Apple’s iPhone 17 Air: Ultra-Thin Design Sparks Port-Less Speculation
Apple is gearing up to unveil its highly anticipated iPhone 17 series this year, and whispers are swirling around a groundbreaking addition: the iPhone 17 Air. Rumoured to be the company’s thinnest smartphone yet, boasting a mere 5.5mm profile, this model has ignited discussions about Apple’s future design direction, particularly regarding the potential elimination of charging ports.
EU Mandate Deters Immediate Port-Less Launch
According to Bloomberg’s seasoned Apple analyst, Mark Gurman, the pursuit of this ultra-slim design led Apple to seriously consider making the 17 Air its first “completely port-free iPhone.” This concept relied entirely on wireless charging and cloud-based data syncing, effectively eliminating the need for any physical connections. However, the company ultimately decided against this radical move. This was primarily because the European Union mandated that all smartphones must include USB-C connectivity.
This isn’t the first time Apple has flirted with the idea of a port-less iPhone. Back in 2019, renowned analyst Ming-Chi Kuo predicted that an iPhone without a Lightning connector would surface in 2021, suggesting that the “highest-end model would cancel the charging port and provide the completely wireless experience.” While that prediction didn’t materialise then, the 17 Air’s design considerations indicate that Apple’s ambition remains.
Looking Ahead: A Potential Port-Less Future?
The iPhone 17 Air will still have a charging port. However, Apple’s vision for a completely wireless future is far from abandoned. In fact, according to Gurman, the company plans to revisit the idea of a port-free iPhone and gradually transition more models to a slimmer design. As a result, the possibility of a port-less iPhone remains open. In fact, it could even debut as early as the iPhone 18 series next year.
