unintentionally grew to become Apple’s first folding smartphone again in 2014, was a virtually overweight “7.1mm skinny.” The 17 Air is an entire new dimension of thin.
The possibilities of one other Bendgate, nevertheless, are… effectively, slim. For one factor, it occurred greater than a decade in the past, and supplies science has moved on (observe the dearth of comparable experiences since Apple launched the 5.1mm iPad Professional final Could). For an additional, the corporate’s repute was broken so badly that the fiasco and its classes will probably be burned into company reminiscence. Apple could have grown a bit of lax about high quality management lately, but it surely’s extremely unlikely to drop the identical ball in the identical approach once more.
My fear concerning the iPhone 17 Air, then, shouldn’t be that it’s going to bend (though I gained’t be storing it in my again pocket). My fear is all the opposite issues now we have to sacrifice with a purpose to obtain that preposterously slimline chassis, and the dearth of actual useful enchancment we’re getting in return.
Going for the slimmest iPhone Apple has ever launched means, so far as we are able to surmise at this level, accepting the next compromises:
- A normal processor moderately than Professional
- A “price range” single digital camera (in comparison with two on iPhone 17 and three on 17 Professional)
- Mono audio system moderately than stereo
- Decrease battery life
- A Professional (or near-Professional) value
By the point the 17 Air launches, we could discover that there are extra limitations. Possibly it gained’t have MagSafe just like the iPhone 16e. However the single greatest concern is more likely to be the battery.
In contrast to a pill or a laptop computer, whose roles are restricted and ceaselessly semi-stationary, a smartphone is on obligation on a regular basis and in every single place. It does all the things, and carries nearly all of its proprietor’s essential knowledge, apps, and talent to speak. A smartphone, due to this fact, lives and dies by its battery efficiency.
The 17 Air’s battery life, sadly, goes to be worse than every other iPhone 17, just because there gained’t be room to squeeze in something greater than a smaller-capacity cell. We don’t but know how dangerous. Apple could carry out miracles by utilizing the very newest battery know-how to maintain it inside touching distance of the iPhone 17. However that is unlikely and would, in fact, imply jacking up the worth nonetheless additional.
A tech product is a carefully balanced mathematical perform. In the event you change any of its numerous variables, one thing else (pace, dimension, battery life, value) will react to compensate. And when you go loopy and push a variable to its absolute most or minimal, the whole system goes haywire. You’ll be able to’t simply say you desire a super-thin cellphone; what you need to say is that you really want a super-thin cellphone and are ready to pay for this with substandard efficiency elsewhere.
Compromise is ceaselessly crucial, and infrequently an excellent factor. The secret’s to make the proper compromises: to simply accept limitations within the areas that aren’t essential to your wants. For me, shedding the USB-C port could be a good compromise due to the enhancements it might purchase me in different areas. However by any metric of usability, iPhones are already skinny sufficient. No person complains that their iPhone 16e is just too fats, and making them even thinner will carry vanishingly small enhancements to the consumer expertise. Battery life, alternatively, is an energetic ache level—if not on the time of buy, then later within the machine’s lifespan. It is senseless to purchase thinness and promote battery life.
In the event you gave me the selection, in reality, I wouldn’t purchase an iPhone 17 Air. I’d purchase an iPhone 17 Chunk with a Professional processor and two-day battery life that’s a mere 10mm thick. Sorry, “10mm skinny.”
Foundry
Welcome to our weekly Apple Breakfast column, which incorporates all of the Apple information you missed final week in a helpful bite-sized roundup. We name it Apple Breakfast as a result of we expect it goes nice with a Monday morning cup of espresso or tea, but it surely’s cool if you wish to give it a learn throughout lunch or dinner hours too.
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Podcast of the week
The sensible dwelling market looks as if it’s a super match for Apple, however what does the corporate have to point out for its efforts to date? On the most recent present, we’re speaking about Apple and its strategy to the sensible dwelling—what it does now and what we might see within the close to future. That’s all within the new episode of the Macworld Podcast!
You’ll be able to catch each episode of the Macworld Podcast on Spotify, Soundcloud, the Podcasts app, YouTube, or our personal website.
Opinions nook
The rumor mill
‘Loopy’ skinny iPhone 17 Air makes first look in ‘hands-on’ video. And look! Right here’s one other one.
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Video of the week
Final week Unbox Remedy posted a “arms on” with the iPhone 17 Air! Wow. Besides, in fact, that wasn’t fairly correct: it’s really a prototype equipped by an nameless third-party producer. Nonetheless, a completely attention-grabbing video and effectively price a watch.
And with that, we’re achieved for this week’s Apple Breakfast. In the event you’d prefer to get common roundups, join our newsletters, together with our new e mail from The Macalope–an irreverent, humorous tackle the most recent information and rumors from a half-man, half-mythical Mac beast. You can even observe us on Fb, Threads, Bluesky, or X for dialogue of breaking Apple information tales. See you subsequent Monday, and keep Appley.
